2012 has been a lackluster year to be sure for the Dodgers, but they have two very special players in Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw. Both can do something this year what is being called by some, impossible: they can be the first teammates of a sub-.500 team to win both the MVP and Cy Young awards in the same season.
Remarkable as it may be, since 1956 (when the Cy Young was started), teammates have won both the MVP and Cy Young in the same season 22 times. Twice, in 1990 and 1984, it was done in both leagues. In fact between 1956 and 1993, it happened 21 times…it was actually quite a regular event. Why is it so impossible then? OK, I’ll tell you. Because the Dodgers are on their way to a losing season. Never has it been done by a team that didn’t at least make the playoffs. Think about it, how can it be possible for both the MVP and Cy Young to play on the same team…a losing team??? That’s what Kemp and Kershaw have to overcome to win these awards that both so truly deserve.
Interesting, positive-leaning factoid: the Dodgers have done it more times (5) than any other team.
Kershaw has been the most consistent starter in the NL all year. Yes, the “Phillie 3″ have more notoriety, after all they are on the east coast and the Phillies are one of ESPN’s darlings. Honestly, it wouldn’t be a felony if Roy Holliday won it again and Cliff Lee has delivered the goods as well. Ian Kennedy from the Diamondbacks has been getting some mention lately due to his win total. All three of the above have similar stats to Kershaw and in some cases have better numbers.Holliday has more complete games and has half as many BB’s in almost as many IP. Lee has 5 shutouts and also less BB’s in similar IP. Kennedy has as many wins. Cole Hamels has an incredible WHIP of 0.97 and his BAA of .211 is the same as Kershaw’s. Even Yovanni Gallardo (15 wins) and Craig Kimbrel (40 saves and 1.70 ERA) will get some Cy Young votes simply because they pitch for playoff-bound teams. There then is the rub, all the pitchers I named above are headed to the playoffs…except Kershaw.
It is a similar situation for Kemp and maybe even a more impossible task when you think of how much more associated the MVP award is associated with winning than the Cy Young. The two classic examples of which are Steve Carlton in 1972 pitching for an even worse Phillie team than the Dodgers are now and winning the Cy Young. While in 1988, ironically enough, Kirk Gibson won the MVP while only posting average numbers but leading, in spirit and guts mostly, the Dodgers to that evermore-fading-into-the-past, classic World Series win that we all remember.
Kemp has been nails all year long. Top 5 in every major offensive stat, leading in many at different times of the season. Currently, he is tied for the NL lead in HR, 2nd in SL% and RBI, tied for 2nd in SB, 3rd in hits, 4th in OPS and runs scored and finally, 5th in BA. None of this even takes into account the clutch hits or the Gold Glove (once again) defense he has played in CF.
No one in the league can match those types of stats. Yet there more than a few other MVP candidates. Obviously, most are also playing on playoff-bound teams. Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun of the Brewers, Shane Victorino of the Phillies, Justin Upton of Arizona and Brian McCann of the Braves are all deserving of consideration. Joey Votto will garner votes, deservedly so. Lance Berkman and Matt Holliday, both of the Cardinals will get some votes as well. The point here being there is intense competition for MVP this year and Matt Kemp is no shoe-in.
In a year that many Dodger fans want to forget, and with so many forgettable and regrettable images both on and off the field, there are at least two reasons to keep watching. Thank you Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw for giving us a reason to still be proud of being Dodger fans, regardless if either of you win either of the awards.