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Monday, August 31, 2009

Bill Plaschke: Dodgers’ Matt Kemp shows his tremendous upside

Watching Matt Kemp play center field is like watching a Lakers shooting guard who somehow wandered into baggy baseball pants.

He soars. He dishes. He bangs.

Sometimes, such as in the 12th inning against the Reds here Sunday afternoon at Great American Ballpark, he turns positively Kobe.

Score tied at 2-all. Bases loaded. One out. The Reds’ closer Francisco Cordero staring with heat.

Called strike. Swinging strike. Foul ball.

Said Manager Joe Torre: “A really tough at-bat.”

Said teammate Mark Loretta: “Shadows coming in, ball moving, down two strikes, very difficult position.”

Next pitch? Swish.

Tripon Posted: August 31, 2009 at 04:43 AM | 13 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: dodgers

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   1. Crashburn Alley Posted: August 31, 2009 at 10:19 AM (#3309530)
Bill Plaschke: mailin' it in since 1987!
   2. The Essex Snead Posted: August 31, 2009 at 12:47 PM (#3309557)
He soars. He dishes. He bangs.

Didn't need to know you're a Ricky Martin fan, Bill, but thanks!

Was it Plaschke or his partner-in-crime that wrote those crosseyed "Dodger kids need to know their role" articles last year?
   3. The cushions are crowded for Edmundo Posted: August 31, 2009 at 01:00 PM (#3309568)
Was it Plaschke or his partner-in-crime that wrote those crosseyed "Dodger kids need to know their role" articles last year?
C'mon, they've learned how to win. They've absorbed the veteran presence of Luis Gonzalez and Jeff Kent.
   4. Harveys Wallbangers Posted: August 31, 2009 at 01:04 PM (#3309571)
Bill was agitating that the Dodgers trade Kemp for some day old hot dogs and stale buns. Now that he even has recognized that Matt Kemp is rapidly becoming one of the best players in the NL he has changed his tune.

I will point out that Matt Kemp looks to have the chance to be one of the inner circle of players who will have no flaws. He tightens up the walk to strikeout ratio and that seals the deal.
   5. Big Train Posted: August 31, 2009 at 01:36 PM (#3309587)
He still has trouble with the breaking ball, but he is light years better than he was in the beginning of the season.

He is a wonderful player, great player to watch. I hope I get him in fantasy next year, but I don't think he will be around until the third round again.
   6. CraigK Posted: August 31, 2009 at 01:52 PM (#3309601)
God, it's annoying when somebody writes like this.

It's just such blatant padding out to make a short article seem longer.

I mean, for god's sake, if I turned in a paper that looked like that in my Advanced Comp class, I'd be LUCKY to get a passing grade with it.

But Plaschke gets paid a large pile of money for it.

Sigh.

craig3410@gmail.com

twitter.com/craig3410
   7. Shock Posted: August 31, 2009 at 02:00 PM (#3309610)
It's not padding to make the article longer.

It's poetry.

Pure poetry.

And it wins Plashke awards.

For his poetry.

...

With sincerity, is there another writer out there that gets his #### linked to more than Plaschke? Honestly, this is about the 20th column in a row he's written that BBTF has linked to. Why?
   8. RJ in TO Posted: August 31, 2009 at 02:03 PM (#3309614)
With sincerity, is there another writer out there that gets his #### linked to more than Plaschke? Honestly, this is about the 20th column in a row he's written that BBTF has linked to. Why?


Because he always says something sure to drive the people here nuts.
   9. CraigK Posted: August 31, 2009 at 02:20 PM (#3309632)
This is way to long to go to make a joke, but it's like me to run a joke into the ground.

I should start grading all his articles.
   10. cheng Posted: August 31, 2009 at 08:06 PM (#3310057)
I have Kemp in a keeper league and am really enjoying seeing him develop. I don't get to watch him very often (being on the east coast and having a newborn tends to limit my ability to see the Dodgers play) but he really is one of the more exciting players to watch. Everyone talks about his incredibly high ceiling, but realistically he's never going to put up a .400 OBP (cue Walt Davis and a discourse on unsustainable BABIP). I'll be happy with .300/.350/.550 for the next 5 years.
   11. phredbird Posted: August 31, 2009 at 08:10 PM (#3310062)
craig, please please please mail that to plaschke. he needs to see this. i realize its probably a fool's errand, but if you don't do it he won't know for sure there are people out there who see what a dolt he is.
   12. Tripon Posted: August 31, 2009 at 08:15 PM (#3310077)
How is Kemp's BABIP unsustainable? 4 seasons in, and he still has a career .377
   13. Jose Can You Seabiscuit Posted: August 31, 2009 at 08:39 PM (#3310113)
Craig - that is truly magnificent.

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