They aren't Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday and they aren't Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, but Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier have turned into a very lethal Major League combination.
The two have combined to drive in 172 runs, the eighth most of any teammate combination in baseball.
They trail only Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder (214), Ryan Howard and Chase Utley (195), Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick (189, it could really be Pujols and anyone), Adam Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman (182), Bobby Abreu and Kendry Morales (180), Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau (175) and Mark Teixeira and Johnny Damon (174).
Those are some pretty big names they are comparing to and along with Abreu and Morales they have to be considered one of the surprise duos in baseball.
Ethier and Kemp are both capable of this and have always been expected to blossom into stars, but it's happening faster than expected and it's fun to see it develop before our eyes.
Kemp is starting to figure out when to pull the ball. Before he relied on his tremendous power to hit all of his home runs to center or right center, but now he can jerk the ball to left field. He hits absolute bombs.
Ethier is starting to become a hitter opposing pitchers fear and they have been pitching to him very carefully. Every time he bats, I am glued to the television thinking he could very well hit a bomb.
They have combined for 48 home runs with Ethier hitting 27 of them. They also have 57 doubles between the two of them (Ethier with 35) and 34 steals (Kemp with 28 of them).
Kemp also is second among all Major League outfielders with 12 assists and has committed just two errors. Ethier has made just three errors and has thrown out four baserunners.
It is very exciting to have two of the top up and coming outfielders in the game in the Dodgers outfield, and hopefully they are both here for a lot longer.
They will both individually finish in the top ten in the MVP voting, as long as they continue to play well throughout the season. This is how I would vote them right now:
Albert Pujols
Prince Fielder
Hanley Ramirez
Ryan Howard
Pablo Sandoval
Andre Ethier
Matt Kemp
Ryan Braun
Chase Utley
Prince Fielder
Hanley Ramirez
Ryan Howard
Pablo Sandoval
Andre Ethier
Matt Kemp
Ryan Braun
Chase Utley
Derrek Lee
In what order would you vote the top ten in the NL MVP race?
i go with kemp slightly over ethier, but i think both will for sure be in the top seven or eight...
I would give Ethier the edge over Kemp because in the bottom of the ninth with the game within reach who has come through nearly everytime...Sir Andre. Kemp should be able to surpass Ethier next year, that kid has raw power that if developed properly under someone like Donny Ballgame then this guy is the cornerstone of our team for the next five years at least.
Ethier play firstbase next year? I am a big fan of the idea if we dont trade for Prince Fielder in the offseason.
I too like Ethier slightly more than Kemp this year, because of how clutch he's been. That certainly has to count for a lot. Kemp has enormous upside and should be in this conversation for years to come.
No way does Ethier deserve to be above Kemp! Kemp is Batting .315, 22 HR, 86 RBI and 28 SB. Ethier has a .285 BA, 27 HR, 87 RBI and only 6 SB. On top of that Kemp is a sure Gold Glove in center field. Ethier can't even compare to Kemp who will be a 30-30+ player this year