The Dodgers are in a bit of a crisis. Not that they aren't the best team in the league with a 57-34 record. It's certainly not the fact that they sit with a comfortable seven and a half game lead in the NL West. But what is scary, if you're a Dodger fan, is the shaky starting staff the Dodgers have.
The real pinnacle of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has always been pitching. Some of the greatest names in pitching have come through Tinseltown. From Koufax, Drysdale, Valenzuela and Hershiser just to name a few. The Dodgers definitely had some question marks in the staff from the beginning of the season. Their bullpen being so young and un-tested it was really up to a somewhat senior staff to get the job done. So far it's been a case of the opposites. The starters have been shaky, injured, and many, where the young relief staff has been cool and collected.
Chad Billingsley has been about the only things solid and permanent in the front rotation, even despite his last few outings. He's the obvious Ace and possibly a Cy Young contender this year, after making his first appearance in the Mid-Summer Classic. Clayton Kershaw is soon going to have to change his name to Shawn Merrimam if he keeps this pace, because he's been nothing short of lights out over the past month. He's won 5 straight and posted something ridiculous of an ERA over that span at 0.63. However he still isn't the horse that his counter part Billingsley is, and has only gotten to seven innings twice this year, which puts a hurting on the young arms of the bullpen.
The next questions are big within the starting staff. Hiroki Kuroda would be the number two or three depending on the status of his other sophomore counterpart Kershaw. Kuroda is not as young as either Billingsley or Kershaw. He's an import from Japan and had a good rookie season last year winning nine and posting a strong 3.73 ERA. Back from injury this year, he has not been consistant. If he can be the two or three they need him to be, that would help solidify their staff to be near strong enough for post season play.
The other pitchers that have helped with the rotation have been varied and many. Jeff Weaver, returned to the Dodgers in Spring Training, pitched well, and was dismissed, only to return later this season when injury was at it's peak for Dodgers pitching. He has come in and done a pretty good job, considering he's thought to be a done for pitcher. Eric Stults and Milton two south paws made their way into the rotation, and the job looked to be Milton's after a few good outings, but as always with the ex All-Star, he got injured and found himself out of a job again. Stults had a few outings, including a complete game shut-out but also was pardoned after an injury.
Jason Schmidt, who hasn't pitched in the Majors since July 16th 2007 due to a shoulder injury, is finally back for the Dodgers and will start Tuesday versus Cincinnati. The 13 year veteran will probably be rusty, and if he can show signs of strength and improvement to getting into form, it could allow the Dodgers freedom to not go after another starter. Provided he stays healthy.
If Schmidt comes back, in some miracle performance of his career, to be the pitcher he once was, the Dodgers will most certainly have the complete pitching staff that can take them through a post season and a World Series win. However, at this point the future isn't clear. All that I know is the front 5 needs to be full, and get deeper into games before they wear out the arms of their relief mates.
Answer, it's not the daily double, so don't clap. Roy Halladay is the perennial, always win 20 games and K and Innings leader or near the top that would most certainly deepen the Dodgers starting rotation. He would help them probably more than any other trade that they could get before July 31st. But at what cost?
The Toronto Blue Jays, Halladays team, are next to last in the AL East at ten games behind and a game under .500. Even in the Wild Card, they are practically out of contention. It's time for them to start rebuilding, and Halladay is a big tool in which they can use start getting there. For a team looking to solidify any hopes of playoffs and World Series titles, Halladay is by far the best available. The Dodgers have the necessary tools to get to the World Series as they are. Their front pitching is a question mark, but still very good. Offensively they are about the best around. So if they were to get Halladay, what would they be sacrificing?
The Jays would probably want some of the young talent which the Dodgers possess. The biggest two options, would be Clayton Kershaw or Matt Kemp. Other options arise, like James Loney, or Andre Ethier, but neither of those two will ever been the Star players a Kemp or Kershaw will be. Kershaw, 21, is only in his second season, and this will be his first complete year. He's a strike out machine that's only downside at the moment, is his pitch count and control, two things that he will still develop. Kemp, 24, has been shaping into the superstar that he will become. This year he has made huge strides. He's a five point player in all respects. His speed and defensive mixed with his athletic ability has made him a highlight reel to watch in center field. He hits for average, and power, and only knock against him, was his strikeouts, which over the last few weeks, he's cut down on.
Both of these two are franchise makers. They're homegrown, and fun to watch. If the Dodgers aren't going to make it to the World Series without Halladay this year, I'll take that, because Kershaw and Kemp will lead us their next, and the year after that as well as the year after.... Trade, I say no way.
-Mr. Blue
The real pinnacle of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has always been pitching. Some of the greatest names in pitching have come through Tinseltown. From Koufax, Drysdale, Valenzuela and Hershiser just to name a few. The Dodgers definitely had some question marks in the staff from the beginning of the season. Their bullpen being so young and un-tested it was really up to a somewhat senior staff to get the job done. So far it's been a case of the opposites. The starters have been shaky, injured, and many, where the young relief staff has been cool and collected.
Chad Billingsley has been about the only things solid and permanent in the front rotation, even despite his last few outings. He's the obvious Ace and possibly a Cy Young contender this year, after making his first appearance in the Mid-Summer Classic. Clayton Kershaw is soon going to have to change his name to Shawn Merrimam if he keeps this pace, because he's been nothing short of lights out over the past month. He's won 5 straight and posted something ridiculous of an ERA over that span at 0.63. However he still isn't the horse that his counter part Billingsley is, and has only gotten to seven innings twice this year, which puts a hurting on the young arms of the bullpen.
The next questions are big within the starting staff. Hiroki Kuroda would be the number two or three depending on the status of his other sophomore counterpart Kershaw. Kuroda is not as young as either Billingsley or Kershaw. He's an import from Japan and had a good rookie season last year winning nine and posting a strong 3.73 ERA. Back from injury this year, he has not been consistant. If he can be the two or three they need him to be, that would help solidify their staff to be near strong enough for post season play.
The other pitchers that have helped with the rotation have been varied and many. Jeff Weaver, returned to the Dodgers in Spring Training, pitched well, and was dismissed, only to return later this season when injury was at it's peak for Dodgers pitching. He has come in and done a pretty good job, considering he's thought to be a done for pitcher. Eric Stults and Milton two south paws made their way into the rotation, and the job looked to be Milton's after a few good outings, but as always with the ex All-Star, he got injured and found himself out of a job again. Stults had a few outings, including a complete game shut-out but also was pardoned after an injury.
Jason Schmidt, who hasn't pitched in the Majors since July 16th 2007 due to a shoulder injury, is finally back for the Dodgers and will start Tuesday versus Cincinnati. The 13 year veteran will probably be rusty, and if he can show signs of strength and improvement to getting into form, it could allow the Dodgers freedom to not go after another starter. Provided he stays healthy.
If Schmidt comes back, in some miracle performance of his career, to be the pitcher he once was, the Dodgers will most certainly have the complete pitching staff that can take them through a post season and a World Series win. However, at this point the future isn't clear. All that I know is the front 5 needs to be full, and get deeper into games before they wear out the arms of their relief mates.
Answer, it's not the daily double, so don't clap. Roy Halladay is the perennial, always win 20 games and K and Innings leader or near the top that would most certainly deepen the Dodgers starting rotation. He would help them probably more than any other trade that they could get before July 31st. But at what cost?
The Toronto Blue Jays, Halladays team, are next to last in the AL East at ten games behind and a game under .500. Even in the Wild Card, they are practically out of contention. It's time for them to start rebuilding, and Halladay is a big tool in which they can use start getting there. For a team looking to solidify any hopes of playoffs and World Series titles, Halladay is by far the best available. The Dodgers have the necessary tools to get to the World Series as they are. Their front pitching is a question mark, but still very good. Offensively they are about the best around. So if they were to get Halladay, what would they be sacrificing?
The Jays would probably want some of the young talent which the Dodgers possess. The biggest two options, would be Clayton Kershaw or Matt Kemp. Other options arise, like James Loney, or Andre Ethier, but neither of those two will ever been the Star players a Kemp or Kershaw will be. Kershaw, 21, is only in his second season, and this will be his first complete year. He's a strike out machine that's only downside at the moment, is his pitch count and control, two things that he will still develop. Kemp, 24, has been shaping into the superstar that he will become. This year he has made huge strides. He's a five point player in all respects. His speed and defensive mixed with his athletic ability has made him a highlight reel to watch in center field. He hits for average, and power, and only knock against him, was his strikeouts, which over the last few weeks, he's cut down on.
Both of these two are franchise makers. They're homegrown, and fun to watch. If the Dodgers aren't going to make it to the World Series without Halladay this year, I'll take that, because Kershaw and Kemp will lead us their next, and the year after that as well as the year after.... Trade, I say no way.
-Mr. Blue
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