Bumgarner or Kershaw?

[Angel Oracle]

Bumgarner is Mr. Automatic in the post-season.

Kershaw is Mr. Automatic during the regular season.

[19HALO71]

Kershaw everyday and twice on Sunday.

[Tank]

april thru september = kershaw

october = bumgarner

[red321]

Not sure you can go wrong with either one. Amazing performance by Bumgarner this postseason...though you have to wonder how this may effect him in 2016. Something like 270 innings this year, and throwing 70 high pressure pitches 2 days after 117 some odd pitches. If he does have arm issues next year, I would expect to see that referenced quite a bit.

[Angel Oracle]

Kershaw everyday and twice on Sunday.

Even though he struggles in October, thus putting the Raviners in a tough spot?   Being the best pitcher in MLB the past 3 regular seasons doesn't do much good when he struggles in the post-season.

Although the post-season work is still a bit of a small sample size.

 

Bumgarner has become not far off from being pretty much elite during the season, with back-to-back sub 3.00 ERAs and sub 1.10 WHIPs. 

Red did bring up a good point about the 270 total innings for April-October, which pitchers rarely do anymore.

Will there be any lingering after effects from that in 2015 and beyond?

Is his delivery considered free and easy enough?

 

I don't even know how many years one has to go back, to when the most recent pitcher threw 70 pitches on just 2 days rest in the post-season after throwing close to 120 pitches.

Edited October 30, 2014 by Angel Oracle

[19HALO71]

I hear you AO. But you have to make the playoffs first. Kershaw is notoriously bad on short rest. Can't blame him for taking the ball and pushing it.

[T.G.]

If contracts are part of the consideration, I'll take Bumgarner; otherwise, Kershaw all the way.

[QuinlansMinion]

Even though he struggles in October, thus putting the Raviners in a tough spot?   Being the best pitcher in MLB the past 3 regular seasons doesn't do much good when he struggles in the post-season.

Although the post-season work is still a bit of a small sample size.

 

And there it is, the sample size argument.  

Now lets hear your theory about how the postseason is just dependent upon luck.  

[Angels_Make_Me_Drink]

MadBum. 

 

I'll take the post season ownage.

[HaloCory22]

Madbum. He isn't THAT far off from Kershaw in the regular season either. He has 2 years on Kershaw as well. He's getting better.

[Lou]

Actually, Bumgarner's numbers were down from last year. His era was over a run higher than Kershaw's.

What's really scary is that Kershaw is getting better

[mtangelsfan]

You guys would pass on the best pitcher in baseball, hell the best player in the NL for sure and possibly MLB because a guy got hot in the post season?

 

 

 

 

"Squirrel!!!!!"

[Hollyw00d]

Actually, Bumgarner's numbers were down from last year. His era was over a run higher than Kershaw's.

What's really scary is that Kershaw is getting better

I'd be surprised if kershaw has a better season than he did this year, I think 2014 was his peak

I'd take bumgarner, he may not have the best "stuff" but he has great control and off the charts makeup

[mrwicked]

I love Bummy but I'd be hard pressed to him over Kershaw.

Hell even as a Giants fan, until this year Bummy has been behind Cain and Timmeh.

[Brandon]

What's funny is this isn't even considered if he didn't crush this year's playoffs.

However, since it has been brought up, the money to skill ratio is so ahead in Bumgarners favor.

If it's purely a talent based question it's Kershaw, if you're building a team and money is factored in it's probably Bumgarner.

[Tank]

tim lincecum. man, i wonder how that guy feels about how his career path has gone. has to feel beyond incredible to have three WS rings, but knowing that you're not contributing much to it has got to grind away on his confidence (or what little may be left of it). what happened to him? how did he lose his dominance?

[tomsred]

I'd go for a healthy Richards and Shoemaker.

Edited October 31, 2014 by tomsred

[bloodbrother]

Kershaw is the best pitcher in baseball, so him

[floplag]

3 years dominance versus 3 games... are we really having this discussion? 
i think you know my answer

[Lou]

I'd be surprised if kershaw has a better season than he did this year, I think 2014 was his peak

I'd take bumgarner, he may not have the best "stuff" but he has great control and off the charts makeup

 

to have a better season he'd have to come back as Bob Gibson

[Turd Ferguson]

Kershaw, not nearly as much postseason mileage.  

[Brent Maguire]

Making the playoffs in the 1st place is more important so I'll take Kershaw. Not denying how amazing Bumgarner has been in the playoffs but Kershaw is on a whole different level of dominance in the regular season. 

 

I will say that Bumgarner is a lot closer to Kershaw now if this velocity spike is legit. He was pumping 93-94 in the playoffs after being a 91-92 mph guy previously. 

[Angel Oracle]

3 years dominance versus 3 games... are we really having this discussion? 

i think you know my answer

It's more than 3 games, it's 59.2 post-season innings since he shut out Detroit for 7 innings in the 2012 WS.

In those innings:  0.90 ERA and 0.65 WHIP

In 88.1 career post-season innings:  2.14 ERA and 0.88 WHIP

 

Not since Sandy Koufax has any lefty pitcher dominated post-season play like Bumgarner has. 

Edited October 31, 2014 by Angel Oracle

[Blarg]

Koufax never pitched in a single playoff game but with four man rotations and no specialized bullpen, pitchers of his era would throw 100 or more innings before seasons end compared to today.

[211275]

Regular season is meaningless. Just ask the Angels how much having the best record in baseball and all their great regular season stats meant in the playoffs...not a damn thing. Give me the guy who gets it done in Oct when it matters, not the guy who gets it done in May and folds like a deck of cards when the pressure is on