Clayton Kershaw is a competitor and that competitive drive is what makes him one of the best pitchers in the game. Kershaw had pitched five innings against the Diamondbacks, giving up three runs but striking out nine, and throwing 80 pitches. The Dodgers were down by three runs, Kershaw was leading off the inning, and Manager Don Mattingly lifted Kershaw for pinch hitter Austin Barnes.
The Dodgers ended up scoring six runs on the strength of a Grand Slam by Chris Heisey (his first homerun of the season) but Kershaw was not happy about being pulled from the game after only five innings. Kershaw and Mattingly were seen having an animated discussion in the dugout in between innings.
Mattingly said of the discussion after the game "He doesn't ever want to come out. We just had to try to score, down three runs." Kershaw refused to comment on the discussion with Mattingly only saying It's between Donnie and I. No one else needs to know." I applaud Kershaw's decision to leave it in the dugout.
It is much easier to look at things in hindsight but in this instance I believe Mattingly made the right call. Kershaw was already up to 80 pitches, he was not having one of his better games, and the Dodgers needed to try to put some runs on the board. The Dodgers have not clinched the National League West yet. Every pitcher thinks he can get the next batter out and I would not want a guy out there that did not want to keep going. Altercations between pitchers and managers happen on a nightly basis but since it is Clayton Kershaw, there is more of a big deal made out of it.
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