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PolarVortex
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Lets say his back never really gets healthy again. Given the mechanics of how he pitches, this is a reasonable possibility. Under those circumstances, has he done enough to make the HOF? He qualifies, given that he is now a 10-year veteran. But has he done enough?
145 wins - Meh, that isn't HOF worthy. It's a nice career total. There have probably been no less than 10,000 players take the pitching mound in that time span. Only 281 pitchers have won as many games as Kershaw. But, meh, his win total isn't HOF worthy.
2173 strikeouts - Ranks 65th. Again, a solid, solid career total but hardly HOF-worthy.
Post season career - unimpressive
So in order to judge his HOF-worthiness, you have to look at the quality of his work rather than the longevity of his work:
7 All Star teams in 10 seasons
5 ERA titles
4 WHIP titles
2 20-win seasons
3 strikeout crowns and 7 seasons of 200+ Ks
9 times with a K/9 ratio of over one per inning.
4 Cy Youngs and 7 in the top 5.
1 MVP, 3 in the top 10 and 6 in the top 17.
60.1 WAR - there are 26 pitchers in the Hall with career WAR than Kershaw. And Pedro is probably the only pitcher in the HOF with a higher WAR/IP ratio although I don't have that stat immediately available.
These are accomplishments that most HOF pitchers did not manage when given twice as long of a career. When you look at the whole body of his career you see that he is more along the lines of Sandy Koufax rather than someone like, say, Early Winn or Phil Niekro. A short period of extreme dominance rather than a long period of solid, if unspectacular, productivity.
I think he is Hall Of Fame worthy based on what he has accomplished to date, even if he never throws another inning in his career.
145 wins - Meh, that isn't HOF worthy. It's a nice career total. There have probably been no less than 10,000 players take the pitching mound in that time span. Only 281 pitchers have won as many games as Kershaw. But, meh, his win total isn't HOF worthy.
2173 strikeouts - Ranks 65th. Again, a solid, solid career total but hardly HOF-worthy.
Post season career - unimpressive
So in order to judge his HOF-worthiness, you have to look at the quality of his work rather than the longevity of his work:
7 All Star teams in 10 seasons
5 ERA titles
4 WHIP titles
2 20-win seasons
3 strikeout crowns and 7 seasons of 200+ Ks
9 times with a K/9 ratio of over one per inning.
4 Cy Youngs and 7 in the top 5.
1 MVP, 3 in the top 10 and 6 in the top 17.
60.1 WAR - there are 26 pitchers in the Hall with career WAR than Kershaw. And Pedro is probably the only pitcher in the HOF with a higher WAR/IP ratio although I don't have that stat immediately available.
These are accomplishments that most HOF pitchers did not manage when given twice as long of a career. When you look at the whole body of his career you see that he is more along the lines of Sandy Koufax rather than someone like, say, Early Winn or Phil Niekro. A short period of extreme dominance rather than a long period of solid, if unspectacular, productivity.
I think he is Hall Of Fame worthy based on what he has accomplished to date, even if he never throws another inning in his career.
