Can we dispense with the patient approach and ask greatness of Clayton Kershaw right now?
While in my admittedly overly excited hurry for Clayton Kershaw to become the best left-hander in baseball, something interesting has been going in his last seven games:
He’s 5-1 with a 1.91 ERA.
Look, I’ve confessed to wanting him up there with Cliff Lee and CC Sabathia yesterday, but it’s not like he isn’t knocking at the door right now. And it’s not like he doesn’t have the same electric stuff.
Yet someone like Stephen Strasburg comes along and, while admittedly he has had a mind-boggling debut, it’s permissible for everyone to go gaga.
Off-the-chart expectations can be risky, but sometimes are justified.
Dodgers Manager Joe Torre has seen his share of special prospects during his 44 years in major league baseball, and clearly prefers the cautious approach.
"You try not to expect it, then if he exceeds expectations, all the better," Torre said. "Unfortunately, maybe a month of watching somebody excites you, and all of sudden you’re starting to pencil somebody in to do this or that, and I think it’s unfair."
The thing about Kershaw is he’s only 22 but still throws too many pitches. Still, this is his third major-league season (Strasberg turns 22 next month).
"Last year, he took on a lot of responsibility," Torre said. "He didn’t shy away from it.
"This year, we counted on him being one of our starters, but anytime someone asked about him leading the staff, my answer was always he wouldn’t be afraid to but it’s not fair to ask him to right now.’’
You never know if you don’t ask, if you don’t put him in that position, give him that recognition.
He’s already looking, and acting, like a pitcher maturing and developing into elite status.
"He’s grown, he really has," Torre said. "That first year he was up and down a couple times. Last year, he got whacked around that one game, and he got my attention how he bounced back the next game.’’
Last year on April 26, Kershaw gave up nine earned runs in 4 2/3 innings. In his next start, he did not allow a run in seven innings against the Padres.
He’s on the cusp of greatness. Asking him to be great doesn’t seem out of line. Leaders are often born of necessity. And the Dodgers’ rotation still needs an ace, its leader.
Placing that on Kershaw might prove less a burden than a final push to greatness.
-- Steve Dilbeck
He’s 5-1 with a 1.91 ERA.
Look, I’ve confessed to wanting him up there with Cliff Lee and CC Sabathia yesterday, but it’s not like he isn’t knocking at the door right now. And it’s not like he doesn’t have the same electric stuff.
Yet someone like Stephen Strasburg comes along and, while admittedly he has had a mind-boggling debut, it’s permissible for everyone to go gaga.
Off-the-chart expectations can be risky, but sometimes are justified.
Dodgers Manager Joe Torre has seen his share of special prospects during his 44 years in major league baseball, and clearly prefers the cautious approach.
"You try not to expect it, then if he exceeds expectations, all the better," Torre said. "Unfortunately, maybe a month of watching somebody excites you, and all of sudden you’re starting to pencil somebody in to do this or that, and I think it’s unfair."
The thing about Kershaw is he’s only 22 but still throws too many pitches. Still, this is his third major-league season (Strasberg turns 22 next month).
"Last year, he took on a lot of responsibility," Torre said. "He didn’t shy away from it.
"This year, we counted on him being one of our starters, but anytime someone asked about him leading the staff, my answer was always he wouldn’t be afraid to but it’s not fair to ask him to right now.’’
You never know if you don’t ask, if you don’t put him in that position, give him that recognition.
He’s already looking, and acting, like a pitcher maturing and developing into elite status.
"He’s grown, he really has," Torre said. "That first year he was up and down a couple times. Last year, he got whacked around that one game, and he got my attention how he bounced back the next game.’’
Last year on April 26, Kershaw gave up nine earned runs in 4 2/3 innings. In his next start, he did not allow a run in seven innings against the Padres.
He’s on the cusp of greatness. Asking him to be great doesn’t seem out of line. Leaders are often born of necessity. And the Dodgers’ rotation still needs an ace, its leader.
Placing that on Kershaw might prove less a burden than a final push to greatness.
-- Steve Dilbeck
Kershaw is clearly a stud, but as it was mentioned in the article, until he stops having 30 pitch innings, he will be a #1 in the waiting.
Stuff - A
Makeup - A
Potential - A
Not throwing 25-30 pitches in the first or second inning - F
Bonus question: What happened to his 11-5/12-6 66-68 MPH Curve? It seems to have evolved (devolved?) into more of a sweeping 72-74mph Curve. How about throwing both of them, Clayton?
Thank you, won't you.
Posted by: SLAP | 06/14/2010 at 03:13 PM
Kershaw is the most reliable starter the Dodgers have, which may not be saying much. But yes, if you absolutely had to pick one guy as the Dodgers' ace, it would be him. He does have great stuff, but as you said, he's only 22 and this is only his second full season. He does throw too many pitches, as evidenced by his 90 strikeouts and 44 walks in 77 2/3 innings, but barring injury, he'll be one of the league's top pitchers for many years.
Posted by: bob cuomo | 06/14/2010 at 03:32 PM
Kershaw is still a work in progress while Strasburg natural ability puts him way ahead of our beloved Clayton.
Posted by: KoufaxFan | 06/14/2010 at 04:19 PM
So much hype. So little Strasburg.
Posted by: Hollywood Dodger Mark | 06/14/2010 at 11:45 PM
I remember Karl Spooner that the Dodgers signed back in the '50s. He had a blazing fastball but he didn't last long. Strasburg has the advantage of players playing today, due to the watering down with expansion, that wouldn't of made it out of AA ball then. The media already has Strasburg a cinch HOF candidate.
Posted by: Stan | 06/15/2010 at 06:59 AM
Irrelevant to this post, but I gottta vent.
Dylan Hernandez wrote about the V-man: "Those employed by Frank McCourt have been noticeably uncomfortable when asked in recent days about Vladimir Shpunt, the 71-year-old Russian healer who was paid by the Dodgers owner and his estranged wife to send positive energy to the team from his Boston-area home."
What stuck out? "71-year old" healer. How is this guy's age germane to the article? What if he were 42 or 56, or 103? Is the datum that he is a septuagenarian a way of saying, "Bad enough, they paid a HEALER, but a RUSSIAN healer, and a 71 Year-old Russian Healer, to boot!"
Gee, couldn't we find an LA HEALER, and a YOUNG, photogenic one at that?
When Vlady suits-up and takes batting practice before his MLB debut, his age might become a pertinent descriptor.
Posted by: Zen | 06/15/2010 at 07:52 AM
> How is this guy's age germane to the article?
'Cause old is bad. Don't you watch TV?
Posted by: Jim Green | 06/15/2010 at 08:28 AM
Steve, it seems like you bring this topic up with regularity. Kershaw is good. GREAT?!?! Not until he improves his ability to locate his pitches. Right now, he is a very good pitcher. NOT on the doorstep of some great GREATNESS. When we see better command, then we can bring up this question of greatness.
Posted by: Pramod Patel | 06/15/2010 at 10:25 PM
A Consistent Display of command and location is what will make CK a great pitcher....He's not there yet with a high enough level of consistency.
Posted by: Pramod P | 06/16/2010 at 10:14 PM