In case you haven't heard by now — which would be a major upset — Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw had a perfect game through seven innings on Wednesday afternoon in Minnesota. He had thrown just 80 pitches. He was removed from the game. 

Such a move in the Hot Take Era is the social media equivalent of lighting a stick of dynamite. For those fortunate enough to miss the explosion, it was every bit as fiery as you'd imagine. 

My emotional reaction was pushback with a slight hint of annoyance and probably laced with a little anger. I certainly understand where everyone who wanted to see Kershaw continue is coming from. 

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Given the circumstances behind Kershaw, the Dodgers and the timing of the outing, it's understandable to remove him from the game. 

As the night went on and I got some distance from the situation, the only thing I was actually annoyed about anymore was the people who are so sure they are right. 

This outing and whether or not to leave Kershaw in the game has so much more nuance involved than simply barking about how your "side" is right and the other is wrong. 

I'll run through many of the key points and arguments here in hopes of balancing everything at hand. 

And, yes, I know. Everyone who agrees with you is right and everyone who disagrees is stupid. I'm well aware. I've had years of training here. 

 

1. Shortened spring training

This is now the third time this season a pitcher has been pulled with a no-hitter through at least six innings. The knee-jerk reaction for many is to mindlessly blame "analytics" and complain about "pitchers these days." 

And, hey, some of that is absolutely fair. It's a totally different game than it was decades ago and it's reasonable to discuss the possibility that some of the changes have been for the worse. 

I'm not sure this is the best case to illustrate that point, though. Not right now. It's a timing issue. That is, thanks to the owner-imposed lockout, spring training games started on March 17. Kershaw threw seven perfect innings on April 13. Starting pitchers usually aren't full go for their first start or two in the regular season anyway, but in 2022, they had a fraction of the time to get ready. 

They just aren't there yet and it is totally ignorant to the circumstances of what transpired this spring to discuss this outing the same way we would if Kershaw was pulled in July.