First, let me answer the question posed in the headline above: I have no idea whether Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was tipping his pitches in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Cardinals (STL 10, LAD 9). However, at least one former ballplayer -- 12-year vet Marlon Anderson -- thinks there's a very simple explanation for Kershaw's uncharacteristic struggles against the Cardinals, both on Friday night and in the 2013 NLCS. Take it away, Marlon ... 

Then a small parade of former MLBers weighed in. Here's C.J. Nitkowski ... 

Here's Morgan Ensberg ... 

And here's Danny Graves ... 

Speaking of Graves, here's a video of his explaining what's possibly going on when Kershaw was pitching from the stretch on Friday. I don't see anything, but, for this and many other reasons, I'm not a big-league hitter trained in such matters. 

In any event, Kershaw was having none of it after the game and characteristically opted for the high road:

If nothing else, Kershaw's now very much aware of this potential issue and will address it if he thinks there's any merit to it. 

Worth noting is the Cardinals faced Kershaw twice during the regular season -- after, as Anderson posits, they began picking up his pitches. In those 14 combined innings, Kershaw gave up three runs on 11 hits, struck out 17 and walked one and did so while pitching from the stretch on multiple occasions.

While there's nothing to suggest tipped pitches in those numbers, Kershaw has the kind of stuff that can be difficult to hit even if you know it's coming. So we're left with a lot of uncertainy here. 

The only thing that is certain is that the Cardinals once again knocked around the best pitcher in the world.