Clayton Kershaw is the Sandy Koufax of this generation.
Kershaw, 25, is entering his seventh Major League season, all with the Dodgers. He is the defending National League Cy Young award, having gone 16-9 with a league leading 1.83 ERA in 2013. He also won the award in 2011 and finished second to R.A. Dickey in 2012.
With all his recent success, it's no wonder why the Dodgers gave him a seven-year, $215 million extension in the off-season. He has easily been the best pitcher in baseball over the last three years.
"I would say that I put enough expectations on myself that I really don't have to worry about all of that other stuff,” said Kershaw. “But I definitely understand that people's expectations are raised. I definitely feel a responsibility to live up to the life of the contract. But as far as my mindset, I don't think anything will really change."
Fans should expect to see a change in Kershaw because he's going to get better. By age alone, Kershaw has yet to enter the prime of his career. Most of time, great pitchers like Kershaw continue to improve well into their 30's. Two NL Cy Young award may seem like nothing for Kershaw when his career ends. I believe fans are watching the greatest pitcher in Dodgers' history, even better than Koufax.
Actually, I'll rephrase the last sentence. He “will” be better than Koufax when history is finally written. Koufax, who played 12 years in Major League Baseball from 1955-1966, retired with 165 wins and a lifetime 2.76 ERA. However Koufax retired at age 30 due to arm problems. Provided Kershaw doesn't sustain a career-ending injury, he will surpass Koufax as the greatest pitcher in Dodgers' history.
This isn't the first time Kershaw and Koufax have been compared and it won't be the last. Both men are left handed pitchers with plus fastballs and great off-speed pitches. They've each won multiple Cy Young awards and ERA titles. It's only natural that fans and historians compare the two.
Arguably, Koufax's best seasons in the Major Leagues were his last three seasons. From 1964-1966, Koufax went 72-22, with a 1.85 ERA. In 881.2 innings, he struck out 921 batters. Those statistics are comparable to Kershaw's previous three seasons. From 2011-2013, Kershaw went 51-23, with a 2.20 ERA. In 697.0 innings of work, he punched out 709 batters. Keep in mind, there were no “innings limits” in Koufax's era. He could go on short rest and pitch 12 innnings if he had to.
Also watching Kershaw pitch provides a similar feel to watching Koufax pitch. There is a mystique about them, like watching Michael Jordan dunk a basketball or Peyton Manning throw a football. You know history is being made with every pitch. They exist at a level of pitching only few can comprehend. It is that “awe” factor that makes Kershaw and Koufax so similar. Koufax himself realizes just how great Kershaw is.
“He's just a very special person — a special pitcher, a special person," said Koufax at Dodgers Spring Training. "I had the opportunity to watch him since he started and it's something I just felt I wanted to do."
Koufax is absolutely correct in his observation of Kershaw. Kershaw is a once in a generation player, one of the few baseball players worth the money he's paid. Fans across the country should take notice. A living legend is pitching in Los Angeles. Take the time to appreciate him because time is short. He could hurt his arm or his shoulder with any pitch. Fans would never again see the greatest pitcher in baseball today.
Dodgers' fans know that feeling too well. It happened when Koufax hung up his spikes after the 1966 World Series. And that was a generation ago...
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