As much as I want to say the LA Dodgers didn't do enough to win the playoffs I don't think you can say that just quite yet... I mean I think chances are that Clayton Kershaw is going to have a tough time like most young pitchers would under the spot light that the playoffs bring but on the other hand there have been many young pitchers that have risen to the occasion and given their respective teams an unexpected jolt in the playoffs. Last Dodger to do it? Can you say Tim Belcher.
Is Clayton Kershaw that guy this year? Who knows really but why not?
Almost as important as how Clayton Kershaw does is how well Hiroki Kuroda and Chad Billingsley pitch in the playoffs against the Phillies. Keep in mind the Phillies will be throwing Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee at the LA Dodgers and Kuroda and Billingsley will both have to be up to the task. I like Billingsley and Kuroda but that's a lot to ask of those guys. The best chance the LA Dodgers will have is with their offense...
I do like the pick up of George Sherill because the Dodgers really needed help in the bullpen but I still think they needed more depth and what they really need above everything else is a front of the line # 1 starting pitcher.
Like I said I like Hiroki Kuroda and Chad Billingsley but these guys are both #2 pitchers right now. I agree with those that believe Billingsley has the potential to be a number 1 but that window of opportunity gets smaller and smaller every year. Right now you don't expect either of these guys to go out there and shut the other team out for 7 innings and that's what a number 1 does.
And that's what the La Dodgers needed. Manny's not getting any younger you know...
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