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Kershaw, Penny and Star Wars
What’s more interesting than a barren Dodger clubhouse? Watching Clayton Kershaw finish up his simulated game of course!
“He had real good command,” Torre said of what he saw of Kershaw today. “Again a good part of that he wasn’t trying to over throw the ball. But I thought for being away for as long as he’s been away, I thought it looked pretty comfortable for him.
“We’ll see how he feels tomorrow, and we’ll schedule him for an inning out of the bullpen in Washington.”
So there you have it. Kershaw looks good and will come out of the bullpen early next week.
In other Dodger pitching news, Chad Billingsley will start on Wednesday in Washington and will be available out of the bullpen tonight.
The Penny Chronicles
It’s been documented everywhere about the animosity between former Dodger and current Giants starter Brad Penny and the Dodgers. Well mostly third base coach Larry Bowa.
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At the end of Kershaw’s simulated game, Penny scampered out from the visitor’s dugout and gave a huge hug to Maury Wills. And this wasn’t a man hug. No. Penny actually nuzzled his neck on Wills’ shoulder.
Later Penny shook hands and had a friendly conversation with bullpen coach Ken Howell and Torre.
So it looks like the ill will is a thing of the past. It doesn’t mean it won’t be satisfying to see him getting blasted by the Dodgers hitters tomorrow.
May the Force Be With You
The rumors about this has been swirling for a while now, but it’s official.
In an effort to sell tickets in the far corners of the reserve section, the Dodgers have announced their final “Dodgertown” promotion: Star Wars - The Clone Wars.
Yes, all you Star War geeks are encouraged to come by get dressed up like Yoda, Chewbacca and the whole lot. The only stipulation is that lightsabers will not be permitted.
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The menu will include unlimited Cloneburgers with cheese, R2-BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, ice sabers and the normal bevy of ballpark food.
More information can be found here.
Three Years Ago Today
I was sitting in the loge section 121 with some coworkers on the fourth game of the San Diego Padres series on blanket night. It was hotter than hell, and I expected a lot of homers that night.
It was a battle between Jake Peavy and Brad Penny, but it was hardly a pitchers duel with the game tied 4-4 in the third inning. The Dodgers would trail 9-5 going into the bottom of the ninth when that incredible moment happened: Jeff Kent, JD Drew, Russell Martin and Marlon Anderson hit back-to-back homers to tie the game. After the Padres took a 10-9 lead in the top of the tenth inning, Kenny Lofton walked which set the stage for Nomar Garciaparra's walk off home run.
That night the Dodgers tied the series and took a 1/2 game lead in front of the Padres. It was a remarkable night for every Dodger fan that stayed and broke back into the park.
With all of that here are the lineups:
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San Francisco Giants
- Eugenio Velez, LF
- Freddy Sanchez, 2B
- Randy Winn, RF
- Pablo Sandoval, 3B
- Bengie Molina, C
- Juan Uribe, SS
- Travis Ishikawa, 1B
- Aaron Rowand, CF
- Jonathan Sanchez, P
Los Angeles Dodgers
- Rafael Furcal, SS
- Russell Martin, C
- Andre Ethier, RF
- Manny Ramirez, LF
- Matt Kemp, CF
- Casey Blake, 3B
- James Loney, 1B
- Orlando Hudson, 2B
- Vicente Padilla, P
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