In the video above, Chris Broussard & Rob Parker react to LA Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts pulling Clayton Kershaw from the game after he pitched perfectly in the first seven innings against the Minnesota Twins.
The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner looked like his vintage self in Wednesday’s 7-0 win over the Twins, tossing seven perfect innings in his first start of 2022. He had thrown 80 pitches and looked like he might have the ability to finish his second no-hitter -- and what would have been the first perfect game of his 15-year career with the Dodgers.
Unfortunately, Dave Roberts decided to pull Kershaw from the game before he could fully finish this out. Kershaw himself said it was the right move considering his injury history.
But Kershaw had to consider the left forearm injury that he struggled with last season and the platelet-rich plasma injection he had in October that caused a delay to his normal offseason work. Then there was the lockout and the abbreviated Spring Training.
So Kershaw knew the hook was coming from manager Dave Roberts.
“Blame it on the lockout, blame it on me not picking up a baseball until January,” said the 34-year-old left-hander, who threw a no-hitter in 2014 against the Rockies. “My slider was horrible the last two innings. It didn’t have the bite. It was time.”
Chris Broussard and Rob Parker aren't on board with Roberts' decision and felt the fans were robbed, and this was the latest example of analytics running amok in baseball.
Rob Parker: "Shame on you, Dave Roberts. Shame on you. You must've had a ski mask on, not because it was cold in Minnesota because you robbed us today! You Robbed Clayton Kershaw and robbed baseball fans all over baseball America. It ain't that often that a guy could pitch a perfect game. It's so hard to do. It's so rare."
Chris Broussard: "We gotta blame Roberts at this point but it may have come down from the front office. But I'm totally in agreement with you. Sports is about the magic moments. Yes, of course, it's about winning but it's also about great moments, feats, and accomplishments. This is analytics gone awry. Analytics taken to its logical conclusion could rob us, not only in baseball, but could rob us of stars. You're already starting to see it."