You Tryin' To Say Jesus Christ Can't Hit A Curveball?

Here's a brief rundown on the news out of Dodgertown as we get closer and closer to Opening Day:

** Clayton Kershaw makes headlines
You've seen them... you know you have. Hyping up Kershaw's killer curveball now known throughout baseball as "Public Enemy No. 1" Thankfully, it appears that Joe Torre has the good sense to let the kid stew in the minors a little longer before bringing him up to the big leagues. But just to whet your appetite, take a look at this hammer...



Lawd have mercy.

** Who's on third?
Nomar's wrist is still sore. LaRoche is out to 6 to 8 weeks. Abreu has an injured ass [completely and totally serious.] They've got Hu taking grounders at third. They've got Young taking grounders at third. And every friggin' baseball rumor site has Dodgers trade rumors for third-baggers. Personally, I let Hu or Young do it. Nomar should be ready soon enough. LaRoche will be back before you know it. I know, I know... they don't like either of those options anyways but I don't like any of the trade options. So, unless Coletti is about bust out a Mitch Kupchak, hold your ground and keep your cards close.

** Tommy being Tommy
The newsbirds were all excited because Tommy stormed the field during his first exhibition game he was coaching today. It gives me a chuckle but it's just Tommy being Tommy. He wouldn't know any other way. I did find his protests over having to stick to pitch counts kinda funny though. They quoted him as saying, "You want to be the guy to tell Koufax he's done? The pen's got it? Get the hell off my mound?" I'd rather tell Koufax than Drysdale but... yeah, I'm glad they've got Tommy doing pitch counts. I'm also glad Tommy's still using small ball to show some people how it's done. Apparently he put a hit and run in motion with Pierre on first, sending him from first to third where he scored on a GDP. Much better than playing station to station and waiting for the 3-run homer.

** 5th starter
Loaiza inched closer to getting that spot with a nice outing over the weekend. As well as Chan Ho has pitched, I still say he's got no shot unless Loaiza implodes over the next couple weeks. He's simply making too much money to get passed up for a NRI.

** Brad Penny pinch hit
Hehe... good shit. Apparently with half the team leaving for China tomorrow, they didn't leave enough hitters for Tommy so in a potential run-scoring situation today, he sent up Penny to take some hacks. Didn't pay off but I fondly remember the days of Fernando pinch hitting and Orel pinch-running for the Blue Crew... or as we call them, "the good ol' days."