I trust that for the benefit of those of us stuck at work through the first half of the game, the commentators will be sufficiently detailed and descriptive of Kershaw's performance.

I was in Mexico last weekend and didn't even know he got the call until I got back.

A's called-up top prospect Carlos Gonzalez.

Scully, Koufax, Robinson, Mike Ramsey

Molly got LAT'd, but she said Blake DeWitt took grounders and 2B today for the first time. Huzzah!

Molly had pretty big news at the bottom of the last thread. And I quoted Vertigo, off the top of my head, for almost no reason.

4 Huzzah! indeed. {Sniff} {sniff} I smell a ALR call up in the air.

4 - I've updated the post above.

I would put Scully, Jackie, Sandy, and The Duke on my Dodger Blue Mt. Rushmore.

Otis Nixon was ineligible because his face has already been sandblasted.

Anybody thinking of attending the college regionals at Blair Field tomorrow? I might check it out, depending on what time Cal is playing. Currently scoreless between Cal and USD, top of the 5th.

I think there was at least three of us trying to turn the place into Hitchcock Thoughts.

"You were a very apt pupil, weren't you? You were a very apt pupil." Stewart at his creepiest...

So it's a Joba/Kershaw duel in New York tonight? A treat for the Big Apple.

Only Jim Hitchcock and I can turn the place into Hitchcock Thoughts.

OK. Since I got LAT'd. Breaking news: Blake DeWitt just took grounders at second base for the first time this season. When asked about it 30 seconds ago, he said "I like it," with a Cheshire cat grin. Then again, he sort of always has that Cheshire cat grin.

Wow, I was just LAT'd for the first time! I would like to thank my parents for having me, Jon for the perfectly timed NPUT and, of course, LAT.

The post itself was a confession that's probably better left LAT'd. :)

Thanks Molly, bringer of good news.

I'll go with the same four Jon picked for Mount Rushmore. Doesn't get any better than that. Except I guess you could throw Branch Rickey in there somewhere.

Kershaw had better win tonight because I've already suffered one crushing loss today at the hands of a New York team. The Longhorns lost to St. John's. St John's, for crying out loud! If it weren't for Frank Viola I wouldn't have even known they had a baseball team.

This might make even Nate feel old: One of the New York reporters asked Kershaw who his favorite Mets were when he was a kid, and he said David Wright and Jose Reyes.

Mikes Edwards, Blowers, Kincaide, and Trombley.

Kershaw II: The Wrath of Kershaw

Rich Aurilia attended St. John's. Did you know he once had an offseason job where he moved scenery and equipment for the Metropolitan Opera?

John Franco went to St. John's as well.

Kershaw II: The Revenge of the NL???

Small ball running rampant between Cal and USD at Blair, with runs hard to come by. Or maybe runs are hard to come by because small ball is rampant. There have been, I think, 6 base runners in the game, and at least three bunts.

19 Yeah, I knew that, actually.

But do you happen to know how Terrmel Sledge got his first name?

18 20 Beneath the Planet of the Minotaur.

21 So Kyle Blair is pitching at Blair Field? Heh.

Although I guess it would be Matusz today.

I've always wondered who prepares Scully's game notes. The idea that it could be Bob, now that it occurs to me, makes perfect sense.

24 Matusz it is.

22 If you don't, make sure you don't miss the next time he visits Dodger Stadium: Vinny tells the story at least once.

22
Terrmel Sledge will drop by the next time the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters have a road trip to Los Angeles.

Kershaw II: Electric Bugaloo

Also, if Isringhausen wasn't on the DL for the Cardinals, there might have been a chance for a Freddy (Sanchez) vs. Jason AB.

Also, if anyone happens to know what Khalil Greene's first name means in the Bahá'í Faith, I'd be most appreciative.

28 Which immediately conjures the image of that Japanese Scully sound-alike guy telling the name story.

In another upset in the NCAA baseball tournament, #4 seed Lipscomb beat #1 seed Georgia in Athens, 10-7.

Lipscomb is in Nashville for those not enrolling at home.

29 Speaking of spooky at-bats, is everybody pumped for the Chan Ho Park-Fernando Tatis rematch? It could happen tonight!

29 - Darnit! I was gonna use that one.

Okay, well, stay tuned for

Minotaur II: The Quickening.

Next on USA Network.

I'm torn on my Mt. Rushmore between Jon's selection and Eric-8. Vin, Sandy and Jackie are locks. Fernando - viable for bringing in the Latino community in L.A. in the 80's was huge. Duke is forever linked with the "Boys of Summer" and Dodger lore - that is a tough one. Maybe one of those (half face of each one) like they have been doing in those NBA commercials.

* In the future, can we please ban Penny from any future starts against the Mets? They own him!! If its his turn in the rotation, come up with some shoulder tightness or food poisoning, something then send Kuo, Kershaw and Bills at them.

Kershaw Reloaded.

Off topic, but here's a look at Colletti's significant moves since taking over in November of '05. Any thoughts on his overall body of work?

12/7/05 signs Rafael Furcal (3 years $39 million)
12/13/05 traded Milton Bradley to Oakland for Andre Either
12/14/05 signs Bill Mueller (2 years, $9.5 million)
12/19/05 signs Nomar Garcisparra (1 year, $8 million)
12/20/05 signs Kenny Lofton (1 year, $3.85 million)
12/22/05 signs Brett Tomko (2 years, $8.7 million)
1/4/06 traded Duaner Sanchez & Steve Schmoll to NY for Jae Seo & Tim Hamulack
1/14/06 traded Edwin Jackson & Chuck Tiffany to Tampa for Danys Baez & Lance Carter
2/7/06 signs Takashi Saito to a minor league contract
6/27/06 traded Dioner Navarro & Jae Seo to Tampa for Mark Hendrickson & Toby Hall
7/25/06 traded Odalis Perez & 2 minor leaguers to KC for Elmer Dessens
7/28/06 traded Danys Baez & Willy Aybar to Atlanta for Wilson Betemit
7/31/06 traded Cesar Izturis to Chicago for Greg Maddux
7/31/06 traded Joel Guzman and minor leaguer for Julio Lugo
11/20/06 signed Nomar Garciaparra (2 years, $18 million)
11/22/06 signed Juan Pierre (5 years, $44 million)
11/28/06 signed Randy Wolf (1 year, $7.5 million)
12/8/06 signed Jason Schmidt (3 years, $47 million)
12/8/06 signed Luis Gonzalez (1 year, $7.5 million)
1/15/07 signed Mark Hendrickson (1 year, $2.9 million)
7/31/07 traded Wilson Betemit to NY for Scott Proctor
8/29/07 claimed Esteban Loaiza off waivers (and his $7.7 million remaining salary for '07 & '08)
11/8/07 signed Chan Ho Park to minor league contract
12/12/07 signed Andruw Jones (2 years, $36 million)
12/16/07 signed Hiroki Kuroda (3 years, $35 million)

One of the announcers in the Miami-Bethune Cookman game just mentioned that Casey Stengel was the coach of Ole Miss in 1914.

He was a 23-year-old outfielder for the Dodgers at the time. I guess coaching was different back then.

Oh, and Sandy, Jackie, Vin and Fernando for me, too.

I can't think of one of those 70s/80s stalwarts who would stand out above the rest. So those are the guys I'd go with.

Something about being Friday & not having to worry about work tomorrow just makes it a relaxing day for me...

Oh & some guy named Clayton Kershaw is pithing today.

36 - Hah hah. I actually thought "The Matrix" would be another good nickname for him.

19 - As did Frank Viola.

Vin, Jackie, Sandy, and Drysdale for me.

We could always have Kershaw II: Kershaw-er. Then his next start could be Kershaw III: Kershaw with a Vengeance. And finally we'd have Kershaw IV: Strike Three or Die Hard.

Or not.

38
Most college coaches in the era when Stengel did it were pros trying to make a few bucks before the season started. Those guys were around to train the players. They usually didn't go to games and make strategic decisions. That was the realm of the team captain.

I'm not sure when coaches became fulltime, but I'm guessing after World War II. Sometimes the baseball coach was another coach in a different sport who needed to make some extra scratch also.

USC's first championship is credited to Sam Berry (the basketball coach) and Rod Dedeaux.

Clint Evans at Cal worked pretty much fulltime. Sam Crawford worked fulltime for USC as well.

Hard to argue with selections for Rushmore, but Tommy Lasorda has to be in the running. He was the face of the franchise for many years.

Clayton Kershaw 2: Clayton Kershawer.

Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Maury Wills, Al Campanis.

37 Okay, I'll bite. (Not that this subject hasn't been debated here before endlessly, but I've never had a chance to grade him myself.) My grades after the transaction.

12/7/05 signs Rafael Furcal (3 years $39 million) A
12/13/05 traded Milton Bradley to Oakland for Andre Either A
12/14/05 signs Bill Mueller (2 years, $9.5 million) D (I'd give it lower but I thought it was a decent move at the time, and liked Mueller, but injury risk was high and it bit the Dodgers.)
12/19/05 signs Nomar Garcisparra (1 year, $8 million) B+
12/20/05 signs Kenny Lofton (1 year, $3.85 million) B+
12/22/05 signs Brett Tomko (2 years, $8.7 million) D-
1/4/06 traded Duaner Sanchez & Steve Schmoll to NY for Jae Seo & Tim Hamulack C- (I liked Sanchez but thought acquiring a decent backend starter filled a need for LA pretty cheaply at the time, too bad Seo was such a bust)
1/14/06 traded Edwin Jackson & Chuck Tiffany to Tampa for Danys Baez & Lance Carter - F (if only because Jackson was given up on too early and Baez was a nightmare; I'd almost grade it slightly higher just because I understood Dodgers were desperate for relief help then)
2/7/06 signs Takashi Saito to a minor league contract A+
6/27/06 traded Dioner Navarro & Jae Seo to Tampa for Mark Hendrickson & Toby Hall C- (not enough back for a once top prospect, and Hendy was mediocre but not terrible)
7/25/06 traded Odalis Perez & 2 minor leaguers to KC for Elmer Dessens C+
7/28/06 traded Danys Baez & Willy Aybar to Atlanta for Wilson Betemit A-
7/31/06 traded Cesar Izturis to Chicago for Greg Maddux A-
7/31/06 traded Joel Guzman and minor leaguer for Julio Lugo C
11/20/06 signed Nomar Garciaparra (2 years, $18 million) D (signing him once, good, resigning him, not)
11/22/06 signed Juan Pierre (5 years, $44 million) C- (I may grade this one higher than others just because I understood the desperate need for an experienced outfielder, but he was the wrong guy/fit for the team and 5 yrs way too long)
11/28/06 signed Randy Wolf (1 year, $7.5 million) C+ (didn't pan out but I thought it worth a shot)
12/8/06 signed Jason Schmidt (3 years, $47 million) incomplete
12/8/06 signed Luis Gonzalez (1 year, $7.5 million) B-
1/15/07 signed Mark Hendrickson (1 year, $2.9 million) D
7/31/07 traded Wilson Betemit to NY for Scott Proctor C
8/29/07 claimed Esteban Loaiza off waivers (and his $7.7 million remaining salary for '07 & '08) C- (don't like Loiaza much but the team was desperate for another starter at the time; still, a waste of money ultimately)
11/8/07 signed Chan Ho Park to minor league contract B+
12/12/07 signed Andruw Jones (2 years, $36 million) incomplete (trying to be fair here)
12/16/07 signed Hiroki Kuroda (3 years, $35 million) B+

These are the express opinions of underdog© and do not necessarily reflect those of Dodger Thoughts or the Dodger management.

34
I was deciding between Electric Bugaloo and The Quickening, so great minds think alike!

I will be watching this evening's proceedings on delay, so I'll check out of here in about 15 minutes. Luckily it's an east coast game, so Extra Innings can't (conceivably) keep me from watching this game in it's entirety.

Kershaw II: Clayton Harder

Actually I guess Kuroda should be incomplete, too, if I'm going to be fair and balanced. Otherwise Jones would get an F right now and hopefully will go up to a C or B later.

I'm sorry, did I look like I wanted alternative titles? :)

50 - "Minotaur With a Vengeance"

52 Overruled!

Anyway...

Surprised Dewitt chews tobacco.
I only know really really old guys that still do chew...

37 This topic may be best saved for a boring winter day, but I'll attempt to put each move into one of five categories based on how it worked out (not on how it looked at the time).

Good for the Dodgers (5)
12/7/05 signs Rafael Furcal (3 years $39 million)
12/20/05 signs Kenny Lofton (1 year, $3.85 million)
2/7/06 signs Takashi Saito to a minor league contract
7/28/06 traded Danys Baez & Willy Aybar to Atlanta for Wilson Betemit
7/31/06 traded Cesar Izturis to Chicago for Greg Maddux

Bad for the Dodgers (9)
12/14/05 signs Bill Mueller (2 years, $9.5 million)
12/22/05 signs Brett Tomko (2 years, $8.7 million)
1/4/06 traded Duaner Sanchez & Steve Schmoll to NY for Jae Seo & Tim Hamulack
1/14/06 traded Edwin Jackson & Chuck Tiffany to Tampa for Danys Baez & Lance Carter
6/27/06 traded Dioner Navarro & Jae Seo to Tampa for Mark Hendrickson & Toby Hall
11/20/06 signed Nomar Garciaparra (2 years, $18 million)
11/22/06 signed Juan Pierre (5 years, $44 million)
1/15/07 signed Mark Hendrickson (1 year, $2.9 million)
8/29/07 claimed Esteban Loaiza off waivers (and his $7.7 million remaining salary for '07 & '08)

Even Trades or Inconsequential Moves (5)
12/13/05 traded Milton Bradley to Oakland for Andre Either
7/25/06 traded Odalis Perez & 2 minor leaguers to KC for Elmer Dessens
11/28/06 signed Randy Wolf (1 year, $7.5 million)
12/8/06 signed Luis Gonzalez (1 year, $7.5 million)
7/31/07 traded Wilson Betemit to NY for Scott Proctor

Jury Still Out, Looks Good So Far (3)
7/31/06 traded Joel Guzman and minor leaguer for Julio Lugo (Draft picks Withrow and Adkins will determine the eventual value of this trade.)
11/8/07 signed Chan Ho Park to minor league contract
12/16/07 signed Hiroki Kuroda (3 years, $35 million)

Jury Still Out, Looks Bad So Far (2)
12/8/06 signed Jason Schmidt (3 years, $47 million)
12/12/07 signed Andruw Jones (2 years, $36 million)

Kershaw Part II: Clayton Takes Manhattan

11 - Oops - Joba's starting Tuesday.

45 If Tommy Lasorda ends up on the Dodger Mount Rushmore, that may force me to go all Monkey Wrench Gang.

Mets fans would like to submit "Kershaw II: Lost in New York" for consideration.

I only know really really old guys that still do chew...

Broxton chews too.

Vin, Sandy, Jackie, Blake

Koufax, Drysdale, Robinson, Campanella, Valenzuela

56 Seems pretty fair, too, but where's the first Nomar signing? Wouldn't you put that in the "good" category?

42, 45 - Also excellent suggestions. However, I think for lasting impact on the franchise and the cities and sport they represented, Vin, Jackie and Sandy had no peer. After those big three, then you got room for argument, Fernando and his impact on marketing to the Latino population in L.A.- Duke and what he met to Brooklyn, Drysdale as part of the 1-2 pitching monster in the 60's that ingrained the Dodgers into LA culture and Lasorda who really fostered the love'm or hate'm Dodgers of the 70's and 80's across the nation. Even the person who mentioned Branch Rickey who had the courage to break the color barrier and wanted to do it years earlier, but was rebuffed by Commish Landis and the old boys network of other owners have arguments as to the fourth face on the Dodgers Mt. Rushmore.

64 Ah, yes. That got inadvertently deleted.

56
Why is the Ethier trade even?

Can't we call Schmidt bad now? What are the odds he's worth $47 mil by end of next year?

56 I guess I'll go ahead and be the one to point out that Eric's "bad" category has about 90 million bucks in it.

"Why is the Ethier trade even?"

Well, for starters, the guy we traded is either the best or second-best player in the American League.

I have friends that chew and one of them I do not think has ever step foot on a baseball field.

Considering what Bradley did last year as well, it's actually being pretty generous to Colletti to call the trade even.

67
Why is the Ethier trade even?

I would guess because Ethier's quantity (1143 vs 856 PA) pretty much cancels out Bradley's quality (139 vs. 108 OPS+).

My Dodger Mt. Rushmore would have Lasorda, Hershiser, Jackie, and Campy. I'm a product of the 80s (sorry if anyone feels old) so my first love of the Dodgers was with Lasorda and Hershiser. Fernando is great, but so many have said him thought I would go with another good 80s player.

67 It's questionable if we'd be able to re-sign Bradley, but I certainly wouldn't mind if we had him instead of Ethier at this moment.

When he gets hurt again/comes back to Earth, we can reevaluate.

So the publisher of the rag I work at is going to sing the national anthem at the June 5 game. I have to get video of it.

Hmm, wow, I didn't realize how good Bradley was this year. We always knew he could hit.

55

I know, that's so yesterday.

This Mt. Rushmore analysis must be the new thing. This morning on ESPN Radio, Scott Van Pelt was talking about who he would put on his NBA Mt. Rushmore and whether Kobe would make it. Jordan and three other spots with one or two going to Russell or Chamberlin.

Looking at the timeline, it looks like Ned's skills decline as he ages.

56 I wouldn't count the Maddux deal as good; wash probably, but no higher. Izzy was no loss, but Ned turned around and declined arbitration on Maddux, which meant that the draft picks that could've been had for him were lost. Not to mention his being let go is largely what led to the Schmidt signing, but if I really considered the two connected, this'd be way worse than "wash".

78
Wow, ESPN really is about the Now™. I love Kobe as much as the next guy, but he wouldn't make my Laker Mt. Rushmore yet, let alone all NBA.

80
I always kind of linked Maddux to the Wolf deal (1 yr, $8m) as opposed to Schmidt.

81 There really shouldn't be that much difference between the two lists though.

80 We would have had to keep starting Sele if we wouldn't have gotten Maddux.

My think about Bradley is just how many times he gets injured. When he's healthy, and not entirely unhappy, he's enormously talented. I liked the trade we'd made to acquire him in the first place, even if it, too, gave up a good prospect. But isn't it fair to say that Ethier has been solid and consistent and Bradley has a greater upside but a greater downside? I think that's why I called it even, but I could see it argued differently.

80 - I think Maddux was a steal, sorry. But agree we could've offered him arbitration, that would've been smarter.

81 West, Mikan, Magic, and Kareem? Or Shaq for Mikan? Or Wilt for Mikan?

My Laker Mt. Rushmore would have Smush Parker, Kwame Brown, Cedric Ceballos, and J.R. Rider.

Turning on the Prius was an adventure.

86
Magic, West, Mikan, Kareem on Mt. Rushmore, with Kobe standing in line behind Baylor, Wilt, and Shaq right now.

87

is the K silent Bob?

Kwame.

We would all hate Ned if we ended up paying 12 million for a guy with a 98 ERA+ (probably worse since that's with the Padres defense).

87 Sedale Threatt? Mike Penberthy? Larry Spriggs? Mark Lansburger?

88
You mean pressing a button was a new experience.

The older Priuses require you to press that button every 108 minutes that you drive.

80 - I would look at the Maddux acqusition and the postseason decision on him as two separate transactions.

My Dodger Rushmore: Werth, Grabowski, Phillips, Repko

USD is pouring it on against Cal. 5-0 with the bases still loaded in the bottom of the 7th. I guess if I go tomorrow, it'll be the early (losers) game.

"Losers bracket" sounds so harsh. Why don't we call it "the teams that didn't win bracket?"

Just tuned in and see JP is at second. What did he do, double?

Japanese MLB Mt. Rushmore:

Nomo, Ichiro, Matsui and..... Saito?

97 - you're probably also one of those people that would rather call "Sudden Death Overtime" "Golden Goal Overtime", huh?

98 - Juan Pierre Double: walk followed by a steal.

Lyons and Steiner are idiots. They keep talking about how Kemp will see more fastballs (to them, a good thing), but of course they dont realize he cant hit a fastball this year. It's sad seeing his approach at the plate this year, missing fastballs like that thigh high over the heart.

93

no no no, it is more complicated than that:

1) it's not a traditional key (that thru me way off)

2) you have to MAKE SURE YOUR PRESSING THE BREAK before pressing the buttom

3) the shift stick is new age, couldn't figure that out either.

103 It takes a day or two to get used to it. I hate having to use a regular key when I drive another car now.