June 28th, 2016 at 5:43 pm 
by Ron Cervenka When news spread on Tuesday afternoon that Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw would be heading back to Los Angeles on Wednesday morning to have his ailing lower back examined after the pain he has been experiencing over the past week or so hasn’t improved, social media went absolutely berserk.
Responses to the breaking news ranged from those of logic and reason, such as that from our good friend and colleague Eric Stephen over at True Blue LA who suggests that the timing of this potentially devastating news could actually work to Kershaw’s and the Dodgers’ advantage, to utter panic up to and including that the Dodgers season is officially over. And while there is zero doubt that each and every one of these emotionally driven responses are out of the sheer love, respect and admiration that we all have for the greatest pitcher (and person) on the planet, it might be best if we all pause for a moment and take a deep breath (and maybe even say a little prayer for Clayton, as he might us) before venting our emotions and frustrations on social media.
Clayton Kershaw
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)
News of Kershaw’s sudden and unplanned return to L.A. from the team’s current road trip in Milwaukee to meet with renowned back specialist Dr Robert Watkins III came during Dodgers manager Dave Roberts’ daily media briefing before Tuesday night’s contest against the Brewers at Miller Park.
“He’s not any better so we decided to fly him back [on Wednesday],” Roberts told reporters. “Not pitching here in Milwaukee, as we look at the Friday start, to get him a couple days back home, consult with the docs and see where to go from there. We’re still hopeful for [Kershaw’s next scheduled start on] Friday. We want to get him in the doctors’ hands, and they do what they can to figure out what’s going on. It’s been a few weeks that it started barking a little bit. Right now, we want to get some answers.”
While this news certainly (and justifiably) has all of us on edge and extremely anxious, let’s at least wait for Kershaw’s test results before we throw in the towel on him.
It’s not the end of the world … not yet, at least.
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Social media has changed so much about how we all interact, in a mostly positive way. It’s brought sports fans and like-minded people together, and I know for me living so far away, has made me feel so much more connected to many other crazy Dodgers fans like me. That being said, social media can really magnify a situation and blow it up a few too many notches. We hear about and react to everything right away, and learn info we wouldn’t ever have even heard about 20 years ago when reading the newspaper. We are all now “insiders”, for better or for worse.
It goes without saying, of course, that ANY potential or possibility of injury to the human wonder that is Clayton Kershaw is more than unsettling. I just don’t think we should let Twitter make any misinformed diagnosis or predictions just yet.
It’s not just social media. Chicken Little is alive and well on the Dodgers official site.
Exactly the point, Gail.
We all know people who have had horrible experiences with backs but there are far more success stories.
Let’s let Dr. Watkins – the absolute best in the business – make the diagnosis.
There’s no reason not to worry, if you’re a Dodger fan. Here’s hoping he feels better by his next start.