Still the Ace
Since getting off dairy products after last season, Clayton Kershaw has seen no flareup of his back issues and every game he has started he puts up at least 6 innings or more. Simply put, Clayton is still the Dodger s Ace, even if Hyun-jin Ryu wins the Cy Young Award. He is now 11-2 and has a 2.77 ERA to go with a 1.04 WHIP. He s the amazing part: His
Since getting off dairy products after last season, Clayton Kershaw has seen no flareup of his back issues and every game he has started he puts up at least 6 innings… or more. Simply put, Clayton is still the Dodger’s Ace, even if Hyun-jin Ryu wins the Cy Young Award. He is now 11-2 and has a 2.77 ERA to go with a 1.04 WHIP.
He’s the amazing part: His career ERA is 2.41 and his career WHIP is 1.01 – that’s otherworldly after 11 years. Everyone says that Sandy Koufax was better, but he wasn’t better for his career. Koufax was the Greatest of All Time his last 5 years, but his career ERAS is 2.77 and his WHIP is 1.106. Clayton is the greatest Dodger Pitcher of All-Time, OVER HIS CAREER, but if you Cherry Pick 5 seasons, then Sandy is the GOAT.
Of course, Sandy was better in the playoffs, but he only pitched in 8 playoff games, while Clayton has pitched in 30! He still has an opportunity THIS year to change his narrative. Barring injury, the playoffs will start with Clayton on the mound, followed by Ryu and Buehler. The 4th starter is still to be determined.
Playoff Pitchers
It appears it will not be Urias and I endorse his move to the pen. In rare instances, we could see him in back-to-back games. You will have to give him some time to wrap his head around his new role, but he has a couple of months to adapt. They will likely not pitch him on back-to-back days during the season… maybe the playoffs.
Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May both have a shot at the playoff roster. There’s enough time to stretch out Rich Hill, but it will be close. Whether May and/or Gonsolin make the playoff roster is a simple choice: How did they pitch? Chicken Strip is still a possibility as a 4th Starter.
The Dodger pitching is #1 in baseball and the bullpen continues their march up the rankings. The bullpen ERA has now dropped to 3.98 and they are now #7 in bullpen ERA. They just passed Oakland who slipped to the #8 spot.
I have an early flight, so I’ll see you later…
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Discussion (64)
Disagree, not disagreeable
For those of you who wanted Belli kept in right field, how did you like his play last night at first base? Belli could have made that catch in right but there’s no way Joc makes either of the great plays Belli made at first. We are just better with Bellinger at first.
Matt Carpenter is a beauty. He bitched at the ump every at bat. And he’s hitting .215. He needs to do a lot less bitching and a lot more hitting.
looking forward to today’s game.
An Ace does it when it matters. This current Dodger “Ace” has come up short in 5 of 6 Octobers. That’s not an Ace. In Game 5 of a 2-2 World Series, a real Ace holds on to a 4-0 lead, and then holds on to a 7-4 lead. This Ace did not. Yes, he was great in Game 1 which we won, and he was great Game 7, AFTER we were already down 5-0 and there was less pressure! But when we needed the Ace the most, he was basically Yu Darvish. I won’t go into the playoffs in 2013, 2014, 2016, or 2018; I’ve done that enough. And I’ve said he was flat out dominant vs the Mets in 2015, only suffering a Game 1 loss after Baez couldn’t get David Wright out.
It’s fun to get excited about April-September, and add to an already impressive 1st ballot Hall of Fame resume. Do it in October. If he does it in October, I might even go buy his jersey! Every single person here wants 2 things to happen in October:
1) We win the World Series
2) and Kersh is the one on the mound to close it out (with me somewhere in the stands, no matter where the game is!)
And his yo yo bat seems to be on the rise again. Hopefully he can sustain it through the end of year and into playoffs. We need the good JOC to win a WS
Agree SoCalBum. Also Joc Pederson made an awesome catch in right field last night. Possibly a game winning catch.
Impossible to compare pitchers from completely different eras, but what if:
Koufax had first pitched in the minors instead of going straight to the majors as a “bonus baby?”
Koufax home field was Dodger Stadium his entire career rather than 104 games at hitter friendly Ebbets Field (4.04 ERA), and the LA Coliseum (4.44 ERA)? Koufax Dodger Stadium ERA 1.36; Kershaw 2.09.
Koufax pitched in 5 man rotation rather than 4, and was not expected to pitch complete games (averaged 18 per season after team moved to Dodger Stadium; averaging 272 innings per season). Kershaw averages 190 IP, and 2.25 complete games per season.
And, if Koufax had access to the same medical advances as Kershaw and did not retire after his age 30 season?
Both are all time GREATS; one in the HOF, and the other most likely a first ballot HOF’er. I am lucky (old) enough to have watched both — and listen to Vin Scully call their games.
Interesting take V… I’m just glad we have the new n improved Ace back…
Being an ardent Dodger fan it was almost surreal to see Kersh chucking, Walker watching and Sandy taking it all in… Goose bump time… I only wish Big D was around to visit the ravine and bless us with his presence…
Well were surely rolling now and may health be with us… The discussions in Doc’s office regarding the roster make up must be something… Tough discussions loom in the future…
Watch out! Clayton Kershaw is evolving. As is the Dodgers bullpen. It sure helps when CK goes 7.
I think I saw him hit 92 on the gun a couple of times, if that velo comes back a little, watch out! He might have to make space on the mantle for another CY or two.
If you want a good laugh, check the Giants record since the trade deadline. Way to go Farhan!
It’s funny, I haven’t given the Giants a thought all year until right before the deadline. Now, I’m having fun watching them fail. Just in time for my trip to No-Cal! Taking off on a roadie to Napa today. Taking my fire stick and mlb app so I can watch the D-Bags series in the hotel room. I’m so ready for some R&R.
The game story in the LA Times this morning mentions Kershaw “shaping” his pitches now. I wonder if this is a hint that watching Rich Hill has influenced Kershaw’s reinvention?
Speaking of the LA TImes, Andy McCullough has left and joined The Athletic.