Jonny B. AWESOME

Written by: Brandon Wahl on 9th April 2009

Jonny B. AWESOME | read this item

The great players have IT. The unmistakable confidence that runs like ice water through the veins. The mentality to know just when to flip that switch and unleash on the opposition. The testicular fortitude to not back down when faced with a challenge.

Although the season is young, Jonathan Broxton is flashing signs of IT. Granted the Padres lineup isn’t Murder’s Row, but if even it was, it might not matter. Broxton has been throwing flames, with nary a player even coming close to extinguishing the inferno.

Watch Broxton during his next outing. Notice the steely glare, the intensity, the fact that he never opens his mouth. He’s showing no signs of emotion while on the mound, and letting his pitching do the talking. It is incredible to watch. It is laughable the futile efforts he is met with. IT is awesome.

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Today’s business man’s special duel, courtesy of dodgers.com…

Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Kershaw showed this spring the ability to dominate Major League hitters, but he also showed the inconsistency of youth. When he gets out of whack mechanically, he still has a tough time making in-game adjustments. But he’s left-handed with a 95-mph fastball and a curveball that drops four feet. He’s starting to enjoy throwing the changeup, which is not what opposing hitters want to see.

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Kevin Correia, San Diego Padres (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

corriera Correia is another guy who had a nice spring — if you work past the ERA, which only tells part of the story. A non-roster invitee who had other offers, Correia chose his hometown team because the Padres had openings in their rotation. Smart move, as Correia pitched very well this spring on occasion, keeping the fastball at the knees while rediscovering his changeup, a pitch that betrayed him during 2008 season when he was ineffective at times and injured (oblique) at others. The Padres think Correia can have a nice bounce-back season as the No. 4 pitcher in the starting rotation.