More than semantics

When the Dodgers beat the Giants 2-1 on Sept 20 sports talkers and bloggers alike handed the NL Cy Young award to Clayton Kershaw.  He pitched 7 1/3 innings surrendering 1 run on his way to win #20.  Kershaw received bonus points from observers for going 4-0 “against Tim Lincecum” this season.  It is true the Dodgers beat the Giants all 4 times these two aces faced off but the battle is not between the two starting pitchers.  The game of ball and base pits 9-on-9.  The pitcher only has influence on the performance of the opposing 9 hitters.

It should be stated that Kershaw and his fielders held the Giants lineup to 6 runs in 42 innings over 6 games in 2011 (1.3 RA/G)*.  When evaluating Kershaw the identity of the opposing team’s pitcher and the number of runs the Dodgers score are both irrelevant.

I’m just saying.

*SF ranked 16th out of 16 NL teams in runs scored this year (3.5/G)