Dugout Altercation Depicts Leadership From Matt Kemp

Although Clayton Kershaw has largely been THE guy leading the Los Angeles Dodgers down the stretch and in the right direction, one cannot deny Matt Kemp’s similar role.

Despite news breaking regarding Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig’s heated exchanged in the dugout versus the Colorado Rockies during an eight-run inning, Kemp’s fire and play helps keep the Dodgers afloat. Los Angeles Times reports that when asked about the incident, Kemp smiled and said, “It’s a good game we played today, huh?”

During that long 6th inning, Root Sports (Colorado) caught Matt Kemp yelling at Yasiel Puig in the dugout (Mattingly got in the middle)

Despite the well-played joking manner Kemp indicated, the Dodgers are playing a good game. And, they continue to do so with Kemp’s leadership. Despite the criticisms of a “dysfunctional” clubhouse and negative press of altercations between stars, the on the field play has spoken for itself.

Rumor has it that the Puig-Kemp altercation stemmed from Puig not advancing to third base instead of second after a Adrian Gonzalez double. Yasiel Puig has been in a deep slump, meanwhile, Matt Kemp has returned to Beast mode form. With the Dodgers magic number at nine, Kemp is showing passion, urgency, and most importantly, attention to details that you need for a world series run. There’s nothing wrong with a little in-house confrontations that constructively benefit and improve the team’s goal(s).  Like Don Mattingly stated in regards to the altercation, “family stuff, family business.”

With Clayton Kershaw the obvious head of the dinner table, Matt Kemp has established himself down the stretch to his immediate right. Since the all-star break, Matt Kemp is batting .304 with 13 home runs, and 41 RBI’s. Pre-all-star game, Kemp had struck out 87 times. Since the all-star break, only 50 times has he gone down on strikes. Kemp has returned to being more methodical at the plate and patient. And, it has paid it’s dividends considering how hard a time it seems at times for the Dodgers to score runs.

Don’t let the little dugout blowout fool you, Dodgers fans. This is a good thing. The Dodgers have kind of coasted through a few weeks just being good enough to not blow the division all together to the San Francisco Giants. However, since the Giants series of the prior weekend, there’s a sense the Dodgers are waking up.

“family stuff, family business.”-Don Mattingly

The “altercation” is just a sign that Matt Kemp is not only raising the bar of accountability for himself, but his teammates as well. Kemp is taking the lead and showing the kind of passion and fire you want to see from your veterans. It’s one thing when it’s the manager calling for you to do better, but it’s another when your peers hold you to higher expectations as well. In the heat of a playoff run, this is what we want to see! Even though it’s against the Rockies, in the middle of an eight-run inning blowout. Who cares. It’s time for the Dodgers to take no prisoners. There’s no time to let up, give up, nor make excuses. The eight year veteran Kemp is urging the Dodgers to embody beast mode as a unit. And, it’s working.