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Kemp Joins 30-30 Club; Second Player from the Dodgers to Accomplish That

Posted: August 27th, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Baseball | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

dodgers player kemp joins 30-30 clubMatt Kemp crushed a long home run to center field in the bottom of the seventh innings of the 6-1 win on Friday over the Rockies, making him just the second Dodger to arrive 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases, and the quickest to do so.

Kemp links Raul Mondesi, who accomplished the feat in 1997 and ’99. He performed so on a 3-1 pitch off lefty reliever Matt Reynolds.

As Dodger Stadium followers chanted “MVP”, Kemp got three pitches and fouled one off before he crushed the fastball 427 feet to directly center field.

Kemp said, “I’ve always thought I could do it.  I can run. I can put a little bit of power in it. I just had to put it all together at the same time. It’s pretty special.”

Kemp is striking .323 with 98 RBIs to go together with his 30 homers and 33 steals.  He is in the peak four in the league in the entire three categories.

Kemp said after the game, “I’m just happy I got to do it here in L.A. The fans have always supported me. We still got a long way to go.”

No Dodger has ever reached the 40-40 club, and when Kemp was inquired concerning the mark, he replied, “Maybe one day.”

Manager Don Mattingly admired Kemp both before and after the game, particularly noting how much leadership role of Kemp has destined to the team.

Mattingly said, “It’s been a tremendous season for him in all areas of his game — leadership and the whole thing.  It’s been a joy really to have Matt playing this way, and his leadership in the dugout. The presence he brings, but not only that, this guy gets ready to play every day and plays hard every day.”

In 2009 the last Major Leaguer to arrive the 30-30 club was Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler.

Derek Jeter is Back for 3,000

Posted: July 6th, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Baseball | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Derek JeterThe New York Yankees did not get a hit until the seventh inning.  Derek Jeter is still coming up.

The Yankees shortstop and his quest for 3,000 strikes were back after a 20-day hiatus, yet Cleveland Indians pitcher Josh Tomlin kept Jeter six hits away and the Yankees at bay for most of the night in a 6-3 victory.

Jeter, who is attempting to turn into the 28th major leaguer and first Yankees player to reach 3,000 said, “I don’t think he threw a ball over the middle of the plate all day.”

Jeter added he was tensed in his first appearance after time on the disabled record with a strained right calf.

Jeter, who erred, flied out, grounded out and lined out, said, “Nothing physical. Presently nerves from not having played in a while. It was kind of like opening day.”

Jeter added after the game that he felt good enough to play once more, although Joe Girardi said he would not build that choice until he talked with Jeter.

This year, Jeter is an All-Star, voted in by his followers to begin the game next week in Phoenix, but was non-committal about playing there.

The Yankees went 14-4 and went back to first place without Jeter.

The Yankees went home for four games against the Tampa Bay Rays before the All-Star break after this three-game sequence.  Jeter and Girardi together said they had no intentions to adjust his schedule to increase chances No. 3,000 happens at Yankee Stadium.

Girardi said before the game, “I hope he gets four hits tonight.”