Editorials

Dodgers News: Clayton Kershaw Says He Must Execute Better

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

For Clayton Kershaw fans, it’s been a less-than-stellar start to to the season for the reigning Nationl League Cy Young and MVP.

While the Los Angeles Dodgers are sitting in first place with a 22-11 record, they have done so with just one win from their left-handed ace. Kershaw is 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA in seven starts this season. The Dodgers have managed to win three of those seven games, but it’s a far cry from the 23-4 record in Kershaw starts last season. While the advanced stats say that it’s been some bad luck on the 27-year-old’s part, hitters have done a better job against him this season.



Kershaw acknowledges what the sabermetricians are pointing out, but it’s a case of something else for him via Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports:

That stuff is one thing, which is fine,” he said of the more sabermetrically inclined. “But, for me, my pitch execution hasn’t been good. That’s what I look at. I know, for me, I haven’t pitched as well as I can.”

The left-hander’s FIP is at 2.90, his strikeout rate is up and the BABIP (batting average on balls in play) against him is at a ridiculous .357; however, it’s not discouraging Kershaw at all:

It’s definitely frustrating at times. But it helps so much that our team is so good. We keep winning in spite of me at times. I mean, I love baseball. I love coming to the field every day. Same time, the most fun in the game is being successful. Individually, when I can jump on the bandwagon, it can be that much more fun.”

It’s been all good for the Dodgers so far, but once Kershaw is back on track they could make the leap to best team in baseball, hands down.

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Vincent Samperio

Vince is currently the Associate Editor and Social Media Manager for Dodgers Nation. Hailing from San Pedro, CA and a student at Cal State Long Beach, Vince has previously written for the Daily 49er and LASF Magazine.

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