New York Mets
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K is for KershawMay 30th, 2008
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The Dodgers believe they have the next big time pitcher. The next Dwight Gooden, the next Roger Clemens, the next Sandy Koufax. His name is Clayton Kershaw. Even though he has pitched just six innings on the year, Dodgers fans are over the moon for this young pitching project. Since Kershaw is just 20 years old, the Dodgers plan on limiting him to about 170 innings on the season. However, that should be more than enough time to get a feel for what the young phenom can do.
Standing in at six feet three inches, the lanky left hander is the kind of pitcher front office personal dream about. Hailing from Texas, Dodgers faithful are hoping that he proves to be more Nolan Ryan than Roger Clemens. Joe Torre had wanted to bring Kershaw along slowly, but at the end of the day, the Dodgers pitching has not performed as well as hoped. Kershaw is one of the few southpaw’s that the Dodgers have.
This Friday will be a big test for Kershaw as he will be pitching under the bright lights of New York City when the Dodgers play the Mets. Wearing number 54, Kershaw is trying to bring life to a Dodger team that has been underachieving for most of the season. Joe Torre plans on using Kershaw the way he used Joba Chamberlain last season with the Yankees, which is to say he will be used sparingly.
Whatever Kershaw can bring to the table will be an improvement as not one member of the Dodgers rotation has a winning record. Kershaw will be the Dodgers fifth starter for the foreseeable future. Right now, Kershaw is in line to see a number of starts in the coming weeks, then management will evaluate where there young phenom is at. One thing is for sure, the Dodgers hope that Kershaw can be their best left hander since Sandy Koufax. But, they would be happy if Kershaw turns out as good as Orel Hershiser. Either way, if Kershaw is lucky he will end up like Brad Penny and get to date both Alyssa Milano and Eliza Dushku.
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Sheets, Brewers start strongApril 13th, 2008
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We knew the Milwaukee Brewers were going to score a lot of runs. What we weren’t sure about was how well their pitching staff would do.
Two weeks into the season, things are looking pretty good as the Brew Crew prepares for this week’s NL Central showdown with division leader St. Louis.
Milwaukee (8-4) began the season 5-1 before dropping two of three to Cincinnati to close its opening homestand. The Brewers responded by taking two of three in a weekend series with the New York Mets at Shea Stadium.
As they enter this week’s three-game set with the Cardinals, the Brewers are averaging better than five runs per game - good for third in the National League. They sit just a game behind the Cardinals, who are off to a suprisingly strong start.
The story to Milwaukee’s start has been its pitching, namely that of Ben Sheets. The seven-year vet is 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA, second best among NL starters. His 23 innings rank third in the NL, and his 15 1/3-inning scoreless streak is the sixth longest such streak in franchise history. He is off to the best start of his career, evidenced by his complete game shutout of the punchless San Francisco Giants in his second start of the season. It was just the second shutout of his career.