It's no secret that Matt Kemp has been amazing so far this season. At one point through the third inning on Friday night, Kemp had reached base for eight consecutive plate appearances, and is now hitting .331/.421/.629 on the season. Is there a more confident hitter in baseball right now than Kemp?
Kemp homered last night, passing Prince Fielder for the National League lead with 21 long balls. We already know Kemp is the first Dodger ever to reach the 20-20 club in the first 81 games of the season, and one of just nine major leaguers since 1919 to do so. With the halfway point coming with Tuesday's game in Minnesota, let's see how Kemp stacks up with other L.A. Dodgers first halves.
Through 77 games, Kemp already has 21 home runs, 60 RBI, and 50 runs scored. There have only been nine L.A. Dodgers to score 100 runs and drive in 100 in the same season, and Kemp is on pace to join them. In terms of the old reliable counting stats, Kemp is climbing the charts in both home runs and RBI in the first 81 games, with four games left to add to his totals:
Most Home Runs Through 81 Games, LA Dodgers | |||
Player | Year | HR | Season |
Gary Sheffield | 2000 | 27 | 43 |
Shawn Green | 2002 | 25 | 42 |
Eric Karros | 2000 | 23 | 31 |
Steve Garvey | 1977 | 22 | 33 |
Adrian Beltre | 2004 | 22 | 48 |
Matt Kemp | 2011 | 21 | ??? |
Pedro Guerrero |
1985 | 21 | 33 |
Mike Piazza |
1996 | 21 | 40 |
Source: Baseball-Reference.com |
Most RBI Through 81 Games, LA Dodgers | |||
Player | Year | RBI | Season |
Tommy Davis | 1962 | 81 | 153 |
Steve Garvey | 1977 | 76 | 115 |
Mike Piazza | 1994* | 72 | 92 |
Gary Sheffield | 2000 | 71 | 109 |
Ron Cey | 1977 | 71 | 110 |
Eric Karros | 2000 | 67 | 106 |
Steve Garvey | 1980 | 66 | 106 |
Steve Garvey | 1974 | 63 | 111 |
Shawn Green | 2001 | 63 | 125 |
Shawn Green | 2002 | 63 | 114 |
Matt Kemp | 2011 | 60 | ??? |
Jimmy Wynn | 1974 | 60 | 108 |
*Strike-shortened season (114 games) |
For comparison, Kemp hit his 21st home run last season on August 22, in game 125, and got his 60th RBI on August 2, in game 106.