Clayton Kershaw

[Peter_Spaeth]

Where are the guys who have insisted in the past this was all just small sample size?

To me this is a huge, and almost inexplicable, black mark against an otherwise great pitcher.

[Jim65]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Where are the guys who have insisted in the past this was all just small sample size?

To me this is a huge, and almost inexplicable, black mark against an otherwise great pitcher.

At this point everyone knows what Kershaw is, except Dave Roberts apparently.

[GaryPassamonte]

I am a life long Dodger fan and have been a defender of Kershaw through his playoff woes, but I must concede, he has experienced a significant decline in the last few years. While pitchers such as Scherzer and Verlander have flourished with age, Kershaw has not.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by GaryPassamonte

I am a life long Dodger fan and have been a defender of Kershaw through his playoff woes, but I must concede, he has experienced a significant decline in the last few years. While pitchers such as Scherzer and Verlander have flourished with age, Kershaw has not.

I can remember Verlander having some aging pains of his own In Detroit. Kershaw will figure it out. If Homer Bailey (Homer Bailey!) can figure out his problems and turn it around in Oakland, Kershaw can turn it around in LA. Or maybe it just takes a change of scenery.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by todeen

I can remember Verlander having some aging pains of his own In Detroit. Kershaw will figure it out. If Homer Bailey (Homer Bailey!) can figure out his problems and turn it around in Oakland, Kershaw can turn it around in LA. Or maybe it just takes a change of scenery.

Verlander had a physical problem he finally was able to fix with the help of an innovative physical therapist.

[GaryPassamonte]

Tim- I've always hoped Kershaw would spend his whole career with the Dodgers. I hope he figures it out soon, although he still remains an excellent regular season pitcher. He's just not up to the amazing numbers he posted earlier in his career.

[nolemmings]

I'm no Dodger fan, and I've only rooted for Kershaw twice (or how many times he pitched against the Red Sox), but the manager needs to take some heat here too. He left a lot in the bullpen, even though guys were up and ready--probably the right guys too.

Had Eaton delivered against Kershaw in the prior inning we would have heard about that all off season too. As it is though, Kershaw looked great in that one AB to end the inning, and Roberts may have thought he caught lightning in a bottle and could roll the dice. Me, I would have used that as a confidence builder and moved on to start the 8th, although hindsight is always 20-20 as they say. Maybe Roberts remembered 2017, when Kershaw left with two on and a 3-run lead in the WS only to watch Maeda promptly give up a three-run shot to to tie what would be a pivotal loss in game 5. Still, Maeda had looked very relaxed and sharp this series, and looked like the obvious choice. FWIW, Kelly should not have been allowed to start or finish the 10th either--that too is on Roberts.

Back to Kershaw, though, I believe he can still be very effective going forward if he pitches more than throws. Pedro Martinez said something after the game about how Kershaw needs to give up being a power pitcher and use his experience to keep hitters off balance. I think he's right. Anybody these days can throw 96 plus and many have good secondary pitches as well. Still, there is plenty of room still for the proverbial "wily veteran" to prosper.