The MLB world spoke out on Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts' decision to remove Clayton Kershaw prior to the 8th inning of a perfect game on Wednesday. Some people supported it while the majority of people were against it. However, what did Clayton Kershaw think of the decision?
Clayton Kershaw said the decision to remove him for the game was “the right decision.” #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) April 13, 2022
Clayton Kershaw said that he supports the decision. He has accrued enough big league experience to understand the big picture. Still, he has to wonder what might have been had Roberts left him in the game. Kershaw added some more thoughts on the reasoning for taking him out in the midst of a perfect game.
“Blame it on the lockout. Blame it on my not picking up a ball for three months (during the offseason)”
But he did not shy away from admitting that he wanted to stay in.
“As much as I would have wanted to do it, I've thown 75 pitches in a sim game. … I would have loved to stay, but bigger things.”
Clayton Kershaw's final words on the game were summed up by him discussing the bigger picture.
“End of the day those are individual things, those are selfish goals, and we're trying to win.”
Kershaw finished with 13 strikeouts over 7 innings. There was hope that he may return in the 8th but Dave Roberts opted for reliever Alex Vesia, who ultimately served up a one-out base hit to Gary Sanchez to end the perfect game. Nonetheless, the Dodgers defeated the Twins in Minnesota 7-0.
Perfect game or not, this was one of the most dominant outings of Clayton Kershaw's storied career.