The Hardball Times:Is Clayton Kershaw worth the hype?

• ultxmxpx

  +1

  Kershaw's curveball ranks 87th in vertical break among 355 curveballs based on two pitches at the futures game. The speed on it is average. Beckett's ranks 140th, but has above average speed on it (not that those are the only variables that matter as the article pointed out).

  Posted 5/13/2008 [reply] [flag]

• SwishMyNish33

  +1

  Can you provide some grades of other pitchers and their pitches so we have some relative grades to base Kershaw's off of?

  Posted 5/13/2008 [reply] [flag]

  • b-intellect

    +2

    Sure. See a couple of my other articles on various pitchers.

    Yovani Gallardo:

    http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/the-future-of-yovani-gallardo/

    Chuck Lofgren, Luke Hochevar, and Greg Reynolds:

    http://www.baseball-intellect.com/Articles/most-overrated-pitchers.html

    Fautino de los Santos:

    http://www.baseball-intellect.com/Articles/fautino-de-los-santos.html

    Henry Sosa and Jair Jurrjens:

    http://www.baseball-intellect.com/Articles/most-underrated-prospects.html

    Carlos Carrasco

    http://www.baseball-intellect.com/Articles/scouting-carlos-carrasco.html

    The only players I might adjust rankings for is Hochevar (who I was a too pessimistic with) and de los Santos who I was a little too optimistic with, but who I still like a lot.

    Posted 5/14/2008 [reply] [flag]

    • SwishMyNish33

      +1

      thanks.

      Posted 5/15/2008 [reply] [flag]

• jandb1215

  +1

  just watched that video for the first time.......I am in a keeper league and just got Kershaw in a trade....I cant wait

  Posted 5/18/2008 [reply] [flag]

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Links (9)

THT: Is Clayton Kershaw Worth the Hype?
Published 5/13/2008 at BBTF's Baseball Primer Newsblog
THT: Is Clayton Kershaw Worth the Hype? Breaking down the mechanics, injury risk, stuff, and numbers of Clayton Kershaw… “Clayton Kershaw’s curveball scares children” “Clayton Kershaw’s curveball is public enemy number one” “Clayton Kershaw is straight filth” Just a couple of the high heaps of praise that surround Dodgers pitching prospect Clayton Kershaw, known by many to be the best pitching prospect in all of baseball. I suppose one is worthy of such praise when his curveball looks like this…

Is The Minotaur Worth The Hype?
Published 5/13/2008 by Rob (noreply@blogger.com) at 6-4-2 — an Angels/Dodgers double play blog
A terrific THT piece on Clayton Kershaw and his mechanics, which they deem very good.

Prospect Watch: Kershaw And Bruce
Published 5/13/2008 by Knox Bardeen at Crooked Pitch
... in 3.1 innings as his ERA ballooned to 2.21. However, if you look at the bright side, that’s the first time he’s given up an earned run since tax day, April 15th. He’s still striking out more than a batter per inning, and has 40 strikeouts and 11 walks in 36.2 innings of work. Expect many, many teams to execute the #1 waiver wire priority status if it’s made official that Kershaw will start Saturday. And check out Alex Eisenberg’s latest article about Clayton Kershaw at THT. ...

Smells Like Padres in Here - Wednesday Edition
Published 5/14/2008 by Winfield's Ghost at Gaslamp Ball: Front Page Posts
... all. Gerut likes playing every day. Kouz finally got the night off and Edgar filled in nicely, thank you very much. Edmonds appears a near certainty to be a Cub by tomorrow.   This is really worth a quick read because there is a mention of a personality clash while he was with the Padres. Would sort of explain the willingness to eat his contract so quickly. I love any sort of discussion about curveballs. And another HT piece on Clayton Kershaw, a guy we should be seeing in LA very soon. ...

Despite Dodgers' Claims He's Not Quite Ready, Clayton Kershaw Changes Name to "Sliced Bread"
Published 5/16/2008 by BG (noreply@blogger.com) at West Coast Bias Sports Blog
... (Insider only) and a fascinating glimpse from Hardball Times. The Dodgers have opted NOT to bring Kershaw up to start on the 17th as was suggested earlier this week and are instead going to give ...

Blog Kiosk 5/18/08
Published 5/18/2008 by noreply@blogger.com (ernest) at Blue Heaven
I refuse to write anything about a recently indicted former Giant. A Must Read: Harball Times writer Alex Eisenberg does a full analysis on Clayton Kershaw. (Hat Tip: Dodger Thoughts) After running through Kershaw's mechanics, injury risk, overall stuff and numbers, we can now answer the question: Is Clayton Kershaw worth the hype? The answer is yes...for the most part. Kershaw has a couple of red flags, but pitchers who seem to have a good head on their shoulders, have an athletic build, possess two pitches that rate as plus to ...

Clayton Kershaw - Blogging it Out
Published 5/25/2008 by Brandon Heikoop (noreply@blogger.com) at The Outsiders Look at the Insides of Baseball
... His 'stuff' has always ranked as that of an ace and that has turned up throughout the minors. The Hardball Times published an article about Kershaw this week titled, 'Is Clayton Kershaw Worth the Hype?' Here are some highlights from that article: ...

Pitcher Analysis: Clayton Kershaw
Published 5/26/2008 by Kyle at Driveline Mechanics
... in 2009. His performance is too good to leave in the minors, something the Cincinnati Reds should learn from (Jay Bruce). The Dodgers should hopefully realize the talent they have in Kershaw and treat him accordingly - to rush him to the majors and place a large workload on him would be irresponsible. Kershaw’s Mechanical Analysis Here’s video from his MLB start: And here’s video from him in the minors (source: Hardball Times): Let’s break down his mechanics, point by point. ...

Game 68: Dodgers (31-37) at Tigers (31-37)
Published 21 days ago by Ian Casselberry at Bless You Boys: Front Page Posts
... Detroit has been helped a bit during their five-game winning streak by finally getting to face some left-handed pitching.  But Clayton Kershaw is no soft-tossing lefty.  The Dodgers' top prospect throws in the mid-90s, with a curveball that could be ...