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
“My son has taken over the day-to-day operations of US Waster Systems,”
You might want to correct the typo, Mark, unless you are now in the refuse business instead of the water business.
If you can get along with your family, there is no better way to earn a living than to have a family business. I was fortunate enough to come into a business started by my grandfather and father. I joined when I graduated college and spent 40 years there. My other grandfather, mother, wife and son all were active at one time or another until we closed the business in 2012. We had a great run and managed to make a family business run smoothly without killing each other.
It would be a shame if CK couldn’t at least make one last World Series appearance and be part of one more championship, but I agree that he seems at peace with whatever path this leads him down.
A joyous & touching eulogy to Kershaw’s career.
As of now, my playoff starters –
1) Miller
2) Pepiot
3) BP committee – options Lynn, Sheehan, Stone, others..
40/50 hours per week at age 70 doesn’t seem done to me. Maybe if you were writing this article from the Amalfi coast would be a better incentive for Kersh. Like Gonsolin, I think Kersh is pushing through, not 100% physically, to help get this team another title. Hard to believe we have much of a chance throwing 2-3 rookies out there in the October pressure cooker.
Think back to the beginning of the season when the Dodgers options for playoff SP’s were Urias, Kersh, Gonso, and May. But one by one for various reasons, all those options have gone (or are about to go) by the wayside.
Yet here we are today in the stretch run, and LA is still gonna win their division and probably secure the 2nd best record in the NL with a first-round playoff bye. Amazing!
Just an impressive testament to the MIGHT of the Dodgers forward planning, pitching depth, and exceptional coaching.
Win or lose in the playoffs, just be grateful and enjoy the ride.
TOTALLY AGREE Wayne. The resilience of the Dodgers under Roberts and Friedman gained my admiration and respect. As f***Ed up as it seems right now with JU, they’ll weather this too. It will just accelerate some renewal. It does explain ,though, Julio’s disturbingly unfocused,
distracted attitude. However, still a helluva team having a helluva season.
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…
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???
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!
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.
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.
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…
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,
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.
UPDATE ABOVE ON MiLB
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?
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.
Get in that ass, Miggy!
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…
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.