Matt Kemp
Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 9:58 am
May only be starting now because Crawfoot is hurt. Is this just a product of Mattingly's doghouse or had Matt Kemp just lost it? Been hurt a couple of years, but was 2011 just a steriod haze?
What I've been hearing (and, to a lesser extent, seeing) is that Mattingly's big problem with Kemp is on the defensive end. He definitely has lost a step (or two or three). He has been a CF his whole career, but may no longer have the range and speed to play CF. An analyst on the radio (forget who) said that so far this season, Kemp might be the worst-fielding CF in the majors. Not sure how true this is, but I understand Mattingly's concern/frustration to be on the defensive side. That being said, he has not hit enough to render his defensive failings excusable. Not sure if it is the shoulder or ankle or something else, but the power and explosiveness seems lacking. Whether this is a more permanent condition or something likely to abate as he recovers from injuries and a lot of time off the field is a big question. His contract makes him practically untouchable (although I thought the same thing with Carl Crawford when he was with the Red Sox and they moved him, so you never know).Edwards Kings wrote:May only be starting now because Crawfoot is hurt. Is this just a product of Mattingly's doghouse or had Matt Kemp just lost it? Been hurt a couple of years, but was 2011 just a steriod haze?
Given Crawford's injury, Kemp is likely to get regular ABs in LF in the near-term (although, depending on how he does, Van Slyke and possibly Pederson may eventually take those away). I have not heard anything about this being steroids-related and, under the assumption it is not but just physical injuries, it is a real shame, because I thought the Kemp of a few years ago was a fantastic, five-category player that could do it all.
Mike