Latest news with #ClaytonKershaw
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Clayton Kershaw isn't what he was — but the Dodgers need him all the same
CLEVELAND — The flecks of gray in Clayton Kershaw's beard matched the overcast Ohio sky as the 37-year-old lefty readied himself atop the mound. At home plate stood Guardians leadoff man Steven Kwan, who was just 8 years old when the Dodgers drafted Kershaw in June 2006. For the first time in the third start of his 18th MLB season, the future Hall of Famer launched into his trademark herky-jerky windup. The fastball clipped the top of the zone, but was called a ball. Then came the more sobering truth, displayed on the Progressive Field scoreboard beside a smiling headshot of Kershaw: 89 miles per hour Two decades ago, Kershaw was a can't-miss prospect who regularly threw 95. The second strikeout of his career, for instance, came on a 97 mile per hour heater. But time, and the ailing it brings, has chipped away at Kershaw's power. He has not touched 95 since Game 7 of the 2017 World Series. On Wednesday, in Los Angeles' 7-4 defeat against Cleveland, he topped out at 90.6 and averaged 89.4. Such humbling realities come for every hurler, every human. The aches of aging are a bittersweet blessing — the price and the gift of still being here. That Kershaw is even playing at 37 is an accomplishment. But even in this reduced state, he can still be a useful, competent starter. That was on display against the Guardians' tame offense, as Kershaw covered five innings while surrendering just one run. It was an act of survival. He gave up six hits. He worked behind in counts. His command wavered. But he dodged disaster. If not for a Los Angeles bullpen implosion, Kershaw would have tallied career win No. 213 on Wednesday. And for a Dodgers team forced to overcome a thinned-out, injury-riddled staff, Kershaw's small step forward was a welcomed development. In a twist few saw coming, this star-studded roster suddenly needs everything Kershaw can give them. That would have seemed preposterous when Kershaw re-joined the team on Feb. 13 after waiting out a free agency that always pointed toward Chavez Ravine. Having added Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki to join a staff featuring Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and a host of others, Los Angeles had accumulated an embarrassment of riches on the pitching side. Kershaw, fresh off two winter surgeries and the worst statistical season of his career, was an afterthought. At least from an on-field perspective. The legendary lefty was a clubhouse fixture for the Dodgers as they stampeded through October, even though he did not appear in a game after Aug. 30. He spoke at the World Series parade, triumphantly proclaiming that he planned to remain a Dodger for life. But it was no secret, given his statistical decline, that this comeback was more for Kershaw than it was for the Dodgers. Anything he could give them would be a nice bonus. The Cooperstown-bound hurler had earned his tenure, but the team was not planning to rely on Kershaw as it had year after year, October after October. 'I think any baseball player would wanna go out on their own terms.' Kershaw said on MLB Network last week before his first start of the year. 'For me, I just didn't want an injury to be the reason that I stopped playing.' Kershaw has always thirsted for control. His meticulous pregame routine is the stuff of legend. Baseball's randomness forces its participants to learn to let go, to surrender agency. Kershaw has always resisted that. The hurler of a generation was never going to slink away quietly. But a barrage of Dodgers pitching injuries has placed the spotlight on Kershaw once more. Los Angeles currently has 14 hurlers on its big league injured list. Yamamoto, the NL Cy Young favorite, and red-headed righty Dustin May are the only still-healthy starters from the club's Opening Day roster. Kershaw has made three starts since his return from a pair of offseason surgeries. The first was a five-run stinker at home against the Angels, the second a rain-marred two-inning outing in Queens that offered no real insight into his progress. But on Wednesday against Cleveland, the Big Guy battled. It was a far cry from the dominance of his prime, but Kershaw navigated his way through with guts and savvy. Still, Kershaw didn't seem encouraged afterward. 'I think I've created some bad habits, you know, just with not feeling my best,' Kershaw told reporters afterward. 'I haven't pitched in a while, you know, I haven't pitched in a long time. So there's just some growing pains, I think, with the first few. Physically, feel great. Just keep throwing and figuring it out.' It's possible that Kershaw, with more reps, rediscovers some form. Only two seasons ago, he led the 2023 Dodgers in innings, finishing with a 2.46 ERA. He achieved that mark despite a fastball that averaged 90.7. But he ended that campaign with a disastrous implosion in the NLDS against Arizona. That winter, he underwent shoulder surgery, the first surgery of his career. There's reason to hope things get better. There's also reason to doubt it ever will. The Dodgers have no choice but to give him the chance to find out. 'Still trying to find his way, wasn't his best stuff,' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the game. 'Willed himself through five innings.' It is inspiring and sobering to watch this version of Kershaw. Nobody stays young forever. Father Time, undefeated, comes for us all. That feeling is universal. To watch him rage against the dying of the light is an admirable act of defiance. The golden glow of his Cooperstown-bound legacy casts this version of him in sepia tones — familiar, venerable, but unmistakably aged. It's strange to hear Roberts describe Clayton Kershaw as someone 'finding his way.' For nearly two decades, Kershaw was the way — the standard, the pillar. It's a reminder that the Dodgers skipper is talking about a completely different version of Kershaw. The Dodgers will take whatever this version can give them.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Clayton Kershaw isn't what he was — but the Dodgers need him all the same
CLEVELAND — The flecks of gray in Clayton Kershaw's beard matched the overcast Ohio sky as the 37-year-old lefty readied himself atop the mound. At home plate stood Guardians leadoff man Steven Kwan, who was just 8 years old when the Dodgers drafted Kershaw in June 2006. For the first time in the third start of his 18th MLB season, the future Hall of Famer launched into his trademark herky-jerky windup. The fastball clipped the top of the zone, but was called a ball. Then came the more sobering truth, displayed on the Progressive Field scoreboard beside a smiling headshot of Kershaw: Advertisement 89 miles per hour Two decades ago, Kershaw was a can't-miss prospect who regularly threw 95. The second strikeout of his career, for instance, came on a 97 mile per hour heater. But time, and the ailing it brings, has chipped away at Kershaw's power. He has not touched 95 since Game 7 of the 2017 World Series. On Wednesday, in Los Angeles' 7-4 defeat against Cleveland, he topped out at 90.6 and averaged 89.4. Such humbling realities come for every hurler, every human. The aches of aging are a bittersweet blessing — the price and the gift of still being here. That Kershaw is even playing at 37 is an accomplishment. But even in this reduced state, he can still be a useful, competent starter. A battered Dodgers rotation means L.A. needs quality innings out of 37-year-old Clayton Kershaw. (Photo) (Elsa via Getty Images) That was on display against the Guardians' tame offense, as Kershaw covered five innings while surrendering just one run. It was an act of survival. He gave up six hits. He worked behind in counts. His command wavered. But he dodged disaster. If not for a Los Angeles bullpen implosion, Kershaw would have tallied career win No. 213 on Wednesday. Advertisement And for a Dodgers team forced to overcome a thinned-out, injury-riddled staff, Kershaw's small step forward was a welcomed development. In a twist few saw coming, this star-studded roster suddenly needs everything Kershaw can give them. That would have seemed preposterous when Kershaw re-joined the team on Feb. 13 after waiting out a free agency that always pointed toward Chavez Ravine. Having added Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki to join a staff featuring Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and a host of others, Los Angeles had accumulated an embarrassment of riches on the pitching side. Kershaw, fresh off two winter surgeries and the worst statistical season of his career, was an afterthought. At least from an on-field perspective. The legendary lefty was a clubhouse fixture for the Dodgers as they stampeded through October, even though he did not appear in a game after Aug. 30. He spoke at the World Series parade, triumphantly proclaiming that he planned to remain a Dodger for life. But it was no secret, given his statistical decline, that this comeback was more for Kershaw than it was for the Dodgers. Anything he could give them would be a nice bonus. The Cooperstown-bound hurler had earned his tenure, but the team was not planning to rely on Kershaw as it had year after year, October after October. Advertisement 'I think any baseball player would wanna go out on their own terms.' Kershaw said on MLB Network last week before his first start of the year. 'For me, I just didn't want an injury to be the reason that I stopped playing.' Kershaw has always thirsted for control. His meticulous pregame routine is the stuff of legend. Baseball's randomness forces its participants to learn to let go, to surrender agency. Kershaw has always resisted that. The hurler of a generation was never going to slink away quietly. But a barrage of Dodgers pitching injuries has placed the spotlight on Kershaw once more. Los Angeles currently has 14 hurlers on its big league injured list. Yamamoto, the NL Cy Young favorite, and red-headed righty Dustin May are the only still-healthy starters from the club's Opening Day roster. Kershaw has made three starts since his return from a pair of offseason surgeries. The first was a five-run stinker at home against the Angels, the second a rain-marred two-inning outing in Queens that offered no real insight into his progress. Advertisement But on Wednesday against Cleveland, the Big Guy battled. It was a far cry from the dominance of his prime, but Kershaw navigated his way through with guts and savvy. Still, Kershaw didn't seem encouraged afterward. 'I think I've created some bad habits, you know, just with not feeling my best,' Kershaw told reporters afterward. 'I haven't pitched in a while, you know, I haven't pitched in a long time. So there's just some growing pains, I think, with the first few. Physically, feel great. Just keep throwing and figuring it out.' It's possible that Kershaw, with more reps, rediscovers some form. Only two seasons ago, he led the 2023 Dodgers in innings, finishing with a 2.46 ERA. He achieved that mark despite a fastball that averaged 90.7. But he ended that campaign with a disastrous implosion in the NLDS against Arizona. That winter, he underwent shoulder surgery, the first surgery of his career. There's reason to hope things get better. There's also reason to doubt it ever will. The Dodgers have no choice but to give him the chance to find out. Advertisement 'Still trying to find his way, wasn't his best stuff,' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the game. 'Willed himself through five innings.' It is inspiring and sobering to watch this version of Kershaw. Nobody stays young forever. Father Time, undefeated, comes for us all. That feeling is universal. To watch him rage against the dying of the light is an admirable act of defiance. The golden glow of his Cooperstown-bound legacy casts this version of him in sepia tones — familiar, venerable, but unmistakably aged. It's strange to hear Roberts describe Clayton Kershaw as someone 'finding his way.' For nearly two decades, Kershaw was the way — the standard, the pillar. It's a reminder that the Dodgers skipper is talking about a completely different version of Kershaw. The Dodgers will take whatever this version can give them.
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
What do the Dodgers and Giants have in common? An iconic ad — for Big Oil
Long before Clayton Kershaw donned No. 22 and Fernando Valenzuela wore No. 34, another number told fans it was time for Dodger baseball: 76. Union Oil Co., the 76 gasoline brand's former owner, helped finance Dodger Stadium's construction. The brand's current owner, Phillips 66, remains a major sponsor. Through six World Series titles, orange-and-blue 76 logos have been a constant presence at Chavez Ravine. They tower above the scoreboards and grace the outfield walls. So when 76 recently posted on Instagram that it had begun sponsoring L.A.'s rivals in San Francisco — with an orange-and-blue logo on the center field clock at Oracle Park — some Dodgers fans weren't pleased. 'THE BETRAYAL,' one fan wrote on Instagram. 'bestiessss nooooo,' another lamented. 76 was unfazed, responding: 'Still a bestie, just spreading the love!' Strange as the reactions may sound, it's not unheard of for long-lived ad campaigns to take on a life of their own, evolving from paid promotions to cultural touchstones. Outside Fenway Park in Boston, Red Sox fans have fought to preserve the massive Citgo sign, with its logo of a Venezuelan-owned oil company. Nor is it shocking that Houston-based Phillips 66 would market itself through another baseball team. The 76 gasoline brand, after all, evokes the patriotism of 1776 — a clever marketing ploy. And what's more American than Major League Baseball? Still, the timing of Phillips 66's decision to start sponsoring the Giants is intriguing. Since last summer, nearly 30,000 people have signed a petition urging Dodgers ownership to cut ties with the oil company. California is currently suing Phillips 66 and other oil and gas companies for climate damages, accusing them of a 'decades-long campaign of deception' to hide the truth about the climate crisis. The Sierra Club Angeles Chapter held its third protest at Dodger Stadium before a game against the Athletics on May 15. Activists cloaked in sackcloth marched outside the parking lots. One played a bagpipe. 'It was a bit hard for the fans to comprehend,' organizer Lisa Kaas Boyle acknowledged. Still, she believes the cause is righteous. A former environmental crimes prosecutor and a co-founder of the Plastic Pollution Coalition, Kaas Boyle lost her home in the Palisades fire. She's also a Dodgers fan, having caught the bug from her husband, whose 89-year-old mom grew up cheering for the team in Brooklyn. She has a special place in her heart for Kiké Hernández. So when the Dodgers joined other sports teams in pledging $8 million to wildfire relief, she felt the organization was 'speaking out of two sides of its mouth.' She pointed to a study concluding that the weather conditions that helped drive the Palisades and Eaton fires were 35% more likely due to climate change. 'If you really care about us fire victims, you wouldn't be promoting one of the major causes of the disaster,' Kaas Boyle said. 'If you really care, you wouldn't be boosting their image, greenwashing it through baseball.' At least one member of the Dodgers ownership group cares about presenting a climate-friendly image. Tennis star Billie Jean King posted on Facebook, Instagram and X in the fall promoting a climate summit being held next week at the University of Oxford, co-hosted by an arm of the United Nations. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has called on all countries to ban fossil fuel advertising. So, what does King think of the 76 ads at Dodger Stadium? Hard to say. Her publicist didn't respond to my request for comment. The Dodgers also declined to respond. Same goes for the Giants and Phillips 66. So why is the oil company 'spreading the love' to the Bay Area? Again, hard to know for sure. But Duncan Meisel has a theory. He runs the advocacy group Clean Creatives, which pressures ad agencies to stop working with fossil fuel clients. And he suspects that lawmakers and regulators based in Sacramento are less likely to attend a baseball game in L.A. than in nearby San Francisco. 'If you're 76, and you're worried about decision-makers in California, that's where you'd want to be,' he said. Indeed, Phillips 66 may have reasons to be worried. The company plans to close its Los Angeles County oil refinery this year — a troubling sign of the economic times for Big Oil as California shifts toward electric cars. Lawmakers are also weighing a 'polluters pay' bill that would require fossil fuel companies to help pay for damages from more intense heat waves, wildfires and storms. Phillips 66, meanwhile, was arraigned this month on charges that it violated the U.S. Clean Water Act by dumping oil and grease from its L.A. County refinery into the local sewer system. (It pleaded not guilty.) That followed a win for climate activists in March, when state Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) wrote to Dodgers controlling owner Mark Walter, urging him to dump Phillips 66. Hence, perhaps, the newfound relationship with the Giants. 'That's why you advertise,' Meisel said. 'If you're a company like Phillips 66 that's under threat from political and cultural pressures in California, it's hard to get a better deal than sponsoring a local sports team.' It's not just California turning up the heat on Phillips 66. Executives have been battling a pressure campaign from Elliott Investment Management, which won two seats on the company's board last week. As Elliott ramped up the pressure on Phillips 66 earlier this year, executives announced an expanded sponsorship deal with their hometown ball club — another Dodgers nemesis, as it happens, the cheating Houston Astros. Phillips 66 now sponsors the home run train atop the high left-field wall at Houston's Daikin Park (formerly Minute Maid Park). The train is filled with 25 oversized baseballs, each representing a special moment in Astros history — yes, including the World Series title they stole from the Dodgers. As Phillips 66 brand manager John Field said in an April news release: 'Sponsorships like these are more than just fun — they're a strategic investment.' Fun and strategic, sure, if you're mainly invested in oil industry profits. If you care about watching baseball games in safe temperatures, without choking on wildfire smoke, you might reach a different conclusion. One thing's for sure: Fossil fuel companies will keep pumping money into baseball so long as teams let them. The Astros, Texas Rangers and Cleveland Guardians all wear jersey patches sponsored by oil and gas companies. In California, meanwhile, Phillips 66 will keep reminding Dodgers fans how much they love looking at 76 logos — a playbook so successful it once inspired a campaign to save the rotating 76 balls above gas stations. 'This is a heavy play on Americana,' Roberta J. Newman said. A Yankees fan and professor in New York University's Liberal Studies program, Newman wrote the fascinating book, 'Here's the Pitch: The Amazing, True, New, and Improved Story of Baseball and Advertising.' There may be nobody with a better understanding of the cultural and political power of baseball-linked advertising. When a brand like 76 associates itself with the Dodgers — through special ticket deals, joint promotions with the team charity and TV commercials starring Vin Scully — it's engaged in 'meaning transfer,' Newman said. 'Your positive associations of the Dodgers will become positive associations with 76,' she said. Most fans won't drive away from Dodger Stadium and immediately choose 76 over a rival gasoline station. But in the long run, they'll have good vibes when they see the orange-and-blue logo. It'll feel familiar, friendly. If that sounds nuts — well, you might want to tell business executives they blew $1 trillion on ads last year. 'People might think, 'Oil is terrible. But 76 is the Dodgers,'' Newman said. Now it's the Giants, too — not that Newman thinks the dual loyalty will hurt the company. As one Instagram user, a Giants fan, wrote: 'Hey Dodger fans, it's OK! ... 76 is a California icon and tradition from North to South!' Fair enough. Wildfires are getting bigger and more destructive up there too. This is the latest edition of Boiling Point, a newsletter about climate change and the environment in the American West. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. And listen to our 'Boiling Point' podcast here. For more climate and environment news, follow @Sammy_Roth on X and @ on Bluesky.
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Angel Martínez's 3-run homer in the eighth leads Guardians rally in 7-4 win over Dodgers
Angel Martínez hit a three-run, go-ahead homer and the Cleveland Guardians scored five times in the eighth inning to rally for a 7-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. The Dodgers built a 4-1 lead before Lou Trivino gave up an RBI single to Carlos Santana in the bottom of the seventh. Nolan Jones tied it in the eighth with a two-run single off Tanner Scott (0-1) and Martínez followed with his 394-foot blast off Alex Vesia. Matt Festa (1-0) pitched the eighth and Emmanuel Clase worked a perfect ninth for his 11th save. The Guardians salvaged the third and final game of the interleague series. Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw was denied his 213th win, despite pitching a season-high five innings and allowing one run. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner struck out three in his third outing since undergoing left knee and toe surgery. José Ramírez extended his career-long hitting streak to 21 games with an RBI single in the first, also moving into eighth place in Cleveland history with 1,564 hits. Carlos Santana went 3 for 4 with an RBI. Will Smith, Andy Pages and Freddie Freeman drove in runs and Kiké Hernández scored on a wild pitch for Los Angeles. Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan left the game after three innings with right wrist inflammation. Kolby Allard made a spot start for Cleveland, allowing two runs in four innings. The Guardians had five runs and eight hits off Trivino and Scott over 2 1/3 innings after Kershaw left the game after the fifth. Key moment Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, who leads the majors with 20 home runs, went 0 for 3 with a walk. He had homered in three straight games. Key stat Dodgers: RHP Tony Gonsolin (2-1, 4.68 ERA) pitches Friday against the New York Yankees to begin a seven-game homestand. Up next Guardians: RHP Luis Ortiz (2-5, 4.73 ERA) is tentatively scheduled to start Friday at home against the Los Angeles Angels.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Los Angeles Dodgers lose to Cleveland Guardians after bullpen gives up 5 runs in 8th inning
The Los Angeles Dodgers brutally lost to the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday after an eighth-inning collapse. Behind Clayton Kershaw's brilliance on the mound, the Dodgers finished the seventh inning with a 4-2 lead. However, the bullpen gave up five runs in the eighth as the Guardians cruised into a 7-4 win. Angel Martínez for the lead!The @CleGuardians have scored FIVE runs in the 8th! — MLB (@MLB) May 28, 2025 The loss moved the reigning World Series champions to a 34-22 record. This story will be updated.
