MLB Network analysts Sean Casey and Mark DeRosa took on some tough and fun topics in a discussion published at The Players’ Tribune, including a brief discussion about who should win the National League Cy Young Award if the season ended at the All-Star break.

Both considered Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw a no-brainer and they’re likely not alone. They say Kershaw is easily ahead of the pack. Casey went on the share a fun story about the first time he encountered Kershaw, late in his career and early in Kershaw’s career.

It’s worth your time.

DeRosa

Kershaw.

Casey

It’s not even close.

DeRosa

The guy is Sandy Koufax right now. Sandy was my dad’s favorite player, so he was all I heard about growing up. My dad used to tell me stories of how nasty Sandy’s stuff was. He’d gush about his devastating curveball. I know that’s all true, but I can’t imagine that Sandy Koufax was any better than what we’re seeing out of Clayton Kershaw this season. I just can’t.

Casey

The guy just doesn’t walk people. Before he went on the DL he was at 145 K’s versus nine walks. That’s absolutely insane.

DeRosa

He’s matured a lot as a pitcher. When I first faced Kershaw when he came up, he had a lot of stuff and was effectively wild. He couldn’t pinpoint his pitches, but he was still good enough to dominate. Now he’s incorporated a slider and he has pinpoint command. And he’s also really big and hides the ball well.

Casey

I don’t think people fully understand how hard it is to hit a guy who’s as powerful as Kershaw, and who also hides the ball perfectly.

DeRosa

He’s really on his own level right now. If I had to face him today, I’d just be hoping for the gas. If he throws breaking balls early in the count, then you’re really in trouble. That’s when you step out, adjust your gloves, act cool and in the back of your mind you just know, I’m whiffing.

Casey

I only faced him one time. Actually, I was the first guy he ever faced in a spring training game. I turned to Terry Francona and was like, “Who’s this guy?” And he shrugged and said, “He’s some minor leaguer off the back fields.” First pitch comes in at 97 on the outside black. I don’t even see it, I just hear a big thunk as it hits the catcher’s mitt. I look over at Joe Torre and he’s cracking up in the dugout. And I’m thinking, Who the hell is this guy?

DeRosa

Oh no.

Casey

Next pitch was a nasty knee-buckling hook for strike 2. I now look at the bench and Larry Bowa and Joe Torre are both laughing at me, and I’m thinking to myself, They must know something I don’t know. The next pitch was strike 3, but the ump called it a ball. Next pitch, Kershaw throws a ridiculous hook on the outside corner, and that was called strike 3. I never pulled the trigger on any pitch. It was the first time I had felt like a little kid in the big leagues in a long time.