MLB Franchise Four – Biggest Snubs for Each Team

Los Angeles Dodgers – Clayton Kershaw

Franchise Four: Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax, Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider

Alright, I’ll admit, I’ve been fairly down against players with short experience in the big leagues getting their due among the greatest of all-time. However, in this case, I’ll make an exception.

For a few seconds, let’s compare two players statically over six-year stretches.

Player A – 223 games (211 starts), 1632.2 innings pitched, 129-47 record, 2.19 ERA, 2.16 FIP, and a 9.4 K/9 ratio

Player B – 189 games (188 starts), 1270.2 innings pitched, 93-44 record, 2.33 ERA, 2.61 FIP, and a 9.5 K/9 ratio

Player A is Sandy Koufax, who’s place on this list is confirmed and will never be in doubt. Player B is Clayton Kershaw, who while on the ballot, fell off due to the sea of greatness that pervades around the history of the Dodgers. Despite the games pitched and innings numbers being different due to the generational gap, and subsequently the win totals, the rest are pretty comparable and show just how dominant that Kershaw has been in the regular season for Los Angeles. And he’s still just 27-years-old.

That age may have come as a deterrent in the vote for Kershaw, not to mention the caliber of the names that would have required omission if he were added. Then again, perhaps a few years down the road the argument could be made in the other direction.

Next: Giants - Christy Mathewson