Editorials

Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw Gives Giants, Bumgarner and Bochy Classy Send-Off

In Game 162, the Dodgers took on the San Francisco Giants to complete the sweep and prepare for the postseason. As part of the October preparations, Clayton Kershaw came on in relief to get some work in prior to the playoffs.

The Giants had a different kind of Game 162 as they bid farewell to their beloved manager Bruce Bochy and potentially their long-time ace and postseason hero Madison Bumgarner.



Bochy helped to bring the city of San Francisco three World Series titles in the beginning of the decade and ranks amongst the best managers in baseball history because of it. Bumgarner was a key part in the wins as he received the accolade of being named one of the best postseason performers of all-time.

With Kershaw coming on in the fifth inning, Bruce Bochy decided to send Madison Bumgarner up to the plate to pinch-hit — an effort to provide him with a proper send-off, too. While Bumgarner ended his at-bat with a line drive out to Jedd Gyorko at third base, the events that took place to follow were the ones that were special.

As Kershaw walked off the mound, he tipped his cap to both Bumgarner and Bochy, demonstrating true class as always. The Giants and Dodgers remain one of the most bitter rivalries in American sports, but Kershaw saw past that. Kershaw and Bumgarner are two fantastic left-handers — arguably the best of this decade. Both are competitors in every sense of the word and they both recognized that on Sunday afternoon.

The Dodgers won the game 9-0, but the class of Kershaw won the day. It is somewhat of a sad feeling to watch the Giants-Dodgers rivalry of the era somewhat dissipate as two integral pieces of the puzzle seem poised to vacate it.

All things have to come to an end eventually, and on Sunday, an era of the rivalry ended.

Daniel Preciado

My name is Daniel Preciado and I am 19 years old. I am a sophomore Sport Analytics major and Cognitive Science and Economics dual minor at Syracuse University. When I am not in New York, I live in Whittier, California --- not too far from Chavez Ravine. I am pretty old-school for being an analytics guy and I will always embrace debate. Also, Chase Utley did absolutely nothing wrong.

10 Comments

  1. I am a die hard Dodger fan to the very end….that being said,seeing this beautiful display of sportsmanship gave me legit tears regardless of the circumstances,such a good thing to see these days. The baseball gods have smiled upon us today!!!

  2. Kershaw was the epitome of class when he gave that respectful tip of the cap. Kids, I hope you were paying close attention to his display of major league sportsmanship. It was absolutely priceless, truly.

    1. Nah kids were watching pop stars act like imbeciles and then they played fortnite afterwards

  3. Kershaw was the epitome of class when (displaying great sportsmanship and respect) he tipped his cap. It was genuinely an impressive moment that made me even prouder to be a Dodgers fan. Nicely done.

  4. This is one of THEE BEST articles I’ve ever read! It actually brought tears to my eyes! This is why I LOVE OUR DODGERS AS DEEP & CARING AS I DO, AS WELL AS SOOO MANY OTHER FANS! OUR BOIS HAVE HEART & RESPECT!!!

  5. Kresge is the if not the biggest choker in World Series history. If the dodgers make it to the World Series, it will more of the same of ketchup choking or ducking when it matters most.

  6. Whether Kershaw’ “chokes” during World Series is of no consequence to those of us who commend Kershaw’s classy display of great sportsmanship yesterday. Not sure what you believe the correlation is…… but I can assure you that there isn’t a readily apparent one.

  7. As an orange bleeding Giants fan, this was the most perfect moment of Bochys retirement. Bum, Boch and Kersh.

    Both are classy organizations, we set the real standard despite the Yankees and Red Sox getting all the press.

    At 42, I look like a real douche screaming how much I hate the Dodgers and all that – sure I can yell it a few times at the games, but if your over 40 and serious about that, then you got bigger problems. Doesnt make me any less of a fan, doesnt mean I dont get what the East coaster have – it IS in my blood. You look like an overgrown monkey screaming like an abusive husband, or the a hole at work when your yelling for 9 innings how small a players doink is. Insecure much. Anyway, my point is, despite what some of my fellow fans may say, I will say, like Kershaw here, good luck in the playoffs!

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