Although the Los Angeles Dodgers improved on last season’s mark by having seven players named to MLB Network Top 100 Right Now for 2018, some of the returners feel in their respective rankings.
Clayton Kershaw, who placed second overall before the 2017 season, is now ranked sixth. But as he was last year, Kershaw is the first pitcher to appear on the network’s list, and the slip shouldn’t be viewed as an indictment on the three-time Cy Young Award winner.
“He’s still the No. 1 pitcher,” MLB Network analyst Ron Darling told DodgerBlue.com “Two years in a row now he’s had to go on the DL, but everyone knows when he’s out there, out for out, there’s no one better in baseball.”
Despite missing time with a back issue for a second consecutive year, Kershaw still went 18-4 with a 2.31 ERA, 3.07 FIP, 0.95 WHIP and 202 strikeouts. He again led in the National League in ERA and finished in Cy Young voting.
“Clayton is so valuable but at the same time, it’s hard for pitchers — and he did it once in our top 100 to be No. 1 — it’s hard for pitchers to be No. 1, because these other guys play 140-150 games a year,” Darling said. “Despite some injuries, for him to remain No.6 and be the No. 1 pitcher, just speaks to his greatness.”
Like Kershaw, Corey Seager also fell, going from No. 11 to 18th. Another similarity Seager shares with Kershaw was that he dealt with injury last season. “It’s hard to watch him and ever think he’s out of the top 10,” Darling said.
“I think it has more to do with some younger players, like Correa, who broke the top 10 even though he had injuries also. You could really interchange those two players. That’s how great they are. I think it’s more younger players starting to move up, so Seager, Lindor, Correa and others are going to be battling now for the next five or six years. It might be the Golden Age.
“The elbow injury certainly took away some of the numbers at the end of the year. Remember, these young players are in their second or third year in the league, and the league has tried to make adjustments to them. The great players like Seager maintain their excellence, or even get better. Even though there might be a little bit of drop-off, I would argue he’s maintained how good he is.”
Other Dodgers to make the MLB Network list were Cody Bellinger (30th), Justin Turner (31st), Kenley Jansen (39th), Chris Taylor (86th) and Yasiel Puig (94th). For Bellinger and Taylor, it was their debuts in the annual rankings.
“His year was not strong, it was off-the-planet strong,” Darling said of Bellinger. “He reminds me a little bit, although not the same body style, of John Olerud. Covers a lot of ground, very athletic, very sure-handed. He’s going to win some Gold Gloves at first base.”
Darling lauded Jansen and Turner for their leadership on and off the field, and he considers Jansen the top closer, with Turner a top-five player at his position.
“His ability to do it mostly with one pitch is pretty fantastic. Having a closer who can lock down an inning on seven or eight pitches speaks volumes to what the next few days are going to hold for your ballclub,” Darling said.
Of Turner: “When someone is not as heralded and becomes one of the best players in the league, I think it says a lot about them and their ability to endure and get through adversity. He’s got a lot of stuff going his way.
“Justin is almost an extra coach for Dave Roberts. He has such a healthy and enthusiastic way of playing the game, but serious at the same time. I think the whole team has gravitated to playing like that. I can’t say enough about Justin.”
As for Puig, Darling, like several others, saw considerable growth from the enigmatic right fielder. “I really enjoyed watching his effort and sticktoitiveness, which was something I hadn’t always seen before,” Darling said.
“Personally, there’s been times I watched him and didn’t enjoy watching him playing at all. Last year was definitely not one of those. I really enjoyed watching him play. Now he’s just got to double-up, and I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t.”
Having become quite familiar with the Dodgers, in part due to calling multiple of their postseason series over the past couple of seasons, Darling has grown fond of the team as a whole.
“Part of playing in Los Angeles is entertaining the fans. I think Justin and the Dodgers as a group, with Dave Roberts at the helm, get it,” he said.
“They’re on the field and fans are not only there to watch them win, but watch them win in grand style. You can either shrink from that, or if you have certain personalities like Jansen, Turner and others, you can revel in it. And I think it’s the latter for Justin and his crew. It’s a pleasure for me to watch them play.”
While Darling has been involved with MLB Network and their Top 100 Right Now rankings for multiple years, they unveiled the top 10 live for the first time. It was yet another memorable moment for Darling, who’s thoroughly enjoyed his time with MLB Network.
“It’s probably one of the greatest things that has happened to me,” he said. “I think when you get locked in on a team, working at MLB Network is like working at NASA if you’re a baseball junkie. Everyone here loves the game.”
The former New York Mets pitcher has plans to expand his work with MLB Network during the summer months, which he believes will be key for his background knowledge come the postseason.
