An MVP (most valuable player) is chosen every year based off of who has effected the team the most, who the team could not have survived without, the player that played in almost every game, never gave up and made all the difference.

Clayton Kershaw started 27 games for the Dodgers, meaning he played about 17% of the total 162 games played by Los Angeles. How can your MVP be a guy who only made a difference in 17% of your games? There are 135 other games throughout the regular season that Kershaw had no effect on.

“Most Valuable” to me means irreplaceable, so imagine the Dodgers did not have Kershaw this last season. In order to go to still go the playoffs, his replacement would need to go 15-9 in the regular season. If your team can replace you with a guy who goes 15-9 and still make playoffs (even if as a wildcard team) then you are not irreplaceable.

Now I’m not saying Kershaw is not an impressive pitcher. A 21-3 record, a 1.77 earned run average (ERA), 31 walks, and 239 strikeouts is impressive. I believe he deserves credit for the 27 games he started and I just wish there was some award you could give for the most valuable pitcher without taking the MVP award from the guys who play almost every game.

Oh wait, there is. It’s called the Cy Young Award and this year Clayton kershaw was unanimously voted for that award in the National League. And I have to say, I agree. I think Kershaw was the best pitcher in the National League this year, without a doubt, but he was not the “most valuable” player in the 135 games he spent eating seeds in the bullpen.

Since Kershaw was awarded a win for 21 of the games he started, then you could say he won 21 games for the Dodgers. Matt Holliday had 23 game winning runs batted in (RBI), meaning he won 23 games for his team. If there are other players that won more games for their teams than Kershaw and played more games than him, then how could Kershaw deserve the award more than them?

Maybe Kershaw gave an amazing pep talk before every game and the Dodgers would not have won without him cheering them on or maybe he was the team’s good luck charm during the season. I’m not a Dodger, so I cannot say what made Kershaw MVP for the 135 games he did not play but from my point of view 135 games of sitting in a chair chewing bubble gum is not MVP worthy.