Is Matt Kemp the best player in MLB?

[jnakamura]

Tools:
1. Hit for average: Check
2. Hit with power: Check
3. Run: Check
4. Field: Check
5. Throw: Check

1st player in history to win 3 consecutive NL player of the Week awards (and going for 4).

"Runner up" *cough* MVP last season nearly winning the triple crown

This season thus far:
Avg: .451
OBP: .491
HR: 7
RBI: 18
OPS: 1.432
SLG: .941

Discuss

[bluesky5]

Maybe.....

[Cowtipper]

Perhaps.....

[Bothrops Atrox]

Quite possibly...

[Bigfoot 88]

I believe he deserved the MVP last season.

[KevinWI]

What about Jeff Francoeur?

[BSmile]

He makes a very, very strong case at the moment.
He's on fire!

[BondsOverBabe]

He's a true 5 tool player but personally there are still a few guys I would take over him given the choice.

[Bothrops Atrox]

He's a true 5 tool player but personally there are still a few guys I would take over him given the choice.

Who are these "few guys"?

[dominik]

he is a beast but I'd like to see him taking a few more walks.
last year was the first year that he walked over 70 but this included 24 IBB. At his normal IBB rate he would still have only walked a little over 50.

If he can stabilize at 70-90 he would be even more effective because then he would really use his fear factor and force the pitcher to throw the ball over the plate.

[UnderPressure]

I still have a hard time trusting him with two strikes on him.

[dominik]

I still have a hard time trusting him with two strikes on him.

most hitters don't hit well with 2 strikes. Good hitters don't hit with 2 strikes. They just get to 2 strikes less frequently because the don't miss the ball over the plate and swing at less bad pitches.

[Bothrops Atrox]

most hitters don't hit well with 2 strikes. Good hitters don't hit with 2 strikes. They just get to 2 strikes less frequently because the don't miss the ball over the plate and swing at less bad pitches.

I know Pujols is a career .302 hitter with 2 strikes. Not sure how that compares with other guys, especialy free-swingers like Vladdy for example.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I know Pujols is a career .302 hitter with 2 strikes. Not sure how that compares with other guys, especialy free-swingers like Vladdy for example.

On two strike counts Vlad hit .234/.285/.374:

0-2: .214/.233/.334
1-2: .229/.262/.376
2-2: .256/.334/.426

[gator92]

Here's his home run scatter plot so far this year:

two things to note: first, no homers to his pull field yet (which I think is a good sign: oppo power and willingness to use it ia a big plus). Second, 6 of 7 homers have cleared the fence by 10 feet or less (classified as "JE" = "Just Enough"). Normal fraction of JE's is around 30%. So he's been a bit lucky so far.

However, overall, I think I like his power results so far: the oppo power reminds me of when ARod hit 54 homers in 2007.


Kemp 2012:

Kemp_Matt_2012_scatter.jpg


ARod 2007:

Rodriguez_Alex_2007_scatter.jpg