It's Matt Kemp as you've never heard him: Dodgers outfielder agrees his approach has to change

Matt Kemp, contrite?

Matt Kemp, admitting lack of full effort?

Matt Kemp, saying he has no excuses for his performance?

It’s all true. It’s Kemp admitting he has to change his attitude. Kemp sounding a lot like the guy followers have been waiting on.

It happened in The Times column today by T.J. Simers. There was none of that Joe Cool persona, none of that casual approach, no arguing with a critique of his game.

The column started with Simers talking to the Dodgers’ resident firebug, third-base coach Larry Bowa, questioning the team’s intensity, approach and desire to win.

Which quickly led Simers to Kemp. And as always, Bowa was frank:

"I have one question I'd like to ask him, 'Are you dead tired when the game is over?’ My dad told me early on I should be exhausted after every game if I've done my batting practice, taken ground balls, backed up every play and gone all out. I wonder if he's ever felt like that?"

Among his, er, other qualities, Simers is an excellent reporter. So naturally he went to Kemp for a reaction.

Only Kemp didn’t act offended and upset. He actually agreed with Bowa’s less than flattering assessment.

"There's more there," Kemp said. "I agree. It's something I need to sit here and think about and then change."

Given that Kemp started the season like he was ready to become baseball’s next superstar, but has hit just .233 for the last two months, he’s not exactly in position to put up much of an argument. But he didn’t try to, either.

"I need to help this team out and I'm not doing it," Kemp told Simers. "I've wasted a lot of at-bats this year. Pitchers have gotten me 70% of the time, but it's not them getting me out, it's me."

Giving up at-bats, failing to lay off of that low, outside pitch, not routinely exploding out of the batter’s box -- Kemp agreed with it all.

"I feel it, trust me," he said. "Everything being said, I've said to myself. I have no excuses. I've never hit below .290 in my life."

Now, recognizing the problem and actually doing something about it can prove two completely different things.

But at least Kemp not only acknowledged the criticism, he agreed with it all. Hopefully for Kemp and the Dodgers, it’s a start.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Comments

[Mike]

Good for him on knowing it. How much 'thinking' does it take to give 100% effort?

[Paul]

Trade Matt Kemp this winter for some AAA prospects. His attitidue is impeeding his ability. Attitudes don't all of a sudden change. It's a born trait. Those are hard to get rid of.

[the Q]

Right on Matty, get mean, get mad, get even and get rid of the "girl".

C'mon, its obvious man....you are distracted, no way a dude with your talent hits .240 unless its off field distractions.

[Tim McCuddahy]

Laughing at L.A.
Laughing at L.A.
Giants fans laugh at L.A.

I tell ya, we love McCourt and Colletti up here in the Bay Area.

[Dodgers4life]

I just dont know if Kemp is smart enough to ever be a good ball player.

[Chris]

Is this the same Matt Kemp who said he lost Renteria's triple in the sun, just yesterday?

[West Coast Ram]

There are many things that people don't like about Kobe but the one thing that everyone appreciates is the fact that he wants to be the best player on the court every time out. You hear about his off season work so you have to believe that he has the internal motivation to accomplish his goal. What LA fans don't want is the players to get too caught up in the Hollywood party scene and have it somehow effect their performance. The fact that Kemp began dating a star in her own right and he is having a down year just makes people question his dedication.
I disagree that we should trade Kemp but I would question if they tried to make him the center piece of the team. Look at the Braves and A. Jones, they never build the team around him even though there were many years that he had outstanding numbers and when the time came to either resign him for big numbers or let him walk, they let him go.
One big thing Kemp could do to make me believe that he is worth keeping for a career is dump that loud mouth agent of his.

[Mike]

Leave it to Dodger fans to turn their hostility on their best player. Why should Kemp care more than the McCourts?

[HI Dodger Fan]

This revelation only becomes relevant if Kemp acts on this and improves his play on the field. To me, it's obvious that Rihanna has distracted him (honestly, who wouldn't be?). But let's hope this recognition leads to a renewed focus. We certainly need him, Andre and Manny to come back strong in the last two months of the season. It's certainly not too late.

[Since '58]

Refreshing, but actions speak louder than words, Mr. Kemp. I'd like to hear the same thing from Martin. But, evidently, he thinks he's perfect.

BTW, although I have no answer as to why Torre's and Colletti's explanations for the loss of DeWitt do not jibe, Torre's explanation on Sunday Night Baseball was that the Cubs wanted DeWitt (and prospects) for Lilly. So Colletti asked for Theriot to replace DeWitt at second. Still a bad trade. Our best young player for a washed-up two month rental pitcher and a very average second baseman. But Colletti has to show that he's still trying to improve the team going nowhere but down.
Steve, perhaps you can ask Dylan Hernandez why he didn't follow up on the inconsistencies of explanations between Torre and Colletti.

D-I--V-O-R-C-E

[Andrew]

Kemp did indeed miss that ball last night because of the sun. Maybe if he had an Umbrella-ella-ella-eh-eh...

[Mike Weber]

"Leave it to Dodger fans to turn their hostility on their best player. Why should Kemp care more than the McCourts?"

Because the fans deserve it and he gets paid millions of dollors. Is that too much to ask? The McCourts may be involved in a divorce but the product on the field is way under performing expectations. Sure, the McCourts hands are tied but that's not an excuse to put out less effort, EVER.

[HI Dodger Fan]

'58, I don't think Martin is giving anything less than his full effort. Quite the opposite. He wants to play all the time, and Torre is obliging him because there is no competent back-up. Martin has been worn down by overwork. I heard Vin say something to the effect that no catcher has caught as many innings as Martin in the last few years. These innings take a toll. If the Dodgers invested in a decent back-up, maybe a lefty-swinger with a bit of pop, Torre could cut Martin's games to about 130. Ausmus is just too old and his back won't allow him to catch much at all. Unless Martin gets some rest, he'll end up the same way much sooner. Right now, he's gutting it out, but at some point, the body will break down.

[16blows]

Oh those "5 tool" players, their names become legion - not so much over time as right at the start, before they become exposed as PR over-hypes & answers to trivia questions such as, "whatever happened to (so & so)" and "what might have been" laments a fandom... Los Angeles has been no stranger to said.

This is an old story today be called Kemp... tomorrow & elsewhere something other. Yesteryear not too long ago twas known as Mondesi in LA, years before him as Cedeno in Houston and yet even earlier than those two, The Willie's - Crawford & Davis.

Willie Crawford was a star at Fremont High School in LA, in both football & baseball. Major colleges recruited him to play football as he was big, strong & fast, he was signed 2-days out of high school by a guy named Tom Lasorda. Powerful, blazing speed & possessing a canon for an arm, he played shallow in LF almost daring players to hit a ball over him - his 9.7 100 speed usually made that less than successful. It wasn't a question of 'if' Willie C was going to be a star, just a matter of "when".

All of 17 years old as a $100,000 'Bonus Baby' when he made his MLB debut in 1964 (such players had to remain on the MLB roster then), minor league playing time would've been more apropos for successful development. Aft 5 hits in his first 16 at bats (.313) in 1964 (he even got a pinch-hit in the '65 World Series at age 18 vs Minnesota) Willie sat on the bench 2 years, spent 3 more (for the most) in the minors. Approaching age 23 in '69, Crawford finally got to play semi-regularly in LA... alas, the thrill was gone, or perhaps was just never meant to be: 5 tool stardom went elsewhere to stay. The next 4 years Willie gained a foothold, & by '73 age 27 he was a good (alas not great) MLB player. After 14 MLB seasons he retired age 30 never really having met expectations for him. Why? Circumstance. Intangibles and other factors. It happens.

Speaking of (unrealistic) expectations, we now consider one William Henry Davis, aka Willie D but better known as 'The 3 Dog' and early in his career referred to by some as "the next Willie Mays."

It took the late Willie Davis (my favorite Dodger to this day) almost a decade to 'get it' as it were; up until 1969 he was the man more renowned for having reportedly said, "if it ain't my life & ain't my wife, why worry"?

A 5 tool player? If there were 6 tools, Willie would have had them all. He had speed (MLB's fastest -9.5 in the 100 in high school & so fast he could (and did) score from 1st base - on a single - several times. So fast he makes an running Kemp look like a slacker.) Willie also had power (a reported near 500 foot hr the early '60s served to merely exacerbate a problem: no discipline/patience at the plate.) When consistency went the way Edsel, Willie changed batting stances with the same frequency a woman changes her outfit before a date: Dodger fans of the 1960's got to see Ernie Banks, Ted & Billy Williams - even Babe Ruth - in Dodger blue.

Finally in '69 approaching age 30, he found that the true Willie had been there inside him all along: the first of 3 straight .300 seasons, Gold Glove defense, a 31 game hitting streak; proving he had come into his own, in '70 Willie had 93 rbis despite hitting just 8 hrs (visions of James Loney; that same 1970 season Willie's teammate Wes Parker drove in 111 despite hitting only 10 hrs.) Better late than never, Willie D finished high on the Dodgers career statistical record book.

Concluding, we go back to (the future?) our modern day conundrum Kemp, a comparison of he and Davis after an fairly equal # of plate appearances each player's career:

Kemp: 2254 plate appearances = 158 walks, 524 strikeouts, 78 hrs, 299 rbis, 100 steals (age 22-26).

Davis: 2347 plate appearances = 120 walks, 250 strikeouts, 56 hrs, 277 rbis, 114 steals (age 20-24).

Here's hoping Kemp 'gets it' before an entire decade goes by...

[Gloovin]

Hey, Tim do you love all the World Series titles the Giants have brought you up there in the Bay Area? Oops...nevermind.

[Michael Green]

You know, when I have played sports or been involved in something competitive, when I lost, I didn't scream, throw things, and hold my breath until I turned blue. But by the definition of T.J. Simers and Larry Bowa, that's what matters. My response is, gee, Joe Torre must not care, since he doesn't yell. In other words, I question the maturity of Simers and Bowa, and I honor Kemp's maturity in knowing his own failings.

[KoufaxFan]

The best of all of this---whether it be Kemp or Martin or Ethier--all under acheivers--is fans actually think these guys have any intelligence. They don't. Just because they play major league baseball & make millions (which us fans don't) us fans think they are smart. Kemp is dumber than a sack full of hammers. He's over weight, went celebrity, & his gold glove should be a golden shower this year. Martin, another over weight, dumb as a ..., gets some Hollywood girlfriend & he's as good as Bill Sudakis, a bum. Ethier gets his personal life together, but thinks he's a triple crown guy in April--an average player--and dumb as anyone. These guys couldn't graduate from Disco Tech.

[Since '58]

Your point is well taken, HI Dodger Fan. But, then, so is KoufaxFan's. The worse the Dodgers play, the more stimulating the conversations. Reminds me of the old blog days when there used to be threads.
Hey Steve, to speak to Hernandez yet?

[skyharbor]

Bring back Jeff Kent as a coach...he'll straighten out the arrogant Kemp and all 5 of his tools.

[Dodgers4life]

You sound just like Torre making excuses for Martin. He can not even throw the ball to second base. He has more passed balls then 90 percent of the catchers in the league. His hitting is less than ugly. At this point he should'nt be playing 45 games in the pros a year. The same goes for Broxton Torre protects him. Broxton has shaved 5 mph off his fastball at the request of the coaching staff. What kind of coach tells his closer to pitch slower. Every batter Broxton faces wait on his fast ball and then rock it. These young players on the Dodgers need a hands on manager not a coach that tells them good job no matter how they play. I hate to say this but Torre is not a good fit for the Dodgers roster.

[These Dodgers Suck!]

I blame Tommy ....

[jim]

Game. Set. Season. Dwon 5-0, about to go 9 games back. First team in history to have two runners not score from second while someone else was being thrown out; serioulsy, waive Manny, Kuroda, Padilla, Lilly before he even starts and just let some kids finish out the string

[HI Dodger Fan]

16blows, wow, those stats on 3Dog and Kemp are pretty similar. Like you, 3Dog was, and still is, my favorite Dodger of all time. Started following him when he had that 31-game streak. Snuck the radio under my pillow at night so i could listen to the games to see whether willie got a hit that night. Those were the days.

[Bill Robinson]

Thank God for Larry Bowa. That is a Ball Player!

[David]

What an absolute JOKE! There is no excuse for not giving 100%. He should be ashamed of himself, not acting like he's looking for answers...

[Sean]

Some of you people have to be kidding me...the guy was basically a god last year and the first month of the season. The kid and I repeat kid is 25...he will have some growing pains. Braun is having a down two months as well...should the Brew Crew dump him as well? They would be nuts, just like the Dodgers would be insane for even thinking of trading him. But as a New Yorker, please go ahead and trade him to the Yankees. I would love to watch him for the next 10 years in pinstripes. Let the kid grow and mature, looks like he is taking responsibility which is more than you can say for most young players.

Keep it up Matty..you, Eithier and Kershaw the only reason to watch Dodger games.

[neoncactus]

Hopefully Kemp will have the drive. Clearly he's distracted, he's taken a step back in hitting, fielding and baserunning this year. The question is does he have the drive to push himself to excel? If not, then trade him while you can still get solid players in return. But he needs a fire lit under him. I did notice that he had an excellent game last night. Hopefully he will build on it.

[Ralph]

Laughing at L.A.
Laughing at L.A.
Giants fans laugh at L.A.

I tell ya, we love McCourt and Colletti up here in the Bay Area.

Posted by: Tim McCuddahy
_________________________________

Umm... the Giants have not won a World Series title since moving to SF, over 50 years ago. In fact, since the Giants’ 1954 World Series victory, they have won only 3 NL pennants (really only two; the 2002 flag was courtesy of steroids), while the Dodgers have won 11 NL pennants and 6 World Series titles, during this same period. Yes, the 2010 Dodgers are an embarrassment; but your franchise has been second-rate for over 50 years, and counting.

[Bill]

The comparisons between Willie D and Matt K were very interesting. Willie appeared to be a casual guy, but was a major talent, especially on the base paths. I recall on more the one occasion as a kid watching him bunt and end up on third before the dust had settled. Matt is developing into a fine player. He appears aware of his shortcomings at the plate and hopefully on the base path. He will learn to lay off the pitches outside his wheel house and one hopes, learns how to run like a big league player. I am convinced he can accomplish both. I hope that the Dodgers are patient and let him develop. He is not the problem with this team as his numbers are more then adequate. Yes he is a disaster on the bases and he strikes out too much. OK....The Dodgers are still much better with him, then without!

[Alan]

I would not trade Kemp, but I agree that the team should not be built around him. Ethier is the more stable player, even if Kemp has more raw skills. Ethier would still be among the league leaders if not for his injury. He also needed to be with his wife when she delivered their child. Otherwise, he's been solid.

Kemp also deserves a personal life, and I don't begrudge him dating a music star. Someone, who by the way, has recently been on a long worldwide concert tour. How or why is this her fault in any way? Because she is not in town to see him on a regular basis? Kemp needs to get his own head on straight, and stop all of the baserunning mistakes. Those are the worst of all to me. He's been thrown out almost a dozen times more than he has stolen bases. This means that he should never, ever be given a green light to steal until he proves himself again.

These guys may not be rocket scientists, but I wouldn't call them stupid, either. Loney and Ethier both show maturity on a daily basis, and Martin is just worn out because he plays too damn much. I know that Torre has a soft spot for him because Martin reminds Torre of himself as a younger man, but enough is enough. Martin needs to be mature enough to realize that there is not a catcher alive who can get behind the plate as often as he may want. If Torre wants Martin to play so much, he needs to get him in there at third when Blake needs a rest. This worked before when Torre first got here, and it can work again.

As much as we all want to blame the McCourts, and they do deserve a lot of blame, even if they were (still) happily married, they cannot play the games for the team. These guys are all supposed to be professionals, and the sick play of the past week or so should be making them as angry as the fans feel. I don't happen to like any of the recent trades, but at least Coletti is trying. I wish that they would have found a way to get something, anything for Manny, and Belliard, if need be, but hopefully, sometime in August.

Just like the McCourts, neither Coletti or Torre, or even Bowa (as much as we all know he wants to) can play the games for the Dodgers. The players all need to step it up. It's not too late.

As for the Frisco fans feeling their oats right now, we know how good it feels to sweep the hated rivals, as we did earlier this year. The difference between Dodger fans and those other guys is that we realize that a successful season means finishing first, making the playoffs and winning the World Series. They just want to finish ahead of us, no matter if we're fifth, and they're fourth. NoCal will never be SoCal, and that just tears them up inside.

[Grandpa]

It stands to reason to expect Kemp to get smarter, because he can't possibly get any dumber.

[Tom_SF]

Maybe we can trade him for someone who cares about what he's doing. That says "DODGERS" on your jersey, not "Brewers". Now quit doggin' it and hit the freakin' ball.

[saintnick]

Wow....lots of comments and opinions...that means that people actually 'care' about what happens with the Dodger Blue....Good!

My own $two cents$: Never been a big fan of Kemp...admittedly, he has a foundation of talent in there somewhere. Let me ask any of you guys, who would you rather be paying big $bucks$ for the next ten years: A streaky under performing talented player (Kemp) or a perenneal All-Star pitcher? (that we could trade Kemp for). Easy answer...but first, we must hope we can change 1) owners...a Moreno-type (who invests in talent for his club) would do just fine, as well as 2) a new manager who knows how to handle a modern day pitching staff (and bullpen). Torre operates the same way as he did while in NY (but he had Mariano Rivera there/ He also tore up and wore out arms via overuse). Joe's a good guy, but he is robot-like in his pitching (and personnel) decisions. Lets HOPE, that in the future, the Dodgers can sign or trade for high-quality pitching...'cause that's what brings championships.

[Justin Smith]

@Tim McCuddahy

As much as I'd like to call you out, I have to wholeheartedly agree with you. The McCourt's are a couple of clowns, a sideshow, an embarrassment, shameful, etc... and Colletti is a lowball stooge who prioritizes "character" (i.e. butt-slapping and locker room talk) over talent. I really didn't think things could get much worse than Fox ownership, but the McCourt circus has proven me wrong. I personally love the Dodgers-Giants rivalry, and it's too bad that in the recent past, whenever our team was any good, the Giants were terrible, and now that the Giants are good, we're a joke. I miss Dodgers-Giants pennant races, and all that... and with your pitching staff, and young offensive stars like Posey, it looks like you're set up for the long haul. If only cheapskate McCourt, and inept Colletti could get their act together... Selig was a fool for allowing them to buy the team on credit in the first place. Hopefully the divorce courts with push them in to selling so we can get an owner who will actually spend some money so we can field the team we deserve. Even though McCourt is trying to devalue the team in divorce court, for obvious reasons, the Dodgers are the 2nd most valuable and storied team in baseball, next to the Yankees. It's a shame these jokers are treating them like they're a small-market expansion team. When Selig allowed them to hijack the team, there were rumors it was because McCourt had agreed to lowball players and not drive up salaries in bidding wars... And that conspiracy theory no longer seems so conspiratorial anymore.