NEWSLETTER
Let’s talk some baseball.
Dave Roberts Pulls Clayton Kershaw Amid Perfecto Bid
There have been 23 perfect games in the history of Major League Baseball. With just 80 pitches thrown and a perfecto in tow through seven innings, Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts pulled Clayton Kershaw from a game on Wednesday with the future Hall of Famer just six outs away from history.
Kershaw wasn’t just perfect through seven innings in Minnesota; he was downright dominant with 13 strikeouts through his seven innings of work. Still, Dave Roberts went to the bullpen to preserve his ace for the long haul with the Dodgers a clear-cut favorite to compete for a World Series ring this fall.
One of the greatest performances from one of the greatest pitchers ever
What a day for Clayton Kershaw
7 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 13 K pic.twitter.com/jvgmGtDxGp
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHarrisTBLA) April 13, 2022
I get that Kershaw missed last year’s postseason with arm issues, and the Dodgers are looking at the big picture … but come on. You have to let your guy see this one through. Even if you have the bullpen going and you’re playing it out-to-out, Kershaw has to have the chance to go for the perfect game.
Of course, Clayton Kershaw said all the right things when asked about the decision after the game: “Those are selfish goals. We’re trying to win. That’s really all we’re here for,” Kershaw said. If Kershaw isn’t mad about it, it doesn’t make much sense for anyone else to be angry about it. So, I guess that’s all she wrote for this story.
Vlad Jr.’s Big Night in the Bronx
It was a big night for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the Bronx.
The young slugger not only clubbed three home runs in a game for the second time in his young career, but he did it after his hand was stepped on while making a play at first base. And he even got a hat tip from Gerrit Cole for his big night.
Here’s home run No. 1 on the night in the top of the first in New York:
https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1514382068892983301?s=20&t=ETZbWwbvbiHQl6JKhg5AXw
While making a stretch for a throw at first base, Vlad Jr. had his hand stepped on by Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks resulting in a cut that would require two stitches after the game.
https://twitter.com/BenBrownPL/status/1514390306195755011?s=20&t=ETZbWwbvbiHQl6JKhg5AXw
Guerrero would hit another home run off of Gerrit Cole in the third inning and then add a double off the Yankees ace in the top of the sixth inning. All Gerrit Cole could do was tip his cap to Vladdie at that point.
https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1514407544495788033
You’re doing pretty well when you go three-for-three with two home runs and a double against Gerrit Cole and get a hat tip from the Yankees ace. But Guerrero added one more home run for good measure in the eighth inning! Guerrero went 4-for-4 with three home runs, a double, and 4 RBI in a 6-4 Blue Jays win over the Yankees in the Bronx on Wednesday night. It’s only April 14, and Vladdie is already making his case for the American League MVP Award. The 23-year-old slugger owns a .371 batting average, four home runs, eight RBI, and a 1.374 OPS through the season’s first six games.
https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1514418443986116613?s=20&t=ETZbWwbvbiHQl6JKhg5AXw
Gabe Kapler on Unwritten Rules: “Doesn’t Make Any Sense.”
You might have seen some things from Tuesday night’s game between the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres. The Giants led the Padres with San Francisco up nine runs when Mauricio Dubon bunted for a hit, upsetting the Padres dugout and players on the field. After the game, Dubon said that “he’s not trying to disrespect anybody, we’re trying to win a series, and if that means creating a rally so they can burn arms, that’s it …”
Some Padres were legitimately irked by the Giants' flouting of unwritten rules last night. Some were just surprised by it. Like: OK, if you're going to do that against us, we'll do it right back in the same spot next time. "Guess it's all fair game against them, huh?" one said. https://t.co/L5CNAF1X2n
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) April 13, 2022
Giants manager Gabe Kapler defended Dubon after the game and said that he’s trying to win series, not games, and they don’t plan on taking their foot off the gas for any team this season. Kapler doubled down on his disregard for baseball’s unwritten rules on Wednesday morning:
Gabe Kapler doubled down on his stance to disregard baseball's 'unwritten rules'.
"If we don't want a team to bunt, we will defend the bunt. If we don't want a team to steal, we will defend the steal. If we don't want a team to swing 3-0 late in the game, we'll throw a ball." pic.twitter.com/0XJ5fE3VX9
— Sam Hustis (@SamHustis) April 13, 2022
I, for one, am with Kapler on the silliness behind baseball’s unwritten rules. Kapler’s rationale that their goal is to get deep into opposing bullpens makes perfect sense, and they’re trying to win every game, and that’s GOOD for baseball. Seeing teams going for wins every day is a good thing, regardless of your feelings. But, if this is where Kapler wants to plant his flag, he’d better not get caught being mad over anything that an opposing team does to his guys in the same spirit as his sentiment.
Odds and Ends …
• Oops! 😬:
It is high! It is far! It is gone!!
but caught. pic.twitter.com/d8APN8XIVQ
— John Sterling Calls (@JSterlingCalls) April 14, 2022
• The effortless power that Eloy Jiménez possesses is one of the most beautiful things in baseball. Jiménez doesn’t just hit baseballs; he massacre’s them. This one comes at the expense of last year’s American League Cy Young Award winner, Robbie Ray. If Eloy could manage to (finally) get an entire season worth of at-bats in, he’ll hit 45+ home runs.
A missile off the bat of Eloy Jiménez. pic.twitter.com/ZoeIjFHM0l
— Patrick K. Flowers (@PatrickKFlowers) April 14, 2022
• This is pretty darn cool!
https://twitter.com/BSmile/status/1514572597270392836?s=20&t=GMIEo5gB_xZTz6E6mef6bg
• So is this:
A catcher's view of Nolan Ryan warming up! #MLB #Baseball #Legend pic.twitter.com/dqEHryvkRB
— Baseball by BSmile (@BSmile) April 13, 2022
• Guardians rookie Steven Kwan went an impressive 116 pitches seen before he recorded a swing and miss! Cleveland humorously memorialized that streak on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon. Kwan owns a 1.392 OPS through his first six major league games. Like the rest of Cleveland’s other-worldly early offense, there’s some regression in line for Kwan, but what an impressive and fun start to the season.
We mourn the loss of Steven Kwan's incredible streak.
Please respect our privacy during this time.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/38LlpBa41S
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) April 13, 2022
• Pete Alonso had himself a day on Wednesday!
https://twitter.com/Mets/status/1514601385504894981?s=20&t=GMIEo5gB_xZTz6E6mef6bg
