Friday, September 03, 2010

It's So Bad, Matt Kemp Actually Believes He's Worth $66M/6 years

Never mind the .253 average, tied for this career low, as well as the barely-above-average 104 OPS+; Matt Kemp, according to John Heyman, thinks he's worth a long-term deal at $11M/year:

Heyman hears that Matt Kemp is seeking a deal with the Dodgers similar to Nick Markakis' contract. Markakis inked a six-year, $66MM extension with the O's in January of 2009. In fact, as a center fielder with power, Kemp sees himself as more valuable. However, the soon-to-be 26-year-old knows that he won't get that kind of deal with the Dodgers.

That seems a wee bit excessive for the team's runaway leader in strikeouts, no? (Kemp is only 40 Ks behind league leader Mark Reynolds, at 182.)

139 comments:

Josh S. said...

HOW BAD IS IT?!

Greg Zakwin said...

Read Chad's post, look at his 2009 season, his age.

I'd do it in a heartbeat. I would have done it last season.

Kyle Baker said...

*facepalm*

Steve Sax said...

Yeah, I know this is a little unfair. I like Kemp. I wish he was batting a little better, but I still like him as a Dodger. I just needed to roll with the day's theme in order to appease my editors.

Greg Zakwin said...

Fair enough haha.

And let's be honest, I didn't take the time to read other posts.

Who do you think I am, a guy with a lot of time on his hands?

Steve Sax said...

I hear you. Do you have the same editors at your blog?

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Sounds like Matty wants to keep up with the Hip Hoppers, no?

Show me a break out year and I'll show you the money.

Ethier>Kemp at this stage.

Greg Zakwin said...

My editor is hundreds of miles away and likes to make .gifs in his spare time.

He's a demanding Hawaiian, I tell ya.

Anonymous said...

Greg-Why would they read my post?

It has all these fucking statistics and shit. I can feel how good players are. I look them in the eyes.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Is he mocking us? I'm too stoopid to tell.

Anonymous said...

Greg-You have to love a bunch of people who dedicate time to making a Twitter account to mock me and my apparently horribly misinformed opinions.

Apparently it's supposed to be ironic sarcasm, but it doesn't work too well when the main point of it revolves around defending Colletti, Torre, Podsednik, Loney, and Theriot.

It's what you do when you can't argue with reason. I mean, it must really hurt when you can't even belittle a "stats guy" from a baseball or personal standpoint because he played all his life, comes from a sports family, and currently coaches in his spare time. Desperation is a stinky cologne, no?

It's cute though.

Anonymous said...

Mr. LA Sports Fan-Are all those points made on that Twitter supposed to be mocking me like they are incorrect?

Or are you trolling yourself in a double agent type of irony?

OMG LOL JOSH BELL IS HITTING .200 LOL THAT CHAD IS SUCH A MORON WE GOT SHERRILL HE'S SO GOOD

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

It has nothing to do with numbers and everything to do with your pretentious attitude towards people who disagree with you.

OMG THAT GUY DISSED MATT KEMP I SHOULD TELL HIM TO KILL HIMSELF THAT'LL TEACH HIM

Anonymous said...

Mr. LA Sports Fan-Are you still mad because you called Loney the offensive MVP and wouldn't give up the point even when I continually showed you why he wasn't?

But it's okay though, because right after I wrote that he hit a 3 run homer, so that means you won the bigger point. Yay for you.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

1) I never called Loney the offensive MVP. You can go through my twitter account to check, but I never called him that.

2) It was more about me playing devil's advocate than anything else.

3) You take dissenting opinions way too seriously, and even if people are "wrong," it's no excuse to pursue them with the vitriol you display on a constant basis. If I disagree with someone on this site, I say, "I disagree." I don't call them an ignorant fuck nugget.

Kyle Baker said...

MLASF said "It has nothing to do with numbers and everything to do with your pretentious attitude towards people who disagree with you."

As evidenced by Chad Moriyama @3.47; fine example.

Anonymous said...

Mr. LA Sports Fan-If I have an opinion that I believe is right, I will defend that opinion strongly. You did the exact same thing with James Loney when you were arguing with me. You don't see me go crying and create a fake Twitter account to mock you, because I don't feel like I need to be pathetic.

I've admitted i'm wrong tons. Obviously you guys dislike me so you don't read it all the time, but as facts change, so do my opinions.

I'm sorry I don't consider "OMG HE SUCK" and "OMG HE SO DUM" as legitimate criticisms of any players, but the unfortunate reality is that is the level of depth we get from professional journalists and certain bloggers (not here) alike.

Am I a dick? Sure. Fair enough. Don't have to like me. I just think you all do the same, but i'm the one being put to the torches. Please don't act like i'm the pretentious dick when you guys reciprocate at least as strongly in a different manner.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I admit my actions are juvenile. But when I read you telling someone to kill himself because of a differing opinion, I feel the need to express my emotions. It's a ridiculous overreaction to something so unbelievably trivial. And while I have taken the less than mature approach, I stand by the approach I took. I can always look back and say, "At least I didn't tell someone on the internet to 'end' himself." That's enough for me.

Anonymous said...

Mr. LA Sports Fan-Really? Cause you argued with me about that point for like an hour.

You don't have to give a fuck as much as me. You don't have to like the way I talk. You don't have to like me. I don't care.

Just don't act like it's my fault because I take it more seriously or whatever. And don't act like you don't do the same.

I dunno, it's hilarious coming from here, because I know a lot of you take potshots constantly and poke fun as well. Apparently though, it's not okay for me to do the same and just take it one step further. Oh no, that is crossing the line, right? It hurts feelings or whatever?

I guess at that point we get pussy hurt and start calling names?

Anonymous said...

Dusty Baker-Coming from a group who are taking potshots at me personally from the comfort of their own game thread?

Really?

Yeah, that's okay, but calling you guys out is just me crossing the line.

Anonymous said...

Mr. LA Sports Fan-You take that shit seriously? Like I actually want him to kill himself? Or people booing Chad Billingsley to go play in traffic?

It's on purpose dude. Goddamn, when did this place get so sensitive? Or is this only to suit this argument because you guys dislike me?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Your fault? You do the same? What the hell are you even talking about? I've never blamed you for anything, so please elaborate for me. And I apologize for my stoopidity. It really does get annoying for people from time to time.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I guess I got confused because you didn't put one of your trademark emoticons after the post. Stoopid me.

Anonymous said...

MLASF

I'm saying that before I started my blog, I used to visit here and lurk. I saw commenters in here all the time saying players suck, manager is dumb, why did GM do this, oh my god I can't believe this is happening, etc.

Okay, that's fine. Some people on like ESPN.com and MLB.com boards wouldn't like it, but whatever.

It's fair to say i'm even more crass than that, and when I have something to say i'm going to say it. Though I find it a bit hypocritical for people here to be criticizing me for taking it that extra step further, when it's basically just an extension of what people here do. Mocking and what not. I mean, you think you're right as well. Maybe you don't defend your opinion as strongly as me, but you do defend it more strongly than a casual fan would...so it's not all that different.

As you mentioned, I'll exaggerate an emotion just to get it across.

I dunno, if you take all my sarcasm and "fuck my life" posts seriously, I can understand why you would think i'm mentally disturbed, but I would hope we're all rational enough to know that all of that is tongue in cheek, right?

No, I don't really want anybody to go play in traffic. No, I don't think Logan White really punches babies. No, i'm not gonna kill myself because the Dodgers blew a huge lead. I thought that would be obvious, but I guess not.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I didn't take that seriously. But even then, I felt you crossed a line in saying that. Joking or not joking, there's absolutely no need to descend to that level.

NicJ said...

damn, you people have way too much free time on your hands.

Im off to set up my fantasy football roster.

spank said...

Move Along! Nothing to See Here!

Steve Sax said...

I think I'm stopping the "It's So Bad" theme.

Yikes!

Dudes, we are all on the same team. Just with differing levels of sarcasm.

NicJ said...

i blame Delino.

Josh S. said...

We're all in the same gang?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Sax is right. Let's stop this silly feud.

Anonymous said...

MLASF

If it's a joke, how is that descending to any level?

Look, if you're just gonna dislike me, that's fine. You want to mock me? That's fine too, just tell it like it is though. Don't start backpedaling when I show up and call you on it.

Don't hide it behind a faux point (omg you mock people wah wah) that you think you have to make up to justify your dislike for me. Especially when the point you base it on is hypocritical based on what i've seen you post here.

But hey, it takes real balls to talk shit about a blogger who writes about the Dodgers in his free time from the comfort of anonymity.

Nostradamus said...

I blame Nic J.

NicJ said...

And don't go easy on each other just because you're brother and sister. I want to see you both fighting for your parents' love!

(Flicks light on and off.)

Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I blame Oakland.

NicJ said...

Et Tu, MR. C?

(collapses)

Anonymous said...

I never once called out SOSG. I didn't know ANY of you had a problem with me until Greg let me know.

I never once called out MLASF's writing.

Don't come at me like i'm the one who fucking started this, like i'm the bad guy here. You never once came to me, e-mailed me, commented to me, to say "hey look, i have a problem with you". No, you retreated to your game thread and laid out snarky remarks like a real man/woman.

OMG HE GOT ON DODGER TALK OMG LOL WHAT A FUCKING LOSER

Yeah, really fucking classy. Thanks for proving me wrong about calling people idiots.

spank said...

See what you did Sax! Now we have to make a blog drive-by.

Josh S. said...

I blame myself. I did the capslock joke first.

Nostradamus said...

Oakland is a fair call, let's go with that.

NicJ said...

Wait, So you are telling me Mr. LA Sports Fan isn't your real name?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Yes, Josh is the one you want! Take him! His sole is fresher!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

*soul. Seriously, how the hell did I write sole?

NicJ said...

No, I am Spartacus!!

Jason said...

I hear his salmon is fresher, too.

Jason said...

Damn it! You ruined a potential pun streak.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

@Nic - You've seen my real name, it's on the fantasy page. Slappy McPopup.

NicJ said...

haha, fair enough.

spank said...

@ Chad

Dude, Relax. They are just words by someone you probably don't know. Who' gives a fuck.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

@Spanky - You're saying there's a possibility we know each other?

http://youtu.be/a1Y73sPHKxw

NicJ said...

is there any irony that of all the threads today this happened in the one about Matt Kemp?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I've been riding the chipmunk a little too much lately.

Anonymous said...

"Dude, Relax. They are just words by someone you probably don't know. Who' gives a fuck."

A lot of individuals here should take that advice too, then we wouldn't even be having this issue. Who cares what I have to say? Just some random douchebag, right?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Sigh. I set a perfectly good "that's what she said" joke and nobody takes advantage? For shame. For shame.

NicJ said...

i was too busy looking up what "BABIP" meant.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Sax is right. Let's stop this silly feud.

spank said...

@ Mlasf

Link did not work.

Nostradamus said...

No one will be more pleased than I.

...well, maybe the Sons.

NicJ said...

well this is doing wonders for the SONS page hits in a rather disappointing season.

Nostradamus said...

@NicJ

Are you saying there's a Military-Industrial Blogplex?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Works fine for me, Spanky.

Kyle Baker said...

At some point - soon - it would appear that you are protesting too much, Chad. Just letting it rest instead of continuing to fan flames is just not a productive use of time when one could be spending it thinking of ways to show that Kemp was worth $11 mil this year.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Maybe it would do us all some good if I just returned to my original state of zombie Lenin.

MUST - CRUSH - CAPITALISM. ER. AR.

NicJ said...

SOOOOOOOOOO

How about that divorce, huh?

sure a proud time to be a dodger fan.

(trying to change the subject)

Greg Zakwin said...

Dusty- Kemp is making 4 mil this year, not 11. But I know what you're saying.

Nostradamus said...

Actually, the Dodgers' woes are probably the biggest reason we have this problem. Nobody kicks anyone else in the junk when things were going well. Well, almost nobody.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

@Mr C - All except for Gary Busey.

Kyle Baker said...

@Greg

Right...meaning "if he were making $11 this year as he wants to be making next year."

For the record, I want to keep Kemp long term, too. I absolutely believe he will pick it back up next year. And I want to see us pay him a fair market value for comparable players.

The attitude thing is concerning, but then again he's no Milton Bradley.

Anonymous said...

Greg-He's saying that I should spend time fabricating (which in his mind is what we do) ways to defend Kemp making the money.

Of course, our reaction "defending" him is in no way POSSIBLE that it's because of the majority of fans who want to ditch him or the scapegoating.

Nope, just because we LOVE him.

Kyle Baker said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kyle Baker said...

@Chad

To quote myself from, oh, just a few seconds ago:

"For the record, I want to keep Kemp long term, too. I absolutely believe he will pick it back up next year. And I want to see us pay him a fair market value for comparable players."

Greg Zakwin said...

I won't lie, I love me some Matt Kemp.

In a strictly platonic way, of course.

Kyle Baker said...

@Greg

Especially when Loney is dry humping him. That's when the fun really starts!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Kyle Baker said...

Not at all!

Anonymous said...

Greg-I only started to like him because he was good.

What a thought, right?

Who invented that shit?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

So how about that local sports team?
Basketball?
Hockey?
Football?

Wait, we don't have football.

DAMN YOU NFL YOU ARE THE TRUE SCOURGE.

Paul said...

Hey guys what has been going on?

I say trade Kemp for a gamer.

I am ready to pretend I know more than anyone else.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

You just pulled a Mr F, Paul.

rbnlaw said...

OK, so those of us with jobs who wake up in the Pacific Time Zone are just catching up, so here's a quick breakdown.

Chad and MLASF are no longer dating.
Greg Z (former KK) has a sense of humor and is dating Matt Kemp.
Chad who lives in Hawaii (or so we think) does not have the "Aloha Spirit."
Sax started the shit storm by posting something written by Jon Heyman when he should have thought, "nothing good can come from this."

Let me know if I missed anything.

Josh S. said...

And...thread!

Kyle Baker said...

@RBN

Yes, you did miss something. You're supposed to type in all caps.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

It's like watching a train wreck.

Someone needs an ass kicking.

Its 5:30pm on a holiday weekend and I'm still answering stoopid discovery requests.

My life sucks (for the next hour at least.)

Paul said...

I was in trial all day and need a Dodgers win and a fe stiff drinks.

If Matt Kemp hits a couple of bombs I might die laughing and cheering.

rbnlaw said...

STOOPID RBN CAN'T EVEN MOCK RIGHT. HE SHOULD BE FRIENDS WITH TORRE.
LOL

Paul said...

@Neeebs

Did you get my set of 200 special interogs?

Paul said...

Seriously we never had this kind of turmoil when Pedro was alive.

Remember when we all just bagged on the Plaschkinator?

Kyle Baker said...

@Paul

You will note that I still bag on Plaschke every chance I get.

And Greg still mocks his every sweater as well.

rbnlaw said...

And quit this talk of discover requests before I hit you all with RFA's. And don't think I'll forget the interrog that goes with it.

Paul said...

Rbn does this thread complete the meet and confer requirement?

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Do you think Johm Holmes ever asked for a protective order?

rbnlaw said...

Paul,
Yes. My Motion to Compel is on calendar.

I am compelling the Dodgers to fucking beat the fucking Giants.
Fucking fucks.

Sorry for all the legal terms.

(I'm being sarcastic. I was really talking about the "fucks," and I' not sorry at all)

rbnlaw said...

@Neeebs
That would be some PO.

rbnlaw said...

Fucking lawyers and our fucking discovery humor.

Paul said...

Stats tell the truth just ask MY expert witness.

rbnlaw said...

Wait, your expert wasn't on my list.

karina said...

You all play the role of the perfect gentleman.

OBVIOUSLY IT'S MY FAULT.

I DO NOT THINK I FEEL.

Greg Zakwin said...

kensai- I hear ya.

Who invented that? Hmmm.

*searches for a witty response*

I got nothin'.

Kyle Baker said...

@Karina

This should be your avatar:

http://mimg.ugo.com/200901/15007/Deanna-troi.jpg

Steve Sax said...

I fear McCovey Chronicles has already linked to this and they are laughing their asses off.

Hey guys, we could be arguing about Aaron Rowand's deal here.

karina said...

Dusty, I don't get it, I'm not a treekie :(

Kyle Baker said...

Sorry, Karina. She's a "feeler" who has the empathic ability to sense emotions, so that's the reference I was making.

Josh S. said...

@Sax: Pablo Sandoval is fat. On this we can all agree.

Jason said...

We can also agree that Timmeh needs a haircut.

Kyle Baker said...

Wash your hair, Timmeh!

Fred's Brim said...

Son, let's stop the fussin' and the feudin'.
I love you, Pa!
I love you, Cletus!

Jason said...

@Sax - I checked MCC earlier during my slow day at the office. They are currently dealing with some deep shit:

* An apparently unexplainable feeling of anxiousness regarding the upcoming series

* Debating the theory that Dodger Dogs cause sterility

* Debating whether the number of Dodgers fans explicitly disproves the theory posited in the previous point

* More ways to say "beat LA" (they are stuck at one)

They certainly lack for wit. And good taste in baseball teams, aesthetically pleasing colors and World Series titles.

Jimbo said...

Guys, and lady, Frank McCourt is trying to use Matt Kemp as a wedge issue. He's causing us to tear each other apart like Pablo Sandoval on a cake!

Kyle Baker said...

Dr. Geek, we just called for you in the GT!

karina said...

Don't be mean Jason, orange and black work all year long.

Thing is baseball teams with that color scheme tend to not collect championships :)

spank said...

What a sad,sad State of Affairs.

rbnlaw said...

OBJECTION! Irrelevant posts.

Anonymous said...

:-D

"I have nothing to refute your analysis, so let us setup all these strawmen in a row so we can beat them up thoroughly and, in the process, beoome exactly what we claim to dislike Chad for. But it's okay if we do it...because he's mean and stuff!"

Steve Sax said...

Wait, who is mean? Are we talking about Milton Bradley again?

You Maddon said...

Kemp for MArkaikis money is worthy of an ocean's 11 robbery.

You Maddon said...

The dodgers have made a run of moves this mid-season that is worthy of treason. if they were a game or two out i can see the lilly deal. Acquiring posednik and barajas? bad move no matter what the standings reflect. the dotel move? high treason.

karina said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
karina said...

When I think on "mean guys", I think on him:

http://es.tinypic.com/r/2m7x4kw/7

karina said...

don't be fooled by this little guy, he is very mean:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrtruffle/670996530/

karina said...

Barry Bonds is also a very mean man.

Kyle Baker said...

Someone is insecure and can't just let go.

spank said...

Must have struck a nerve

You Maddon said...

@Dusty Baker

you honestly against signing kemp for those peanuts? you support bringing in dotel, lilly, posednick, and barajas at the expense of you future and small cash flow when you are far out of contention?

You Maddon said...

Gabe Kapler is on waivers. is that something you might be interested in?

karina said...

This guy is so mean, he can actually remove your heart from your chest and get you into dark evil magic:

http://i52.tinypic.com/2upskt0.jpg

Kyle Baker said...

Where on friggin' earth did you dig that up, You Maddon? Can you read? To again quote myself:

"For the record, I want to keep Kemp long term, too."

Kyle Baker said...

Further where did you extract that I would prefer signing Podsednik and Dotel?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

How was Barajas bad? All we did was take on the pennies left on his contract. No prospects loss.

Kyle Baker said...

Right, we're paying Barajas about 12 cents for the rest of the season and gave up nothing. He's been solid so far. What's not to like?

Anonymous said...

Dusty Baker

Huh? Because I confronted you guys over something I thought was unnecessary?

You keep saying to let it go, but every time I come back, nobody here has let it go either. So take your own advice if that's what you want so badly. Dunno.

Furthermore, you're doing the same thing as I was by checking on my site to see what I say? Cool hypocrisy. Then again, what should I expect? Same with this whole issue. It's okay for you guys to mock, but me doing it? That's just crossing the line, right? Hahaha.

Unknown said...

START TWITTER ACCOUNT TALKING SHIT

GET ASSHURT WHEN RESPONSE COMES

Kyle Baker said...

I didn't know that I wasn't allowed to respond to a comment directed toward me specifically from a person I've never heard of, but was deserving of a response. Am I not allowed to do that? You make the rules; you tell me. The conversation I refer to had everything to do with Matt Kemp's value and the debated value of some other recent signings. Which last time I checked was the topic of this thread. Had absolutely nothing to do with you.

Anonymous said...

I dunno who these people are either. I assume people who caught wind of the Twitter account and my subsequent tweet to the blogger profile.

Hence why I deleted that tweet so this wouldn't happen.

Though it does seem a bit hypocritical to be calling people sensitive when this whole thing only started because people here got asshurt.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I apologize. My remarks were stupid, immature and classless. It was not the right thing to do. I sincerely apologize.

Josh S. said...

They were also really, REALLY funny.

Josh S. said...

@Randall

Who got asshurt? Seriously, who? Also, for the benefit of those with a higher than elementary school education, please refrain from phrasing your response in the form of an internet meme.

Unknown said...

@Josh

lol y u mad tho

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

"lol y u mad tho"

George Lopez's stand-up routine if he were a valley girl

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

And I know it's a meme.