LA Dodgers: Do They Have the Best Player and Pitcher in the NL This Year?

Ah, the LA Dodgers, that once very proud, almost haughty franchise.

The standings declare that they are 56-67, an also-ran in the mediocre National League West, and an afterthought in the NL wild-card sweepstakes. And they've probably had a much worse year off the field.

For all their misery, of course, two bright stars have kept them from playing at a Houston Astros' pace: center fielder Matt Kemp and pitcher Clayton Kershaw. A third "K," Hiroki Kuroda, has also pitched to the sweet tune of a 2.88 ERA, but is tied for the NL lead in losses. Yes, no deeds, good or otherwise, have gone unpunished in Chavez Ravine this year.

But will the great performances of Kemp and Kershaw be rewarded with end-of-the-year hardware? Almost a quarter of the season remains to be played, but as of now, the two Killer K's can make a strong case that they have been the best player and starting pitcher, respectively, in the league.

A funny thing happened in 2010 on the way to Matt Kemp ascending to the ranks of the best players in the game. To be more blunt, he played terribly after showing such promise in his previous few seasons.

His slash line of last year tells some of the story: a rather pedestrian .249/.310 /450. His power numbers were pretty good (28 homers and 89 RBI), but even his stolen bases numbers were suspect; Kemp was gunned down on 15 of his 34 attempts, a bad percentage for the speedster.

To Kemp's credit, he apparently took all the justified criticism in the right measure and he has transformed himself into a superstar player...at least in waiting. It's fair to want to see a few seasons like this one, and what a season it has been for the 26-year-old from Midwest City, Okla.

The NL stats (without even getting into the sport's geekiest new designer numbers) will testify that Kemp ranks very high in every meaningful category. Here is a partial rundown: .319 BA (fifth); 28 homers (second); 89 RBI (third); 76 runs (nine); .391 OBP (seven); .571 slugging (third) and .962 OPS (five).

At least two other notes should also be added to this discussion: Kemp ranks third in stolen bases with 33, and he has only been caught five times. And he is putting up these monster numbers in the middle of a chaotic atmosphere and with almost nobody of any stature hitting in front or behind him.

With two more homers, Kemp will notch his first 30-30 season and if he ups his pace just a little, he will become the fifth 40-40 man.

Kemp has been the hallmark of consistency this season, never missing a game and never spending even a minute of this season below .300.

It is a separate debate as to whether Kemp will be rewarded with an MVP award. This columnist certainly subscribes to the view that statistics of players from winning teams should—all things being roughly equal—be valued more. This may be unfair to this Dodger star who has done all he can to elevate his otherwise AAA-worthy supporting cast.

It would appear that Kemp will garner MVP consideration as voters may have to decide from among two Brewers (Ryan Braun or Prince Fielder), an emerging star in Justin Upton (Diamondbacks) and if they mount a charge, one of the Cardinals. Lance Berkman, Matt Holliday and Albert Pujols are all putting up good numbers, but it says here that one of them will have to really get hot and carry the Cards to the playoffs to merit the award.

Who else is there? Injuries and a similarly bad supporting cast have dulled Jose Reyes' big season, and the Phillies' Ryan Howard, though many loathe his relatively low batting average and high whiffs, continues to drive in tons of runs for the best team in the league.

Regardless of all of these factors, Kemp should be applauded for his spectacular year under trying circumstances. He has put himself on a short list of the best players in the league.

When it comes to the best pitchers in the league, lefty hurler Clayton Kershaw (amazingly, only 23 years young) is also on a very short list.

Kershaw, of course, came into the league with great hype and terrific stuff three years ago, and certainly tasted some success in his previous campaigns. Unlike Kemp, he was coming off his best season in 2010, a 13-10 record with a 2.91 ERA. Kershaw fanned 219 batters in a commendable 204.1 innings last year.

The Texan was quite good last year and so far he has been much better in 2011. The biggest difference? Much better control, or command if you prefer.

An examination of Kershaw's numbers since 2009 show that he has always been hard to hit. He is yielding only 6.9 hits per nine innings this year, but actually led the NL at only 6.3 in 2009. Clayton also is among the leaders each year in strikeouts per nine innings, and has improved that number to 9.9 per nine. Kind of catchy, if frustrating for opposing batters.

Kershaw's control has improved in each of his three full seasons as illustrated by his walks-per-nine- innings totals: 4.8 in 2009, 3.6 in 2010 and a very good 2.4 this year. Obviously, the southpaw's drop in free passes has led to a lower ERA and a much better WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched).

Indeed, Clayton Kershaw ranks very high in the NL in every meaningful pitching category. He is tied for the league lead in wins with 15, first in strikeouts, second in innings pitched, shutouts (tied), WHIP and BAA (batting average against.)

He's not done there. Kershaw is third in complete games and fourth in ERA.

There are many NL hurlers having big seasons, Without even needing to look at relievers. Kershaw's main competition figures to be one, or all, of the Phillies' big three of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels, who have similar numbers to Kershaw's. The rival Giants have three pitchers having good years, if not as good, and Tim Lincecum 's season (11-10, 2.53) is starting to resemble Felix Hernandez's AL Cy Young-winning campaign of last year (13-12, 2.27). Almost.

Other names, including Cincy's Johnny Cueto, who is making a late charge, will be thrown into the mix, but the following should be noted about Kershaw.

Kershaw is tied for the NL lead in wins despite pitching for the mess that has been the Dodgers this year. The Dodgers are 15-5 (.750) when their ace pitches (and gets a decision), and 41-62 (.398) otherwise. No other pitcher, judged in that light, has been nearly as valuable to his team this year.

Clayton Kershaw may not be pitching in the heat of a pennant race, but the amazing numbers he has posted for a struggling franchise may just be enough to get my (mythical) Cy Young award.

In this Dodgers season that has offered its fans a great ballpark, Matt Kemp, the legendary Vin Scully—and little else of value these days—that is quite the achievement.

Matt Goldberg, a featured columnist for the Philadelphia Phillies and all-around baseball fanatic, is also a noted humor author and speaker. For more information, please visit www.tipofthegoldberg.com