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. 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:

Miguel Vargas was ejected after a check swing call went against him that he did not agree with. It looked like a pretty quick and aggressive hook from the umpire, and OKC manager Travis Barbary wound up being ejected as well

Vargas took his time getting into the clubhouse pic.twitter.com/6gac29lQoZ

— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) September 6, 2023

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).