The Dodgers' G.O.A.T.

Here we go again!

Sandy Koufax pitched 57 Post-Season Innings, while Clayton has pitched 194 iPost-Season innings to date (notice that I left the door cracked open for more). That is a lot more exposure; Sandy’s ERA was 0.95, while Clayton’s is 4.22. Clayton won 13 games in the playoffs while losing 12. Sandy won four while losing three. Somehow some belive that Koufax won 40 World Series games.

However, Sandy and Clayton pitched in different ERAs. Consider this:

• When Sandy pitched, the Pitcher’s Mound was 15 inches. This enables a pitcher to gain momentum as they stride down towards the plate, allowing them to throw faster and with more control than if they were at a lower level. Clayton pitches from a lower plane.
• The Strike Zone was much larger when Sandy pitched than it is now. In Koufax’s time, the strike zone was “from the top of the batter’s shoulders to the knees.” Then, from 1969 to 1987, the strike zone went from “the batter’s armpits to the top of the knees.” From 1988 to 1995, the rule changed again, and the strike zone went from “the midpoint between the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants to the top of the knees.” Then, in 1996, according to official MLB rules, “the STRIKE ZONE is that area over home plate, the upper limit of which is a horizontal line at the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the lower level is a line at the hollow beneath the kneecap.”
• Scouting, Video, and Analytics have forever changed the game. Hitters now have a better understanding of where and what pitchers will throw at any given point.
• The Koufax Dodgers did not have to play the Cheating AssTros!
• Sandy Koufax’s exposure in the playoffs was limited to the World Series at a time when only two teams made the playoffs. Clayton Kershaw has pitched in the World Series, NLDS, NLCS, and the Wild Card Playoff. Let’s look at Koufax and Kershaw Head-to-Head:

The two biggest disparities are Complete Games, where Koufax had 137 and Kershaw had just 25. The sheer number of complete games thrown by Sandy Koufax certainly contributed to his arm falling off at age 30. Also, there is a big disparity in number of All-Star Games and ERA+. Perhaps the most useful statistics are ERA and ERA+. For those of you who do not know the difference, here is what MLB says about them:

Adjusted Earned Run Average (ERA+)
Definition:
ERA+ takes a player’s ERA and normalizes it across the entire league. It accounts for external factors like ballparks and opponents. It then adjusts, so a score of 100 is league average, and 150 is 50 percent better than the league average.
For example, Mariano Rivera’s 2.21 career ERA was 105 percent better than the MLB average during the time he pitched (including adjustments for park and league). That gives him a 205 career ERA+ (the best all-time).
The formula
League ERA, adjusted for park factors x 100 / ERA.
Why it’s useful
ERA is the most universally accepted tool for measuring the performance of a pitcher. But ERA+ attempts to level the playing field for all pitchers by adjusting for the impact their home ballpark had on their performance.
This section was created by the MLB.com editorial staff for fan entertainment and education, and was not officially provided by Major League Baseball.

— MLB Editorial Staff

In writing this, I was shocked to learn that (using ERA+) Sandy was 37% better than the league-average pitcher adjusted to the parks he pitched in while Clayton was 57% better than league-average based upon the parks he pitched in. Koufax benefited by not having other teams have the benefit of statistical analysis, scouting, and video iPads during the games. Clayton benefited from advanced modern medical and training techniques.

Sandy Koufax was the greatest Dodger pitcher EVER during the five to six-year domination right before he retired. He was an All-Star six times. Clayton was the greatest Dodger over his entire career, being an All-Star ten times and still being one in what is likely his last season. At his zenith, Sandy Koufax was the G.O.A.T., but Clayton Kershaw is the Dodger’s G.O.A.T. because of his excellent over sixteen seasons, not just six!

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. Feel free to disagree.

Dodger News & Notes

• James Outman is a lock for at least 20 HRs… probably more. If he can cut down on his strikeouts, he’s an All-Star.
• Ryan Yarbrough will go on Patennity leave today, and Gavin Stone will allegedly start tonight.
• Clayton Kershaw is being pushed to Friday, but he’s fine. Yeah, Right!
• The team thinks they have JDM’s back problems figured out and under control and Peralta is sore but should be OK after a HBP!

Down on the Farm

• OKC beat Sugar Land 4-1. Hunter Feduccia was 2-4, and Alex Gamboa (2.57 ERA) got his 1st save. He is a LHP that the Dodgers need to protect, or he will get snatched up in Rule 5.
• Tulsa lost 4-3. Kendall Williams went 5.2 innings and allowed just 1 ER. Austin Gauthier was 2-4.
• GL won 4-1. Dalton Rushing was 2-4, and Jared Karros went four innings and allowed three hits with no runs.
• RC beat Viasalia 8-6. Jake Gelof hit his 5th HR