When asked by the Los Angeles Times about the possibility of the game’s best pitching prospect, 20-year old left-hander Clayton Kershaw, taking injured Esteban Loaiza’s spot in the Dodgers rotation, manager Joe Torre could neither confirm nor deny. “You’ll have to wait and see,” Torre said about Kershaw’s possible promotion from Double-A Jacksonville.

The L.A. Times story points out that the writing is on the wall in several regards for Kershaw’s arrival. Loaiza’s injury obviously opens a void in the rotation, one that Torre said would not be filled by the other logical choice, starter/reliever Hong-Chih Kuo. Kershaw certainly helped his own cause in his last start (May 2), throwing 6.2 shutout innings against the Tennessee Smokies with general manager Ned Colletti in the stands.

The Dodgers have regulated Kershaw’s innings in much the same way as the Yankees regulated Joba Chamberlain’s last season, says MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick. The Kershaw Decree is what the organization is calling it. He cannot exceed 25 innings in a month, which explains why his last appearance on May 7 came as a reliever. Torre said he expects Kershaw’s next few outings to also come in relief.

The fifth spot in the Dodgers’ rotation is expected to come due again on Monday, May 17 at Anaheim. With an off day this Monday, L.A. can skip the fifth spot and start ace Brad Penny on regular rest on Tuesday, May 13. Loaiza will be eligible to return from the disabled list on May 18, which leaves Torre to ponder calling up Kershaw, who is 0-3 with a 1.08 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 33.1 innings at Jacksonville, to make his first big league start.

Kershaw carried the momentum from a big spring training into the start of the minor league season. He did most of his spring work in major league camp and finished with a 0.64 ERA, one save and 19 strikeouts in 14 innings.

Kershaw’s fastball-curveball combination translates to immediate success in the majors. He can command a fastball that pushes triple digits, then brings a knee-buckling 11-to-5 curve and circle change-up. All three are plus-offerings, and according to Baseball America, Kershaw’s makeup and work ethic are “off the charts.” With all due respect to Max Scherzer, Johnny Cueto, Luke Hochevar and others, Kershaw has the most upside of any prospect to [presumably] debut in 2008.

As far as when Kershaw gets the call, “you’ll have to wait and see” what Torre does.

More thoughts …
LA Dodger Talk says Kershaw will be a Dodger by the end of the month.

The Sports Idiot puts Kershaw’s possible debut into a fantasy perspective.

Sons of Steve Garvey points out Kershaw’s athleticism and new nickname.

Dustin Hockensmith is editor of ImaginaryDiamond.com. He can be contacted at dhockensmith[at]fantasysports101.net.