The End of the Line
It was a great run! Clayton Kershaw will finish his age 35 (and last) season as a lifetime Dodger with a 12-4 record and a 2.61 ERA. I saw him in 2006 and every year since he hit the Majors in 2008. In his sixteen-year MLB career, he went 209-91 with a 2.48 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP…
It was a great run! Clayton Kershaw will finish his age 35 (and last) season as a lifetime Dodger with a 12-4 record and a 2.61 ERA. I saw him in 2006 and every year since he hit the Majors in 2008. In his sixteen-year MLB career, he went 209-91 with a 2.48 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. Nobody did it better, and he is the LA Dodgers (probably the Brooklyn Dodgers) G.O.A.T. You Koufax lovers have no argument!
All good things have to come to an end, and this is the end. Clayton has probably needed Tommy John for a few years, but his shoulder has effectively ended his career. He knows how to pitch, and he struggled through five innings last night, but you can see the look in his eye. He is resigned. He is at peace with it. Clayton is done! He never had a pitch that hit 90 MPH last night! But, what a ride!
That picture with Clayton and my son (Stephen) was taken in 2009 when he was 10 years old. Clayton was at Wrigley Field, and as you can see, I was standing on the field taking this picture. Clayton had just run to LF to get a ball and then ran to the dugout to get a pen to sign the ball. I still have the ball, but plan to give it to Stephen today. It is his, as he is now 24 years old.
Clayton is done, but one door closes, and another door opens. What the hell are the Dodgers going to do? NEXT MAN UP! I loved everything about Clayton’s career, but now it is time for new blood. The Dodgers were flat last night – they knew it was “Clayton Kershaw’s Swan Song.” You never know when it is “officially over,” but last night feels like that for Clayton. Now it is “Next Man Up.”
The Dodgers have plenty of internal options. We have talked about them: Sheehan, Grove, Stone, et al. If the playoffs started today, this would be the rotation: Bobby Miller, Lance Lynn, Ryan Pepiot, and whoever else steps up. I am good with that. We all come to the end of the line.
At 70 years old, I am still useful, but I know that my time is near. My son has taken over the day-to-day operations of US Water Systems, although I now have a home office and work 40-50 hours a week. Someday, I will be irrelevant (and I understand that). However, it is not today. My stepdaughter, who is our Marketing Coordinator, was tasked with writing bios for every key person in the company. I have never tried to be her dad because she has a great dad, but our relationship has been “tenuous.” This is the bio she wrote for me:
“Meet Mark, the esteemed Master Water Specialist, recognized by the Water Quality Association as the most experienced individual in the field. With nearly 50 years of hands-on experience, Mark possesses unrivaled expertise in all things related to water. Mark’s vision for US Water Systems materialized during the early 2000s, a time when the internet was still unexplored territory. Today, his visionary leadership continues to drive our team, inspiring us to constantly strive for excellence. Guided by unwavering integrity and fearless determination, Mark sets the standard for our organization.“
When I read it, it made me cry.
Last week, my son was talking to an attorney, and I happened to overhear a conversation where he responded, “My dad is a junkyard dog. You will never beat him until he is dead. Are you prepared for that?”
Like Clayton, I am past my prime. My legacy just might be “He was a Junkyard Dog!” So was Clayton! He was the Dodgers G.O.A.T. But he was a lot more than a Junkyard Dog.
He was Clayton Freaking Kershaw!
UPDATE:
Vargas, Barbary, and bench coach Chris Gutierrez were all ejected. Gutierrez was ejected in the 6th inning, arguing a balk. The OKC Dodgers were shut out for the first time in 2023. JDM was 0-4.
At Rancho Cucamonga, the Quakes were rocking. Kendall George was 2-4 with a walk, 2 RBI, and a run scored {.387 BA/.938 OPS). Thayron Liranzo was 1-2 (a 2-run HR – his 23rd) to go with 3 BB. He also scored 4 times. Jake Gelof was 3-5 with a grand slam and Christian Romero went to 8-2 with 5 shutout (2-hi) innings. He walked 0 and struck out 6.
At Great Lakes, Dalton Rushing hit his 14th and Damon Keith hit his 11th to account for both runs in a 2-1 win. Peter Huebeck got the win (5 IP. 1 ER) while Jared Karros pitched 4 shutout innings (1 hit).
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Discussion (87)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Kersh is one of the greatest competitors I’ve ever had the pleasure to watch. My son and I watched every pitch of his no hitter. He had no hit stuff at several points this season. But he’s always found a way to be a stellar pitcher even when his stuff was flat. You could see on his face that he was digging deep yesterday to do that again.
But I agree with Mark, in that he looked very tired and very frustrated. But he wasn’t going to give up. And I don’t think he will this season. He will keep pitching until his arm falls off or his doctors insist. But Kersh has earned the right to choose his own path.
If he does need TJ or shoulder surgery, I agree that he will retire. Having major surgery at 20 isn’t the same as having major surgery in your mid 30s.
I had an interesting conversation 7 or 8 years ago with a retired NFL running back. I won’t mention his name as he was well known and was named to several pro bowls. By pure coincidence he married my friend’s cousin. We met at holiday BBQ. He retired at 29. Walking away from a good amount remaining in the guaranteed portion of his contract. Somebody in our group brought that up. He was pretty clear in his response. He said something to the effect that he may have been 29, but his body felt like he was 59. And the surgery his Drs recommended would be major joint reconstruction and would require a year of painful rehab and constant conditioning training if he was to attempt a return. And there was zero guarantee he could return as the player he once was. On the flip side, if he never played again he wouldn’t need any surgery at all and the injury wouldn’t cause him problems in his day to day life. In fact, he was told that the surgery could potentially cause more problems for him later in life than doing nothing at all. But if he wanted to play football, he needed to fix the problem. He chose to retire. Walking away from a lot of money. But he already had a lot of money and he said he knew it was time to hang ‘em up and be a father.
I’m not sure Kersh is there. But I do think he’s close. But he will do everything he can to help the Dodgers this season as long as his arm is still attached to his body. That I am certain. I’d just hope we somehow get one last time to see Kersh lift that trophy. We did win in 88 with the help of our star player who could barely walk. You never know.
Just wondering why my comments do not get posted.
After a hot streak and great team wins we are struggling. Losing 4 of the last 5 with the starting pitching taking blows is not what we hoped to see. The Braves took us to the woodshed. And Urias being a dumb-ass adds to the distractions.
But this team’s core hasn’t changed. This is a confident, resilient club and if any team can regroup from all the adversity, it’s this team. There are always peaks and valleys but this team has had more peaks than I certainly predicted. I said we’d win 85 to 90 games coming out of spring training, which seems like a lifetime ago. I never saw the success coming, that we’ve had. Doc should be skipper of the year. This team has great synergy and gamers that I think will get hot again entering the playoffs.
I think Urias’ subtraction could actually be a blessing for AF and Doc. He was fat and flat. He’s been ineffective and a problem in the making come playoff time. Can anybody say they have any confidence in him facing the Braves, Phillies or any playoff team, for that matter? I don’t. So he has taken the burden off from making hard decisions about his role. I’ll take our young guys especially Miller and Pepiot now and be happy about it. It’s great opportunity and this team knows the bats have to get going to support these kids.
Our LHRPs are not good. Vesia, V-Gon, and now Yarborough don’t inspire much confidence. And Fergie is a word from Yogi is “you-never-know”. Maybe Kershaw should move to the bullpen to be more effective for his 2 or 3 possible innings.
It’s going to be interesting with plenty of adversity to overcome. I kinda like the challenge. Nobody said this was going to be easy but I’m not yet ready just yet to piss on the campfire and call in the dogs.
Sadly, I think Mark is right about CK.
The drop in velo over the last couple starts is alarming to say the least. Never reached 90 all nigh long. A few weeks ago he revved it up to even 93 on occasion.
I think he will gut this out as long as he can and retire after the season is over.
Koufax and Kershaw. Double K. The best there ever was. Clayton the better regular season option but I would chose Sandy every day in a do or die game.
For me Sandy is 1A and Clayton 1B.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A bit off topic Mark. A while back you shared a video involving the development of a mobile purifying water system. What was the outcome?
The Sky is not falling.
There is no doom and gloom.
There is reality, and that reality is that Clayton threw 84 pitches with great effort last night. He hit 89 MPH twice. His fastball sat at 84-88 MPH most of the time. His slider is 84-85 MPH. His velocity is down from 92-93 to 88-87. That’s 5 MPH since the beginning of the season. There is not enough differentiation between his fastball and slider.
He can still drop the Hammer Curve Ball, but unless he can find some lost velocity, he is done. He might be able to wile out 2 or 3 innings, but that is it. The problem is that when you throw with “great effort” you also lose accuracy. It is wishful thinking to think he can pitch effectively at this velocity.
If Kershaw continues pitching this year With less velocity on his baseball The 2 bad outing in a row his’s pitching record this year and ERA Are good enough to ride into the sunset. Going back to the year the Dodgers won the division the team was celebrating Kershaw was too young to drink wasn’t allowed to be in the Clubhouse with the other boys. I have been a big Kershaw fan since his first outing.
Agree lets not act like the sky is falling here.
Did he have his best stuff, no.
Yet he gave the team 5 innings vs a playoff bound team.
My moneys on CK to figure this out and be effective and win playoff games for us.
I’m guessing Kershaw pitches on, unless there is a serious injury. He went through this a few years ago, drop in velocity, was pretty much in the 87/88 range.
According to a story on ESPN.com, MLB is expected to make some decision on Urias’s status as early as tomorrow as that is his next scheduled start. Felony corporal assault means there was bodily injury inflicted on the person. That does not sound like what happened last time.
Hi Mark, it seems to me like I know you. Although I just write here ocassionally. Everything you have achieved with your company and your family sounds excellent. I wish you many more successes, and some rest. Maybe a short trip to sunny Costa Rica will do. Go Dodgers!
Jake Burger has owned the Dodgers this year. .370 average, 5 homers and 8 driven in. Muncy could be available tonight. JD close to returning.
I’ve not read anywhere where CK said he is quitting baseball or the Dodgers. So, unless I see him say it, I’m assuming he will be back at some time. After all, he’s only 35. Many great pitchers are pitching close to 40…why can’t he…if he still wants to?
Sheesh, I’m 70 and have now been playing my best tennis since I began playing 55 years. 35 is nothing…
Get in that ass, Miggy!
If, on April 1st, I had told you that Dustin May, Clayton Kershaw, Tony Gonsolin, and Walker Buehler would lose over 80% of their combined seasons to the IL and that Julio Urias would be suspended for Felony Spousal Abuse, you would likely have believed the Dodgers would finish with a sub .500 record. Yet, here they are, NL West Champs, and it is far from over!
What a ride! Sometimes adversity breeds champions.
I do believe the Dodgers will need a “1988” post season to win the WS. The Julio situation and a clearly diminished CK = a very tough hill to climb in the 2023 post season. Lynn, Miller, Pepiot, CK and “piggyback ” long relievers like Yarborugh, Sheehan, Stone will be the formula for success.
The Dodgers will not be the media favorites to win, so they may need a Bob Costa moment where someone proclaims them as the weakest SP of all post season teams only to see Doc have a moment where he uses it motivate the team. Probably have to win some post season games in 8-7 fashion. Can Mookie, Freddie, Will and an occasional and timely “pop” from Muncy, Hernandez, Outman and JDM = success?
I certainly liked our chances for success with Julio, even as poorly as he has pitched this season, and a resurging CK but we will have to make do with what we got. As Winston Churchill said to a nation to be strong and proud, we too as Dodger Nation need to be strong and proud…for this just might be our finest hour. I believe…do you?
UPDATE ABOVE ON MiLB
Maybe Kershaw can give the Dodgers two or three innings… once through the lineup. Then Buehler comes in and delivers four or five innings… or vice versa. It could work.
On YouTube I stumbled upon video of Buhler pitching at OKC.
Looked pretty sharp. On one called third strike, the batter challenged the call, and the review showed that pitch indeed clipped the bottom of the zone.
I was happy to see Vargas playing LF. Could be a good spot for him,
I want Belli to stick with the Cubs, where he’d be The Man, and not second play second fiddle to Judge. Baseball is better when the Cubs are contenders..
I’m still hoping the Dodgers land Ohtani, but his injury and the prospect of surgery raise a lot of questions. If he can DH while mending from surgery, as he did once before, it will be exciting
Now Ohtani is dealing with an oblique too, and so the Angels are playing without Ohtani or Trout, while Rendon keeps acting like an absolute jerk. Whether it’s Moreno or a new owner, a teardown might be in order.
Maybe I’m thinking about the Angels lesto avoid all the Dodgers recent troubles–and I don’t just mean the Julio mess and Kershaw’s strugg….. Just when it seemed we’d get JDM back, Max injures his shoulder. With Will filling in at DH, Barnes gets clubbed by a backswing–and Will has to put on the catcher’s gear. After a glorious August, September is bringing a lot of misfortune.
Maybe Tucker Barnhart will ride to the rescue…
No doom and gloom. Walker coming back, if even only as an opener, is a good thing. Kids getting valuable experience. This is a team. They all pull together and pull for each other. Old friend AJ Pollock released by the Giants. I know Cody is a free agent this offseason, but if he signs with the Padres or Giants, I am not going to be a happy camper. I think he belongs with the Yankees.
According to Kersh, he isn’t done yet. He knows there is an issue, but he is going to pitch until he can’t. I would rather have a guy with that attitude and diminished stuff on the mound than someone who does not care. He will most likely pull the plug after the season, but like the song says, I woke up still not dead again today. The internet said I had passed away, but if I died, I didn’t stay that way, I woke up still not dead again today.
Kersh pitches like a Siberian Husky and competes like a junkyard dog. If this is indeed the end of the line for Kersh as a Dodger, then thank you Kersh for an incredible career! You made rooting for the Dodgers an absolute joy and I loved every minute of watching you play the game the right way!
I choose to be optimistic about Lynn.
He’s basically had one bad start for the Dodgers–and it was against the team with the best offense in the game.
But I fear Mark is right…. Kershaw may never be Kershaw again.
How soon will we see Buhler???
Pretty sweet marketing bio. Quite a tribute.
And you say your relationship with your step-daughter is “tenuous”? What would she have written if it was hunky-dory?
I guess it’s smart marketing to omit your love/obsession with the Dodgers…