When I read about Clayton Kershaw's ejection against the Arizona Diamondbacks and later saw it on ESPN, my initial reaction was "You have got to be kidding me...."
First of all, he hit him on the arm. He was pitching inside. If you take the inside part of the plate away from any pitcher, you might as well turn it into batting practice. He had piched him on the outside in his last at bat and he doubled.
The umpires needed to have a better grasp of the situation. Its the top of the 6th inning in a close ball game, why would Kershaw want to put a runner on base in a game he was winning just to make a statement. He was going after his 19th win which luckily he had stayed around long enough to get. Its not like he threw at his head or behind his head, he pitched him inside and he hit him on the arm.
The Diamondbacks wanted Kershaw out of the game any way they could. Their reaction was predictable. What I am curious about is the reaction or lack of reaction from Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson. He was a hardnosed player back in his playing days and he brought a football mentality to the diamond every game. He really had nothing to say about it because it should have been a non-issue. It was baseball.
What Parra did against a struggling Kuo was about as bush league as it gets. Go ahead and admire your homerun but expect to get it stuck in your ear your next at bat against the Dodgers. Don Drysdale wouldn't have hesitated.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Clayton Kershaw vs. Ian Kennedy
The two front runners for the Cy Young award are Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Ian Kennedy of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The stats comparison would tip the scales in favor of Clayton Kershaw.
The records of the two are almost identical. Kershaw at 19-5 vs. Kennedy's 19-4 but the ERA is very much in the favor of Kershaw, 2.30 vs. 2.99. Kershaw has 5 complete games vs. 1 for Kennedy, more innings pitched, and more strikeouts.
The difference is going to come down to team records. The Diamondbacks are more than likely going to win the division whereas the Dodgers had to go on a hot streak just to reach .500. That is where Kennedy will probably win it.
What Kershaw has done on a team that has struggled to score runs is amazing. Outside of his ejection the other night against Arizona, Kershaw has learned to pitch deep into games this year and he hasn't had to turn many games over to a shaky bullpen.
The records of the two are almost identical. Kershaw at 19-5 vs. Kennedy's 19-4 but the ERA is very much in the favor of Kershaw, 2.30 vs. 2.99. Kershaw has 5 complete games vs. 1 for Kennedy, more innings pitched, and more strikeouts.
The difference is going to come down to team records. The Diamondbacks are more than likely going to win the division whereas the Dodgers had to go on a hot streak just to reach .500. That is where Kennedy will probably win it.
What Kershaw has done on a team that has struggled to score runs is amazing. Outside of his ejection the other night against Arizona, Kershaw has learned to pitch deep into games this year and he hasn't had to turn many games over to a shaky bullpen.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Javy Guerra
Javy Guerra, the 25-year-old 2004 4th Round Draft Pick, has essentially come from out of nowhere to emerge as the Dodgers closer this season. I would have to say he was originally placed into that position by default thru injuries and blown saves but he has taken it and ran with it. Thru last nights game, he has converted 15 out of 16 save opportunities with an ERA in the lower 2.00 range.
Before the 2011 season, Guerra had pitched no higher than AA, and only 51 games of AA ball in 7 seasons in the minors. He only served as the closer for one of those seasons, at Great Lakes of the Midwest League in 2009 where he had 16. From all I have read, he had mechanical flaws that had to be corrected and then he had to fight thru some minor injuries. Whatever the problems were it seems that he got them worked out and he has helped spur the Dodgers late season run. He has also worked himself into a position to be considered as the closer for next season.
Before the 2011 season, Guerra had pitched no higher than AA, and only 51 games of AA ball in 7 seasons in the minors. He only served as the closer for one of those seasons, at Great Lakes of the Midwest League in 2009 where he had 16. From all I have read, he had mechanical flaws that had to be corrected and then he had to fight thru some minor injuries. Whatever the problems were it seems that he got them worked out and he has helped spur the Dodgers late season run. He has also worked himself into a position to be considered as the closer for next season.
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