Will Matt Kemp go from 40 steals to four?

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Matt Kemp has two stolen bases in five attempts this year, after 40 in 51 attempts last year.  Do you see him running much in the second half of 2012?

Also, have you picked out the hole you’re going to crawl into if Kemp hurts himself again this year?  You don’t want to get caught without a good crawling hole just when you need one.

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A couple of quick notes:

  • Dodger blogger Greg Zakwin is a finalist to win a Sandy Koufax autograph — you can help him by voting for him here.
  • One out of every eight MLB regulars made the All-Star Game this year – and that’s defining “regular” generously, writes Aaron Gleeman of Hardball Talk.’
  • http://twitter.com/dpwtv David Weiner

    My crawling hole is my attic. it’s a nice comfortable space for my long and skinny 6″3 frame. It’s got the heater for those cold Vegas summer nights and I’ve stashed a sufficient supply of Ritz crackers and cheese whiz for sustenance

    • Anonymous

      My crawl hole is the fast forward button on the remote.  It doesn’t take long to watch a game if I mostly watch the Dodgers at-bats and then fast forward by the older rent-a-vets.

  • http://veryolddodgerfan.blogspot.com/ veryolddodgerfan

    i wrote some nostalgia today about dodger hitting teams rather than the usual rant.

  • Anonymous

    I’m spending my time under the bed. But that’s what I always do during the All-Star break. Amazingly, I can still type.

    Andrelton Simmons of the Braves broke a finger with a head-first slide yesterday in Philadelphia. It was a rough week for rookie shortstops.

    • Anonymous

       I’m surprised it doesn’t happen more often.

  • Anonymous

    Try to get anywhere close to 40 steals would be a foolish personal goal at this point. He should steal only in the appropriate situation, when virtually certain he will be safe without re-injuring himself.

    • http://veryolddodgerfan.blogspot.com/ veryolddodgerfan

      walk, don’t run or something like that

      • Anonymous

        Take the extra base if you can make it standing up.  Otherwise, stay put.  They could call it the Jim Thome school of baserunning.

        • http://veryolddodgerfan.blogspot.com/ veryolddodgerfan

          or the dodger school of baserunning last friday night

    • Anonymous

      I hope he tries to steal with a big lead in the ninth inning of game 7 of the World Series.

      I also hope he doesn’t try to steal, even though he’s on base with a big lead in the ninth inning of game 7 of the World Series.

  • Anonymous

    We won’t have to worry about Kemp stealing bases if he continues to hit more home runs than singles. I exaggerate, but his power-laden April and May were a primary reason he had so few steal attempts to begin with.  Other than membership in a club nobody cares about (are you listening, consecutive games streak worshipers), Kemp’s stolen base numbers are not very important.  If it keeps him healthy to hit homers, I say give him the red light on the basepaths.  

    • Anonymous

      Jeff Feagles, A.C. Green, and Doug Jarvis weep at the dissing of their accomplishments.

      • Anonymous

        Punters should not be eligible for any football records other than punting.

  • Anonymous

    Don Sutton must have powerful friends. The Yankees have told Reggie Jackson to stop representing the team after his interview he gave where he named several players not deserving of the Hall of Fame.

    • Anonymous

      Is he insinuating that Sutton is not worthy, presumably because he was merely above-average for a very long time, rather than exceptional in any one era?  

      • Anonymous

        Jackson had a long list of HOFers he didn’t think were worthy. Besides Sutton, he named Niekro, Blyleven, Puckett, and Carter.

        He thought Jack Morris deserved a shot.

        The Yankees were actually the most upset about the remarks about Carter, who is very popular in the New York area.

        • Anonymous

          My respect for Reggie just went up.  Carter played for a loser team and A-rod has never been anything but a disgrace in the truest sense.  Still the straw that stirs the drink.

          • Anonymous

            You have to be kidding about Gary Carter. He was one of the best catchers in the history of the National League. He provided premium offense and defense for a long period of time at a position where it is difficult to obtain.

          • Anonymous

            Only half-so.  I think rings (or at least pennants) mean something.  The fact that rings have generally been allergic to the two obviously biggest talents of the past two decades (Barry and A-roid) is not incidental.  In my opinion.

            A true champ like Reggie brought multiple rings to two coasts.

          • Anonymous

            Carter was the final piece of the puzzle for the Mets, who wouldn’t have won anything without him.  

            For the record, A-Rod has a ring.

        • Anonymous

          Gotta say I agree with him about Puckett, Sutton, and especially A-Rod. 

          But who can say why he dissed Blyleven.  The Minneapolis Star Tribune is quick to note the following:

          Jackson had the most career plate appearances (140) of anyone against Blyleven. He compiled a .214 batting average, a .661 OPS and struck out 49 times in 131 official at-bats.

          • Anonymous

            Yeah, only a personal grudge explains that one.  But that’s part of what makes a champion, Reggie takes it personally. 

          • Anonymous

            Or, Reggie Jackson, is an egomaniac who felt bad that his name wasn’t in the papers much anymore.

  • Anonymous

    Reed has been spectacular in five starts in AA.  I know we get many callups from AA in pitching, but is Reed approaching anywhere near the top of the delth chart, or is he still a few years away even though he is eating up AA so far?

    • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

       He’s averaging three innings per start.  Next year at the very earliest for him, unless they needs some late-season bullpen help.

      • Anonymous

        Yup.  As noted by Christopher Jackson in a guest piece over on MSTI, “The Dodgers have kept him on a tight pitch count as they stretch him out from college closer to future big-league starter.”  So it’s going to be a while, like Jon says.

        I assume you were intentionally asking about where he stands on the depth chart, rather than his prospect rank.  They’re not the same thing, of course.  Zach Lee and Chris Reed are top prospects but are not yet on the depth chart.  Aside from the injured Lilly and De La Rosa, the next few guys on the depth chart for starters are probably Antonini and Fife (who are both on the 40-man roster) and Ely (who is not), along with a possible move of Wright from the pen.  IMHO, in the event of another injury in the rotation, those three guys from ABQ are more likely to get called up to start at this point than the young guys in Chattanooga (Withrow, Martin, Magill, Webster, Miller).  That could change over time, particularly if someone starts having a breakout season, but that’s how I see it as of right now.  And, of course, we all hope that the current five stay healthy and the two injured guys get healthy, so we don’t have to find out who’s next on the depth chart.

        • Anonymous

          Any recent DLR news Jon??

          • Anonymous

            No word on Rubby, but yesterday Ted Lilly threw from a mound for the first time.  A rehab assignment hasn’t been scheduled yet.  His effective date on the DL is May 24, so July 23 is the earliest he could be back.

          • Anonymous

             Nice.  I may take the kid to see him in RC if he pitches there.

  • http://plaschkethysweaterisargyle.blogspot.com/ Greg Zakwin

    Thank you for the support Jon, I greatly appreciate it!

    • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

       Sure thing.

  • http://www.twitter.com/ElJefedor Jeffrey Thomas III

    Kemp only played in 36 games, it’s not like the 2 stolen bases represent a full first half of play. That being said I don’t think he will be running wild in the second half even if he plays in every game. I can see him stealing 10-15 when it’s all said and done. Here’s to hoping the hammy troubles are done with.

  • Anonymous

    Perhaps it’s time to go brush the debris out of my old meticulously well maintained McCourt era crawl-hole.  It feels like condemnation to another injury, which I certainly am hoping against, but as John says being caught without is just no good.

    Go blue.  Stronger second half.  Healthy people.

    • Blue-eyed Gal

      Honestly, whenever things look bad this year, I think, “Well, at least we don’t have the McCourts.” I am not particularly enthralled by their replacements — MJ is a fine figurehead, to be sure, but only that — however, I feel that we are out from under a cloud. So we might as well watch the scrubs and hope. 

      I didn’t expect a postseason this year, considering what Ned was able to cobble together. Even when healthy, Kemp, Kershaw and Ethier can’t carry such a team the whole way unless they get help from unlikely quarters. To my surprise, despite recent struggles, that’s exactly what we’ve gotten. First place … shaky, yes, but this team of callups is managing to hang on by its fingernails until the regulars get healthy. Let’s look at that and not worry about crawl-holes. 

      (That said, I admit I’m a little uneasy about Kemp in the HRD. I hate it when I *almost* agree with Plashke on anything.)

  • Anonymous

    What if he hurts himself on a meaningless swing in the HR derby? Would he be the one needing to crawl in a hole?

    • Anonymous

      Doesn’t Kemp need to take batting practice anyway?
      We’re talking about practice here. Practice.

      • Anonymous

        I would prefer Loney risk changing his swing in a home run derby than taking a chance that Kemp will screw up his swing.

    • Anonymous

      Yin and Yang. There is no way at all to predict whether the extra rest or the extra workout will cause a problem or make him better… You pays your money and you takes your chances…

      • Anonymous

        But Bill Plaschke is worried. Matt Kemp is such a valuable asset for the Dodgers that he only should be used whenever there is a 100% chance that he won’t get hurt.

        Plaschke is almost like Jack Woltz stroking Khartoum’s mane. “I’m not going to race him. Khartoum.. Khartoum…”

      • peter drysdale

         What annoys me is when people say the NFL should have fewer preseason games when a prominent player gets injured before the season starts. Who’s to say he wouldn’t have gotten hurt in game one? Would that make a difference?
        That being said, I really hope he stays healthy the rest of the season.

      • Anonymous

        Getting hurt in a game ( or preparing for a game) is one thing; a hitting contest is something else. Let’s hold our breath on every swing :)

  • Anonymous

    I think the Dodgers put a freeze on all trade rumors because so many fans objected to the proposed Lee deal. I’m beginning to think the present ownership might not turn out to be anymore fan friendly than the McCourts…

    • Anonymous

      I don’t see what’s “fan friendly” about keeping trade negotiations private.  If anything, keeping them private would seem to help the chances of those negotiations succeeding.

      • Anonymous

        Good point. But we don’t have to like it…

    • foul tip

      My $.02 is that trade rumors largely are a function of baseball writers, columnists, TV talking heads, bloggers, and whoever else–not people from actual MLB teams.  Often all these just need something to write or talk about and really don’t know much if any more than reasonably well informed fans…but they want you to think they do, so as to keep you paying attention to them.

      Neither the Dodgers nor any other team are likely the source of any rumors, with maybe a few exceptions where someone is trying to manipulate another team or maybe force someone’s hand.  (I don’t have any specific knowledge of that. But it makes sense as an occasional part of big-boy negotiations in any field.)

      Why would teams want what they’re really trying to do to leak?  If it did, it’d most likely work against them.

      Word may get out at a point at which they’re mostly finalized. 

      Otherwise, 15 of the next 10 trade rumors are likely to be false, no matter how much fans might want them true.

      You see this even with Ned.  Most of what he really did wasn’t even rumored until it happened.
      Maddux may have been telegraphed, but I don’t think of others.  Even Maddux may have been just a coincidence of rumor and fact.

      But have no fear:  Stan knows what Ned is doing.  Or should.  Ned had best be sure of that.

      You see the same thing in the business world….rumors this or that
      company will be acquired by another, which usually don’t happen.  Or if they do it’s not on any timetable expected.  (But many games are played, usually to manipulate stock prices.)

      • Anonymous

        100% correct. Good post.

      • Anonymous

        Well put

    • Anonymous

      I think Paul DePodesta broke the fan-listening device after trading away LoDuca.  

      • Anonymous

        As the case was with Lo Duca, the fans were not correct.

        • Anonymous

          Are we ever? Baseball judgement is always questionable…

      • Anonymous

        Great example of fans (us) rarely having all the information that is available to team executives.

  • Anonymous

    This is really a horrible, horrible team on the bases in terms of steals.  I’ve actually liked Abreu’s baserunning, bizarre as it seems.

  • Anonymous

    I’m heading off to Cooperstown to rip down the plaques of Bob Feller, Ernie Banks, Ryne Sandberg, Ron Santo, and George Sisler.
    They aren’t true winners like Reggie Jackson I guess.

    • Anonymous

       Or Curt Flood.  Or Pe…  wait, is there a “Rose” rule 13 here?

      • Anonymous

        Juan Pierre has a ring in a box. So does Geoff Blum. 

        Put them in the Hall of Fame! 

        Les Straker too!

        Danny Heep has two rings!

        • Anonymous

           I really don’t understand your personal vendetta against world-series-pinch-clutch-winning-HR-demigod Bobbie Kielty…  but it is a little disturbing

        • Anonymous

          Juan Rivera must be a better player than Bobby Abreu by that logic. 

    • Anonymous

      For football, I guess Trent Dilfer gets the nod over ringless Dan Marino.

  • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

    NPUT