Clayton Kershaw reared up for the 0-2 pitch - a 95 mph fastball. St. Louis Cardinals lead-off man Skip Schumaker swung but had no chance as the ball snapped into Russell Martin’s glove. Strike three.
A roar erupted from fans around Dodger Stadium. It was what the they had been waiting for. All the hype, all the anticipation had finally arrived at Chavez Ravine, and Kershaw was at the center of it. Not bad for a rookie making his major league debut.
But 20-year-old left hander is no ordinary rookie for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was the top pitching prospect in their system coming into the 2008 season - and for good reason. Since being drafted seventh overall by the Dodgers in the 2006, the phenom has struck out 264 batters in just over 202 minor league innings. His 2008 minor league numbers are as follows: 56 1/3 innings, 40 hits, 12 earned runs, 18 walks, 64 strikeouts, .203 batting average-against, 1.92 ERA, 1.03 WHIP.
According to MLB.com, Martin said, “He has electric stuff.”
Kershaw brought that electric stuff, which consists of his blazing fastball, 12-6 curveball and improving change-up, to the mound Sunday in Los Angeles for his first start at the big-league level. After striking out Shumaker to begin the game, Kershaw served up a walk followed by an RBI double to Albert Pujols. However, he settled down to strike out the next two batters to end the inning - one on a scorching 97 mph fastball, and the other on a knee-buckling 74 mph curveball.
The fans cheered wildly again as the kid walked off the mound. It’s a sight they hope to see for many years to come. Kershaw left his debut after six solid innings, striking out seven and allowing two earned runs on five hits. He was in line for the win until the Dodgers’ bullpen blew the hold in the seventh.
The Dodgers eventually won the game in the bottom of the 10th on Andre Ethier’s two-out single that scored Juan Pierre. More importantly, they avoided the sweep at the hands of the Cardinals and maintained their standing in the N.L. West behind the Arizona Diamondbacks.
This is where Kershaw can become even more valuable to the Dodgers. While Los Angeles has a solid pitching rotation, they don’t have a true stopper. They don’t have a pitcher who fans and players feel can go out their every fifth day and put up a solid effort for six or seven innings and almost assure his team the win.
Other contending teams around the national league have that go-to pitcher. Arizona has Brandon Webb, the Chicago Cubs have Carlos Zambrano and the New York Mets have Johan Santana. Kershaw can be that guy for the Dodgers.
He can be the pitcher to stop a four game skid or push a three-game winning streak to four. He can be the guy the opposing team looks at and knows its chances of winning the game are slim. He can be the starter the Dodgers can throw out twice in a five-game playoff series and feel like they only have to win one out of the other three games to take the series. That’s where he can be of the most value for the Dodgers. He isn’t just another good pitching prospect for the organization. He’s got the stuff to be an ace.
While the repertoire of pitches is there, the question remains whether or not Kershaw can be the dominant pitcher fans and players want him to be this year. Just 20 years old, Kershaw has only 68 innings of experience above Class A ball - all in AA Jacksonville prior to Sunday’s start. He has also had command issues in the minors (2.88 walks per nine innings in 2008) and is apparently on a strict inning’s limit by team management - he only pitched past six innings in three of his nine minor league starts this season.
Aces typically pitch more than six innings and throw over 100 pitches. They usually walk very few batters and have a track record of experience behind their arm. These are things Kershaw doesn’t have - yet.
While some questions loom around the 2008 season for Kershaw and the Dodgers, people around baseball know this kid has the potential to be the best pitcher in the game for years to come. Hard throwing lefties don’t come around too often. But when they do and race through the minor league like Kershaw did, lofty expectations are placed on their shoulders.
The Dodgers just hope Kershaw can fill those big shoes in their rotation sooner rather than later, because if he can, the team may be hoisting an N.L. West title come the end of September. If not, a long off-season awaits for an organization that hasn’t seen its team win a playoff series in 20 years.
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