Everybody Is Talking About Matt Kemp While Josh Hamilton Is Having A Ridiculous Season
With the 2012 MLB season a month in, all eyes have been on Matt Kemp and his torrid start to the season. Thirty games into the season, Kemp is sporting a ridiculous stat line. .408 average, 12 home runs, 27 RBIs, 19 walks, 29 runs scored and 2 stolen bases. If he keeps up this pace, he’ll end up smashing 65 home runs, 146 RBIs, 102 walks, 156 runs scored, 11 stolen bases and hover around a .400 batting average. Likely, absolutely not. But still, it’s quite remarkable.
However, Josh Hamilton is the one we should really be paying attention to.
After crushing four home runs last night, Hamilton’s stat line is just surreal. In 27 games, Hamilton’s stat line goes a little something like this.
.406 batting average, 14 home runs, 36 RBIs, 11 walks, 25 runs scored and two stolen bases.
He’s played in three games less than Kemp but has two more home runs and seven more RBIs. So let’s look at Hamilton’s stat line should he continue what he’s started.
75 home runs, 194 RBIs, 59 walks, 135 runs scored, 11 stolen bases and he, too, would be hanging around the .400 mark.
No, it likely won’t happen. But for shits and giggles, let’s put Hamilton’s numbers up against one of the greatest steroid infused seasons of all-time, courtesy of Barry Lamar Bonds.
In 2001, Bonds batted .328 with 73 home runs, 137 RBIs, 177 walks, 129 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases.
Wow. Just wow. Sooner or later, every team will decide to pitch around Hamilton and Kemp, but it doesn’t hurt to wonder “what if.”
