MLB Week One

MLB A Near Perfect Start to Season 2022

By David A. Avila

Incredible. Or was it.

Clayton Kershaw, the left-handed ace of the Los Angeles Dodgers, hurled seven innings against the Minnesota Twins on a cold 38-degree April afternoon and was replaced after 80 pitches.

Baseball fans across America were loudly against Kershaw sitting down in the eighth inning during a possible perfect game. According to a survey on social media 65 percent opposed the Dodger pitcher being replaced. I’m pretty sure most of those would be Dodger haters.

As both Kershaw and Dodger manager Dave Roberts explained, to attain a perfect game though remarkable and a rare feat, the plan for the Dodger organization includes most importantly winning the NL Pennant and World Series.

“At the end of the day there are those are individual things. Those are selfish goals,” said Kershaw about the possibility of tossing a perfect game. “We’re trying to win. That’s really all we’re here for.”

Kershaw does have a no-hitter on his resume achieved in 2014.

Injury is a major concern for the Dodgers especially after last year’s experience that saw Kershaw suffer an elbow injury and unable to participate in the playoffs. It created further problems by forcing other regular starters such as Walker Buehler and then Dodger Max Scherzer to pitch with less rest. Eventually the Dodgers fell short of reaching consecutive World Series.

That is the goal.

In this age of high velocity and more high velocity, the performance by Kershaw proved that the art of pitching can still prevail despite firing fastballs 91 miles an hour or slower.

Kershaw tossed knee buckling sliders that led to 13 strikeouts. His break seemed to befuddle Twin hitters and kept them from gaining hard contact.

“We’re in an age of throwers not pitchers,” said former Mets GM Omar Minoya who applauded Kershaw’s ability to navigate through the Twins lineup without 100 mph fastballs.

The baseball world still huffed and puffed about losing a chance to see another perfect game. Only 23 have been accomplished in the history of Major League Baseball.

It was also the second time that Dodger manager Roberts had pulled a pitcher in the seventh inning while tossing a perfect game. In 2016, Roberts did the same move with another southpaw pitcher Rich Hill. That’s a record now owned by Roberts.

Vlad Guerrero Trifecta

Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. belted three homers against the New York Yankees on Wednesday April 13, in a 6-4 win. Two his Guerrero’s homers came against ace Yankee pitcher Gerrit Cole.

Guerrero connected on one particular fastball that was fired inside by an inch off the plate and drilled it over the left field fence at 114 mph. Yankee pitcher tipped his hat as Guerrero ran around the bases.

Guerrero’s dad was famous for hitting pitches off the plate. It seems his son has acquired the same taste.

Speaking of the father, a hitting comparison by MLB network between the father and son was almost identical after more than 1,300 at bats. One stark difference was that senior Guerrero never struck out more than 100 times in a season. Never.

Suzuki

Japan has another export playing in the Major Leagues named Seiya Suzuki who signed a five-year contract with the Chicago Cubs for $85 million. So far he’s been worth every dollar as he continues to clobber the ball. His 10 RBIs in 22 or fewer plate appearance set a Cubs record.

Suzuki already has three homers in 19 at bats. The 27-year-old outfielder from Arakawa, Japan arrived after playing for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp where he was a five-time all-star.