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Post by Blunashun on Apr 17, 2018 16:55:24 GMT
" It's not as dramatic as it's being made out here though. His results have been excellent. " Interesting. Only here would never giving up more than 2 runs be considered getting cuffed around.  |
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Post by 88bulldog on Apr 17, 2018 16:58:54 GMT
" It's not as dramatic as it's being made out here though. His results have been excellent. " Interesting. Only here would never giving up more than 2 runs be considered getting cuffed around. smh.... |
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Post by clyde714 on Apr 17, 2018 17:52:16 GMT
I haven't predicted anything. You're panicking too early though. Wrong sport for you.... I didn't say you predicted anything. You said Kershaw's velocity drop isn't concerning at all. I just laid out a fact that he is throwing a lot more breaking pitches because he doesn't have the usual fastball. That puts more stress on the arm. I wanted your opinion on what you have seen so far and wasn't looking for a fight. Knew you'd give an honest opinion and wouldn't beat around the bush. You aren't concerned great that is all I was asking for.  So according to fan graphs, Kershaw has used his fastball 43.2% of the time this year, which is continuing the declining trend since he came up. His speed is also off a little, it's down to 91.1 mph. Instead, he's throwing the slider more often and his speed with this pitch is about what it's been since 2014. Numbers for the curve and change-up this year are pretty much the same as they have been for quite a while. I believe I heard Joe and Orel talking about this during his last game. One noted the speed was down a bit, and the other noted he's replaced it with his slider. I don't remember either of them trying to figure out why the speed was down, just that it was, and his slider is doing a pretty good job of getting batters out in place of the fastball. In this case, I think the results speak for themselves. I don't know why his FB speed is down (I could assume it's just aging, but I could be wrong). Regardless, he's recognized it and gone to another pitch which is clearly pretty effective. And that's what makes Kershaw so great. He's already got a plan B and it is just as scary as plan A was to the batters... |
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Post by Blunashun on Apr 17, 2018 18:21:18 GMT
As he ages he's evolving. We can't discount his back problems too. That may play a part in his pitch selection. The thing is Clayton is off to a magnificent start whatever he's doing.
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Post by laker8la on Apr 17, 2018 19:57:01 GMT
Yes, but can Kershaw be elite in the playoffs? He has for brief moments in his career, but overall his numbers have not been great in the playoffs. I hope this year bucks the trend (assuming we get there and he is healthy).
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Post by Blunashun on Apr 17, 2018 20:01:54 GMT
Yes, but can Kershaw be elite in the playoffs? He has for brief moments in his career, but overall his numbers have not been great in the playoffs. I hope this year bucks the trend (assuming we get there and he is healthy). That's a separate issue from declining velocity & Clayton supposedly getting cuffed around so far this season. |
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Post by dodger1214 on Apr 17, 2018 21:26:39 GMT
We all knew Kershaw's velocity would dip at some point. Happens to every pitcher as they age. It's up to the pitcher to compensate and find another way to be effective. So far he has. Other than the start in Arizona, which wasn't even that bad, he's been stellar. There may be some issues with this team, but Kershaw is not one of them. In the postseason, maybe, but that's another topic for another day.
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Post by 88bulldog on Apr 17, 2018 21:29:03 GMT
In this case, I think the results speak for themselves. I don't know why his FB speed is down (I could assume it's just aging, but I could be wrong). Regardless, he's recognized it and gone to another pitch which is clearly pretty effective. And that's what makes Kershaw so great. He's already got a plan B and it is just as scary as plan A was to the batters... ____________ Emmm hmmmm  |
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Post by 88bulldog on Apr 17, 2018 21:30:09 GMT
Yes, but can Kershaw be elite in the playoffs? He has for brief moments in his career, but overall his numbers have not been great in the playoffs. I hope this year bucks the trend (assuming we get there and he is healthy). That's a separate issue from declining velocity & Clayton supposedly getting cuffed around so far this season. Was gonna say the same thing... |
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Post by laker8la on Apr 17, 2018 21:49:07 GMT
That's a separate issue from declining velocity & Clayton supposedly getting cuffed around so far this season. Was gonna say the same thing... Yeah, it is a whole separate issue. |
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Post by jeremyv98 on Apr 18, 2018 3:07:45 GMT
Was gonna say the same thing... Yeah, it is a whole separate issue. No it isn't is what I said earlier. Decreased velocity will make playoff success that much harder for him to achieve. The playoffs are his kryptonite. If he is sitting 90 in April what will it sit in October? |
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Post by Blunashun on Apr 18, 2018 3:11:09 GMT
Yeah, it is a whole separate issue. No it isn't is what I said earlier. Decreased velocity will make playoff success that much harder for him to achieve. The playoffs are his kryptonite. If he is sitting 90 in April what will it sit in October? Ryu gained velocity as the season progressed. |
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Post by jeremyv98 on Apr 18, 2018 3:14:47 GMT
Kershaw was knocked around on opening day. He pitched in constant trouble all day. He found his way to get out of trouble but that was not a Clayton Kershaw performance of years past. His issue was due to the lack of the fastball. Rich Hill's fastball sits a mile or 2 under Kershaw's now. Rich Hills primary pitch is the curve. Is Clayton's number one pitch going to be the slider? Never seen a guy go out there and throw sliders at the rate Hill throws the curve. If so hopefully his arm doesn't fall off. Then again hopefully he can get a little more velocity back on his fastball instead.
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Post by 88bulldog on Apr 18, 2018 3:16:37 GMT
1 run in 6 innings is now called being "knocked around".....
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Post by 88bulldog on Apr 18, 2018 3:18:55 GMT
Kershaw was knocked around on opening day. He pitched in constant trouble all day. He found his way to get out of trouble but that was not a Clayton Kershaw performance of years past. His issue was due to the lack of the fastball. Rich Hill's fastball sits a mile or 2 under Kershaw's now. Rich Hills primary pitch is the curve. Is Clayton's number one pitch going to be the slider? Never seen a guy go out there and throw sliders at the rate Hill throws the curve. If so hopefully his arm doesn't fall off. Then again hopefully he can get a little more velocity back on his fastball instead. Do you think Kershaw's best pitch in his career has been his fastball? Seriously, you're embarrassing yourself. btw, what was Koufax' best pitch? Just wondering what your answer will be. |
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