Congrats, Clayton!!! Go, Dodgers!!! Every once in a while, the moons align so that a pitcher deserves serious consideration to win the Most Valuable Player Award and the Cy Young Award in the same season. It happened in 2011, when Detroit right-hander Justin Verlander won both awards in the American League. In advance of tonight’s announcement, and in what I think will be an easy decision, I predict Clayton Kershaw will add the National League’s Most Valuable player Award to his Cy Young Award. It is ironic that the last pitcher to do it in the National League, was Bob Gibson in 1968. Gibson played for the team who has owned and caused Kershaw nightmares in the playoffs the last two years; the St. Louis Cardinals. Only 2 other pitchers have accomplished this feat in the National League, both Los Angeles Dodgers; Sandy Koufax in 1963 and Don Newcombe in 1956. Kershaw has been by far the most talented regular season pitcher in baseball the last 5 years; completely dominant with every physical tool imaginable. With the proper management and handling, he will learn the mental toughness it takes to win in the post season. Kershaw already owns two NL Cy Young Awards plus one second place finish in the voting even though he just turned 26 in March. Hes also been to three All-Star Games and received the richest pitching contract in baseball history. At an age when many people are just starting to establish themselves in the workforce, Kershaw is at the top of his field. Earlier this year, he threw a stress-free no-hitter against a good-hitting Rockies team. The name of the game is preventing runs, and if youre keeping runs off the board it doesnt really matter how you do it. Striking out a ton of batters, walking no one and keeping the ball on the ground is an excellent way to prevent runs though, the very best way, and right now Kershaw is excelling at all of those things. This is a guy who brought outstanding stuff to the table earlier in his career. Now he has that same outstanding stuff and knows how to best use it thanks to experience. When the Dodgers last won the World Series in 1988, Kirk Gibson won the NL MVP Award. Teammate Orel Hershiser set the record by tossing 59 consecutive scoreless innings and won the NL Cy Young Award. Hershiser, 23-8 with a 2.26 ERA, could have easily also won the NL MVP Award that year. The thing about Kershaw -- and I know youre probably trying to keep it to this year -- its just so impressive what he does year after year after year, Gibson said. Hes been very consistent. Beyond how we face him, we watch him the way he works every day, just watch him grow. Hes very talented, and youve got to give him credit for continuing to get better with what hes got. He has the will and the determination to not stop right at where hes at. I think thats what separates him. Congrats, Clayton!!! Go, Dodgers!!!
Posted on: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 18:14:43 +0000
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