Kershaw to start Tuesday

I like the news about Kershaw, but I think I like the news that LaRoche will play every day in Colorado even more. Hopefully this will allow him to get his day-to-day rhythm going and he'll start taking pitches and reaching base, as he did tonight, and as he's done most of his professional career....

However, Vinny kept saying this was a "showcase" announcement; as in, "Pay attention, Other Teams! This is the guy we could trade!" That worries me. Third base has been a massive hole in the Dodgers organization for years, and everyone from Baseball America to my mom has been high on LaRoche's on-base potential since we drafted him. If we trade LaRoche, that means we're going with DeWitt for the remainder, and that sub-.500 OPS since the end of May is, uhhh, worrisome, to say the least. Not to mention the fact that come next year, we're right back where we've been for the last 4 years: without a 3B who can produce like a 3B should.

Hopefully we're just showcasing him for Torre.

It's good to see the Claw returning...I hope he can handle the Rarified Air of Coors (it can be a big morale booster or buster)

It seems to me that Park did pretty good as a starter. Why isn't anyone upset that he is back in the pen.
David

Scary concept of the Claw in Colorado. That thin air may straighten out his curve.

I still say the dude needs another pitch... and not the Honeycutt "Elbow Shredder".

Lets hope the Claw can keep his curve going in the thin air in CO. Glad to see his command is coming around since his demotion. Sad that AJ is still sucking as badly as he is. I still think this is the worst FA signing in history.

As for trades that Ned Flanders has going on... what is he attempting to do? I seriously hope he isn't going to shop for a crappy SS or 3B. Nomar has performed like his old self since he has returned and i will eat my words earlier that he was going to suck. I am not convinced that SS is our problem anymore (unless Nomar gets hurt again). Blake Dewitt is finally becoming mortal and it is really changing the 3B dynamic. Laroche or Dewitt are going to be shopped but the question is for what? Regardless of who we put out there in a trade bait scenario I don't think we are going to be involved with any blockbuster trades this year. There are no good 3B out there or SS for that matter that are available. Anybody know if Dewitt can play SS and use him as a backup for Nomar?

My proposal for the 3B situation. If we want a good young 3B go for Ryan Zimmerman from the nationals. Give up some good prospects for a good defensive and offensive young 3B who is relatively cheap. Give up Laroche or Dewitt, and some pitching, you never know...

Ryan Zimmerman hasn't played since May 25. Worse, his numbers (.257 8 HR, 27 RBI) are no better than Blake Dewitt's.

I do like that my suggested nickname for Kershaw (The Claw) has caught on. Now if only the kid can get a w. the way the team is hitting, he should have plenty of offense behind him. But it's a question of whether he can get through five innings before he throws 100 pitches.

Zimmerman is an improvement on DeWiit (who has the lowest OPS of any starting 3B in baseball). Zimm's career OPS is .799, and even with his slow, injured months to start this year, he's still putting up 200 more OPS points than our guy. Not to mention the fact that he raked at UVA (I think ACC baseball is as good as any AA league), and shows actual signs of becoming a 40+ homer, 900+ OPS superstar one day. The dude is only 23.

But there's absolutely no way the Nats will sell their marquis player. Just not going to happen. He is literally the ONLY thing Nats fans around here (I live in Virginia) get excited about. Once the novelty of the new stadium wears off, he'll be the only guy selling tickets on an otherwise hideous team. No Zimm for you.

Va Blueblood i agree they would loathe to get rid of him, but if a team really wants to rebuild, they should consider trading their franchise player and get a lot in return. I know they would ask the moon for him, but if we really wanted 3B for a long time, that would be a trade i would advocate for doing. I just hate seeing Flanders keep bringing in overpaid underperforming vets.

Is Ron Cey available?

Bring back the penguin!