Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
There is a lot of talk around the Los Angeles Dodgers and Major League Baseball about the emergence of rookie sensation Yasiel Puig. I don’t mean to suggest that isn’t deserved and completely understandable but with all due respect to the phenom, he is not the main surge of adrenaline that the Dodgers need to win something big this season. That guy is Matt Kemp.
Kemp was the guy that was the leader in the big brawl earlier in the season with the San Diego Padres. Remember that? That wasn’t for nothing. He is a leader on this team and is vital to their success. When he made that incredible catch to end the game against the San Francisco Giants and slapped the wall in celebration it made me want to scream from my couch. If the Dodgers are a well running engine, Puig might be the sparkplug but Kemp is the engine itself.
I’m not saying he is an all-star or anything like that. Unfortunately thanks to injuries, it has been an off year for Kemp in LA but that can stop at any time for someone of his talent level. I think as they won their fourth game in a row, Kemp hit a stride in his mind. He wants to take the helm for this team and lead them to October and win something big there as well.
Sadly he can’t play every day yet because the Dodgers want to be cautious with his healthy. I fully understand that as long as they understand how important he is to them. They will be fun to watch because of Puig but they won’t win without Kemp.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.
