Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw had a chance to add perfect game in his first start of the 2022 MLB season to his future Hall of Fame resume which includes three NL Cy Young Awards, a NL MVP Award, 8 NL All-Star Game selections, a Gold Glove, a World Series ring and a no-hitter.
It would have been MLB's first perfect game in almost a decade with Felix Hernandez tossing the last one for the Seattle Mariners against the Tampa Bay Rays in August 2012. However, after 7 perfect innings and 80 pitches against the Minnesota Twins, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts lifted Kershaw.
For his part, Kershaw publicly stated he agreed with Roberts' decision. I do not believe him.
For a pitcher as competitive as Kershaw, it is inconceivable to me that he wouldn't have wanted that perfect game. As great as he has been, the chance he'll come this close to throwing another one is practically nil.
It is true that Kershaw, 34, has had injury troubles with his left forearm late last season. But if throw 15 to 20 more pitches is that much of a danger then why is Kershaw pitching at all?
The fact is that MLB is losing fans and the lockout did little to help matters. A perfect game is something for fans to get excited about. To have a perfect game thrown especially by someone of Kershaw's stature would have given baseball a big shot in the arm. Instead, Roberts spiked Kershaw and baseball fans in the shins.
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