Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times wonders if the Dodgers’ ownership will spend money to address a big problem that was observed on Sunday night’s loss to the Yankees – relief pitching.

Shaikin says the team has championship aspirations, but it does not have championship depth. The team has two reliable starting pitchers and three reliable relievers. Their closer Jonathan Broxton has pitched more innings than anyone in the team’s bullpen.

“If he [manager Joe Torre] hesitates to trust any relievers besides Broxton, Ronald Belisario and Hong-Chih Kuo,” Shaikin says, “then the Dodgers either need to get another manager, or get their manager another reliever.”

It’s been widely speculated that the Dodgers have been pursuing starting pitching. They have been named a possible suitor for the Mariner’s Cliff Lee.  However, GM Ned Colletti cannot limit himself to a starting pitcher.

“I know Ned is certainly not zeroing in on one little area,” Torre said.