Behind every great ball club is a great leader of men.

Here is reason No. 8 the Dodgers will win the 2018 World Series:

Dave Roberts

Roberts has the gift of an even keeled personality. He never gets too high or too low, and that is so vital in a sport that spans Spring/Summer/Fall.

At 45, he’s just young enough to connect as a player (he won a World Series with the Red Sox as a player in 2004) but just old enough to demand respect in the clubhouse.

He won the National League Manager of the Year in his first season taking over the Dodgers, and could have won it last year as he commandeered his team to the best 50 game stretch in league history (43-7).

And yet, he will be ultimately judged by what he accomplishes with this ready-made team in the postseason. Last year he pulled almost all the right strings. Almost.

The one he’d like to have back has been written about over and over again. But Dodgers fans can rest assured knowing if the 2018 World Series comes down to a Game 7, the only way Kershaw will not be starting is if he is physically unable to.

Dave Roberts will manage this team to a 2018 World Series championship, and will likely be spoken about in future in the same breath as famous managers like Tommy LaSorda.

It’s been 30 years since the Dodgers last World Series triumph in 1988. In honor of the ’88 team and respect for the championship-caliber 2018 club, we present our “30 IN 30” Spring Training series: 30 reasons why the Dodgers can win the World Series in 2018. We’ll count down from No. 30 to No. 1 up to Opening Day against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium.