Kemp triple crown bid

[erik316wttn]

I didn't realize it, but he's got a great shot to win the NL Triple Crown this year...

 

AVG ..326 (behind Reyes and Braun at .329)

 

HR: 37 (tied with Pujols for the NL lead)

 

RBI: 119 (leading the NL-- 6 ahead of Fielder)

 

I never knew how close he was. I hope he gets it. That would be a fantastic story.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

That's pretty sick, and I do hope he gets it too.

 

Can you believe that a .987 OPS leads the league? It's been TWENTY YEARS since Barry Bonds led the NL with a sub-1.000 OPS. Think we're in a new era of baseball?

[erik316wttn]

For one, I'm surprised this story has been so quiet. ESPN would normally be all over something like this.

[Guest]

I didn't realize it, but he's got a great shot to win the NL Triple Crown this year...

 

AVG ..326 (behind Reyes and Braun at .329)

 

HR: 37 (tied with Pujols for the NL lead)

 

RBI: 119 (leading the NL-- 6 ahead of Fielder)

 

I never knew how close he was. I hope he gets it. That would be a fantastic story.

 

Don't forget Kemp also has 40 SB's.........I know it doesn't help his Triple Crown efforts, but damn Kemp is good.

[sneakypower]

i'll honestly say i never saw greatness coming from him like this; his numbers in the minors had compared pretty well to that of Felix Pie, even. he's definitely got high-babip skill

 

i wonder if we could possibly fit both Prince and Kemp into the payroll long-term

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

For one, I'm surprised this story has been so quiet. ESPN would normally be all over something like this.

 

Despite the ridiculous season he's probably the #3 Dodgers story to the ownership situation and Clayton Kershaw.

 

Then he might not even be the best/most exciting young OFer in the division. Justin Upton is 3 years younger, had more hype coming into the big leagues, and is putting up close to a 7 WAR season as a 23(!) year old.

 

I can't say I'm a Kemp fan (mostly because I think he's a choppy CF who's more of a COF going to get franchise CF money to play CF), but it's definitely not fair. If he was on the Yankees or Red Sox doing this...

 

Edit: Speaking of Upton...in doing "research" for this post I found out his BABIP of .320 is actually below his career norm (.332 or .333 I forget). The upside in this guy....

[erik316wttn]

For one, I'm surprised this story has been so quiet. ESPN would normally be all over something like this.

 

Despite the ridiculous season he's probably the #3 Dodgers story to the ownership situation and Clayton Kershaw.

 

Then he might not even be the best/most exciting young OFer in the division. Justin Upton is 3 years younger, had more hype coming into the big leagues, and is putting up close to a 7 WAR season as a 23(!) year old.

 

I can't say I'm a Kemp fan (mostly because I think he's a choppy CF who's more of a COF going to get franchise CF money to play CF), but it's definitely not fair. If he was on the Yankees or Red Sox doing this...

 

Edit: Speaking of Upton...in doing "research" for this post I found out his BABIP of .320 is actually below his career norm (.332 or .333 I forget). The upside in this guy....

 

That's probably part of it... not playing in New York or Boston.

[Sammy Sofa]

When he's manning RF for the Cubs in 2013 all will be well and good.

[imb]

For one, I'm surprised this story has been so quiet. ESPN would normally be all over something like this.

 

Despite the ridiculous season he's probably the #3 Dodgers story to the ownership situation and Clayton Kershaw.

 

Then he might not even be the best/most exciting young OFer in the division. Justin Upton is 3 years younger, had more hype coming into the big leagues, and is putting up close to a 7 WAR season as a 23(!) year old.

 

I can't say I'm a Kemp fan (mostly because I think he's a choppy CF who's more of a COF going to get franchise CF money to play CF), but it's definitely not fair. If he was on the Yankees or Red Sox doing this...

 

Edit: Speaking of Upton...in doing "research" for this post I found out his BABIP of .320 is actually below his career norm (.332 or .333 I forget). The upside in this guy....

 

That's probably part of it... not playing in New York or Boston.

 

Yeah, those small market LA teams always get screwed by the media

[Have a seat, Neifi]

When he's manning RF for the Cubs in 2013 all will be well and good.

 

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/09/22/mvp-candidate-matt-kemp-likely-to-seek-extension-with-dodgers/

 

While speculation has Andre Ethier potentially on the way out this winter, Matt Kemp is looking to stay in Los Angeles. Asked about a contract extension by ESPN Radio’s Beto Duran, Kemp replied that we ”haven’t started talks… but I plan on being with the Dodgers the rest of my career.”

[erik316wttn]

For one, I'm surprised this story has been so quiet. ESPN would normally be all over something like this.

 

Despite the ridiculous season he's probably the #3 Dodgers story to the ownership situation and Clayton Kershaw.

 

Then he might not even be the best/most exciting young OFer in the division. Justin Upton is 3 years younger, had more hype coming into the big leagues, and is putting up close to a 7 WAR season as a 23(!) year old.

 

I can't say I'm a Kemp fan (mostly because I think he's a choppy CF who's more of a COF going to get franchise CF money to play CF), but it's definitely not fair. If he was on the Yankees or Red Sox doing this...

 

Edit: Speaking of Upton...in doing "research" for this post I found out his BABIP of .320 is actually below his career norm (.332 or .333 I forget). The upside in this guy....

 

That's probably part of it... not playing in New York or Boston.

 

Yeah, those small market LA teams always get screwed by the media

 

I didn't say "media." I said "ESPN." And I'm talking about the Dodgers, not any other team in any other sport. It's well known that ESPN has a bias toward the Yankees and Red Sox.

 

Reading comprehension is your friend. Try it sometime.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

When he's manning RF for the Cubs in 2013 all will be well and good.

 

That's going to be tough to do seeing as he'd be blocked by the big Justin Upton trade of 2012/2013.

[Sammy Sofa]

For one, I'm surprised this story has been so quiet. ESPN would normally be all over something like this.

 

Despite the ridiculous season he's probably the #3 Dodgers story to the ownership situation and Clayton Kershaw.

 

Then he might not even be the best/most exciting young OFer in the division. Justin Upton is 3 years younger, had more hype coming into the big leagues, and is putting up close to a 7 WAR season as a 23(!) year old.

 

I can't say I'm a Kemp fan (mostly because I think he's a choppy CF who's more of a COF going to get franchise CF money to play CF), but it's definitely not fair. If he was on the Yankees or Red Sox doing this...

 

Edit: Speaking of Upton...in doing "research" for this post I found out his BABIP of .320 is actually below his career norm (.332 or .333 I forget). The upside in this guy....

 

That's probably part of it... not playing in New York or Boston.

 

Yeah, those small market LA teams always get screwed by the media

 

I didn't say "media." I said "ESPN." And I'm talking about the Dodgers, not any other team in any other sport. It's well known that ESPN has a bias toward the Yankees and Red Sox.

 

Reading comprehension is your friend. Try it sometime.

 

Yeah, it's not like they broadcasting SportsCenter partially from LA now or anything.

[Sammy Sofa]

When he's manning RF for the Cubs in 2013 all will be well and good.

 

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/09/22/mvp-candidate-matt-kemp-likely-to-seek-extension-with-dodgers/

 

While speculation has Andre Ethier potentially on the way out this winter, Matt Kemp is looking to stay in Los Angeles. Asked about a contract extension by ESPN Radio’s Beto Duran, Kemp replied that we ”haven’t started talks… but I plan on being with the Dodgers the rest of my career.”

 

Yeah, good luck with that. He better hopes a sale goes through real quick if he expects to be playing for the Dodgers for anything even remotely close to what he's worth.

[Sammy Sofa]

When he's manning RF for the Cubs in 2013 all will be well and good.

 

That's going to be tough to do seeing as he'd be blocked by the big Justin Upton trade of 2012/2013.

 

Why are the Diamondbacks going to be doing such a thing? Yeah, he's going to be getting a lot more expensive, but he'd be under control for three more seasons if they trade him at that point. I doubt they want to pay him, but if he has another year like this or better teams are going to be foaming at the mouth coming after him. What type of package are the Cubs likely able to come up with (and more importantly, one they can spare) to get him under such circumstances?

[Guest]

When he's manning RF for the Cubs in 2013 all will be well and good.

 

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/09/22/mvp-candidate-matt-kemp-likely-to-seek-extension-with-dodgers/

 

While speculation has Andre Ethier potentially on the way out this winter, Matt Kemp is looking to stay in Los Angeles. Asked about a contract extension by ESPN Radio’s Beto Duran, Kemp replied that we ”haven’t started talks… but I plan on being with the Dodgers the rest of my career.”

 

Yeah, good luck with that. He better hopes a sale goes through real quick if he expects to be playing for the Dodgers for anything even remotely close to what he's worth.

 

Beto Duran does a lot of Dodgers stuff in LA; depending on the context of that interview, it would have been unwise for Kemp to answer any other way.

[imb]

For one, I'm surprised this story has been so quiet. ESPN would normally be all over something like this.

 

Despite the ridiculous season he's probably the #3 Dodgers story to the ownership situation and Clayton Kershaw.

 

Then he might not even be the best/most exciting young OFer in the division. Justin Upton is 3 years younger, had more hype coming into the big leagues, and is putting up close to a 7 WAR season as a 23(!) year old.

 

I can't say I'm a Kemp fan (mostly because I think he's a choppy CF who's more of a COF going to get franchise CF money to play CF), but it's definitely not fair. If he was on the Yankees or Red Sox doing this...

 

Edit: Speaking of Upton...in doing "research" for this post I found out his BABIP of .320 is actually below his career norm (.332 or .333 I forget). The upside in this guy....

 

That's probably part of it... not playing in New York or Boston.

 

Yeah, those small market LA teams always get screwed by the media

 

I didn't say "media." I said "ESPN." And I'm talking about the Dodgers, not any other team in any other sport. It's well known that ESPN has a bias toward the Yankees and Red Sox.

 

Reading comprehension is your friend. Try it sometime.

 

"i didnt say media, i said ESPN" (the largest sports media in the world, by miles)

[erik316wttn]

 

Yeah, those small market LA teams always get screwed by the media

 

I didn't say "media." I said "ESPN." And I'm talking about the Dodgers, not any other team in any other sport. It's well known that ESPN has a bias toward the Yankees and Red Sox.

 

Reading comprehension is your friend. Try it sometime.

 

"i didnt say media, i said ESPN" (the largest sports media in the world, by miles)

 

Yes, but I'm going to let you in on a secret.

 

There's more media than just ESPN

 

Don't tell anyone. Shhhhh....

[imb]

I didn't say "media." I said "ESPN." And I'm talking about the Dodgers, not any other team in any other sport. It's well known that ESPN has a bias toward the Yankees and Red Sox.

 

Reading comprehension is your friend. Try it sometime.

 

"i didnt say media, i said ESPN" (the largest sports media in the world, by miles)

 

Yes, but I'm going to let you in on a secret.

 

There's more media than just ESPN

 

Don't tell anyone. Shhhhh....

 

but you didnt say media, you said espn?

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

When he's manning RF for the Cubs in 2013 all will be well and good.

 

That's going to be tough to do seeing as he'd be blocked by the big Justin Upton trade of 2012/2013.

 

Why are the Diamondbacks going to be doing such a thing? Yeah, he's going to be getting a lot more expensive, but he'd be under control for three more seasons if they trade him at that point. I doubt they want to pay him, but if he has another year like this or better teams are going to be foaming at the mouth coming after him. What type of package are the Cubs likely able to come up with (and more importantly, one they can spare) to get him under such circumstances?

 

Yeah well....g'luck moving Kemp out of CF.

 

As far as a package...I actually think with a good 2012 the Cubs will be in at least a decent position to make a blockbuster trade. The system has talent, it's just mostly talent that hasn't broken out. We also saw in the Garza trade that the Cubs are willing to pay a good price for talent they want. The D'Backs will lose their 4 best non-Upton position players by 2014, including their starting middle infield by next year. So there's an outside shot...A long outside shot...but yeah otherwise that's the player I want.

[erik316wttn]

Kemp now at .325 to Braun's .331. The other stats remain unchanged.

[Sammy Sofa]

When he's manning RF for the Cubs in 2013 all will be well and good.

 

That's going to be tough to do seeing as he'd be blocked by the big Justin Upton trade of 2012/2013.

 

Why are the Diamondbacks going to be doing such a thing? Yeah, he's going to be getting a lot more expensive, but he'd be under control for three more seasons if they trade him at that point. I doubt they want to pay him, but if he has another year like this or better teams are going to be foaming at the mouth coming after him. What type of package are the Cubs likely able to come up with (and more importantly, one they can spare) to get him under such circumstances?

 

Yeah well....g'luck moving Kemp out of CF.

 

As far as a package...I actually think with a good 2012 the Cubs will be in at least a decent position to make a blockbuster trade. The system has talent, it's just mostly talent that hasn't broken out. We also saw in the Garza trade that the Cubs are willing to pay a good price for talent they want. The D'Backs will lose their 4 best non-Upton position players by 2014, including their starting middle infield by next year. So there's an outside shot...A long outside shot...but yeah otherwise that's the player I want.

 

I'd like him, too, but the Cubs are going to need some serious breaking out in the farm in the next year to pull off a trade like that in the timeframe you've set up. It's less that I don't think the Diamondbacks will move him so much as I think other teams will be more like to trump anything the Cubs can offer, and rather handily, too. I think it's safe to assume Upton is easily going to command a LOT more than Garza if he has another year like this or better and the Diamondbacks are willing to trade him when he's still under control for three entire seasons.

 

And I'm rarely concerned about getting a player to move to a different defensive spot if they're getting a ton of money; nine times out of ten they'll do it. It's not like the Cubs would be asking Kemp to DH or move to 1B or something like that.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I'd like him, too, but the Cubs are going to need some serious breaking out in the farm in the next year to pull off a trade like that in the timeframe you've set up. It's less that I don't think the Diamondbacks will move him so much as I think other teams will be more like to trump anything the Cubs can offer, and rather handily, too. I think it's safe to assume Upton is easily going to command a LOT more than Garza if he has another year like this or better and the Diamondbacks are willing to trade him when he's still under control for three entire seasons.

 

And I'm rarely concerned about getting a player to move to a different defensive spot if they're getting a ton of money; nine times out of ten they'll do it. It's not like the Cubs would be asking Kemp to DH or move to 1B or something like that.

 

1. Yes, there would be a competition for Upton. Don't disagree there. He's one of the most hyped prospects of the last 10 years who looks like he'll truly live up to the hype.

 

2. Personally, you underestimate the farm system and overestimate most others. That's not something I can prove directly because farm systems tend to be a subjective thing, but I don't believe there are too many high end farm systems in baseball lately. Teams like the Rangers and Blue Jays (another team who could probably use a strong 2012 for talent to separate itself) would be the Cubs' main competition, and I'm not sure I'd lose too much sleep over that. I'd just focus on what the Cubs can offer, and it's really not as bad as most would think if they dedicated a thought to it. There's alot of guys in this system who's strong 2012 can give this system a huge boost in any rankings because there's tools and upside all over the place (especially with positional talent).

 

3. I think it's safe to say you're right on the costing more than Garza assumption. I also think it's safe to say that that wasn't my point when bringing up Garza. The Cubs will pay a good price for talent they want is the point, and it's something most smaller market teams pay attention to. That's one of the reasons the Yankees and Red Sox often get who they want on the trade market. They pay very well for it, and don't have to complain about getting ripped off because they have the money to back that (go out and sign some IFAs, pay a little extra in the draft and bring in a new crop to eventually harvest).

 

4. How often does a big name played move off of position? How often does it end well? The last one that I truly remember is the Jose Reyes situation back when the Mets signed Kaz Matsui, and Reyes was not yet established enough as a big leaguer to have any significant say. Our own Soriano was asked to move from LF to CF, but that was to increase his value and make it seem like he was worth 138 million. It didn't work out anyway. While Kemp would already be paid in your scenario, we're still talking about an MLB veteran in his prime who's settled and established himself within the game as a CF. It's not going to be a simple or easy move, and it's one that might frustrate this new big money bat. I'm a don't piss off the talent guy...

 

I agree on your point about my timeline. Upton is probably a 2013/2014 guy, but I felt like saying 2012/2013 just to establish that I'd rather pay for him than Kemp. I know that changes the argument a little, and I apologize for that but I never intended to really go into detail with anything after I said 2012/2013. Hell, I thought we were just playing fantasy OF scenario and both of us were being a little tongue in cheek.

 

Lot of words.

[Sammy Sofa]

4. How often does a big name played move off of position? How often does it end well? The last one that I truly remember is the Jose Reyes situation back when the Mets signed Kaz Matsui, and Reyes was not yet established enough as a big leaguer to have any significant say. Our own Soriano was asked to move from LF to CF, but that was to increase his value and make it seem like he was worth 138 million. It didn't work out anyway. While Kemp would already be paid in your scenario, we're still talking about an MLB veteran in his prime who's settled and established himself within the game as a CF. It's not going to be a simple or easy move, and it's one that might frustrate this new big money bat. I'm a don't piss off the talent guy...

 

Depends on how "far" you're moving them off-position. Personally I don't think someone like Kemp moving from CF to a corner OF spot would be a dealbreaker. Soriano isn't that good of an example since you're talking about a dicey defender bounced from being a middle infielder to being an outfielder. Moving from CF to RF isn't as drastic for someone who has been an OF his entire MLB career. Now, I'm not declaring that Kemp will do this or that he would be fine doing so, but on the scale of moving guys from their traditional position it seems relatively minor (plus I think he's actually better suited defensively for a corner OF spot anyway).

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Depends on how "far" you're moving them off-position. Personally I don't think someone like Kemp moving from CF to a corner OF spot would be a dealbreaker. Soriano isn't that good of an example since you're talking about a dicey defender bounced from being a middle infielder to being an outfielder. Moving from CF to RF isn't as drastic for someone who has been an OF his entire MLB career. Now, I'm not declaring that Kemp will do this or that he would be fine doing so, but on the scale of moving guys from their traditional position it seems relatively minor (plus I think he's actually better suited defensively for a corner OF spot anyway).

 

That doesn't answer the question though. There aren't too many established guys who get asked to move that I can think of. There's always talk of a move a'comin, but I can't remember too many guys actually making the move. While I agree that moving Kemp from CF to RF isn't asking anything crazy and it's one I've been pushing as much as anyone, I just don't think it's something that's likely. There's a team who'll pay the price for him to man CF for them.

Edited September 25, 2011 by KingKongvs.Godzilla