Is Matt Kemp Best Player in Baseball?

Matt Kemp is an All-Star. You would be hard pressed to find a player having a better start offensively to the 2011 Major League Baseball season. Through 173 at bats with the Los Angeles Dodgers this season, Kemp had a startling 10 home runs, 32 RBI and 12 stolen bases. Kemp also was batting a very impressive .324 in the early going. According to CBS Sportsline Fantasy Baseball stats, Kemp was on pace for a 34 HR and 110 RBI season. If the projected stats are correct, Kemp would also snag 41 bases during 2011.

Would that make Matt Kemp the best player in baseball? If he keeps his batting average up, I would say it does. Here's why. The player who typically reigns as the best player in baseball is having an "off-season" so far. Albert Pujols isn't putting up his unreal numbers. That doesn't mean Pujols won't finish ahead of Kemp in some statistical categories like batting average, homers and RBI. However, there isn't any realistic chance that Pujols would be a 30-30 guy. The 30 homers and 30 stolen base club has been very elusive to many talented baseball players. Kemp, if he stays on the projected path, could blast the 30-30 club by being a 30-40 guy. For that reason, I think he could be the Most Valuable Player of the 2011 Major League Baseball season.

If Kemp can continue to hit for average, his stats at the end of the season could be mind boggling. Last season, Kemp ended the year with 28 homers, 89 RBI and 19 stolen bases. His torrid pace this season with the Dodgers could easily surpass those numbers. In fact, he could approach the stolen base total of 2010 by the All Star break of the 2011.
Kemp has been hitting cleanup for the Dodgers despite the presence of Andre Ethier. The 26 year old outfielder is becoming one of the more consistent hitters in baseball. After batting just under .250 in 2010, Kemp has regained his form and is becoming a more mature hitter at the plate.

Sure, he isn't going to knock out 50 homers in a season. In fact, Kemp might not even hit 40 home runs during a season in his entire career. His best mark was the 28 he hit last season so it's hard to figure out or project if Kemp is a consistent 30 HR guy. If he can manage to hit 30 homers a season, he could propel his perception as one of the elite Major League Baseball players into the stratosphere.

Here's a guy who is just 26 years old who is only beginning to realize his baseball potential. Kemp is having an MVP type season. If the season ended today, Kemp would get my and many others votes as the Most Valuable Player in Major League Baseball. For my book, that makes him the current best player in baseball. He is not as feared at the plate as an Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder. But he does so many things well that he might actually be the worst person a pitcher would want to face. Kemp is answering any arguments there are that his decline in batting average in 2010 was a sign of things to come. Pitchers aren't figuring out Matt Kemp as much as Kemp is figuring out how to hit for average.

Those fantasy baseball players who drafted Kemp are getting paid off quite quickly with the stat parade he is marching on in 2011. He is currently the 3rd ranked points getter in my league-and the top batter. And the scariest thing-Kemp is just getting started in his career. If continues at this pace, he is a first ballot Hall of Famer. But before we go there, Kemp is going to have to prove he can be consistent over the long haul. Injuries have prevented some with great speed and power the ability to gain entrance into the baseball Hall of Fame. Kemp will undoubtedly need to remain healthy to secure such a spot in the club. But the numbers so far this season don't do anything to derail the thought of Kemp being a perennial All Star, MVP and Hall of Fame type guy. It's the kind of start guys in the bigs dream about. Except Matt Kemp is living that dream right now.