MATT KEMP : MVP ? TRIPLE CROWN ? BOTH ? NEITHER ?

As this season winds down to the probable non-playoff appearance of the Dodgers we are left at just trying to find some positives within this otherwise dismal season. Obviously one the main bright spots has been Matt Kemp and his maturity to becoming the face and force of the Dodgers off and on the field. His off the field personality has never been in question as since he was brought up years ago he has constantly been a very approachable player even through the horrors of last year. No matter what was happening within the lines or in his personal life he took time to converse with fans and still does to this day.

This year though, with obviously Davey Lopes help, his on field performance is matching his off field personality. As this entry is being typed he is 4th in AVG, 1st in HR and 1st in RBI. With one month to go does he have what it takes to get 1st in all categories and accomplish the unthinkable on this team and get the batting triple crown? In the AL it hasn't been done since Carl Yastrzemski did in 1967 and even longer since it was done in the NL by Chuck Klein back in 1933. Almost 80 years ago for the senior circuit. What makes this conversation even more remarkable is that Kemp really is the lone big bat in this sometimes AAAA club. The AVG. part can be taken care by him and with his ever growing maturity in taking walks that can only help in the pursuit. The HR's and RBI's are a different matter though. He needs the rest of the team to produce enough to be on base when he comes up so he can drive them in. Even though they have been hitting of late can it continue for 28 more games to give him the chance to do this? 

If at the end of the year Kemp ends up either winning the triple crown or leading two of the three categories does he deserve the MVP? A lot of pundits think unless your team is in contention which the Dodgers have not been in since late June ( which is debatable ) then you shouldn't even really be considered. But think where this team would be without him. I would say last place is the realistic place. I can understand the other candidates but here is my view on that :

• Prince Fielder - similar stats but has Braun to protect him in the lineup
• Ryan Braun - see Prince Fielder
• Roy Halladay - have no problem with pitchers winning, but without him the Phillies are still a playoff team and have 3 other premier pitchers
• Troy Tulowitski - good stats as well but just a click less than Kemp and if you consider Troy then you have to really consider Kemp as LA is above COL in the standings

MVP stands for player and not team. If you take that player off said team where does that leave the team. The 4 players I think that are the MVP race can all be removed from their team and still have roughly the same result at the end of the year and other than COL the teams will be in the playoffs no matter what. So if Kemp continues at the same pace for this last month and is at the top of the at least two categories I believe he deserves the MVP no matter where the Dodgers end up in the standings.