A couple years ago, there was a trio of Texas Ranger pitching prospects that got a lot of people excited. Then, all three of them faced their own unique hardships and then question marks began to form if any of the three would ever live up to their potential.

Now, I am not a Rangers fan, but the people who believed in the DVD trio should get some redemption now.

For those that don't remember, the trio was:

Thomas Diamond

Edinson Volquez

John Danks

Diamond is struggling in his return from injury but the other two are dominating their respective leagues at 23/24 years old. 

So the good news? Congrats Ranger fans, your org CAN develop pitching prospects into elite major league pitchers!

The bad news? They are putting up elite numbers for other teams...

That no one ever talks about. I remember 3 years ago when we were having that Billingsley/Cain/Verlander debate, a lot of people were skeptical of Billingsley for one reason or another.

Matt Cain ERA+

2006: 108

2007: 122

2008: 105

Justin Verlander ERA+

2006: 126

2007: 125

2008: 98

Chad Billingsley ERA+

2006: 118

2007: 138

2008: 134 (after today's start if lgERA remains constant)

Chad is also first in the majors among starting pitchers in K/9IP at 9.90. He turned 24 at the end of the month. How come he isn't talked about more? For example, Baseball Tonight before the Mets game didn't even do a recap of the Dodgers game with Billingsley striking out 13!!

He is breaking out At Inland Empire this year.

Some info on him.

age 22

Switch Hitter

listed at 5'11 170lbs from Santo Domingo in the DR.

Season numbers: 273 ABS 42 XBHs 53bb 44k  319/426/564

He is obliterating the California League in every way possible offensively. He is new to catching, a converted 3b (dodgers like doing this with athletic infielders). He has always shown very good plate discipline in his minor league career but this is the year he is putting everything together.

What are the thoughts of the community? Elite catching prospect? Potential offensive force? California League facade?

I thought prospect followers would enjoy this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2M0c6DxCMY

Its from today's red sox/dodgers ST game where a top pitching prospect made an appearance. Since any footage on prospects is incredibly hard to come by, i assume this would be a treat for some people.

Its only one pitch but...its one pitch I could watch over and over :)

http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080306&content_id=2409927&vkey=spt2 008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=la

he Dodgers don't want to rush Clayton Kershaw. But their fifth-starter job is up for grabs and left-handers with 97-mph fastballs don't grow on trees.

"I wouldn't be surprised," said Russell Martin, who caught Kershaw's inning against Washington on Tuesday night.

"For the first time in a big league game -- wow. He's got just a heavy, heavy fastball and an easy delivery. He's very deceptive. His curveball, it just drops off the table. I think it's the best curveball I've ever caught, to be honest.

Don't do it LA......

http://www.insidesocal.com/dodgers/archives/2007/12/kuroda_agrees_t.html

The deal is pending results of a physical examination, which Kuroda took this morning at Centinela Hospital, but it's done and believed to be worth between $36 million to $40 millon.

Kuroda's ZIPS projections:
http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/oracle/discussion/dodgers_reportedly_signed_kuroda/

2008. 180IP ERA+ 115
      
2009. 176IP ERA+ 112
      
2010. 172IP ERA+ 105

Penny
Lowe
Billingsley
Kuroda
Schmidt

With Loaiza as the 6th man and long man in the bullpen.

Dodgers also have reinforcements with most likely Jon Meloan (good chance being moved back to starter), James McDonald, Scott Elbert and Clayton Kershaw in that order.

If that isn't enough depth for Colletti, then he is most likely a troll; a troll that lives under a bridge that hordes everything

There seems to be an arms race in the NL West...I could see the Rockies going hard after Bedard actually.

Billingsley.... 7IP 4H 0ER 1bb 9K

Billingsley's season totals:

122.2IP 106H 14hr 50bb 118k 3.30era

Billingsley as a starter this year:

87.2IP 77H 13hr 37bb 78k 3.39era

Billingsley after the all star break:

68IP 62H 8hr 28bb 60k 3.04era

This is also his age 22 season in the bigs so his control is only going to get better. I remember alot of people were down on him last year because of his krates and k/bb ratios but has progressed wonderfully over the past year.

The NL west is going to be hell for hitters with all the solid young pitching blossoming in that division.

AA Jacksonville!
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Ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw was promoted Monday to the Jacksonville Suns, the Los Angeles Dodgers' Double-A affiliate

Parrish realizes that Kershaw, who the Dodgers have on the fast track to the major leagues, is ready for the new challenges that Double-A ball will bring.
"Obviously, (the Dodgers') goal was to get him out of here and give him a taste of Double-A before the season was over," said Parrish. "I think he is ready for that. (Is he) completely ready? I don't know. He still needs to get better command of his pitches.
"He certainly has the stuff. Maybe moving up to a team in first place and being able to pitch against Double-A hitters will help him focus a little better," added Parrish.
Loons' pitching coach Glenn Dishman agreed.
"At this level, he knew that he could sit there and throw fastballs by people, and (he) sometimes didn't have command of his fastball the way he needed to," said Dishman. "(At Jacksonville), he will rise to the challenge and know that he needs to hit his spots and still throw a 96 mile-per-hour fastball when he needs to."
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http://www.ourmidland.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18670011&BRD=2289&PAG=461&dept_id=576269& amp;rfi=6

i dunno what they are doing but whatever.

He is blowing away the Mets. Really impressive stuff in my opinion. That curveball looks excellent and he comes back with 94mph heat. His delivery is really clean too.

consider me on notice.

Kershaw is on the fast track to the Major Leagues, having been promoted recently from Class A Great Lakes to Double-A Jacksonville

http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070716&content_id=2089949&vkey=news _la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la

thats a pretty huge jump if true. The Dodgers are pretty notorious for slowtracking their pitchers after the jackson/miller debacle so I really cant believe this is true.