Kuroda Given Opening Day Nod

[love_that_reefer]

Manager Joe Torre named Hiroki Kuroda the Dodgers' Opening Day starter on Wednesday.
Kuroda, who went 9-10 with a 3.73 ERA in 2008, will be followed in the rotation by Randy Wolf, Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw and a fifth starter who has yet to be determined. The arrangement allows the Dodgers to alternate left-handers and right-handers through their first four games.

When Kuroda is your ace, things aren't that good. The Dodgers should win the West again this year but it will be a lot tougher for them with their rotation and iffy closer. The West should be interesting this season.

[NYgiantsfan5689]

Kuroda is a very good pitcher, and is deserving of this honor IMO. His record doesn't even come close to indicate what he did last year, and his ERA is a much better indicator. He is the clear choice here for opening day, and this rotation isn't half bad I don't think. It's not lights out by any means, but it will have its very good streaks, followed by its very bad streaks. I'm excited for Kershaw to continue to develop.

[realmofotalk]

Kuroda's not our de facto ace, but he proved in last year's playoffs that he's our best big game pitcher. It sucks that Derek Lowe left, but who could have known that the 4-year deal he received back in 2005 wasn't long term enough? And how great of a deal was that for both sides? He gave us 4 prime years for all 4 years, and his arm was still good enough in the end to cash in another 4-year contract at almost twice the money.

[realmofotalk]

Chad Billingsley will get the third game of the year in order to set him up to start the home opener on April 13 against the Giants.

This means Randy Wolf will get the second game of the year.

[love_that_reefer]

I will admit Wolf has done well against the G-men.

[HollywoodLeo]

Where's all the hate you gave the Padres last year when they had Wolf as their #4 starter?

[realmofotalk]

Tomorrow, the Padres counter, of course, with Peavy, which means after the game they'll get to enjoy first place for their first and only time during the season.

[HollywoodLeo]

I'll enjoy it while it lasts.

(Knowing the Padres they'll probably make Kuroda look like an ace and lose 1-0)