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Kershaw Isn’t Clutch!

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Aug 22, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) throws against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 22, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) throws against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

There will be many #hottakes to this effect tomorrow. (The take reaches scorching status if it mentions the unassailable postseason brilliance of Jack Morris, who had a lifetime ERA in the ALCS of 4.87. Morris, an excellent illustration of the utter stupidity of putting pitchers into “clutch” and “not clutch” boxes based on tiny samples, is often cited for the opposite purpose.) As I observed yesterday, they will without exception be asinine.

Clayton Kershaw took the mound yesterday against a very tough and deep lineup. (OPS+ of the Mets lineup tonight: 129, 128, 137, 113, 128, 132, 95, 94.) He struck out 11 in 6 2/3rds and gave up 4 hits. He left the game having given up one run. He did leave with the bases loaded after giving up 3 of his 4 walks in that inning. But Duda, Tejada and Granderson are all very patient hitters with excellent strike zone judgment, and worked walks with outstanding ABs. (How many players would have swung at the 3-2 pitch a few inches off the plate Granderson laid off? I’d guess way more than half.) It wasn’t his very best game, but he gave his team a good chance to win. A reliever could have gotten him out of the 7th, but gave up a line drive single. His team was facing one of the five best pitchers in the league and were dominated by him getting only one run after he left. Kershaw pitched very well; he wasn’t quite as good as Jacob DeGrom. This says nothing about his clutchiosity.

I should also say that while I don’t think much of Mattingly as a manager, I don’t think he did anything wrong tonight. Leaving Kershaw in against Granderson was the right decision, and after 3 walks it would have been crazy to leave him in to face the lefty-mashing Wright. It was a sound decision; it just didn’t work.

And finally, can we give it up to Mr. Curtis Granderson? It hasn’t attracted much attention, because he signed a big contract and was disappointing his first year, but he was one of the dozen best players in the league this year.

Neyer with more on Mattingly.

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