The Dodgers will activate star lefty Clayton Kershaw, manager Dave Roberts told reporters including MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick (Twitter link). He’ll make his season debut on Sunday.
Kershaw had been sidelined to this point with back tightness. That’s not necessarily a major concern in and of itself, but the surefire future Hall of Famer has had particular troubles in that area over the years.
Thankfully, it seems this flare-up was a minor one. Kershaw, 32, has rather clearly declined in recent years. He was nevertheless capable of spinning 178 1/3 innings of 3.03 ERA ball in 2019.
It blows my mind how much flack Kershaw gets from posters. He is not good during the post season, we all know this, but how many players are there that have done more to get their team TOO the playoffs than Kershaw? This man had one of the best peaks of any pitcher in the game that was both effective and lasting. He has 3 cy Young’s and 1 MVP as well as several other titles.
He isn’t perfect as he falls apart in the playoffs but if your team can’t get there, it doesn’t matter how good you are in the playoffs.
I’m not a Dodger’s fan, but I do like good baseball. Kershaw is and has been a good pitcher. Through all the back problems he has had, he still bounces back. Just wish he would have signed with the Rangers.
You would think, with all the professionals around him and money, they would be able to figure out his back issues.
I know backs can be tricky, but it’s not like he’s playing football.
Theres never figuring out back problems-
As my Dad would say theres just good days and bad days- Poor guy suffered for 20 years on and off with a bad back even after multiple surgeries
I get that, but your dad isn’t a highly valuable employee in a billion dollar organization. Obviously the medical care is a lot higher.
True but that just furthers my opening statement
“Theres never figuring out back problems”
Oh I hate the Dodgers, but only for reasons that have to do with division rivalry. They are the best at what they do. Best pitching, best at player development, most consistently successful and dominant franchise in the NL.
And they’ve always been that way. They don’t seem to go through fire sales or rebuilding years like most other clubs do. Part of it is that their brand generates an immense amount of revenue, but that’s not the whole story. They’re just… good.
The Dodgers were a terrible org in the 90’s/early 2000’s under Fox and Mccourt-
The scouting and development depts held up their end but the guys on top were devastating – From the Straw/Eric Davis days to the early 2000’s this was one of the worst orgs out there Lb$ 4 Lb$
The lack of elite bullpen options come Oct has hurt Kershaw more than he has hurt us on his own in the playoffs – Hes been in a lot of spots he shouldnt have been in based on “there were no better options at the time”
Its tough being critical of Lad but beliveing Morrow Baez Kelley or Blanton is going to be a quality bridge when it matters most has always been wishful thinking –
Thats why I loved the Maeda for Grat trade along with the Trienan sign this offseason
Maybe part of that is Kershaw being a victim of his own success? The guy was so amazing, it was hard to take him out in a high leverage spot for someone who wasn’t nearly as good.
A lot of this briffle. Both mattingly and Roberts have not had deep bullpens and probably felt more confident going with Kershaw than… Blanton. Can’t blame them.
But The playoffs aren’t like the regular season. You gotta take what you can. Hopefully this years bullpen, tonight aside, will give Roberts confidence in his 6th and 7th inning guys
To be fair it is incredibly hard to win in the playoffs when the other team doesn’t swing at one of your curveballs.
Kershaw is a great pitcher, that is why I would start him #3 in playoffs and see if he is also open to relief
I sure hope CK has a good outing. I wonder if he will be on any kind of pitch count.
This is all leading up to one awkward 2021 offseason for Shaw-
What do you do if your the Dodgers? He might still be worth 3/60 at that point around the league to most teams but for LAD the money really doesnt work that way-
You’ve got Buehler Belli and possibly Seager who will need that 20 mill in that time
AND you have Plenty of Sp options in arb years that maintaining Shaw isnt nessasarily needed or an optimal use of funds for that matter-
Sure theres a hometown discount but the cost still may be too high-
Im sure Texas would offer the 3/60…the Dodgers can but they shouldnt
Tough job Fried has coming up here….
I Love Shaw but with Buehler Urias Price Strip May Gonzo Feguson White Santana Miller Beeter etc etc in tow I couldnt extend that 3/60 to him (even if its market value/even after all hes done for the org))
I guess the choice will ultimately be Kershaws but he’s going to have to see our side of it when the time comes- I hope no feelings get hurt
I think you capture the dilemma Friedman will be under. I hope Kershaw and the Dodgers can come to a compromise because I remember wishing Maddux would have been able to record his 300th win, his 3,000th strike out, and his 5,000th IP in a Braves uniform.
I just dont see it happening unless he goes year to year –
I dont even see a 3/45 being a wise invest for THIS team- At some point hes going to be closer to the “arb herd” than further away and those guys all come at sub 1 mill – Now if you dont have a herd than yes you pay the tab; but thats not behind this curtain
At some point it comes down to respect and I just dont know how much money we have to do that with him- Its going to be interesting
They went 3/45 for freaking rich hill and 3/48 for Kazmir
They will pay kershaw. Foolish to let him leave. You’re not replacing his production, even at a 2.7
He had his first ever 3.00+ ERA year and it took a juiced ball to ballon him to…. 3.03. Y’all are foolish for thinking they’re letting him walk.
Let’s look at the math
Mookie is 30M for the next forever
Cody has 4 years till free agency, then.. 30-35M AAV, depending on length?
Seager is 2 years away, he’s a wild card because of his health. But I’d be surprised at this point if his AAV is over 20. If it’s more than that, the dodgers will be quiet happy with his last 2 years lol.
Buehler, again 30M aav seems about max
Then look at the angels. Trout is 36M, Pujols 29M, Rendon AAV is 35M!, Simmons is at 15, Upton at 21
LAD is at 4 players at about 110-115M. Angels 5 players at 136M per year. That would be 20-25M for kershaw for dodgers to be where angels are. And I’d much rather take LAD above than angels above
Math is clearly rough but to say it’s impossible is an overblow of the issue. It’ll be interesting. But not impossible
Ehh your missing my point …
Sure its possible but but its Not NEEDED…… we had much more need for pitching when Hill Kaz were inked…the kids werent ready yet-
Also we werent closing in on all these arbs running out
And its also a back
And its also a new time with money
Im not even inking the 3/48 in all honesty if Im Friedman
Maybe a year to year deal at a slightly higher AAv
I know it seems rough but good business is tough and these descions need to be made
I think it’s highly flawed to think the kids are going to carry the rotation 100%
That’s how you go from great season to below 500 and let’s be honest, that’s not the Dodgers MO
I’d be shocked if they let kershaw walk. I just don’t see them going Buehler, urias, Gonsolin, May, white- like group while expecting to be the best team in the NL. There’s way too much volatility
It’s amazing how much you want to blow this team up. Lmfao maybe look in the mirror bro
Just the opposite amigo-
I want to keep them together but that involves picking and chosing- The back problem makes this an easier call for me inlcuding all the depth behind him
I wish I could live under the notion we can re-sign all these guys but thats not gonna happen.
I have complete faith in the youngsters to carry the torch thru the 2020’s
As a side note, when Clayton was in high school, Highland Park in Dallas, he was the center on the football team and Matthew Stafford was the QB. Doesn’t look like a typical center….made right decision pursuing baseball.
I get tired of hearing people say that Kershaw chokes in the playoffs, and yes he has had struggles, but in 2017 it took a team cheating to beat him. He shut them down in LA and they were scared to face him again in their park where opposing pitchers went to die because of their fear to face them straight up. I mean come on, Kershaw has one of the nastiest curve balls in the game and out of the 30+ he threw in Houston there was not a single swing and miss. I don’t call that completely choking in the playoffs.
51 breaking balls. Not a single swing and miss in the game.