Sorry Pujols, But Matt Kemp is the New King of the MLB

*Disclaimer: I don’t pay attention to all those Sabermetrics stats. Baseball is played and viewed on the field, we don’t need computers to tell us who is good, we can find out that on our own. So if some crazy formula says something different than me, my apologies. Thanks!

For the past decade, Albert Pujols has been the best player in baseball. His stretch of consecutive .330/30/100 was incredible and may never be duplicated. He’s a 9 time all-star and a 3 time National League MVP award winner. When it comes to track record there is no one better in the league right now.

However, there is a player now that has taken the crown from Pujols, and his name is Matt Kemp.

Over the past two years, Matt Kemp has exploded onto the scene as a 5-tool superstar. A 5-tool player is a player who:

1.     Hits for average
2.      Hits for power 
3.      Has good speed 
4.      Has good arm strength
5.     Has good fielder

Kemp has established himself as the best all-around player in the league, taking the title from Pujols.

Kemp’s last season was one for the ages as he was one homerun shy of joining the elusive 40/40 club, exclusively for only the elite 5-tool players to ever play the game. In most seasons he would have run away with the MVP but he ran into a fellow 5-tool superstar in Ryan Braun and finished 

second in the final voting.

Kemp has always been a talented player since arriving to the league, but he was not always their mentally. Coaches frequently became frustrated with his lack of effort at times, just relying on his raw talent rather than putting in the effort needed to perfect the craft. Then came the relationship with Rihanna, the last possible thing that a person who has had problems with keeping focus needs. After a length of time the two separated, and Kemp’s career took off.

Last year, focused and ready to play, Kemp put up numbers that you might not see in video games. He hit .324 with 39 homeruns, 126 runs batted in, and 40 stolen bases. He also scored 115 runs, showing that he’s more than just an RBI machine; he gives the rest of the lineup someone to drive in as well. As stated before, those are easily MVP numbers in any other season. He was handsomely rewarded this offseason for his efforts with an 8 year $160 million contract keeping his in Chavez Ravine for the foreseeable future.

Going into this season, based off of the success of last season and his confidence, Kemp said that he wanted to start his own club. He wants to be the inaugural player in the 50/50 club. So far the 50 homeruns may just be a stepping stone, as he has belted 9 in the first 17 games of the season. Kemp also will be in contention for the Triple Crown due to his .460 AVG and his 22 RBI.

Now to explain why he is better than Albert right now. No disrespect to Albert, a future HOF and arguably one of the greatest players the game has ever seen, but Kemp right now is a much better player.

Based on the 5-tool approach from above, you could say that the average and power categories are a push, maybe Kemp has a slight advantage on power. That’s where the similarities end.

          

      1)  Kemp is far and away a faster and better runner than Pujols. Kemp puts up the same offensive numbers as Pujols, but he also disrupts games when he’s on the bases. Pujols can steal bases, due to his exceptional base running skills and knowledge of the game, but Kemp collects them. He makes the pitcher think about him constantly and that forces him to press and causes mistake pitches that Andre Ethier and the rest of the Dodgers lineup can take advantage of.

      

      2)      This is one is where Kemp gets an obvious nod, almost needing no explanation. He plays center field so he actually gets to use his arm, while Pujols is at first where throws are not as needed. That brings me to the next topic……

      

      3)      Kemp is worlds above Pujols in terms of defense. Both are great at their respective position, but Kemp play a much more difficult position. The amount of ground needed to be covered is much larger in center, which Kemp covers effortlessly. Pujols has won many gold gloves, but Kemp is going to win one just about every year from here on out barring injury. His range allows him to get to any ball in center which helps save many hits and runs for his pitchers.

Pujols is great; a legend who is making himself an obvious case for Cooperstown, but Kemp is the superstar of the MLB right now. We haven’t seen a talent like him since Alex Rodriguez in his younger days, a player who literally can do it all. Right now we’re watching a player who could end up also in Cooperstown in Kemp. As long as he continues the focus that he has, it won’t be a matter of if but rather when he will get in.

The Enigma that is Ryan Tannehill

Every year there is that one player that skyrockets up draft boards based on “tools” and the combine and ends up being over drafted.

2007- JaMarcus Russel, 2008- Vernon Gholston, 2009- Darrius Heyward-Bey, 2010- Tyson Alualu

(Am I overlooking some players who did do well, yes. But for these purposes I’m pointing out the failed picks.)

This year’s draft class has its own player drawing in all the pre-draft hype, Ryan Tannehill.

The draft has its clear #1 and #2 at QB with Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, but who is the #3 QB? Many arguments could be made for Tannehill, Kirk Cousins, or even the elder Brandon Weeden.

No matter who you choose as your #3, it should be obvious that they are not in the same class as #1 and #2, let alone a potential top 10 pick. However, Tannehill has been seen multiple times going in the top 10, or even the top 5 at #4 to the Browns.

Here are some numbers on Ryan Tannehill:

4.62: Tannehill’s 40 time at his pro-day, a great time for QB’s.

61.6: Tannehill’s competition percentage in his final year at Texas A&M

29: Touchdowns by Tannehill in his final year at A&M

20: The number of starts Tannehill has at QB in college, total.

Let me start off by saying I believe Tannehill is worth a first round pick, his tools are exceptional and I feel he could have a successful career. However, I don’t see how a team can justify drafting a QB in the top 10 who only has 20 career starts at the position (in college). Experience is the biggest tool that a QB needs, he needs to be able to see the defense in front of him and know how to adjust accordingly and where to go with the football.

Here’s my take on the two teams rumored to be in on the Tannehill sweepstakes:

Browns: If the browns didn’t feel like RGIII was worth trading up for, (a much “safer” (if you can use the word safe on a QB) pick to me), how on earth can they justify taking a project two picks later? The Browns had the best package to offer the Rams with 2 first round picks this year and choose to stand pat because they know they have more needs than QB. With the number 4 pick, the Browns could go many different directions. Justin Blackmon could come in and easily by the number one option for Colt McCoy and give Mohamed Massaquoi a complementary receiver. With the departure of Peyton Hillis, Trent Richardson is another viable option. Although running backs can be found anywhere nowadays (Arian Foster, Hillis etc….) Richardson seems to be one of those every down monsters that come around once every few years (Adrian Peterson). Now I’m not saying he will be AP, but he is built in the same mold. Lastly, Morris Claiborne could be the option if the Browns chose so. The combination of Claiborne and Joe Haden would give the Browns the potential to have one of the top CB tandems in the league. The Browns could come back with their second pick in the 1^st and grab Tannehill, a move that makes much more sense.

Dolphins: The Dolphins to me have a better reason to draft Tannehill since they did not have as much a shot at RGIII, combined with how badly they need a QB. The Dolphins have started to fall behind the Bills, becoming the laughing stock of the AFC East and need to start developing some young talent if they want to compete anytime in the near future. With the trade of Brandon Marshall, the Dolphins now lack a “#1 receiver.” Malcolm Floyd for Notre Dame could be the guy to fill that spot. He’s a big, tall, and surprisingly fast receiver whose only real knock is the DUI arrest a few off seasons ago. However if the Dolphins can overlook that incident, they could have a real playmaker on their hands. The other option for the pick would have to be on defense, where they lack many players who game changing potential. Vonte Davis and Cameron Wake are both excellent players, but that’s where the well begins to run dry. Options on defense could include Melvin Ingram (USC) and Quinton Coples (UNC). Impact pass rushers are needed in this progressively pass happy league and both could come in and help put pressure on opposing QBs. Lastly, the Dolphins could target a number of offensive tackles to play RT with the All-Pro Jake Long manning the LT spot.

20, once again the number of starts that Tannehill has had in college. This is the classic case where a player is being overvalued due to the top heaviness of the position (Christian Ponder-2011). There is such a large gap, GM’s are overlooking the obvious lack of experience, trying to justify picking him so high and closing the gap between Tannehill and the top 2 QBs.

We will all see how it unveils live April 26^th at 8 p.m., and we will see where Tannehill will be throwing passes this fall.