Clayton Kershaw

[the 'stache]

I think I have to say that Kershaw is now the best I've ever seen. Better than Pedro, better than Maddux. It's just unbelievable that he's getting even better now.

In the past five years, he's won three Cy Young Awards, was runner up once, and finished third place last year. And this year? He's showing a career-best 218 ERA +. He's struck out 77 batters, and has walked 4 in 8 starts. He's walking one batter every other game, lol. His WHIP right now is 0.726. He's striking out 11.2 batters per 9 IP.

Get this card, guys, while it's still semi-affordable.



When I get my dental work paid off, the first thing I'm doing is selling mine, and upgrading it to a Beckett-graded. My card is sharp, but the centering is off a little left to right, and there's a slight diamond cut on the left and right edges.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

I think I have to say that Kershaw is now the best I've ever seen. Better than Pedro, better than Maddux. It's just unbelievable that he's getting even better now.

In the past five years, he's won three Cy Young Awards, was runner up once, and finished third place last year. And this year? He's showing a career-best 218 ERA +. He's struck out 77 batters, and has walked 4 in 8 starts. He's walking one batter every other game, lol. His WHIP right now is 0.726. He's striking out 11.2 batters per 9 IP.

Get this card, guys, while it's still semi-affordable.



When I get my dental work paid off, the first thing I'm doing is selling mine, and upgrading it to a Beckett-graded. My card is sharp, but the centering is off a little left to right, and there's a slight diamond cut on the left and right edges.

I respectfully disagree. As much as I would like to have a fellow southpaw at the head of the pack, I believe Pedro Martinez was the best I've ever seen...and there is more of a gap between he and the next three (Maddux, RJ and Kershaw) than between the Maddux, Johnson and Kershaw.

Pedro was at his most dominant when hitters were at their most dominant. At 170 pounds, it was absolutely difficult to believe even when watching. He also shared the stage with Maddux, Johnson and PEDClemens.

It's easy to forget what an offensive game it was when Pedro and Maddux pitched. Much more offense than now.


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[TUM301]

Have to agree with Ray on this one, Pedro M. was the best pitcher I ever saw. Kershaw surely is tough and certainly a case can be made he`s the best pitcher in today`s game. Maybe I`m jaded living in the Boston area and having seen most of Pedro`s starts, but anyone that pitched the the 1990`s when 40 bombs was "eh so what" and made half his in the A L East and still flirted with an ERA around 2.00, WOW. Lastly, when the old timers tell me Pedro was the nearest to Koufax in their hay days that says a lot. Sorry to hijack the thread but these discussions are very fun and interesting. My 2 cents..........

[howard38]

I also agree with Raymond. I'd love to see what Pedro could have done if he pitched today. Since ERA+ was brought up I'd point out that Kershaw's career high of 218 in a quarter of a season doesn't even approach Pedro's career best in a full season.

[Peter_Spaeth]

He has walked 4 batters in 62 innings. It is unfathomable.

[chaddurbin]

i love pedro, i mean LOVE...still hurts today that he was traded from the dodgers for delino deshields, but i don't know if he juiced or not. i mean half the guys were cheating, his homeboys manny and ortiz was juicing. i wouldn't blame him if he did to level the playing field. he was dominant in that era, i wouldn't use the argument he was more dominant than kershaw because he was clean pitching against roided players...we never know.

to me it's a toss up right now with the clear nod to pedro, but kershaw still has 2-3 more prime years barring injuries to further cement his legacy. as is he's already better than koufax imo and already a hof'er.

[KCRfan1]

I'll take Kershaw over Pedro. As a lefty, most hitters ( righties ) should hit him and they don't. As a righty, Pedro had the better match-ups in terms of righty / righty, than Kershaw will ever have as a lefty / righty. Kershaw has had to be that much better imo.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by chaddurbin

i love pedro, i mean LOVE...still hurts today that he was traded from the dodgers for delino deshields, but i don't know if he juiced or not. i mean half the guys were cheating, his homeboys manny and ortiz was juicing. i wouldn't blame him if he did to level the playing field. he was dominant in that era, i wouldn't use the argument he was more dominant than kershaw because he was clean pitching against roided players...we never know.

to me it's a toss up right now with the clear nod to pedro, but kershaw still has 2-3 more prime years barring injuries to further cement his legacy. as is he's already better than koufax imo and already a hof'er.

Look out for lightning bolts!

The difference in workload alone should keep all such comparisons holstered.

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[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by chaddurbin

i love pedro, i mean LOVE...still hurts today that he was traded from the dodgers for delino deshields, but i don't know if he juiced or not. i mean half the guys were cheating, his homeboys manny and ortiz was juicing. i wouldn't blame him if he did to level the playing field. he was dominant in that era, i wouldn't use the argument he was more dominant than kershaw because he was clean pitching against roided players...we never know.

to me it's a toss up right now with the clear nod to pedro, but kershaw still has 2-3 more prime years barring injuries to further cement his legacy. as is he's already better than koufax imo and already a hof'er.

Kershaw is all of 28. He likely has a lot more than 2-3 more prime years.