MATT KEMP FOR MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

I’m not stupid or blind, and I’m certainly not naive – I know all too well that this season has been a lost one for the Los Angeles Dodgers pretty much from the get-go.

What with their sub-.500 record and battle to not finish in last place, declaring Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, fans staying away from Dodger Stadium in droves, beleaguered owner Frank McCourt – who absolutely must go – fighting in several courts to keep his team, and San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow getting his clock cleaned by thugs in the parking lot on Opening Day, suffering brain injuries which he may never fully recover from, it’s safe to say that 2011 has not been a good one in Chavez Ravine.

Believe it or not, however, there have been good things about this Dodger team this year, Clayton Kershaw’s dominance in winning over 15 games and leading the National League in strikeouts being one of them.

And Vin Scully has been his usual wonderful self, as he has been for over 60 years.

One man, though, has singlehandedly kept the Dodgers from complete disaster as he has become an absolute superman-like stud in having the season of his life: center fielder Matt Kemp.

Not only has he become only he second man to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the 120-year plus history of the franchise, he’s in contention to become the Dodgers’ first Triple Crown winner, and the first in baseball in over forty years.

Just check out his numbers (as of this writing):

A batting average of .320, which is fourth in the National League.

31 homers, which is tied with the St. Louis Cardinals’ Albert Pujols for first in the league.

100 runs batted in, which ranks second – only Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers has driven in more runs.

And I totally expect him to capture a Gold Glove for his work in center field.

That’s why I am stating right here and now that even though his team isn’t winning, Kemp deserves to be the National League’s Most Valuable Player, due to the fact that without his exploits, the Dodgers would be a hundred times worse that they are.

It wouldn’t be the first time that a player from a losing team won the MVP award – Andre Dawson, playing for a Chicago Cubs team that finished in last place, hit 49 home runs in electrifying the Wrigley Field faithful and winning the N.L. MVP in 1987.

If Dawson can do it, why not Kemp?

And the thing that I most admire about the young man is how much he has matured this season, which is another reason why he should get the MVP; Kemp has always had the ability, but distractions such as him dating Rhianna, making silly mistakes on the field and not behaving with as much maturity as he could, held him back until this year when he dedicated himself to being a great major league player.

To say that it has paid off is an understatement.

The bottom line here is, if anyone deserves getting the Most Valuable Player award this season, Matt Kemp does.

Anyone who’s doing great on a winning team can win an MVP trophy, but I feel someone who’s having an awesome season for a team that’s not so awesome is more valuable to that team.

Hopefully the baseball writers will see things the same way in November.