Ninety-Three! That’s all you need to know. Clayton Kershaw was clocked at 93 MPH in yesterday’s game. The last time he did that was over 2 years ago! This was his first Spring Game and he was giddy after it… because he knows there is more left in the tank. 94? 95? Maybe… but every MPH of separation between his fastball and slider is HUGE! He sat at 91-92 most of his time on the mound, but the 93 represents a big improvement.
That was his first Spring Training Action. Clayton is healthy. Clayton has matured. Clayton has changed. Clayton is embracing Driveline Baseball. Clayton is still incredibly competitive… and just like Justin Verlander discovered more in his tank, Clayton is doing the same. I would not be surprised to see him hit 95!
Unless he has an arm injury, and he evidently doesn’t, Clayton’s loss of velocity over the years has been mechanics, loss of flexibility and what many now believe are improper training practices. Driveline Baseball is forcing many teams and pitchers to re-evaluate their training and throwing routines. In a season where I am already giddy, I have suddenly become giddier!
Sure, his arm could fall off, so could Alex Wood’s (who looked pretty bad yesterday), Julio Urias’, Ross Stripling’s, Walker Buehler’s and David Price’s. An earthquake could swallow up Dodger Stadium as well… it all of the is unlikely… unless you just want to look at any situation through negative lenses! I can’t do anything about that.
All I can tell you is that Clayton was good last year, but not like in his “Cy Young Day’s Good”. His first Spring outing leads me to believe that he is re-capturing some of his lost velocity and if he will just vary his signs and pitching patterns somewhat, he could be back on the Cy Young path.
He was still ranked in the Top 10 Pitchers last year. By the way, Walker Buehler, who has filthy stuff, was not. It’s very conceivable to me that Clayton can push back to near the top. It’s not that far of a climb. This changes everything! And… he’s still the Ace!
Dodger Notes
- Brett de Geus and Dennis Santana are making a run at a roster spot.
- I think Marshall Kasowski is using smoke and mirrors. He’s not ready.
- Gudaun looks promising and has a “presence.”
- Alex Wood was rusty but his line was not as bad as it looks.
- Yadier Alvarez “didn’t feel right.” Whatever…
- Joc Pederson is back to baseball activities.
- Someone told me Alex Wood hit 92 MPH. Never saw that in print!
- Chicken Strip goes today. There are two games. I’m going to see if I can watch them both.
Discussion (75)
Disagree, not disagreeable
All good games for Raley, Lux, Stripling, Gore, Turner, Ferguson, Uceta and White, and many others. Lots of highlights. Also heard about the game against the Rockies. How many Major league teams could field two successful rosters in one day? I know, it is only ST, but encouraging all the same.
Barnes closing the door on doubters.
Is Cody T pulling a Cody B on us and we just can’t send him back down?!!!!!!!! MLB is gonna have to expand the roster to 30 players to accommodate the Dodgers!
5th inning is finally finished and we scored 11 runs in just that inning. Thomas has 2 homers………………….in the 5th inning and, although I haven’t checked, I’m sure he’s leading the team in spring RBI’s.
What do you think Arenado is thinking right about now in the Rockies dugout? Keeping in mind that he’s facing a split squad Dodger team.
I agree, Cassidy. Cody Thomas, Luke Raley, Zack McKinstry, Beaty, and DJ Peters are making it a hard choice for the Dodgers this year among others. This is a good thing.
U heard Mark greatest bullpen ever! Trouble is I’m starting to believe him. I’ve got to stop drinking the cool aid!
Concur about that ‘cool aide’ because of too much sugar!! LOL
Chug it!
Time to find Sborz a new home.
Graterol hit 99+ at least 4 times today in his first inning.
Our bullpen could be vastly improved. Graterol could be a huge part. Where is Treinen?
Chillin…. 😉
Actually, he’s working with Driveline.
Doing Driveline stuff…
I wish we could trade pollock. I would rather play Taylor or kike in left as pollock. Btw why couldn’t we trade pollock? We all know why. What a waist of a roster spot and money. Pollock is an injury prone streak hitter who can’t defend or run anymore. When I watched him bat last year any breaking pitch from a rh pitcher totally overmatched him. Well, I guess he is destined to be in left so I hope he has a great year.
It’s interesting how different organizations approach the season. For instance Scherzer had 2 starts in before kershaw took the mound. Most Dodger pitchers go 1 inning while Flaherty of the cards went2-3 innings first time out. I know pitches figure in that but it wasn’t the only consideration.
I was really hoping Alvarez would turn it around. Santana is off to a fine start. I don’t understand why I keep reading joc and pollock can’t coexist. Why not? Joc is playing for a contract and pollock will probably be hurt anyway so it will probably be joc and Taylor. Unless the Dodgers consider Gonsolin a starter he is going to make it a tough decision for the brass.
There haven’t been many moves Friedman’s made that are regrettable, especially within the last few years, but Pollack is shaping up that way. Can’t say I was against it at the time, due to the RHB need, although I was a little initially alarmed at the length of the deal. He was kind of a late signee, couldn’t have been that much competition for him.
In his time here, he’s gone from promising, to underwhelming, to disappointing, to horrifying(playoff performance). The next possible regression is cancerous to the clubhouse, and I’d hope we waive him if it comes to that. Kind of extreme when it comes to his remaining money, but I wouldn’t risk even one malcontent spoiling the chemistry this season. Of course, although we can’t trade him, we can count on him getting hurt and missing a chunk of two of the season, so it might work out on it’s own. He should be embracing the Freese/Utley role instead of coveting Bellinger’s centerfield position. Delusional.
Hey Jon Weisman,
Who coined the Kershawshank Redemption?
You or me?
If you answer Mark’s question Jon, please give us some of the other ones you came up with. We all looked forward to every CK start just to see what you’d come up with.
I know it’s still early,But has anybody read other blog’s about what those fan’s are saying about our Dodgers.
Remember this:
There is no dumbass vaccine and some people love misery.
We can’t fix stupid!
I can see a trade brewing.
Raley and Pollock could platoon in LF.
Who wants to pay the most for Joc and Kike?
Finally we agree on something Mr Mark. Trade Joc and Kike for whatever you can get.
Thought I sprayed him pretty well in my post. I’ve got plenty left if needed.
Mark, we all know about the injury history of Pollock, but he is a RHB and again, I am not so sure he favors a platoon set up.
He has no choice. Suck it up and win a championship or be branded as a malcontent and get shipped to KC, Miami or some such place.
I just heard today that Kenta Maeda demanded a trade when he was a Dodger.
If you don’t want to be a Dodger, Friedman will make sure the doorknob doesn’t hit ya’
C’mon Mark. You know Maeda’s personality. Do you really think he DEMANDED a trade?
I’m sure he requested a trade and, looking at his roster, AF decided it would be good for both sides to accommodate him.
His agent did… privately… and the Dodgers obliged according to MLB. Radio.
He certainly was insistent upon being a starter. (Maeda) And in reply to Mark on Pollock, correct but platooning should be minimal if possible. If Pollock ends up having a rough ST, wss. Joc of course knows that if he wants more playing time, he obviously has to get better against LHP should he be given any opportunity. LF in any event figures to be shared as it is.
BTW, winning a championship will require all 26 players on the active roster to ‘suck it up’
The writing is on the wall for Pollock. With outfielders like Thomas, Raley, DJ Peters and others ready to take anyone’s place who is not producing, the Dodgers shouldn’t hesitate to trade Joc and Pollock when the opportunity presents itself.
Well the Dodgers must not have thought much of Álvarez not taking the mound because he’s been DFA’d.
I do not Think so Hawk. Apparently he just did not felt like pitching in his mind . Just Announced he has been DFA. Dodgers since PUIG have missed in all the cuban signings so far. Traded Yordan instead of this moron Yadier. Could have signed Moncada, Robert, others . Instead Sierra, Alvarez, Olivera, etc, Etc. There are good cuban players but Dodgers have gotten bad signings. Puig you can say whatever you want but at least was average or above average MLB caliber for a while and crazy but still delivered.
Yeah, that Friedman guy does know jack…. he has really ruined this team!
They have no hope.
If only he had signed more Cubans.
He has not signed any good Cubans. Puig was signed by Colleti and he gave away Alvarez to cheater Astros
I still can’t believe Dodger brass really expects a Joc and Pollock platoon to work this year. Once Joc gets back and shows he healthy I think there will be a Joc combo trade coming this spring which could open a spot for McKinstry and maybe Gonsolin.
Neither Joc or Pollock are ‘all in’ on being platooned from what I understand.
Ken Gurnick reporting that Alvarez has been dfa. I would guess that someone might take a chance on him. If not, they could still keep him in the organization, but maybe their patience has run out.
Now we find out the rest of the story!
Good riddance….
Any guess as to who replaces him on the 40-man?
Don’t they have 10 days to trade him is a team shows interest in him. If no team signs him he can report back to the Dodgers without being on the 40.
He needed to be ready to keep his spot on the 40 and it might just be a matter of the Dodgers not wanting to hold a spot for him while he gets his body ready to compete.
MY guess is he will not be claimed and could end up back in Dodger’s minor league system where a need is to fill a roster spot with pitching
Mark mentioned Santana and De Gues making a push to make the opening day roster. Any young position players anyone thinks can make the opening day roster? Mc Kinstry?
McKinstry would be nice, Cassidy.
McKinstry won’t make it unless there s an injury or trade.
Santana could make it…
de Geus would have to be Superman to even be considered since he is not on the 40-Man.
I like Raley too, but Beaty can play 3B to back up JT.
I could see Cody Thomas as the starting LF’er in 2021.
I see lots of trade possibilities.
I can see Dodgers attempting to still move Joc, as i thought i read someone say he certainly wants to test the FA market.
Does anyone know what happened with this headcase Y Alvarez. Why he didnt pitch ? Was he having another child like moment tantrum or what ? Who signed this moron
He couldn’t get loose in the pen and didn’t feel right. Being examined. It would be moronic to take the mound and try to face hitters if something physically might be wrong.
Well, he was dfa’d, so sounds like the Dodgers didn’t like the last minute change of plans.
My guess is that they had to activate him and bump someone else off of the 40-man roster, keep him suspended, or designate him. Hopefully no one will trade for home and they can assign him to AAA like they did with Tyler White.
So, everyone, who from the minor league pitchers impressed you yesterday besides de Geus and Kasowski if they did?
Hey kpizzle,
Are you a Dodger fan or just a Kershaw hater?
Well, he only posts negative things… mostly about Kershaw,
He has never had anything good to say about the Dodgers.
I would say it’s pretty apparent that he is a troll!
Do you have some “Troll Spray?”
Are you or have you ever been a reader of Jon Weisman’s Dodger Thoughts blog Mark? I believe he was the first one to coin the term Kershawshank Redemption. He used to come up with a different one each time CK started.
How many can you remember?
I’m embarrassed to say that’s the only one. And some of them were very clever.
I’m drawing a blank as well
I have no idea who coined what… when, but long ago, I used that name repeatedly and even owned the domain http://www.kershawshankredemption.com for many years.
I know Jon, maybe he has a take. He reads and sometimes comments.
Son of a gun. I had no idea. Does Jon comment under his own name?
Hopefully he’ll remind us of some of the other Kershawisms.
Yes!
He is still a playoff choker and we all know it!
And many Americans now won’t drink Corona beer due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
Make that a Corona virus with a Lyme disease twist.
Here’s another one that shows how messed up we are. Garth Brooks was in Michigan for a concert and went on stage wearing a Sanders 20 jersey (as in Barry Sanders, the former Lions star running back, who wore #20).
Brooks actually got threats from people who thought he was promoting Bernie Sanders.
Barry Sanders thought the whole thing was pretty funny and asked Brooks if he’d be willing to be his VP.
I think Wood is going to surprise a lot of people this year. He was hurt last year and the off season worked with driveline. This spring he is implementing the new stuff and will look a little shaky at first. Be patient.
Now that was clever Mark. One of my all time great movies and my all time favorite player. Now that our pitching looks so great when can we start bitching about what a crummy offense we have!
They are bums! 😉
Bring on the Dodger dogs.
Buns–a wiener short of a Dodger dog?
Kershaw looked very good, now Buehler and Stripling today.
It was reported on a couple of sites (CBS Fantasy Baseball was one) that Alex Wood was hitting 92-93. Both Ken Gurnick and the LA Times reported that Clayton Kershaw was hitting 91-93.
I hope you are right Mark. We need two co-aces in October. When is Urias going to throw? I think we have some great deapth in starting pitchers and it looks like we could have deapth in the bull pen. It would be nice to see Jansen and Kershaw come back and have good years. Not that last year was bad.
As I read more articles on the Astros cheating scandal, it is a black eye for baseball. I am now convinced we should of won the 2017 WS. The Astros should have received a stronger punishment. All players should have been suspended and no Astros this year should be on the all star team, including pitchers. They all knew what was going on.
Love to see the kids play. My favorite time is the last four innings. This is the time for the kids. Thomas looks like a keeper. He looks very mature to me.
I believe I read that both Urias and Price are scheduled to pitch on Monday.
Hopefully Guduan learns control, both on and off the mound. Suspended by the Astros last August when he hit a fellow pitcher in the head with a bat, and later came back into clubhouse with a knife (according to multiple sources – reported by Astros County blog)
I’d love to know more details on that Guduan suspension. Bringing in a guy like that is totally foreign to what Friedman normally does. Remember, we didn’t go after Chapman when he had that domestic violence incident. Of course this was a guy and not a woman, and maybe the knife wasn’t very sharp. Oh well, I’m going to assume there were extenuating circumstances until I hear otherwise.
Agreed; assuming often leads to regret.