There has been much ado about MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred‘s decision to change the baseballs that were used during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season to a new version that will be used for the 2021 season (and are currently being used at Spring Training) for what he says is an attempt to reduce the number of home runs hit compared to last season.

Needless to say, depending on who you ask (i.e., pitchers vs. hitters), it’s difficult to get a straight answer on the subject.

…unless, of course, you ask the guy who put the word ‘straight’ in ‘straight answer’ – 32-year-old future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw.

As we learned long ago, if you cannot handle a straight, honest, from-the-heart answer, do not ask Clayton Kershaw a question.

Following his second start of the Spring on Wednesday night, the three-time Cy Young Award winner, eight-time All-Star, five-time ERA Title winner, former NL MVP, former Triple Crown winner, former Major League Player of the Year, former Gold Glove winner, and World Series Champion was asked if he has noticed anything different about the new baseballs being used this year.

“No I haven’t, I haven’t felt anything too different.”

A straight, fair, and simple answer.

However, he was then asked what his reaction was when he first heard that MLB was going to “adjust” the ball so that there would be fewer home runs this year, Kershaw gave a straight, honest, from-the-heart answer:

“I guess my first reaction was, ‘Does that mean that they did something to the ball before to try to make more home runs?’” Kershaw answered rhetorically, as only he could – and would. “You know, I don’t… they’re denying that pretty fervently throughout, so I don’t know. I don’t know what the… I think I’ve stopped trying to figure that out a long time ago.”

Sorry, Rob – sometimes a straight, honest, from-the-heart answer hurts.

…especially when it comes from one of the most well-respected guys in the game.

Play Ball!

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