Dodgers News: Clayton Kershaw on the Departure of Justin Turner
The Dodgers have made the playoffs in each of the last ten seasons, and for nine of those years, Justin Turner was a leader of the team, both on and off the field. Now, Turner will be taking that leadership to Boston after signing a two-year deal with the Red Sox over the weekend.
Monday morning, MLB Network’s High Heat had an interview with the only L.A. player who’s been around longer than JT, future Hall of Fame pitcher Clayton Kershaw.
This made my day. I love this face. ??? #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/WBo0cn686F
— Gail Johnson (@GJOH29) December 19, 2022
Kershaw talked about Turner’s departure and the hole it leaves on the team.
“This has been the most turnover that I’ve seen in an offseason in a while for us. Our position player group has pretty much been the same for a long time and now with JT and Belli both leaving, it’s going to be weird, it really is. You know JT is such a cornerstone of the franchise and has meant so much to me personally in everything that he does on and off the field. … “We’re going to miss him. I’m going to miss him. It’s going to be so weird to not have him in the clubhouse. I hope he has fun in Boston, just not too much fun.”
Number 22 added to his thoughts on number 10.
“I texted him this, but he just always gave me the thought that we were going to win the game. You just see him and his mannerisms and demeanor every day, you just go to the ballpark thinking that you’re going to win the game when you see him. That’s the compliment that I can’t give to everybody.”
Obviously, the players have a different perspective on everything than the fans do. Most players have played for other franchises before and will play for other franchises later, although the former isn’t true of Kershaw and hopefully the latter isn’t, either. But they understand the business side of things, and they have JT’s number to they can still text him whenever they want to, a privilege most fans don’t enjoy. So something like this is probably easier for them to accept.
Still, Turner’s departure will be felt throughout the Dodgers organization. They’re professionals, so they’ll carry on. But while they may feel it differently than we do as fans, the whole team will miss JT.
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Turner and Belli each faded their way out of the plans for the Dodgers. Had they continued hitting above .300 and had less injuries, they would still be wearing Dodger Blue. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
Hitting above 300 isn’t the standard/ it would be nice but not many on any team meet that. And they’re replacing him with a guy who hit .270 and has no leadership with the team. As of this moment they are a worse team that may get 90 wins
He’s gonna have a few good games with the Red Sox – he might even have a good year, but he’s old and he’s lost his zip. It was time for him to move on. He looked broken and dumb in the playoffs. It’s time for LA to reload.
It wasn’t only his talent that made him. He was the heart of the Dodgers that’s a gift you never give up on….Just like Pujols there is just something they give to there teammates it’s irreplaceable….I beleve he’ll be back coaching management this man is Dodger true blue.
Dumb? WTF? Only a dumbass would write that. He’s old, so they reload with 35year old JD and Heyward at 33 hasn’t had a good season since 2015 when he hit .270. Just those two show that LA is not reloading.