Clayton Kershaw, is there anything he can't do?

Well opening day has come and gone at Petco Park, and after all was finished the team still standing was the Dodgers. For anybody who didn't watch this game could have been all kinds of crazy.
Minutes before the the game Vin Scully on the TV announced that despite the pleading of his manager, Don Mattingly, and pitching coach, Rick Honeycutt, Clayton Kershaw decided to take the mound. He had been suffering all day with a stomach flu, unable to eat, and leaking fluids from all ends. Scully even mentioned how Kershaw was needing to squat down and take breaks between throws of his long toss warm up. Despite how he felt Kershaw pulled himself together and marched himself to the mound perhaps hoping that game time adrenaline would get him through his ailment so that he could pitch.
However, things wouldn't be so easy, as it became clear on Clayton's second pitch, an 89 mph four seam fastball, that Clayton was not himself. Now to the casual observer there may not be much of a difference between a 90 mph fastball and a 95 mph fastball (Clayton's normal speed), but to baseball, it's a world of difference. Just ask Kershaw's teammates Ted Lilly or Chris Capuano, both know as soft tossing lefties, how much extra precision they need to get by on their 89 mph fastballs. Despite lacking his number 1 pitch to which he build his pitching repertoire around, Kershaw made it through the first inning on only 8 pitches, getting two groundouts and a flyout. The second took a little longer, the side was retired on 12 pitches, with two groundouts and a strikeout.
As the top of the third neared its conclusion up to the plate came Kershaw with a bat in his hand. One can only imagine the conversation between Kershaw and Mattingly before going to the plate, but one must assume that with Kershaw's condition Mattingly would have said, "take it easy. Don't swing and don't get hurt. Concentrate on your own pitching." However taking it easy isn't something Clayton does, instead on a 1 and 1 pitch he hits a single to left field. When the left fielder then bobbles the ball, Kershaw only hesitates for a moment considering his condition before throwing caution to the wind and running down to second.
When Kershaw slowly walks to the mound in the bottom of the third he is clearly fatigued he gets two quick outs on a ground out and strikeout before the wheels start to come off the wagon. Soon after two singles, a wild pitch and a walk the bases are loaded. Kershaw is facing Nick Hundley. After 3 pitches the count is 1 and 2. Kershaw takes a deep breath, reels back and fires. it's a 92 mph fastball, his second fastest pitch of the night. Even with all his remaining strength mustered into the throw it's still well below his average speed. However, the pitch was fast enough as it caught the inside corner of the plate and sent a frozen Hundly back to his dugout. Kershaw having retired the side walks slowly back to the dugout. As the Dodgers worked the top of the fourth for 3 runs, we were told that Mattingly found Kershaw laying on the floor in the tunnel behind the dugout. Kershaw could barely move, but he was working up the effort to go out and pitch another inning. At that point Donnie Baseball told the young pitcher that he was done for the day, and the bullpen would finish up the game.

People always talk about how cliche movies can be, and that life is never like the movies. What compels us to watch sports is that it contains real life moments that do defy definition. If you ask a Dodger fan which is a greater moment, Roy Hobbs light shattering home run in "The Natural", or Kirk Gibson's home run in the 1988 World Series, without a doubt that person would say Gibson's was the most moving. In truth, movies many times are an attempt to copy a small part greatest moments in life. Kershaw's battle against adversity yesterday was such a moment, and if you haven't seen it yet I suggest you do.

Dodgers drop two of the last three

Well I guess the hot start to spring training couldn't last, however as we arrive at the halfway point of the Dodgers Catus League tour the team stands at a respectable 7-3-2. During these starts the Dodger starting pitching, which many believe will be solid, but not a strength, has been strong. Let's go over the five starters and their stats so far this spring.

Clayton Kershaw: 7IP, 4H, 3BB, 6SO, 0ER. Highlights: Strikeing out 6 against the Reds starters, including Votto and Bruce

Chad Billingsley: 8IP, 11H, 3BB, 4SO, 4ER. Highlight: In the last game Bills induce 6 groundouts all from his changeup. Plus he is showing better command at the plate with only 3 walks so far.

Ted Lily: 5IP, 7H, 2BB, 1SO, 5ER. Highlight: Looked very solid for 3 innings against his old team the Cubbies. 1 hit and no runs in 3 innings. As per his normal progression, expect his stuff to get better as the year progresses.

Aaron Harang: 5IP, 7H, 0BB, 2SO, 3ER. Highlights: Against the slugger laiden Angels lineup, Harang gave up no free passes, 1 earned run, and had 2 strike outs in 3 innings. A solid start.

Chris Capuano: 4.2IP, 4H, 2BB, 7SO, 2ER. Highlights: Capuano is leading the team in strikeouts right now despite having the fewest innings. Looks like last years 8.1 SO/9 wasn't a fluke.

In all the starters look solid, and seem to be getting better. Adding together each starters last game, they allowed only 4 earned runs. Assuming Kershaw can win 20, and the rest of the starters when averaged together average 10 wins (or 40 wins all together) that put the Starters in line to win at least 60 games, only one less than Kershaw, Kuroda, Lily, Bills, and Rubby put up last year. Also with the solid bullpen that is forming there is no reason why the Dodgers can work another 22 or more wins after the starters are knocked out. Even though the Dodgers starting staff will most likely allow the most home runs out of any staff in baseball, look for them to also lead the league in fewest free passes and for all 5 starteres to have a sub 4.3 ERA by the end of the season and possibly beat last years staff ERA of 3.8.

On another note Dee Gordon had one of the most amazing steals that I've ever seen yesterday. Despite most analyst throwing Dee to the dogs, stating that he: "Does not hit the ball with authority", "One of the weakest hitters in the majors","Can't hit the ball out of the infield","light hitter". Despite all this Dee has been putting up great numbers so far this spring. So far in 18 at bats he has 5 hits for a 278 average, not great. But despite all the complaints about Dee not walking he also has 4 walks and only 1 strikeout to make his on base a very fun 435. In addition he is 5 of 5 for stolen bases. Despite every analyst coming up and saying Dee will be a big flop due to his lack of power, it has been clear that pitchers are afraid, of his speed, and it effects the way they pitch to him, leading to more walks. There is no better example of this than the Dodgers three run first inning against Jared Weaver and the Angels. Weaver was clearly disturbed by Gordon's first pitch bunt single, and then became even more aggitated when Dee stole second, leading to mistake pitches and doubles by Either and Rivera. Also in the last game, Dee's stolen base before even allowing a pitch to be thrown to Jerry Hairston, suprised and unsettled KC prospect Danny Duffy who then allowed 2 earned runs in the first. In fact, of the 8 games that Dee has started, he has scored a run in the first inning in 4 of them. Of Dee's 9 times that he has been on base, he has scored a run 5 times. Despite his lack of power, it cannot be denied that Dee's speed is a dangerous tool that allows for him to not just get on base, but score runs.