L.A. Dodgers: Kemp, Kershaw and a Host of Reasons to Feel Optimistic for 2012

Who are these guys?

The Los Angeles Dodgers of the past 60 days have looked nothing like the team that staggered into the All-Star break. They recently completed their final home stand of the season with an 8-2 trouncing of the San Francisco Giants and headed into Arizona this week to complete a season that suddenly seemed substantially more than just trivial.

Who would have thought two months ago that there would be something to cheer about at Dodgers Stadium?

Is this the same team that most had given up on, the one that appeared tired, downtrodden, disheveled and flat as a stack of IHOP pancakes?  Was this same bunch that had to hear about Frank and Jamie McCourt day after day, to the point where Dodger baseball seemed more like a reality show about bickering families.   

But somehow, some way, something just seemed to click for the Dodgers in August and September.

Looking back, writer Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times gave the Dodgers an overall grade of C at the halfway point of what seemed like a season that would never end. They couldn’t hold leads, their pitching was suspect, the defense lax and the batting lineup consisted of one tremendous player—Matt Kemp—and eight other guys trying to make contact with anything.

Since acquiring Juan Rivera from Toronto in mid July, the Dodgers are a different team—a much better team—even though they still have some major holes in the lineup and on the pitching staff.  

A mix of veterans and young players seemed to finally jell under first year manager Don Mattingly, and the Dodgers looked like they would finish the season at or above the .500 mark. Not really the stuff to call Grandpa about, but a vast improvement on what could just as easily have been a 100 loss season.

Let’s take a look at the surprise performances and the reasons for optimism in Dodger Town for 2012.

10. Don Mattingly: From Shaky to Solid in One Season

Don Mattingly could not have been in a tougher position to start his first season as a big league skipper than this year. And yet, he has weathered the storm nicely, showing remarkable poise when his team seemed to be descending into a catastrophic tailspin heading into the All-Star break.

Mattingly spent seven years at the side of Joe Torre, and so he started his big league managerial career having learned from the best.  Many of us remember and remind him of his glaring mistake in a game last year against the Giants when, subbing for the ejected Torre, Mattingly went to the mound twice to confere with relief pitcher Jonathan Broxton. San Francisco protested, citing rule 8.06, and the umpires ruled that the pitcher needed to be replaced. The Dodgers lost that game and most observers said it was Mattingly's mistake that cost them.

In truth, the umpires got that call wrong. What they are supposed to do is eject the manager and force that same pitcher to pitch to the batter at the plate. Only then could the pitcher be removed. Had LA protested, there is a chance it might have been upheld and the game replayed. But they didn't.

Fast forward to 2011. Donnie Baseball is completing his first full season as a rookie MLB manager. And though it's been a disappointing year because the team failed to make the playoffs, Mattingly has done an admirable job of keeping his forces focused and helping them finish out the season on a high note.

The Dodgers will have a winning record, albeit barely. Mattingly should get some credit for his handling of veterans such as Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and James Loney, and of the young kids he was forced to bring up to the big league club due to injuries and need.

I give Mattingly a B grade. There is room for improvement, but overall, he's been a good influence on a team in transition.

James Loney: Someone Poked Him and He Woke Up to a Decent Season

Virtually everyone wanted to trade James Loney for much of the season. He just seemed lost on the field and at the plate, and, at age 27, it appeared his future greatness was turning into a mediocre past in a hurry.

After 91 games (All Star break), Loney was hitting just .268 with four home runs and 31 runs batted in. But somehow, he found his stroke and the "good" James Loney started to reappear.  Over the past 70 games, he has upped his average to .288 (one point above his career numbers) on 149 hits, with 11 home runs and 63 RBI.

Maybe it was an Aug. 15 column by T.J. Simers of the Los Angeles Times that lit a fire under Loney:

"Arizona's magic number to eliminate the Dodgers from National League West contention is 30.  It's 42 games before James Loney is officially a goner. Loney's best chance of returning to the Dodgers next season is agreeing to pay the monthly rent on the seven houses Jamie McCourt owns so Frank doesn't have to pay as much to support her. Loney's suggestion the other day the Dodgers could still win a division title is funny now. He's the very last guy to be talking about making a strong run, hitting a combined .210 with five home runs and 30 RBIs after the All-Star break the last two seasons. Thanks for the memories."

In his last 30 games, Loney is hitting .343 with three home runs and 19 RBI and an on base percentage of .404 and a slugging percentage of .586. Those are "strong run" numbers, even if his prediction about a division title was a bit silly.

Perhaps Loney was motivated by money (arbitration eligible this winter). Whatever the reason, he has finished strong, and that bodes well for him and the Dodgers, who may still look to unload him and sign Prince Fielder as their first baseman.

Loney went from a D grade to a B- in my book. A nice finish, but it would have been nicer over a full season.

Juan Rivera: At 33, Could He Be the Short Term Answer in Left?

You have to give Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti a lot of credit when it comes to bargain hunting. Outfielder Juan RIvera was only two years removed from that glorious 25 home run season in Anaheim (2009) when the Dodgers GM came calling and found him stagnating in Toronto.

Since Aug. 1, no one in the National League has driven in more runs than Rivera. In 59 games with L.A., the free swinging Rivera has 45 RBI, five home runs and a solid .288 average. He may not be the greatest left fielder and is slow afoot, but he is decent defensively, and more importantly, brings much needed pop to the batting order.

I would recommend the team do what it takes to bring Rivera back next season. They have some young talent, such as Tony Gwynn and Jerry Sands, but Rivera brings veteran leadership and a more than solid batting stroke to the table.

Juan Rivera gets an A- grade.

Dee Gordon: Flash Junior Is a Star on the Rise at Shortstop

You can just feel the exciting energy when Dee Gordon takes the field or steps to the plate for the Dodgers. He's young and way too thin (don't blink or you might miss him), but he can surely hit, and boy, can he run.

The son of former major league pitcher Tom (Flash) Gordon, Dee has stolen 23 bases in just 53 games. He has struck out just 27 times in 219 at bats, and last night, raised his average to .301 after going 3-5 in a wild, extra innings loss to Arizona. Gordon is hitting .370 for the month of September, when he has become an everyday fixture at shortstop.

The Dodgers may has rushed Gordon to the majors, but after Rafael Furcal got injured again, they felt it was time. The 23-year-old from Florida looks to have an extremely bright future. He needs to improve on defense—nine errors—but he makes spectacular plays and has a tremendous vertical leap and will only get better in the field.

Dee Gordon is a keeper, will start next year for the Dodgers and gets a B- grade for the position.  A very bright spot for the team moving forward.

Javy Guerra: A Much Needed Reliever Is Mostly Reliable

The 25-year-old rookie from Denton, Tex. has been a very pleasant surprise in the bullpen for the Dodgers. 

His final appearance of the season, however, may have been Tuesday night when he came into a bases loaded situation in Arizona, walked the first batter and then gave up a line drive grand slam home run to Ryan Roberts as the Diamondbacks beat L.A., 7-6, in 10 innings.

Guerra entered Tuesday's game with 21 saves in 20 opportunities and a 1.97 earned run average.  Tuesday's meltdown pushed the ERA up to 2.31, but Guerra still gets high marks for an outstanding first year. He brought some much needed stability to a very shaky bullpen.

Look for Guerra to play a prominent closer role for the 2012 Dodgers. B grade.

Kenley Jansen: Average Hitter Turns into Power Pitcher

At 6'5", 255 pounds, rookie pitcher Kenley Jansen is an imposing figure on the mound. And then he unleashes one of his overpowering 95 miles per hour fastballs with rising action on it, and you begin to see why Dodgers brass is so excited about this youngster.

Jansen struck out the side Tuesday night in the eighth inning against the division winning Arizona Diamondbacks. His 16.3 strikeouts per nine inning game is a Major League Baseball record.

Earlier this season (Jul. 29), Jansen had a scare when it was discovered that he had a cardiac arrhythmia after pitching in a game against Colorado.  He was given blood thinners and placed on the 15 day disabled list as a precaution.

Seemingly a one time incident and back in good form and health, Jansen is now regularly scaring the opposition with his intimidating performances on the mound. He has 93 strikeouts in 53 innings and an ERA of 2.89 with nine holds and only one blown save.

Jansen turns 24 this Friday and gives the Dodgers a strong option in middle relief. If he can develop a few other pitches, Jansen could conceivably become a spot starter for the team though his value for now really is in the bullpen.

Grade A- for a very big surprise.

Andre Ethier: If He Is Healthy, Dodgers Would Do Well to Keep Him

Before Andre Ethier's season got shut down permanently due to an injured right knee and before the Dodgers even really knew about it, the All-Star right fielder had a spring for the ages.

We should not forget that Ethier stormed out of the gates this year and carved out a brilliant 30-game consecutive hitting streak. And we should not forget the stability and excitement Ethier has brought to the position since the Dodgers traded for him in 2006.

A career .291 hitter with decent power and a consistency about him that is hard to find in the major leagues, Ethier remains the Dodgers answer in right field and the middle of the batting order. The team still could use another big bat—think Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols—but Ethier is arbitration eligible this winter and, based on his below average 2011, could prove a bargain for the team after coming back from the surgery he just had.

Ethier scores a B- only because he was hurt.  Look for a breakout year in 2012.

Clayton Kershaw: How Much Better Can He Get?

If Clayton Kershaw does not win the Cy Young Award, it's only because he played for a mediocre team that finished out of the money this year.

At 23, Kershaw has carved out one of the best seasons in MLB history, and it would appear he will only get better from here. The soft spoken, driven to perfection Kershaw overwhelmed the opposition this season and will win the triple crown of pitching for wins, strikeouts and ERA.

Kershaw finishes the 2011 campaign with a 21-5 record, a 2.28 ERA and 248 strikeouts in 233 innings.  He gave up just 174 hits, had five complete games and two shutouts.

"He had the ability, but I don't know if he thought he was going to be this good so soon," said Matt Kemp to L.A. Times Dodgers beat reporter Dylan Hernandez after Kershaw posted his 21st win last Sunday in San Diego.

The last time a Dodgers pitcher struck out more batters than Kershaw did this season was in 1966, and his name was Sandy Koufax.

"It's been an awesome year," Kershaw told Hernandez. "I don't like to look at personal stuff too often, but now is the time I can start looking back a little bit."

Dodger fans can certainly look ahead. Clayton Kershaw is their ace and anchor of a suddenly promising starting rotation.

Grade is A+.

Matt Kemp: What a Difference a Year Makes

It's become a regular and now classic pose: Matt Kemp's home run swing. 

At age 27, Kemp has come of age. He may not win the league's Most Valuable Player Award, but he should. Imagine what the Dodgers' record would be this year without him. Certainly not above .500.

There's really not a whole lot left to say about this five tool superstar that hasn't been said or written: He simply is one of the top five all around players in the game today, and the Dodgers are lucky to have him.

Free of distractions and focused entirely on his game, Kemp has had a season for the ages in 2011. Heading into the team's final game in Arizona, he was tied for first in the National League home run race (38), first in runs batted in (124), first in runs scored (114) and second in hits (194). He also has 33 doubles and 40 stolen bases (tied for second).

Kemp can do it all. And all the Dodgers need to do now is sign him to a long term contract of six or seven years.  GM Ned Coletti says he has the money to do it, and so we'll take his word for it.

With a couple of pieces (another big bat, another couple of decent pitchers) added, the Dodgers of Matt Kemp and company could easily win another 10-15 games in 2012, and THAT would turn them back into championship contenders.

Matt Kemp gets an A+ for an Amazing season. The Dodgers get a C+ for a mediocre campaign with plenty of late season heroics and passion.

Ownership gets an F. The fans know it, the team knows it and the city of Los Angeles knows it.  Now, we just need to notify the owner, so that he'll do the right thing and sell this glorious franchise before MLB does it for him.

Hiroki Kuroda: Let's Hope He's Back in 2012

This may be a postscript, but let's hope it's not the last time we talk about Hiroki Kuroda and what he means to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In the sports dictionary, next to the word "class" is a photo of Kuroda.  The 36-year-old Japanese right hander is not only a sensational pitcher, he's a tremendous individual who puts team ahead of player and is loyal almost to a fault.

Kuroda was given an opportunity at the mid summer trading deadline to wave his non trade clause and go to a pennant contender. He chose to stay with the Dodgers and finish out his contract in Los Angeles.

At the time, Kuroda told LA Times reporter Dylan Hernandez: "I recalled what I was feeling when I decided to re-sign here and pitch for this team this season. Those feelings are important to me and I wanted them to remain important. I wanted to see this through until the end."

Kuroda pitched what may have been his last game as a Dodger on Tuesday night in Arizona. In typical fashion, he did his part: six innings, five hits, five strikeouts, no walks, no runs given up.  He finished the season with a stellar 3.07 ERA, 212 innings pitched, 161 strikeouts and just a 13-16 record to show for it.

The reason for the losing record? His team just never gave him the run support. Kuroda is undecided about whether he'll come back to L.A. or return to Japan next season. The Dodgers hope he'll return here.

And so do his many fans.