Fansided

Clayton Kershaw Named National League MVP

By Hayden Kane

Sep 2, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw (22) delivers a pitch against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 2, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw (22) delivers a pitch against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

In a vote that was probably the most uncertain of any MLB award this off-season, the National League MVP was awarded to Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw by the BBWAA on Thursday night.

The National League MVP race came down to three imperfect but intriguing candidates. Clayton Kershaw was a candidate as a starting pitcher coming off one of the most dominant seasons in baseball history. The problem is, some people think that pitchers should not win MVP because they have their own award with the Cy Young. Kershaw was also limited to 27 starts due to an injury to start the season.

More from Los Angeles Dodgers

Giancarlo Stanton was the best candidate in terms of counting stats, the measures with which people are familiar. He mashed 36 home runs and delivered 107 RBI. Stanton even played Gold Glove defense to go along with his offense. His MVP campaign was not without warts, however, at least in the eyes of some people. He missed significant time at the end of the season with an injury and played on a non-contender with the Miami Marlins.

Andrew McCutchen was the safest bet, then, even if he perhaps had the weakest argument in terms of statistical dominance. Rib injuries during the season diminished his counting stats, but his play was undeniably great when he was healthy. More importantly, the Pirates just won games when McCutchen was in the lineup en route to a second straight playoff appearance.

Ultimately this award went to Kershaw, and appropriately so. He receiver 18 of 30 first place votes for the award.

The lefty went 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA this past season. Rarely can you say this about a pitcher, but the Dodgers might not have been a playoff team, let alone division champions, without the campaign that Kershaw put together in the starting rotation.

As he quickly adds to his Hall of Fame resume, Kershaw now has won three Cy Young awards in the last four seasons and now can add an MVP award to that list.

More from FanSided

Home/Los Angeles Dodgers