Clayton Kershaw

Yesterday, it was mentioned that Clayton Kershaw has never had Tommy John Surgery after seventeen years in the league. It was my opinion that this occurred because Clayton made a conscious decision not to throw with maximum effort on each pitch. There was a time early in his…

There are 1,458 innings in a 162-game baseball schedule. Of course, games will inevitably go into extra innings, so let’s call a season 1,500 innings (give or take). I have stated before that I would not be surprised if no Dodger starter pitched more than 125 innings. For…

There are thirteen pitchers who love Austin Barnes . He is an “on-the-field-pitching coach.” He is not going anywhere, so get that out of your mind. Hunter Feduccia, who happens to be LH, may or may not be a better hitter, and maybe his arm is slightly better, but he is no…

The Dodgers are 8-3, and Yoshi Yamamoto just won his first win while striking out 8. Tyler Glasnow has looked like an Ace since Spring Training, and Striker Buehler, a past Ace, went 4.2 innings for OKC yesterday, allowing just two hits, walking none, and striking out six! He…

Before I start talking about Opening Day, I want to talk about something that makes baseball so special. To me, it was never so evident as in the Freeway Series, although I saw flashes of it through the spring: Watching the youngsters and seeing the pure joy they experience is…

I am just going to jump right into this one: In 2023, the best Caught Stealing Rate by Catchers was +9. That means that the best catcher was good for +9 Runs Over League Average. Will Smith was -1 Run Below Average and Austin Barnes was -4 Runs Below League Average. If Austin…

While it is clear that Yamamoto has some very filthy stuff, he finished Spring Training with a 8.38 ERA. In 9.2 IP, he allowed 15 Hits and 9 ER. He walked 4 and struck out 14. It also has been rumored that he is tipping pitches. I heard someone say, “ It doesn’t matter if he ‘s…

We learned a lot about Tyler Glasnow yesterday and why he is unquestionably now the Dodgers’ Ace. Lest we forget, he has had a singular injury problem, not plural problems. He has had just one injury that was undiagnosed for four years. It was fixed and he now looks healthy as a…

As I have talked about the Dodger Rookies, especially James Outman, it became apparent that whenever I said anything that was perceived to be negative about James Outman, I was attacked like I was a Wannabee by the Queen Bees in Mean Girls. I thought this was really strange…

Chris Sale is a classic example of the “ Best Trades You Make Are the Ones You Don’t! ” Now, don’t get me wrong – It’s possible that Chris Sale may have a fine season for the Braves, but if I were forced to bet on that, I would bet that he would not! Chris will soon be 35 and…

You ask most any Dodger fan, and they will say one of the bigger disappointments of the 2023 playoff series against the D-Backs was the performance, or lack thereof, of Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. Part of the Dodgers’ futility in their last three playoff appearances has…

Why Shohei Ohtani is not Coming to the Dodgers It is fun to think about Ohtani in the Dodgers lineup. There is a lot of talk about marketing opportunities, reaching the Japanese population, and jersey sales. However, let us not forget that the Dodgers put more butts in seats…

Once again, Bruce Bochy demonstrated why he is a genius. Bochy’s strategy was this: After his starter gave up five runs in 4.2 IP, he told the bullpen not to give up any runs the rest of the way. No one else on the planet would have thought of something so ingenious. Then, in…

People can be tricked into believing something. That does not make them stupid. What makes them stupid is if they keep believing what they were tricked about… and they let someone trick them repeatedly. Sometimes, when something good or bad happens, I have to process it, and it…

Texas Ranger Style – Right about now, every Dodger fan wants Bruce Bochy as their “ Flavor of the Week Manager. ” He has been managing for 26 years and has made the playoffs in five seasons. He has won three World Series, so he must be great, right? Monday was Bochy’s 13th…

Well, in a couple of weeks, after the dust settles and a new Champion is crowned, if the Astro holes don’t win, we can all put on our GM caps and begin making our fantasy selections on just who the Dodgers might target via trade, free agency or dipping into the Asian free agent…

The only constant is change. Nothing could be more true than what is going to happen with your LA Dodgers this offseason. I am sure that Andrew Friedman has a plan that is better than mine, but I am willing to share my plan, and he is not. He just does not play well with others…

All season, the Dodgers have touted that they have a clubhouse full of high-character players… and they really did. Most of these guys were Boy Scouts and have always helped little old ladies across streets. They have so many friends within MLB, and they cultivate those…

I like to break things down to their simplest form, and here is why the Dodgers were swept in the NLDS: They could not score more than two runs a game. In 162 games, the Dodgers averaged 5.6 runs a game, but in this three-game series, they scored just two runs a game. They were…

I’ll deal with whatever happens after it happens. I know the Dodgers could be swept, and most of you think that will happen. I also know that they could win out. It’s hard to hold out that hope right about now, but it is still within the realm of probability. Many Dodger fans…

I feel somewhat incredulous about the responses regarding Clayton Kershaw yesterday. I am not going to quote what many said word-for-word, but I am going to say that I don’t buy it. Many of you are talking like Clayton is just finished, and we should just accept that. To make…

Blunderful said it best: 2004 Red Sox anyone? Went down 3-0 after a 19-8 asskicking at Fenway. Ask Dave Roberts how that series turned out. We win this. D-Backs got no more magic. Guaranteed.* *Disclaimer: I am a Moron He was wrong about being a moron. Right about everything…

I really do. I also have an irrational fear of them. The Dodgers begin their postseason quest on Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are fresh off of the Wild Card sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers in what could likely be Craig Counsell’s last game for the Brewers. It is…

Well, here we go again. 11 straight years going to the playoffs. 9 years of disappointment, and 1 of elation so far. And last season was probably the most disappointing of all. Yet, we have experienced a time unlike any other in Dodger baseball history. People harp a lot that…

Last week, I said that unless Clayton could recover 3-5 MPH on his fastball, he could not be more than an “opener” and that we could not count on him to help carry the team. Well, last night he recovered at least 1 MPH on his fastball. His fastest pitch was 89.7 MPH. This leads…

In a season that has been so improbable, it has been a fun ride! But, now we are all dying to get to the Legends of the Fall (one of my favorite movies, BTW). Hopefully, some more legends will be made then. Bobby Miller has been anointed as the Dodgers Ace… a year or two earlier…

There is no way to sugarcoat this, so I will just say it: “ Andrew Friedman failed the Dodgers by not having starters stacked at least twelve deep.” At the start of the season, the Dodgers had Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, Julio Urias, Tony Gonsolin, and Noah Syndergaard…

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…

… at least he is THIS year. Next year, he will have to contend with Walker Buehler for that role, assuming that Striker can come back strong from his Tommy John Surgery. Bobby Miller is having an excellent rookie season, but in all likelihood, it may be better than the…

It was a great run! Clayton Kershaw will finish his age 35 (and last) season as a lifetime Dodger with a 12-4 record and a 2.61 ERA. I saw him in 2006 and every year since he hit the Majors in 2008. In his sixteen-year MLB career, he went 209-91 with a 2.48 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP…