Dodgers Punish Competence, Demote Clayton Kershaw

The headline of this post really should be "Dodgers Reward Incompetence, Allow Brian Falkenborg To Continue Squandering Leads," but nobody knows who he is.  

To accommodate Hiroki Kuroda's return from the DL, the Dodgers demoted Clayton Kershaw to AA Jacksonville.  In 8 starts, Kershaw went 0-2 with a 4.42 ERA.  The Dodgers could have sent down Eric Stults, or gone with a 6-man rotation, as Joe Torre indicated he would do several days ago, but instead chose to get rid of one of the few bright spots on the Dodgers team.

Kershaw is not happy.  "Any way you spin it, I'm getting sent down.  They can say they don't have enough room.  But they sent me up when they didn't have enough room.  All those guys were healthy then."  Translation:  Why the hell is Eric Stults not getting sent down?  Kershaw is right.  He's a big part of the future of the Dodgers rotation and clearly ready for a permanent big league job.

The only thing Kershaw lacks is a big league victory, something that seems have Torre perplexed.  This probably has something to do with Torre's foolish reluctance to let Kershaw out of the 6th inning, if he even lets him get there.  Torre allowed Kershaw into the 6th inning Tuesday for only the second time this season, but immediately pulled him after 90 pitches when he allowed two runners on base.  This was rather generous of Torre, who pulled Kershaw in his last start after just 4 innings, despite allowing only 2 runs.

Dodger fans need not fret though - Brad Penny and his 5.88 ERA return Friday.

UPDATE:  Penny suffered a setback and will make at least one more rehab start before returning.  Chan Ho Park will start in his place Saturday in San Francisco.

Hiroki Kuroda Joins Brad Penny on Dodgers DL

The Dodgers lost their second starting pitcher in a week, when they announced that Hiroki Kuroda was headed for the DL with shoulder tendinitis. The injury is not considered serious and Kuroda is tentatively scheduled to start June 28 against the Angels.

Chan Ho Park will take Kuroda's turn Saturday against the Indians. The team has made no decisions regarding Kuroda's roster replacement, but the name being thrown around most by Joe Torre is Justin Orenduff, a 2004 supplemental first round pick. Orenduff is 2-2 in 13 starts with a 5.25 ERA at AAA Las Vegas.

The Dodgers won't need a fifth starter until June 28th so Orenduff would likely be used in a relief role. This also explains why Orenduff is being considered over top pitching prospect James McDonald, who yesterday pitched seven shutout innings for AA Jacksonville. If Kuroda's injury becomes more long term, McDonald might get a call-up because Torre has been reluctant to disrupt the bullpen by starting Park on more than a spot start basis.

Dodgers Brad Penny Goes On DL, Kuroda Also Hurt

The Dodgers have placed Brad Penny on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Saturday. Lefty Eric Stults, who was recalled today, will start Thursday and replace Penny in the rotation.

Had Penny's injury only required him to miss one start, the Dodgers would have likely gone with Chan Ho Park, rather than make a roster move. Although Penny's MRI showed no serious problems, his mild shoulder tendinitis warranted a trip to the DL.

Stults was 5-6 with a 3.59 ERA at the Triple A level this year. Dodgers fans may recall him from last year, when he made five mostly mediocre spot starts.

Further complicating the situation is Hiroki Kuroda, who flew to Los Angeles to have his sore shoulder examined. Kuroda had been scheduled to start against the Reds on Wednesday but Derek Lowe will take his turn in the rotation.  Lowe will pitch on his usual four days rest because of Monday's off day.