Dodgers: Catching Up

It's been a week or two since we've devoted any words to the boys in blue. It's kinda like Doom and I are a ghey married couple - which isn't that far from the truth - and one of our adopted Philippino kids has made it to the semifinals of the world amateur jai-alai championship where we've joined him in Montevideo while the other has been stuck under the care of aunt Ruthie. We love you Dodgers, we just kinda love our other child a little more right now... well, as long as he keeps winning.

But let's check in. Dodgers, how are you? You won 2 out of 3 games against both the Phillies and the Marlins during your 6 game East Coast road trip. You're 5-5 since losing Manny (40 games to go). And you still have the best record in the bigs (26-13). We do still love you, Dodgers. And we love you no matter what you do.

Juan Pierre is straight up knocking oodles of booty in ManRam's place, hitting .465 during the last 10 games, scoring 11 runs and knocking in 9. You knew he was a marginal starter in the MLB, but no way was he worth the $10 million he's getting paid this year. For our own comfort, Dodgers fans, lets pretend the $7.7 mil we're saving on Manny is Pierre's bonus for holding down the fort while he's gone. That make sense? No? Whatever.

My good buddy Sean has been particularly impressed with Clayton Kershaw recently. On Sunday vs. the Marlins he threw 7 innings of 1-hit ball, striking out 9. Sean wrote this to me:

Mark my words, in 2 years, kershaw will be the best pitcher in baseball. his fastball hits mid 90's and his hook of a curve ball bends the laws of science. he is just starting to incorporate his change-up. when he masters the change-up, ala johan santana and pedro martinez, he will experience cy young worth success.

Sean goes on to write that the 21-year-old stud will definitely have his ups and downs in the coming seasons, and I wouldn't be too surprised to see one of those downs when he next gets on the mound Saturday vs. the Angels. Kershaw has yet to string together consecutive wins.

On the day of Manny's suspension, Ned Colletti was asked what most concerned him about the squad. "My concern on Thursday was the same as my concern was on Wednesday: pitching," he said. The Dodgers have given up an Oriole-esque 4.6 runs/game since Manny's departure (and scored 6.1). While our rotation isn't the worst in the bigs, there's no doubt it could use some help. That help might be on its way. Hideki Kuroda, who's making $12.4 mil this year, is about a week away from making his first rehab start since straining his oblique (see figure) five weeks ago. Jason Schmidt, who's making $15 mil and hasn't tossed in the majors since June 2007, threw 101 pitches against the Single-A Lake Elsinore Storm in a 7-3 win for the Inland Empire Sixers. He gave up 5 hits, striking out six and walking three. Sunnier times really are on the horizon for our rotation.