I always like this kid. He was struck me as a hard-nosed scrappy type of player. He always played to get his uniform dirty and wouldn't shy away from trying to make a tough play. Effort was something that came easy to him. I wish, sometimes, that he stayed with the Dodgers. Oh well. Since he was dealt to Chicago a couple of years back he has been more of a utility player than a starting second baseman. Hopefully, he'll find an opportunity to be a regular.
Here is a 2005 Bowman autographed card from my collection of Blake DeWitt.
As some of you may already, Mike at the Left Field Pavilion has been diligently working with a bunch of Dodger blogs to put together an softball game/tournament during the off-season. There are plenty of spaces available, and I know we would welcome any of you to come by and participate. Even better, proceeds from the entry fee would go to benefit the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Click here or read some details below.
We can now rejoice in the magical year Clayton Kershaw had last season with a just reward. He has been declared the winner of the 2011 Cy Young Award, and I'm sure it will be one of many that he will collect over his career. Here are the official results, via the BBWAA website.That looks like a solid win. On an aside, I'd like to know what idiot picked Ian Kennedy as the 1st place winner. Halladay, I can understand, but Kennedy? Anyway, this is from the BBWAA:
Los Angeles Dodgers lefthander Clayton Kershaw, a Triple Crown of pitching winner with league-best totals of victories (21), earned-run average (2.28) and strikeouts (248), won the National League Cy Young Award in balloting by the BBWAA.
Kershaw, at 23 the youngest Cy Young Award winner since 20-year-old Dwight Gooden of the New York Mets in 1985, was named first on 27 of the 32 ballots, cast by two writers in each NL city. Kershaw was second on three ballots and third on two, to score 207 points, based on a tabulation system that rewards seven points for first place, four for second, three for third, two for fourth and one for fifth. Kershaw, who ended the season with an eight-game winning streak, had five complete games and limited opponents to a league-low .207 batting average.
This is the 10th time a Dodger has won the award.
He joins three-time winner Sandy Koufax, Don Newcombe, Don Drysdale, Mike Marshall, Fernando Valenzuela, Orel Hershiser and Eric Gagne.
Kershaw had this to say, per a Dodgers press release:
“I'm extremely thankful and humbled by this award,” said Kershaw. “The company that I'm in now... just to be mentioned with some of those guys. I'm just in awe. I never thought I'd be here.
From the Dodgers’ perspective, a long-term deal for Kershaw would need to be at least five years, enabling the club to buy out at least two years of free agency. But Kershaw, a favorite for the NL Cy Young Award, might not be interested in such a deal at this early stage of his career.
Jamey Carroll going to the Twins, via StarTribune. I still can't figure out why we didn't trade him last season when he was clearly wanted. We would of gotten something for him.
One kid asked Lasorda what he’d have done if he hadn’t gone into baseball. A lawyer, he answered. Another asked if he’d ever met Babe Ruth.
“No, but I wish I had,” he said.
LA Times sports writer, Steve Dilbeck wins an award. Congrats! Your reports about the Dodgers over the past several months have been a must read, and this reward is well deserved.
I always like this kid. He was struck me as a hard-nosed scrappy type of player. He always played to get his uniform dirty and wouldn't shy away from trying to make a tough play. Effort was something that came easy to him. I wish, sometimes, that he stayed with the Dodgers. Oh well. Since he was dealt to Chicago a couple of years back he has been more of a utility player than a starting second baseman. Hopefully, he'll find an opportunity to be a regular.
