How Long Will Kuroda be a Dodger?
Hiroki Kuroda surprisingly is the top pitcher on the trade market and with the Dodgers in last place, little chance of making the playoffs, unless the Giants, Rockies and Diamondbacks all implode, and a cheap owner who I’m sure would love to shed that $12 mil in salary where will he go before Friday?
The Yankees of course are a top target and with some good young hitters in their minor league system can give the Dodgers something they sorely need, young hitting. They’ve got the good young pitching mainly in the bullpen and some starters all the Dodgers need for a solid future is someone to drive in and score a few runs.
Of course as a lifelong Yankee hater I don’t want them to get better but would rather see him go to the Red Sox but they don’t seem to have any prospects worth moving Kuroda for.
Texas would be another destination and since I’ve always loved Nolan Ryan and rooted for them in the World Series, I wouldn’t mind seeing Kuroda as a Ranger. I also think that they could give us some good prospects and might pony up more talent because their need for a quality starting pitcher that can eat innings is greater than the Yankees who might surrender more in cash rather than prospects and McCourt might bite at that and force a trade there even if it’s not the best deal for the team.
Although in the end, I just don’t see Kuroda being traded even with the Dodgers in last place because there’s really no one to replace him in the rotation unless they bring up some more youth. Lastly because McCourt and GM Ned Colletti are very prideful and won’t admit they’re done until it’s mathematically over, there’s a good chance Kuroda stays a Dodger until the end of the year.
Will Clayton Kershaw Win the NL Cy Young?
He wows every time he comes out.
Strike 1, strike 2, strike 3 they’re out! 173 times that call has been made.
Clayton Kershaw has always been a strikeout machine but this year he’s just wicked.
He’s learned how to not walk so many batters and to pitch deeper into games, Kershaw has definitely become the Dodgers ace (and the Dodgers were stupid not to extend him before the season)
In the National League…
He’s 6th in ERA (2.72)
2nd in WHIP (1.04), which is a testament to his improved command and control.
Tied for 1st in wins (12) on a team with only 47 wins, that’s 25% of the teams wins, more so than any of the top 10 pitchers in the NL
First in strikeouts not only in the NL but in the AL as well
2nd in innings pitched
Has given up only 118 hits
Only 40 walks
Kershaw has also been on a roll like no one else.
In July in 35 innings he had 45 strikeouts, and a 2.02 ERA
He’s just sick, right now he’s the top pitcher in the National League despite all the hoopla surrounding the pitching staff of the Phillies, how can you count out what Clayton has done for a team mired in mediocrity like the Dodgers, he’s the only thing keeping the team afloat and giving some excitement. I will pay front row seats just to see Clayton pitch and that’s sayin’ somethin! I will call off a date with my girlfriend to watch Clayton pitch, not go to a movie that a friend has paid for, sit in the car in 100 degree heat just to listen to the call of his game on the radio (I’ve done this). Clayton is truly a marvel and if he keeps this up he’ll easily get his first Cy Young award.
Dodger Dogs, Beer and Furcal
Originally I wasn’t going to write about the game I went to Saturday (if u got a shot of the right field stands, I was near the bullpen) but so much crazy stuff happened I couldn’t not write about it.
$15? $15! Now I see why no one goes to the game. I could’ve sworn last year it was about $8 or $9 right? I can’t believe they charge you more for parking than they do for some of the seats in Dodger Stadium, I almost went and turned around when I saw how much I’d have to pay to park my car.
Next I got to experience the Right Field Pavilion and if you haven’t been, you’re missing out. When I first walked underneath the Pavilion I didn’t know what was going on, I didn’t see where the food was (mainly because of the huge line in front of it) because I was expecting a normal type line and when I figured out that it was in a buffet style I smiled, grabbed my tray and piled up. First some peanut, then some popcorn, nacho’s and about 4 hot dogs, 2 for me, 1 for the kid and 1 for my lady.
Next we just sat down before we even got to our seats and ate happily, concluding that even if the Dodgers got destroyed 20-0 that the price we paid was already worth it. Dodger dogs are the best and anyone who’s had one just can’t deny that fact and they’re so good that you don’t even need to put any topping on them and they’re good but I did anyway, getting a wrapper, putting ketchup and mustard on it and dipping my dog in nacho cheese, it was the best.
After the game started (with me still under the pavilion stuffing my face) it was near immediate that Ted Lily, the pitcher who threw the last time I went to a Dodger game, tested the words that I said earlier giving up three quick runs and inciting some anger from the crowd, including me. Nearly immediately the Dodgers decided to try and come back, and tease us by loading the bases for Matt Kemp with 0 outs. Of course in beautiful Dodger fashion they somehow had the bases loaded and only got out of the inning with 1 run, frustrating me to no end and feeling like this game was going to have one of those slow deaths.
In the bottom of the inning the beer part of my title came into play as a wonderful fan (I say that in all irony) decided he wanted to heckle Jason Werth “Hey Werth!” he said “You should still be a Dodger you jerk!” He turned away looked at fans in right field with a big smile on his face, clearly pleased with himself. Obviously this fan didn’t realize it was the Dodgers who let him go and not Werth who left but that didn’t stop him from constantly berating Werth all game, even to the point where Werth after one particularly crazy rant waved him off, that got a good laugh from the crowd.
I also found out firsthand how strict they are about their seating policy as a whole family got uprooted for people who wanted their seats, next I got moved because I found the wrong seat, mainly because someone else was sitting in my seat so I got a little confused and when I got moved into 302 6-8 the seats were better than before as I was sitting right next to the visiting bullpen and that enabled me to be nearly front n center for part 2 of “beer.”
I really only saw the results, but that was enough of an entertainment value for me to include here. It was around the middle of the game after the Nationals took a 6-2 lead and it looked like Lily would be short for the game and the Dodgers weren’t doing much when I saw the first of many Dodger fans get thrown out. A group of people came in together and started to bother the Nationals players in the bullpen, I guess someone complained and eventually one guy got thrown out, then a couple innings later one more guy got thrown out, that’s about when I lost interest in the game for a few minutes and watched as the head of security issued a warning to the group, now this is my interpretation of what I think he said by the results later “If I hear anything else from the group, you’re all gone.” An inning or two later, nearly 10-15 people were escorted out, to the joy of the group who felt that it was awesome to get all that attention, or they were so displeased by the game they just didn’t want to stay but they really missed a good one.
It was about the 6th inning when I spoke my most prophetic words “this is going to be a crazy one and will be decided in the bottom of the 9th.” I couldn’t be more right as in the 7th inning the Dodgers tied it up 6-6 after training 6-5 since the 3rd inning with great pitching from Lilly after the 3rd and great bullpen work from 3 different relievers and then the bottom of the 9th came, the Dodgers got runners on base and Furcal was coming up with his second chance to be a hero after driving a ball to deep center with runners on base.
He didn’t disappoint us again as the ball went to deep left and after the runner on 2nd base scored Furcal was mobbed by his Dodger teammates in the middle of the field and to see that in person is much more insane than on television. Watching as nearly 40,000 fans stand up clapping and yelling (I threw my voice out btw) as the Dodger dugout clears out and runs on the field to tackle their short stop is an image I will never lose, it was the best game I had ever been to.
I want to personally thank Rafael Furcal for that with his great defensive play at shortstop and his bat helping to score a run and deliver the game winner. He’s always been one of my favorite Dodgers and it always saddened me when he got hurt because I knew this team wouldn’t be the same without him. More than any other injury this year, Furcal’s hurt the most because a table setting like Furcal just doesn’t exist in the majors. He hits well, drives in runs, steals bases, has great range, an awesome arm, and is a leader in the club house and on the field. If the Dodgers make a run this year it will be because Furcal stayed healthy, Rafael Furcal’s don’t come around very often and I’m proud he’s a Dodger.
Better News In the Bryan Stow Case
It seems that Bryan Stow believes also believes they have the right men. On the same day that Bryan Stow opened his eyes and communicated with nurses, the two men arrested yesterday had charges filed against them, something the LAPD didn’t do with Giovanni Ramirez who is now exonerated but is still in jail for a parole violation.
I totally believed that when we found out who these two men were that they’d be gang members from Los Angeles who came from the streets, that was the picture I painted in my mind but it seems that they are family men who live in Rialto of all places.
Louie Sanchez, 29, and Marvin Norwood, 30 are the two men arrested and Dorene Sanchez, was also arrested with them who police say drove the “get away” car is a friend of Louise Sanchez and has a closer type relationship o Marvin Norwood.
It’s incredible it took this long but it makes sense if they live in Rialto since it was the LAPD conducting the case and Rialto is a 30-45 minute drive from Los Angeles. The only way that these three were arrested the way they were is not only from investigating but someone gave them up to the police and got paid. I’m sure we’ll never find out who unless they reveal it themselves, as the LAPD sure as heck won’t and may not even admit it, but I’m just glad it’s over and pray that Bryan Stow finally recovers.
Good News & Bad News in Stow Story
First the good news, it seems the LAPD finally got the right man, or in this case men? They have arrested two men this time and have exonerated Giovanni Ramirez, although he’s still in jail for violating his probation, good job LAPD, lawsuit anyone?
On the bad news side, Bryan Stow himself went in for emergency surgery yesterday after fluid built up in his head and he had a 30 second seizure.
I pray the best for Bryan Stow and strength for his family and that the LAPD finally have it right and Bryan Stow gets justice for what was done to him.
Please, no violent comments about the men responsible, exchanging hate for hate is never the answer, justice is all we need here.
