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

Matt 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.

Justin Verlander’s 300 Wins Raises Wonders

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander serrated his 100^th profession success Thursday in Cleveland.  It appears as if the sky’s the limit for the 28-year-old, but you got the doubt just how many wins could Verlander get his career?

After reaching the century mark, the natural progression is 300 wins, which is essentially a speed pass into the Hall of Fame.

Jim Leyland, Tiger Manager, said, “He’s got a legitimate shot.”

Jeff Jones, pitching coach approved, “I don’t think there’s any question.”

Verlander improved to 17-5 on the season Thursday.  That many victories for the next 12 years is very important to Verlander’s mission for 300. Knobler said, “If he pitches until he’s 40, Verlander would need to average 16-17 wins a season to reach 300. That’s not easy, but with his stuff, his drive and his durability, it’s far from impossible.”

Knobler as well asked a few Tigers about the year former Detroit star Custis Granderson is having.  The Yankees centerfielder, in his second season after the three-team deal that place Austin Jackson, Max Scherzer and Phil Coke in the Old English D uniform is having a breakout campaign.  He is the AL leader in RBIs (92) and triples (nine) and extra-base strikes (59) and is tied for second with 32 home runs, which is a current profession high.

Jim Leyland, the manager said, “He’s having a monster year, an MVP year.  It couldn’t happen to a better guy.”

The guy that used to stand next to him in the outfield considers Granderson as the largest star on a team full of stars.

Magglio Ordoñez said, “He’s the best player they have right now.”

Gonzales Sends San Diego Padres Threatened

Adrian Gonzales of Boston showed a thorn in the side of his previous team as the first seventh-inning of baseman strike put the surging Red Sox on target for a crushing 14-5 win over the San Diego Padres on Monday.

Gonzales, who used up the former five campaigns with the Padres prior to being traded to Boston in the off-season, broke open a 3-3 tie with an RBI twice that unlocked the floodgates as the Red Sox extra 10 runs in the top of the inning.

“It’s just great at-bats,” Gonzalez informed reporters after he completed with three hits to elevate his Major League-leading batting standard to .353 “It’s just great at-bats.”  He as well guides baseball in RBIs with 67.

“It’s a line-up that consistently has good at-bats, professional at-bats and you wear down a pitcher.”

Padres beginner Wade LeBlanc left the game in the fourth innings and Boston browbeaten a wobbly San Diego bullpen that walked four and strike two batters in the marathon seventh.

Padres manager Bud Black countered, “Our bullpen has been the best in baseball, top to bottom.  Tonight showed that these guys aren’t invincible. Bad inning. That’s the only way you can write it.”

Boston obtained a lift on the heap from Andrew Miller with 44-28, creating his period debut prepared of injured beginner Clay Buchholz.  He permitted three runs in 5 2/3 innings of the no-decision.

Matt Albers approached on to end the sixth and pitched the seventh to make the success for the red-hot Red Sox, who have succeeded 14 of their previous 16 games, and guide the American League East by 1 ½ games in spite of a 2-10 begin to the season.

Boston got an early 3-0 ahead with runs in the first, third and fourth innings although the Padres fought back and tied the game in the sixth on a three-run homer from Orlando Hudson.

Hudson ended with three strikes and Chase Headley went 4-for-5 in the failure for the Padres.

Alfonso Soriano Gets Listed in the 15-day DL After Injury

A day after fielder Alfonso Soriano strained his left quadriceps striving to strike out a groundball, the Cubs placed him on the 15-day disabled list.

On the first innings Monday, Soriano was injured after striking a bouncer to third base.  He pulled up a few feet from first base, holding his left thigh.

Soriano led the team with 12 home runs and 29 RBIs, and is striking .271.  He did not believe a DL stint was important, but comprehended the choice.

He said, “That’s the best for the team because when I come back, I want to come back strong and not even think about my leg.”

Tyler Colvin, outfielder was recalled from Triple-A Iowa.  He was striking .260 with a home run and eight RBIs in the minors.  On May 16 Chicago sent down Colvin striking .113 with two home runs in 62 at-bats.

Colvin said, “It was just a time for me to slow down.” He got 0-for-1 with a sacrifice bunt in the Cubs’ 7-3 loss to Houston on Tuesday.

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has paid his major-league bill for now.

McCourt was capable to cover Dodgers-connected expenses Tuesday, although several baseball officials considered he didn’t have sufficient money for the last part of the month payroll, according to a person familiar with the status who asked for secrecy for the reason that he was not authorized to speak openly.

Major League Baseball would have taken control of the team and paid its bills, if McCourt was not able to meet payroll.

photo credit: chicagobreakingsports.com

Jo Jo Reyes Wins in American League Roundup

Jo Jo Reyes’ throwing of  his first career complete game, he won for the first time in 29 starts and Jayson Nix strike a two-run home run to go ahead the Toronto Blue Jays to an 11-1 rout of the Cleveland Indians on Monday night. Since 2008, Reyes with a score won for the first time.  The left-hander went 0-13 between wins.

New York 5, Oakland 0 – Bartolo Colon 3-3 pitched a four striker for the visiting Yankees.

Chicago 7, Boston 3: Each one of Alexei Ramirez and Carlos Quentin has two RBIs in a four-run sixth by the visiting White Sox.

Los Angeles 10, Kansas City 8:  Second home run of Torii Hunter, in the ninth a two-run shot off Joakim Soria, powered the visiting Angels.

Seattle 4, Baltimore 3:  Jack Cust strikes the second triple of his career, motivating in two runs for the host Mariners.

Texas 11, Tampa Bay 5: Mike Napoli homered double and drove in five runs for the visiting Rangers.

Notebook: Minnesota placed left-hander Francisco Liriano (3-5, 5.73 ERA) on the 15 day stopped list, retroactive to May 23, with irritation of his throwing shoulder.

photo credit: news1130.com

Jay Bruce Hits 12th Homer of the Month

For good motive, Jay Bruce is calling them as ‘Mr. May’ in Cincinnati.

Jay Bruce is 24 years old, a Reds outfielder and had a wonderful month, bringing the Reds offense.  7-3 victory in Cincinnati over the Milwaukee Brewers, Bruce was 3 – 4 with a home run and three RBIs, falling a twice short of the series.

Bruce has a profession OPS of .814 or .901 this period, however has been prone to pursuing bad pitches throughout his four year profession.  According to the man himself, as informed to the Cincinnati Enquirer: Although not so much this season.

Bruce said, “I’ve been making better decisions, which is one of the big things.  It’s cliché and all that, but it’s the truth. Swing at pitches you want to swing at and don’t swing at the pitches they’re trying to get you to chase, and you’re going to have a lot easier time up there.”

A rapid trip over to Fangraphs exposes that Bruce is swinging at 29.1% of pitches out of the zone, only 0.2% below his 2010 level, but that he is swinging at, and crushing, pitches that he desires, whether they are in the zone or not. Agreement rate of Bruce on pitches outside the zone is 61.6 percent, up from 53.2% for his profession, and his in general agreement rate is 76.2% compared to 74.1%.

Dusty Baker, Reds manager informed the Enquirer, “It just shows his potential, what he can do.  His concentration is great, his balance is excellent and he’s keeping his head still. It’s really nice to see him swinging great”.

photo credit: cincycoolness.com