News, introspective, insight & opinion from around the Major & Minor Leagues

News, introspective, insight & opinion from around the Major & Minor Leagues

Friday, October 16, 2009

Joe Torre may have just turned Clayton Kershaw into Rick Ankiel (or worse, Oliver Perez)

Ok, so I am watching the Phillies vs. Dodgers NLCS Game 1 and Clayton Kershaw is locked up in an old fashion pitcher’s duel with Cole Hamels. The Dodgers are winning 1 – 0 going to the top of the 5th on a James Loney HR.

So between innings I go to the bathroom. I come back and sit down and I’m thinking, ‘wow, this kid is only 21 years old and he’s throwing a gem in Game 1 of the NCLS!’

Then….the 5th inning from hell including 3 wild pitches!
A single by Ibanaz, a wild pitch, a 5 pith walk to Feliz, a BOMB to Feliz! A walk on 4 pitches to Hamels (yes I typed that correctly). A fielder’s choice, a strikeout and another wild pitch, a walk to Utley, a double to Howard; 4 2/3 Innings pitched, 4 Hits, 5 Runs, 5 Earned Runs, 5 Walks, 3K’s, 1 HR
My god, what the hell was Kershaw doing during the bottom of the 4th that made him lose it? Did get a phone call from Oliver Perez? And Where the hell was Joe Torre? He sat and watched Kershaw meltdown on national TV in front of 50,000 people in Game 1 of the NLCS! Seriously, that is exactly what happens when Perez pitches isn’t it? He’s Cy Young until a certain part of the game and then he loses it!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting that Kershaw will turn out to be a basket case, but you CAN NOT let a 21 year old pitcher endure that type of adversity on that big of a stage. I’ll say it again. Where the hell was Torre?

I guess Torre was too busy managing the Yankees in the 2000 playoffs and doesn't recall what happened to another 21 year old pitcher in game 1 of the NLDS, Cardinals pitcher Rick Ankiel. Remember that?
Game 1 started well for Ankiel, who did not allow a run through the first two innings. It was in the third inning that Ankiel lost control; he allowed 4 runs on 2 hits, walking 4 and throwing 5 wild pitches before being removed with two outs. Here is the play-by-play from that inning:
Greg Maddux walked; Rafael Furcal popped to Will Clark in foul territory; Ankiel threw a wild pitch (Maddux to second); Ankiel threw a wild pitch (Maddux to third); Andruw Jones walked; Ankiel threw a wild pitch (A. Jones to 2nd); Chipper Jones was called out on strikes; Andrés Galarraga walked (Maddux scores, A. Jones to 3rd on wild pitch); Brian Jordan singled to Ray Lankford (A. Jones scored, Galarraga to 2nd); Ankiel threw a wild pitch (Galarraga to 3rd, Jordan to 2nd); Reggie Sanders walked; Walt Weiss singled to Lankford (Galarraga scored, Jordan scored, Sanders to 2nd); Mike James replaced Ankiel; Javy López popped to Fernando Viña; 4 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.
Ankiel was never the same after that traumatic event. Congrats to him for having the resolve to make it back as a MLB player (as an outfielder) but that day was the beginning of the end for Ankiel as a pitcher.

I hope Kershaw’s fate isn’t the same. Joe Torre, you didn’t do right by your team last night and worse yet, you didn’t do right by your young pitcher. His career and livelihood was in your hands and you may have very well have just eff’ed it up…… - Peter Costa
Pete is a serious Rotisserie participant playing the same league with the same guys for 18 years. Not only has Peter never finished in the money; he’s now finished last 14 times and no higher than 10th (in a league with 14 guys). Join us in following Peter’s trials, tribulations and frustrations, as he attempts to navigate his way out of the basement again in 2010.
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