By Thom Henninger
Matt Kemp has seen most of his 2009 plate appearances from the No. 7 spot in the Dodgers lineup. One might expect him to be batting higher in the order, considering he ranks second on the team to Andre Ethier in runs, home runs, extra-base hits, total bases and RBIs.
It’s unlikely manager Joe Torre will be making any significant changes to his lineup, however, since the Dodgers have the best record in the National League. And certainly Kemp’s production makes him one of the best No. 7 hitters in the game.
On the other hand, perhaps Kemp should be the Dodgers’ leadoff man. Yes, he’s a big run producer, but among his teammates who qualify for the batting title, he is first with a .371 on-base percentage.
There’s an even more convincing argument for putting Kemp at the top of the order. In 2009, no major leaguer is better at getting on base to open an inning. Among players with at least 50 plate appearances leading off an inning, Kemp tops the leader board with a .464 average (40-for-87). He’s also drawn 10 walks as the first batter, and his .515 OBP ranks first among this group, too.
Kemp won’t surface at the top of the order, of course, even though he’s a better fit for the job than Rafael Furcal and his .323 OBP. That mark is .305 since the All-Star break, but Torre isn’t likely to turn his lineup upside down.
It’s noteworthy, though, that the Dodgers as a team are the best in the National League at reaching base to open an inning. With Kemp leading the way in those situations, Los Angeles has the league’s highest team batting average (.293) and OBP (.353).
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I don’t know what’s more surprising – Kemp’s impressive numbers leading off an inning or Furcal’s equally unimpressive OBP.
Furcal has quietly had a pretty poor season. His .256 average is the worst of his career and his .323 OBP is pretty close. He’s not getting on base, not hitting for any power and not stealing bases. The Dodgers signed him for three years and $30 million last winter. That’s not looking like a very good deal right about now.
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