Kershaw lands 7 years and $215 million

[The Franchise]

The*Los Angeles Dodgers*and*Clayton Kershaw*have agreed on a seven-year, $215 million deal, sources with knowledge of the situation said.

Kershaw has an out clause after five years.

It is the richest deal for a pitcher in Major League Baseball history, eclipsing the seven-year, $180 million contract Detroit gave*Justin Verlander*last winter, and his average annual salary of $30.7 million is the highest ever for any baseball player.

The 25-year-old Kershaw has won two of the last three National League Cy Young Awards, as well as a Roberto Clemente award for his charitable work.

Kershaw and his wife, Ellen, founded an orphanage in the African nation of Zambia called Hope's Home that they visit every offseason. They co-wrote a book about their experiences last winter titled, "Arise: Live Out Your Faith and Dreams on Whatever Field You Find Yourself."

Kershaw went 16-9 with a 1.83 ERA and 232 strikeouts last season, his sixth with the Dodgers. The left-hander has a 2.60 career ERA and recorded at least 212 strikeouts in each of the past four seasons.

ttp://m.espn.go.com/mlb/story?storyId=10298436

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by Fruit Ninja

guys are getting busted with PED's all the damned time though. I dont think they have "gotten" a hold of the PED usage. Remember there is always someone else making something harder to detect.

It's obvious is working though. Guys aren't hitting check swing homers like they were and they aren't all hulked up. This is baseball.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Pasta Giant Meatball

It's obvious is working though. Guys aren't hitting check swing homers like they were and they aren't all hulked up. This is baseball.

They are also saying that pitchers now days are better so who knows. Maybe its a combination of both. COuld be many things, are umpires giving the batters a bigger strike zone? i know for a while, it used to be really small. NOw it seems they are calling the high fastball a strike more often then they used too.


I remember a few years back, guys were saying the actual damn baseball seem to feel different then they used too and were more tightly wound. SO who the hell knows.

there are many many pitchers now that pitch in the high 90's it wasnt like that before. Not even ****ing close. You usually had 1 guy in the pen that hit 97 or so, now guy are throwing 102 mph almost every pitch. Take a look at the 3 big guys in the Royals pen, they all average like 98 to 101 mph fastballs. Thats insane. NOt even in the 90's when the Reds big 3 bullpen did that.. I think only Dibble through really hard and that was probalby 97

[Pasta Little Brioni]

The ball was an issue too. The game was a joke for years, but the masses ate it up. This is real baseball love it or hate it.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Fruit Ninja

guys are getting busted with PED's all the damned time though. I dont think they have "gotten" a hold of the PED usage. Remember there is always someone else making something harder to detect.

There is an argument floating around and I truly believe it that the home run era had a lot more to do with a juiced ball than it did PED usage.

It makes sense. Of course PEDs help, but really what they did was prolong some careers and improve bat speed by a split second. The majority of your power comes from your lower body which isn't as affected by PED and hip rotation. Not in biceps.

[chief52]

Kershaw pitches another gem last night for his 17th win. Who knows what time he go home. MLB network shows him running sprints by himself at Dodgers Stadium at 8:40 this morning. The guy is naturally good. His work ethic makes him great.

[Molitoth]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Glad the Royals picked Hochevar over this guy!
Posted via Mobile Device

Doesn't matter, the Royals wouldn't pay to keep him around.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by Molitoth

Doesn't matter, the Royals wouldn't pay to keep him around.

Could have picked Scherzer from right down the road at Mizzou.

[chief52]

Longoria, Kershaw, Lincecum and Sherzer all after the Hochevar.

Baseball is so hit and miss. Dodgers hit it out with Kershaw 7th pick and then take Preston Mattingly with the 31st. Mattingly was out of baseball after the 2011 season.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

There is an argument floating around and I truly believe it that the home run era had a lot more to do with a juiced ball than it did PED usage.

It makes sense. Of course PEDs help, but really what they did was prolong some careers and improve bat speed by a split second. The majority of your power comes from your lower body which isn't as affected by PED and hip rotation. Not in biceps.

yeah, Thats why i posted something about the ball. I remember someone did a big documentary kinda thing on the actual baseball. It was quite a few years ago. Also, pitchers are just better now i think. There are alot of pitchers throwing ALOT harder now days. Remember when guys like Nolan Ryan were the only pitchers to really hit the high 90's . Now about 30 percent of the pitchers on a roster can do that. Maybe slghtly higher then that.

[KChiefs1]

Kershaw is phenomenal. Why wasn't he pick #1? Seems like an easy choice.

[Hootie]

Well, in all honesty, steroids and amphetamines certainly play a part...but this is definitely becoming the era of the pitcher. Every team has a few starters now that pump it up there 95+ and then you get to bullpens like the Royals, for example, where you have three guys who throw it damn near 100...100 is basically unhittable unless you're lucky. There is a huge difference between 90 to 95...and a HUGE difference from 95 to 100. There certainly weren't this many hard throwing pitchers even 10 years ago...and also, hence all the arm injuries.

[kcxiv]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodger...ry.html#page=1


I know this isnt Kershaw, its a Zack Greinke Article, but its a damned good read.

"I don't want to name names, but there were guys I played with that were so stupid that they're really good, because their mind never gets in the way."

So Royals fans who was Greinke talking about? haha

[kcxiv]

18-3. 8IP 3 hits 1ER 8 strike outs His ERA is now at 1.67

[Hootie]

no one cares

[Hootie]

check that

LaDodgersPlanet.com cares