Two odd things strike me this year with the two Southland baseball teams, one thing from each.
The Dodgers, of the National League, have long been out of playoff contention, and while they're not mathematically eliminated yet, it would take an effort not seen since the film Major League to get back into the post-season conversation. That being said, the Dodgers have two super-star players that are serious candidates for the National League's two major individual awards--the MVP Award and the Cy Young Award.
Matt Kemp, playing superb defense in center-field, is tearing it up offensively this year. As of today he's fifth in batting average at .319, tied for first with 31 homers, in second with 100 RBIs, and has stolen 35 bases. Such a collection of power, speed, hitting-for-average, and Gold Glove defense at a premium position comes rarely in this game. If Kemp keeps up this pace for the last month of the season, it would almost be a crime not to give him the MVP award.
Clayton Kershaw is the Dodgers Number 1 pitcher, and he might even be the National League's top pitcher, which is tough with Roy Halladay around. Kershaw has more wins and strikeouts than the perceived "best pitcher in the game"--Halladay, and his team, the Dodgers, have twenty-one less wins than Halladay's Phillies, who are statistically the best team in baseball. Kershaw does it for a less than mediocre team. He has a chance to win the Cy Young award this year, but it'll probably go to Halladay.
Kemp and Kershaw could give a sub-.500 team both individual honors, a feat which I can't imagine happening often.
Another strange observation, this time about the Angels, in the American League. Back in the early aughts, and even back in the late nineties, the Angels had a player named Tim Salmon. An all-star player, Tim played in the outfield. Today, continuing the trend of outfielders with fishy names, the Angels have two youngsters who have monikers Mike Carp and Mike Trout.
Is it just me, or is than a little weird?
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