Matt Kemp is the Best Center Fielder in Baseball
July 11, 2009 at 8:53 am | Posted in Matt Kemp | 6 CommentsNo, this has nothing to do with meaningless All-Star game selections (but come on, the entire Phillies outfield?) It’s not even about superhero heroics like an extra-inning grand slam following by an incredible over-the-shoulder catch (though, that was all amazingly cool).
Instead, this comes down to simple numbers, such as our go-to friend…
VORP!
1) Beltran 32.7
2) Hunter 32.6
3) Kemp 32.6
The 4th place outfielder, Shane Victorino, is far enough behind at 26.9 to not even be in the conversation (but at least he’s an All-Star! *insert wanking motion here*) “But Kemp is tied for second, and that’s even with Beltran and Hunter missing time,” you protest. To which I say: shut up. That’s exactly the point, isn’t it? Beltran and Hunter are both on the DL for at least the next month or so, and in Beltran’s case perhaps much longer. So there’s your first thing – it’s hard to say guys who can barely walk at the moment are better players.
This goes beyond pure production, anyway – it’s about value. I think you’ll enjoy these next two charts…
2009 Salary
Beltran – $18.5m
Hunter – $18m
Kemp – $467,000
And that means…
$/1.0 VORP
Beltran – $565,749
Hunter – $552,147
Kemp – $14,325
Which basically means, in terms of salary versus production, Kemp is roughly 38-39 times more valuable than either of his contenders for the crown, Beltran and Hunter. That sounds about right – according to FanGraphs, Kemp is providing $19.3 million worth of value to the Dodgers this year.
Oh, and Kemp’s just 24 and still clearly improving, month-by-month. Meanwhile, Hunter turns 34 next week, and Beltran’s 32. So who would you prefer?
We’ve mentioned a few times that it’s really time to lock up Chad Billingsley to a long-term contract, but Kemp is rapidly joining that category as well. We’re pretty sure that he’s the real deal by now, right? Let’s get on that, yesterday.
Well, that and to get him out of the 8th spot, which is so inane that I haven’t even been able to dicuss it.
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I totally agree- I think Manuel was really playing favorites this ASG selection since Werth is hot now and one of Manuel’s players. If he had kept to the “Last Vote” group and he already got Victorino in on that ballot, it was just plain greedy to add another Philly.
Above and beyond the ASG, Kemp has the greatest potential of current NL center fielders, due to his age, speed and power, and has decent production considering being buried at 8th in batting order AND in a home pitcher’s park. I would LOVE to see other CF’s try to improve Bison’s numbers here under those circumstances.
Comment by Eric A— July 11, 2009 #
I totally agree- I think Manuel was really playing favorites this ASG selection since Werth is hot now and one of Manuel’s players. If he had kept to the “Last Vote” group and he already got Victorino in on that ballot, it was just plain greedy to add another Philly.
Above and beyond the ASG, Kemp has the greatest potential of current NL center fielders, due to his age, speed and power, and has decent production considering being buried at 8th in batting order AND in a home pitcher’s park. I would LOVE to see other CF’s try to improve Bison’s numbers here under those circumstances.
Comment by Eric A— July 11, 2009 #
Even the deep fly in today’s game that Bison got his glove on but missed catching is a perfect example of how much his jumps and tracking have improved. He got a perfect jump on the ball and took a direct route, but just missed putting his glove up in the exact spot.
What bugs me is that Werth should have been in the last five to vote on, not Victorino. He’s clearly a deserving All Star and Victorino isn’t. Then, Manuel would have had to make a choice between Bison and the Flyin’ Hawaiian, and Matt would be going to the game.
Comment by The Dude Abides— July 11, 2009 #
Lets not forget that he is probably one of the premier defenders in the game as well.
Comment by dusto— July 11, 2009 #
[...] with Joe Torre was the ridiculous decision to have Matt Kemp – who was only, you know, the best center fielder in baseball – spending so much of the year hitting 7th or 8th. Kemp got 282 plate appearances (a little [...]
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[...] boy. Where do I even start with this one? Remember, Kemp came into the season as arguably the best center fielder in baseball, and most thought that he’d only scraped the peak of his potential. So to say that [...]
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