Strikout/Walk ratio... keep in mind 3.00 is pretty solid. Top Ten CK 22.00 - simply absurd Colon 9.00 Syndergaard 7.22 Nola 6.44 Cueto 5.30 Lackey 4.70 Chen 4.67 Strasberg 4.33 Greinke 4.25 Lester 4.25
To put it further into perspective, the best ever was 11.625 by Phil Hughes two years ago. http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/strikeouts_per_base_on_balls_season.shtml
Based on baseball-reference's WAR calculation, Kershaw just passed Don Sutton and Sandy Koufax on the Dodgers' all-time WAR list. He is now #8 all-time and at his current pace would be #1 before his 31st birthday.
Appreciate the numbers, but mentioning of Koufax and Kershaw together makes me a little queasy. Koufax was a postseason monster, while Kershaw has been anything but.
I definitely get this, and it's really the big difference when comparing Kershaw to Koufax, a huge difference. I don't think anyone should say Kershaw has had a better career than Koufax. Just pointing out the impact Kershaw has had on the field, mainly in the regular season. But IF Kershaw was to have, say, two dominate postseason runs that led to two rings? There is some impressive groundwork already set for him to be considered one of the greatest Dodgers ever. But he's gotta have those rings. I agree 100%
Mark De Rosa (I know, I know) just said Kershaw is the best pitcher of all time. Not yet but he will finish his career in the conversation.
The problem with this argument is that a starting pitcher can only have an impact on every third or fourth game in a postseason series. Even if he dominates his starts, unless the team performs on his rest days, they're not advancing. Kershaw pitched well against the Mets but it wasn't enough. The easy comparison is an everyday player like Daniel Murphy, who got hot at the right time and essentially led the Mets (along with solid pitching) to the World Series by making an impact in every game.
In the past 3 years Kershaw has a 4.28 ERA in the postseason. The Dodgers are 3-5 in his starts. Even last year he pitched "well", but not put-the-team-on-my-back and will us into the next round well. That said, some of the best postseason pitching performances in history weren't without hiccups, but Kershaw has had his chances over the past 3 years and has failed to deliver. Most of his losses in the past 3 years have been on him. I have full confidence that he will turn this around and have amazing postseason performances if given the opportunity and health. A better supporting cast would be nice, but Kershaw has yet to do his part as a dominate postseason force.
Assuming, of course that we are assured of post season appearances like the last three...I think there is a sense of urgency to get there now, due directly to Kershaw's unfinished chapter in Dodger baseball history. Waiting for the "depth" to blossom and the "future" we here so much about to come to fruition on the same schedule as Kershaw may not be the way it happens at all. Ugly to ponder, but a possibility...
True that BZ This crop of 'kids' needs to blossom throughout if we're going to get some winning mojo back
Dylan Hernandez calling out the Nerds in today's LA Times http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-angels-hernandez-20160518-story.html
i actually like derosa not sure where he's at now but he was good on mlb network wasn't one of those robotic talking head idiots like reynolds, byrnes or ripken lol probably why he's not there any more
figures i liked it when they had him on the main show but they obviously hand those spots out to the loudmouth idiots ditto
That's interesting , I think, in the content about Clayton's feelings about things. His opinions usually are...not dripping with sarcasm and expected wryness like Greinke's were. And the other stuff, about what the Dodgers are and do between his starts is absolutely eye opening and head shaking...incredible...whether Hernandez is hated by millions or if he bangs his sister... Those numbers are just fucking sad, no matter what. Throw in: alarming. Very surprising...to me anyway. I'm sure to the more calloused, it's a yawn.
I don't have any strong feelings about him as a beat writer either way but I definitely can't stand how these fucking Nerd hacks are letting CK's prime go to waste. It's also nice how the Times is staying on their asses by committee.
Amazingly enough, there is not ONE word in that article in reference to the front office. Not one. Anywhere. At all. None.
