Clayton Kershaw, great, yes but we have seen better more than once in my generation.

So much talk in baseball these past couple months has been how great Kershaw has been, and rightfully so. But so many people, baseball "experts" even are calling what Kershaw has done over past 4 years as greatest pitching stretch in decades!. Really, these people have such sort memories.

He has been great, yes check out these stats
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kershcl01.shtml  after winning the CY this year it will be 3 in four years, the one year didn't win was 2nd. But this has been done not too long ago.

Pedro Martinez, remember him had a 4 year stretch just as good, actually even better. 97-2000 http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/martipe02.shtml Same awards, 3 CY and one 2nd place finish. But look closely. Pedro had more wins, better ERA, more strike outs by far, with about same walk, and  more complete games.

Randy Johnson  2000-2003. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnsra05.shtml
4 CY awards. and no one was even a close 2nd. even more wins and strike outs. and look at those abscomplete games. and do not try to say that closers are used more now, cause the league leader for saves had an average of 7 more a year in the late 90's and early 2000's than last couple years.

Greg Maddux, http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/maddugr01.shtml
 92-95, 4 Cy awards, very similar wins, less SOs but less walks better ERA, and more complete games,

Now lets add in the biggest difference between Kershaw VS the other 3. Pedro, Maddux and Randy pitched in the steroid era, the league averages for offense where so much higher, so the separation between what they did compared to the rest of the league and what Kershaw is doing compared to the league, not even close. Hell people are now talking about lowering the mound to help out the offense, saying the lack of offense is hurting the game now. Look at the WAR for all 4 as well Kershaw is easily the lowest.

O and do not forget the Post season records. Randy 5-1 in 2001 on way to WS MVP, though was a rough 7-9 lifetime. Pedro was a great 16-5 in postseason. Kershaw well is 1-5 so far, including two huge choke performances this year. Maddux was under 500.

So yes Kershaw is great. He is the best in the game right now, but lets hold off of crowning him anything other than that. He has about 10 more years of consistent performance to even sniff the jock straps of these three and about a few others over past 20 years.