• It’s official.  As reported here 4 days ago, Jason Schmidt will start Mondays’ game for the Dodgers, according to Ken Gurnick of Dodgers.com.
• Today is Joe Torre’s birthday.  Let’s get a win for him, Clayton.
• It’s up to Clayton to keep the Dodgers from losing 3 in a row for the first time this season. Read the full story

Bill Shaiken of The LA Times makes a compelling argument for the Dodgers to trade Russell Martin, Lindblom and Gordon (among others) for Roy Halladay.  Russell may want to return to his roots.  it’s worth considering.  I do know that the Dodgers have had scouts at Halliday’s last two games.  This is not going away for now.  I guess I would do that.  Shaiken says that the fact Dodger attendance is down could be a factor in whether the Dodgers will take on more salary.  This trade does make sense in that the Blue Jays could justify to their fans that they traded Halladay and brought home Canadian Russell Martin – he’d be a Rock Star there. Read the full story

The Blue  Jays have hung a FOR SALE sign on Roy Halliday, and Dodger fans are clamoring for a trade to be made.  Let me suggest that it’s not that simple, and the price we would have to pay would be the blood of our first-born, Clayton Kershaw!  I will say right off that I would love to have Roy Halliday, but I would NEVER give up Kershaw to get him.  I’d give up a lot, but not Clayton.  Trade discussions would have to start with other prospects.  While Clayton still struggles with too many pitches, he is growing better every start.  Last night, he pitched 6 shutout innings on the road (where he has usually struggled this year).  I watched the New York feed and the Mets announcers were Ga-Ga over young Clayton.  Ron Darling thinks that, as soon as next season, Clayton Kershaw will be mentioned among the Santanas, Hallidays and Billingsleys.  Clayton now has a 3.27 ERA… and dropping.  So, I am saying  NO to trading Clayton Kershaw.  Read the full story

I just got back from the dugout and Torre’s pregame media pow wow. Some updates for today’s game.

Kuroda will be limited to around 80-85 pitches today. He was brought up, despite a poor rehab outing in the minors, because his arm appears good and he said he was ready to go. Torre noted that Kuroda has always been honest about his health and that factored in too. And Kersahw is ready to go in case Kuroda falters. Read the full story

Clayton Kershaw has been getting a lot of flack because several of his recent starts have been below expectations, he has been getting behind hitters and is not able to get past the 4th or 5th inning.  He changed all that today by throwing a no hitter through 7 innings.  As soon as he gave up a hit in the 8th he was pulled by Joe Torre, beacuse he had thrown 112 pitches.  Even if he had got out of the inning, I doubt that Torre would have let him come out for the 9th as he would have had over 120 pitches.  Clayton still did not have great control, but he used his change-up considerably more than last game.  When you have to watch for the fastball and curve, his change, which wasn’t all that good, just keeps everyone out of sync.   If he improves that pitch and/or adds another pitch, he will be really hated by NL hitters. Read the full story

Clayton Kershaw now has a string of 12 scoreless innings to go with just 2 walks in his last 2 starts, after recording his 2nd win yesterday.  He was removed after 5 shutout innings to keep his inning count down, but he was dominant and could have probably pitched a shutout.  Scott Elbert followed with 3 more 1 hit innings.  That’s a double dose of good news!  Kershaw’s ERA now sits at 1.91!  BOXSCORE   He’ll probably get the call in the next week or so, as I think Mark Sweeney will be activated tonight to take Saito’s place from the DL (Sweeney?  Don’t get me started – that’s a whole another issue!).  

Clayton Kershaw Is Ready To Redeem Himself!

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