November 7th, 2019 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka There is no disputing that future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw isn’t the dominating lights-out pitcher that he once was; but then none of us are what we once were, right? (Rhetorical). The simple truth is that like every great pitcher who has ever played the game, father time eventually catches up with them, regardless of how much and how hard they attempt to will him away.
Please don’t get me wrong, the now 31-year-old Dallas, TX native and Dodgers first-round draft pick in 2006 out of Highland Park High School in University Park, TX still has plenty left in the tank. It’s just that his once 97-MPH blazing fastball is now in the (still very good) 92-MPH range. The good news – great, actually – is that his slider and a remarkable variety of curveballs are still as good – if not better – than ever.
For the first time in his 12-year MLB career (stay for his 22-game rookie season), Kershaw finished the 2019 regular season with an Earned Run Average over three, and that’s insane when you think about it.
In his 29 regular season appearance this season (28 starts), Kershaw posted a team-best 16-5 record with a 3.05 ERA; still great, but not Clayton Kershaw-great. He also allowed a career-high (by a rather significant amount) 28 home runs this season. But here again, even though ‘Kid-K’ (as he was once called) still has plenty left in the tank, it is becoming increasingly likely that the National League Cy Young award he won in 2014 – his third – will be his last.
As most Dodger fans know, Kershaw signed a 3-year/$93 million contract extension on November 2, 2018, shortly after the Dodgers lost the World Series to the Boston Red Sox and shortly after opting out of his existing contract. That extension paid him $23.3 million in 2019 and will do so again in 2020 and 2021. It also includes several lucrative – and attainable – performance bonuses.
All of this having been said and with absolutely no regard whatsoever for the ridiculous criticism that Kershaw received (and continues to receive) for his disastrous relief appearance in Game-5 of the 2019 National League Division Series against the eventual World Series champion Washington Nationals, it is time for Clayton Edward Kershaw to pass the ‘Staff Ace’ title and torch to Walker Anthony Buehler without so much as a hint of shame or embarrassment – none whatsoever. After all, we’re talking about a future first-ballot Hall of Famer here, folks.
(Photo courtesy of ABC7)
I’m sure there are some, perhaps many, who will argue that at only 25 years of age and with only three MLB seasons under his belt, Buehler is too young and too inexperienced to be given such a lofty title. But for those some, perhaps many, consider this: When (now) 31-year-old Clayton Kershaw made his MLB debut on March 28, 2008, he did so as a 20-year-old. When Walker Buehler made his MLB debut on September 7, 2017, he was 41 days past his 23rd birthday.
Since his debut, Buehler has appeared in 62 major league games, of which 53 were starts. In those 62 games, he boasts a 23-9 record (.719) and an impressive 3.19 ERA.
And now for the good part.
In his combined 329.0 innings pitched thus far in his brief MLB career, Buehler has walked only 82 batters while striking out 378. That’s an insane SO/W (Strike Out to Walk) ratio of 4.61. As a basis of comparison, Cooperstown-bound Kershaw’s current SO/W ratio is 4.27 and eternal Cooperstown residents Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale 2.93 and 2.91 respectively.
“Walker Buehler is the millennials’ Don Drysdale,” said longtime Dodgers season ticket holder Kendrea Leroy, noting the strikingly similar fierceness and intensity of the two right-handers. “And he doesn’t have a filter when he talks to the media, he says exactly what’s on his mind.”
Sounds a lot like that Kershaw fellow, doesn’t it?
Although it is way too early to put Buehler in the ‘Future Hall of Famer’ category, he most certainly fits the ‘staff ace’ criteria.
A bit presumptuous and premature, you say?
Perhaps.
But you’ve got to like his chances … a lot.
Play Ball!
* * * * *
Posted in 
Dodgers transitioning into a whole new team before our eyes while still winning – not many teams do that.
Excellent point.
I’d add probably a whole new BETTER team that’s cheaper. Amazing job by Friedman.
And yes, today I’d rather see Buehler out there than Kershaw, but I’m glad we still have him. Can’t forget Kershaw had two more years under his old contract for $65M, so the new contract only added about $28M for an extra year. Considering EVERYTHING the new contract was a true win, win.
Lastly, I’d be very happy with two more years out of Kershaw just like 2019. And while a long shot, I wouldn’t completely write the future hall of famer out of the 2020 and 2021 Cy Young award sweepstakes yet.
I hope to see Kershaw finish his playing career with the Dodgers. He is admittedly stubborn, but I believe we see Kershaw with some type of change-of-pace pitch starting in 2020, if not a straight change-up, that will give hitters something new to factor into each at-bat. Kershaw with a Ryu type change-up will allow him to continuing to pitch at a high level for the rest of this contract, plus another extension.
I agree, it’s time to pass the torch.
If Roberts didn’t call on CK because we has aquired a lock down reliever at the trade deadline and CK postseason was his start in game 2 everyone would say he had a very nice season for any future hall of famer.
I agree with you, but don’t stop there. Roberts is infatuated with statistics. However, statistics are much like the lamppost the drunk is leaning against: it’s more for support than illumination. A good manager uses his eyes. Roberts is not a good manager, at least as far as managing the game goes. He may be great in the clubhouse. Anyone using the information he has available to him would be just as at good managing the game as Roberts. He wouldn’t even have to know anything about baseball.
Gerald, exactly right about Roberts and the eye test. Remember last yr against the Red Sox when he took out Baez after he mowed down 2 batters, then Wood gave up the bomb to Nunez.
Well how does that reconcile with Roberts leaving Kershaw in after striking out Eaton on three pitches to preserve the two run lead the prior inning?
Not to mention, Kelly looking absolutely dominant in his first inning of relief only to get shelled the next inning.
It would seem like Roberts followed the “eye test” in these two instances instead of playing the percentages, i.e. bringing in Adam Kolarek to face Soto.
Anyone who has watched Kershaw closely; as those of us that contribute to these blogs likely have, knows he is determined as hell, competitive as hell and smart. NO ONE out works him. The point? I suspect Kershaw MAY transition into a very similar pitcher to what Greg Maddux became after he lost his fastball. And Kershaw’s is still much better than Maddux’s late career high 80’s heater.
I hope this is true not just for us but for him. I’d SO enjoy seeing him in a Dodger uniform to the end of his career and to see him silence all the naysayers by becoming the true force in multiple post seasons he was never quite able to be in his salad days. You GO Clayton, a lot of us are pulling for you!
I’m All In on this!
Dodger fans, I love Kershaw however his biggest flaw is his ego and stubbornness. If he would develop a change up, throw more bad balls in 0 -2 counts. Stop throwing that first pitch to right handed batters inside, mix more curves in first time through the order…etc. He is to predictable. He admits his stubbornness, he believes that it has worked until now, why change?
well, I would love to see him adapt, win the World Series, retire as arguably the greatest ever. However he will never be Sandy!!
Your right Kershaw or anybody else will ever match up to Sandy Koufax. Koufax from 1962 through 1966 was the most dominant pitcher of all-time.
And all without a change-up.
I’d love to see Kershaw throw a knuckle ball!
“The way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until it stops rolling and then pick it up.” – Bob Uecker