Colorado Rockies Off-Day Links: NL West

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Apr 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) sits in the dugout before he starts his warm up for the game against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Some news, notes, and links from around the National League West as the Colorado Rockies enjoy an off-day Thursday before hosting the Dodgers this weekend.

More from Colorado Rockies News

The off-day today for the Colorado Rockies feels weird after the team had games rained out on multiple days this week, but nevertheless, here we are. At least another day off is a good thing for the pitching staff, right?

And, as we are wont to do on many off days, here are some links that should catch you up on the goings-on around baseball. Today, too, all links have a little NL West flavor…

Padres News: Josh Johnson Nearing Return (Friars On Base).
I know it seems like he hasn’t pitched in, like, a decade, but before the rash of injuries Josh Johnson was a very, very good pitcher for the Florida (Miami) Marlins. If he can regain that form in San Diego, talk about an embarrassment of riches in the starting rotation for the Friars.

A Look At Clayton Kershaw’s Early Season Problems (Lasorda’s Lair).
Despite a poor win-loss record and a higher-than-usual (well, for Kershaw) ERA, Scott Andes looks deeper at why Clayton Kershaw will be fine this summer. Fine is a frightening thought to the rest of the NL West.

Life on the farm: Dbacks Minor League Report (Venom Strikes).
When you’ve got a bad ball club, like us and our friends in Phoenix, you sometimes look to the minors more excitedly than you do the big league team. Guillermo Salcido has a good run-down of future Dbacks that will hopefully not (but probably will) burn the Rockies for years to come.

5 Reasons to celebrate the .500 San Francisco Giants (Around The Foghorn).
The last time we saw the Giants, they were… bad. Remember those days? Sweeping the club in San Francisco and then getting one of two from ‘em in Denver? Seems like… a century ago. Now, the Giants are playing better ball and they sat at .500 entering play yesterday. Matthew Connolly breaks down the why and how.