Kemp underrated!!!

[killahurtz]

Although he often bat late in the order, he still gets the job done. His stats speaks for itself: 53R 12HR 53RBI 20SB. By far the best player on my fantasy team right now.

C Mike Napoli (LAA - C)
1B Hank Blalock (Tex - 1B,3B)
2B Ian Kinsler (Tex - 2B)
3B Mark Reynolds (Ari - 1B,3B)
SS Ben Zobrist (TB - 2B,SS,OF)
OF Matt Kemp (LAD - OF)
OF Nick Markakis (Bal - OF)
OF Luke Scott (Bal - OF)
Util Yunel Escobar (Atl - SS)
Util Franklin Gutiérrez (Sea - OF)
BN Jimmy Rollins (Phi - SS)
BN Vernon Wells (Tor - OF)
BN Garrett Atkins (Col - 1B,3B)
BN Ian Stewart (Col - 2B,3B)

SP Dan Haren (Ari - SP)
SP Yovani Gallardo (Mil - SP)
SP Cole Hamels (Phi - SP)
SP Jarrod Washburn (Sea - SP)
SP Jeff Niemann (TB - SP,RP)
RP Jonathan Papelbon (Bos - RP)
RP Ryan Franklin (StL - RP)
P Francisco Liriano (Min - SP)
P Mike González (Atl - RP)
P Andy Pettitte (NYY - SP)
BN Joe Saunders (LAA - SP)
DL Randy Johnson (SF - SP) DL

[zhutou]

what is the point of this thread? and kemp is not underrated by any means.

[rookies and cream]

Kemp is not underrated at all, except perhaps by Joe Torre. We have him ranked as the #3 OF'er here at the cafe.

And by the way, Dan Haren is the best player on your fantasy team right now by far.

[Polar Bear]

Kemp is not underrated at all, except perhaps by Joe Torre. We have him ranked as the #3 OF'er here at the cafe.

And by the way, Dan Haren is the best player on your fantasy team right now by far.

Depending on his settings...

[Zito is God]

Joe Torre didn't get the memo...

[nsulham]

I'm lazy and don't feel like digging through news articles but has Torre even given an explanation why he's batting Kemp eighth? I remember hearing it was because of the strikeouts but is that still the reason?

[The Artful Dodger]

I'm lazy and don't feel like digging through news articles but has Torre even given an explanation why he's batting Kemp eighth? I remember hearing it was because of the strikeouts but is that still the reason?

I don't really know if Torre expressed his reasons, at least in terms of this season. Sometimes, a past reputation for being a far-from-seasoned batter/baserunner is still prevalent, in spite of the fact he's made great strides in enhancing his overall baseball IQ. Sure, Kemp strikes out a lot, but he's working counts a lot better and recognizing offspeed pitches so as not to get baited into swinging at them frequently.

FWIW, Matty has been batting 5th/6th the last few days, hit 7th yesterday and had a big game. I guess it has to do with the perceived "pressure" of hitting in the middle of the order, which is why Torre has kept him at the bottom of the order. Nonetheless, he has fared well over the last few weeks in late-inning situations.

[jake_harv88]

http://bases.newsvine.com/_news/2009/07/20/3041491-kemp-building-case-as-baseballs-most-underrated-player

Aaron Gleeman apparently agrees with the original poster (or perhaps the original poster is aaron gleeman). Anyway I just thought it was funny that this article would go up right after this thread was made. Any reasonable fantasy owner doesn't need this article to know that Kemp is a good ball player...

[Neato Torpedo]

http://bases.newsvine.com/_news/2009/07/20/3041491-kemp-building-case-as-baseballs-most-underrated-player

Aaron Gleeman apparently agrees with the original poster (or perhaps the original poster is aaron gleeman). Anyway I just thought it was funny that this article would go up right after this thread was made. Any reasonable fantasy owner doesn't need this article to know that Kemp is a good ball player...

Yeah, the problem with that article is that anyone who knows what OPS+ is already knows that Kemp is an excellent OF.

[StlSluggers]

Kemp is not underrated at all, except perhaps by Joe Torre. We have him ranked as the #3 OF'er here at the cafe.

I came here to say this, but it's already been said.

This is one of those rare cases where a guy is actually undervalued in real life.