OFFICIAL 2009 DODGERS SEASON THREAD : Season Over. Congratulations Phillies.

Wow, I didn't see that divorce coming, but I did notice that they were never sitting together during the playoffs. Each had a separate seat.

Crazy.
 
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i just hope they don't start trading everybody like the padres.
 
Originally Posted by sinser13

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i just hope they don't start trading everybody like the padres.
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why was he exactly trading everybody? was it to de-value the team so she would get less?
 
Originally Posted by sinser13

yo Mrj can you post the espn insider on kershaw?
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yes sir

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Kershaw is the great X factor

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 | Feedback | Print Entry

The first inning that Clayton Kershaw threw in the major leagues lasted 32 pitches. He was 20 years old at the time, working too quickly, and learning an important lesson right away: If you throw the ball down the middle of the plate in the major leagues, you're not necessarily going to beat the hitters the way you would in the minors.

No, major league hitters will usually foul off a pitch down the middle, or drive it, and in that first inning, Albert Pujols mashed a double against Kershaw, driving in the first run the lefty allowed in the big leagues.

But that first inning also hinted at Kershaw's remarkable talent, because all three of the outs he registered came on strikeouts. He demonstrated then, as now, that on any given day, he has the ability to shut down any hitter in any lineup, or any collection of hitters. And in the 17 months since his debut, Kershaw has developed swiftly, learning, and making adjustments.

This is why Kershaw is the great X factor in this series against the Phillies, and perhaps in this entire postseason. Forget his 8-8 win-loss record -- he is capable of being the best pitcher in the next two rounds. "He gets it now," said one veteran evaluator, who has seen Kershaw pitch in person recently. "He has just matured. Nothing really surprises him anymore. He knows what to expect and he embraces it, and there is a comfort zone there that wasn't before."

He has made tangible changes, as well, sharpening his curveball. And gradually, his command of his fastball has improved. Millimeter by millimeter, he has taken his fastball to the corners of the strike zone, rather than just firing it over the middle of the plate, and the stats of opposing hitters reflect how tough he can be.

Some examples:
  1. Hitters batted .200 against him, the lowest average against any starting pitcher (100 innings pitched minimum) in either league.
  2. Hitters generated a slugging percentage of .282 against Kershaw, the lowest among all pitchers in the majors (100 IP minimum).
  3. The OPS against Kershaw: .588, which is the third-lowest (100 IP minimum).
  4. Kershaw allowed just 7 homers.
Kershaw's greatest challenge, in pitching against the extraordinarily patient veterans of the Phillies, is to be efficient, to not get into a situation in which he throws 50 pitches in the first two innings and is out of the game sometime in the fifth inning. The left-hander averages 17.7 pitches per inning, a very high rate.

"The efficiency question is probably the same [for all of the Dodgers' starters]," said the evaluator.

When he gets into a jam now, you will see Kershaw do something he didn't do in those first innings in the big leagues. He'll step back from the rubber, take some deep breaths and assess the situation -- and then get back to work.

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These are Kershaw's regular-season numbers against the Phillies' hitters, who managed only one homer in 60 at-bats:
[table][tr][td]Phillies Lineup versus Kershaw[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Hitter[/td] [td]AB[/td] [td]H[/td] [td]2B[/td] [td]3B[/td] [td]HR[/td] [td]RBI[/td] [td]BB[/td] [td]SO[/td] [td]BA[/td] [td]OBP[/td] [td]SLG[/td] [td]OPS[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Jimmy Rollins[/td] [td]11[/td] [td]3[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]0[/td] [td].273[/td] [td].333[/td] [td].364[/td] [td].697[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Jayson Werth[/td] [td]10[/td] [td]3[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]2[/td] [td].300[/td] [td].364[/td] [td].300[/td] [td].664[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Chase Utley[/td] [td]10[/td] [td]3[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]4[/td] [td].300[/td] [td].417[/td] [td].700[/td] [td]1.117[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Shane Victorino[/td] [td]8[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]2[/td] [td].125[/td] [td].125[/td] [td].125[/td] [td].250[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Ryan Howard[/td] [td]8[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]3[/td] [td]3[/td] [td]3[/td] [td].125[/td] [td].333[/td] [td].250[/td] [td].583[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Raul Ibanez[/td] [td]5[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]3[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]3[/td] [td].400[/td] [td].500[/td] [td].800[/td] [td]1.300[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Pedro Feliz[/td] [td]4[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]0[/td] [td].500[/td] [td].667[/td] [td].750[/td] [td]1.417[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Carlos Ruiz[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]1[/td] [td].000[/td] [td].500[/td] [td].000[/td] [td].500[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Ben Francisco[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]0[/td] [td].000[/td] [td].333[/td] [td].000[/td] [td].333[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Totals[/td] [td]60[/td] [td]15[/td] [td]6[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]9[/td] [td]11[/td] [td]15[/td] [td].250[/td] [td].378[/td] [td].400[/td] [td].778[/td] [/tr][/table][h3]Around the playoffs[/h3]
Kershaw is one of a bunch of lefties whom the Dodgers will throw at the core left-handers in the Phillies' lineup, Ben Bolch writes. Joe Torre says he doesn't anticipate managing beyond the 2010 season. He has made similar comments through the years, only to re-sign; we'll see if he walks away this time.

Confidence gives the Phillies an edge when they play, writes Andy Martino. The Phillies are already in rare company, writes Phil Sheridan. Flying from Colorado to Los Angeles, the Phillies made a pit stop in Philadelphia.

Fans have embraced Raul Ibanez's blue-collar style.

Angels-Yankees

It appears that the Angels will go with a lefty in Game 1 or Game 2, Jim Peltz and Mike DiGiovanna write. Chone Figgins is extremely dangerous, and the Yankees know this first-hand. Closers have struggled this postseason, writes Mark Whicker.

The Yankees' decision to go with a three-man rotation -- which is all but locked in -- is a no-brainer, in light of the fact that CC Sabathia has been well-rested down the stretch, and given his strong history last year in pitching on short rest.

Johnny Damon is struggling, but Joe Girardi is keeping the faith, writes Mark Feinsand. Girardi has some ideas for slowing down the Angels, writes Mark Hale. Ken Davidoff thinks the Yankees will win the series in seven games.

• Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has long been friends with Kevin Towers, who was recently released from his duties as GM of the Padres, and given that relationship, there would appear to be excellent odds that Towers will land with the Yankees as a special assistant sometime in the months ahead. Towers could serve as an evaluator for Cashman, taking on responsibilities like looking for pitching -- which is considered to be Towers' specialty -- or scouting minor leaguers, or helping to prepare the Yankees as they consider options before the trade deadline.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. Heard this: There are major changes looming within the structure of the Dodgers' organization, changes that will be dictated by the direction that ownership takes in the months ahead. One of the first moves: Charles Steinberg, who had come to the Dodgers from the Red Sox, is out the door, and headed back to Boston.

[h4]Mailbag[/h4]I'm going to dip into the mailbag more often, so please be involved. On occasion, I'll ask team officials or GMs the questions you send in. So send questions or start well-reasoned debates, and I'll try to get to them. The mailbag

2. The Reds are not going to get Tony La Russa or Dave Duncan, writes Hal McCoy.

3. Dave Duncan tells Joe Strauss he likely will return to the Cardinals, if Tony La Russa does.

4. Some major decisions loom for the Rockies, writes Troy Renck.

5. The Giants locked up Brian Sabean and Bruce Bochy, but the Giants probably don't have a lot of leeway to make big moves, writes Ray Ratto.

6. Former Mets catcher Gary Carter has been hired to coach at Palm Beach Atlantic University, writes Rachel Ullrich.

7. The Astros fired club icon Jose Cruz from the coaching staff, and Cruz was stunned by the decision.

8. Al Pedrique and Dave Clark will be the first through the door as the Astros interview managerial candidates, writes Jose de Jesus Ortiz.

9. The Braves lost their scouting director to the Washington Nationals, writes David O'Brien.

10. The Jays hired a new special assistant, Jeremy Sandler writes. The Jays want to return to basics, writes Bob Elliott.

11. The Diamondbacks are not expected to make major changes, writes Nick Piecoro.

12. Oakland is bringing back its coaching staff.

13. The Minneapolis Star Tribune ponders the trade value of Joe Nathan.

14. The Indians are working the phones in their search for a manager.

15. The Red Sox haven't made a lot of progress with Jason Bay in negotiations, writes Sean McAdam.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. Mike MacDougal, the Nationals closer, had hip surgery, Ben Goessling writes.

2. Mariners catcher Rob Johnson faces multiple surgeries.
[h3]Other stuff[/h3]
• A lieutenant colonel will be rooting for his Angels, Bill Shaikin writes.

• The Hall of Fame came asking for Kevin Kouzmanoff's glove, writes Bill Center.

• October can be a cruel month, writes Bruce Jenkins.

• The Red Sox are on the same page with Daisuke Matsuzaka, finally, writes Nick Cafardo.

• A Mets prospect is on the fast track, writes Adam Rubin.

• Rocco Baldelli's time with the Red Sox could be over.

• The Mariners think that reliever Phillippe Aumont has great makeup, Geoff Baker writes. He pitched in the WBC, and he was one of those guys whose high-power talent jumped out at you when you saw him on the mound.

• The Mariners' TV ratings were up a whopping 25 percent this year, writes Larry Stone.

• The Indians' TV ratings plummeted, writes Paul Hoynes.

• A new film examines Josh Gibson, writes Sean Hamill.

• I am a Vikings fan and I would love to see this: They should make a deal with the Bills for Terrell Owens. He would give them another weapon, working out of the slot, and he would give them some veteran depth at wide receiver. They are one Bernard Berrian injury away from have some issues at wide receiver, because while the other receivers are talented, they are very inexperienced.

• A bunch of Georgians have committed to play at Vanderbilt next year. A Commodores running back was suspended indefinitely.

• A happy 99th birthday to John Wooden, writes Jill Painter
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[h3]Front office shuffle in LA?[/h3]
9:18AM ET

[h5]Los Angeles Dodgers[/h5]
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The Dodgers are enjoying their second straight trip to the NLCS, but ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney said in today's blog that there are major changes brewing in the front office over the next few months.

Buster hears that once of the first changes will see executive VP Charles Steinberg, who came to the team from Boston, returning to the Red Sox.
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Reyes diagnosis causes rift with LA
7:08AM ET

[h5]New York Mets[/h5]
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The Dodgers and Mets are at odds over who should take the blame for a hamstring injury to Jose Reyes, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Mets COO Jeff Wilpon hinted at a season-ending news conference last week that the Dodgers' team doctor who examined Reyes in Los Angeles in May had mistakenly concluded that Reyes had sustained a calf injury and it was only later that a hamstring injury was discovered.

Wilpon's claim angered the Dodgers, who issued a terse statement to the Times that their diagnosis was right all along.
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Yeah, plenty of major changes this off season
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. It will not affectthe product on the field.

Steinberg is gone,
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.

TJ Simers touched on it in his column the other day.
 
Heads up to my dudes that live near the Home Depot Center, my aunt+uncle & grandmas spot just got robbed.

Luckily they weren't home, they also got cameras set up and caught 3 dudes (possible 2 blacks and 1 hispanic) think they got a license plate too.

Police said they've robbed a gang of houses in that area
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Who else got their piece ready in case someone tries to rob their crib
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!%%% BN , that's tough bro I'm sorry to hear that man. Thank goodness they weren't home...

Jerkoffs , some people I swear
 
Yeah, it was sketchy because the phone call I got was that my grandma was home when it happened which had my mind racing.

In the end, no one was home and they got in from an unlocked window.
 
Originally Posted by bright nikes

Heads up to my dudes that live near the Home Depot Center, my aunt+uncle & grandmas spot just got robbed.

Luckily they weren't home, they also got cameras set up and caught 3 dudes (possible 2 blacks and 1 hispanic) think they got a license plate too.

Police said they've robbed a gang of houses in that area
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Who else got their piece ready in case someone tries to rob their crib
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damn that sucks, i hate thiefs, burgulars, or anyone who tries to steal what you worked hard for. a dude tried to rob me a while back and ialmost caught an assault charge for beating him up because he went to the cops after he tried to rob me.
 
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