Thoughts on Matt Kemp?...Hold or Sell?

[HPC]

What are some opinions of him from guys who get to see him play everyday?

I like his potential alot, but not sure what else to expect from him.

Is now the time to sell him when his prices are rising, or wait until the season starts and see if he can replicate last season?

 

[FromKoufaxtoEdwin]

I dont think you would be wrong in either situation. His stuff, or at least his 2005 chrome stuff, is selling really well. Regulars are around $60, an xfractor sold for $120 yesterday, and there isnt a ton on the bay right now. If you cashed out now, assuming you bought in well, you will make a nice profit. On the other hand, he is a complete and total stud that has improved every year (more walks, fewer strikeouts, much better approach at the plate, huge improvement in center field). If he continues on that trend, he could have a dynamic year on the field, and especially with his relationship with Rihanna, off of the field. If you think he will turn in a 30/30 year with 100 RBI (the numbers the hobby loves), then I'd hold. If you think he will just replicate what he did last year or regress, then sell. I believe in his talent and the advanced numbers, and everything leads to him improving his play on the field into superstar levels.

 

[rico08]

Sell if you don't think he'll do better than 2009 when he won a Gold Glove in center field and a Silver Slugger while spending a lot of time batting 6th.

 

[chompsmcgee]

I believe in his talent and the advanced numbers, and everything leads to him improving his play on the field into superstar levels.

Yeah, what he said.

 

[Bigfan5]

He's a legitimate 30/30 threat and looks to improve as he's not yet in his prime. But, and the big but for all Dodgers players is that they don't always sell that well. I'd sell now and make a profit if you bought in well. I love Kemp and Kershaw for that matter and even though they've been very successful at early ages they don't always seem to sell like other similar prospects or young players.

 

[vetsgt02]

I think he is Ken griffey JR good. Hopefully without the injurys but honestly he is a monster and one of the nicest people I ever met.

 

[bigredmachine]

Sell. He is living the Hollywood lifestyle now. He can only go down.

 

[vetsgt02]

Sell. He is living the Hollywood lifestyle now. He can only go down.

Your crazy they guy busted his butt this offseason working with Torrie Hunter and Shefield. You never hear of him over doing it at the club and he does a good job of keeping his nose clean.

 

[pitt23]

vetsgt02 - I love Matt Kemp, I really do, but the comparison to Griffey is kinda silly. I'll grant you that he didn't start playing full time until last year but ...

Kemp at age 24 - 61 career homeruns, 1 silver slugger and 1 gold glove

Griffey at age 24 - 172 career homeruns, 3 silver sluggers and 5 gold gloves.

Griffey Jr. is the greatest complete baseball player that I have been able to see in person. While Kemp looks like he is a star in the making, comparisons to Griffey seem a little premature. He reminds me a lot of Larry Walker or an Andre Dawson who still had knees.

 

[XdanX]

I honestly don think its a bad idea to even buy at this time. His base chrome autos did do $100 for a couple months and i can see them doing that again. I also wouldent disregard his 05 TCU stuff, we all remember what bruce, braun and zimmerman stuff did when they took off.

 

[vetsgt02]

vetsgt02 - I love Matt Kemp, I really do, but the comparison to Griffey is kinda silly. I'll grant you that he didn't start playing full time until last year but ...

Kemp at age 24 - 61 career homeruns, 1 silver slugger and 1 gold glove

Griffey at age 24 - 172 career homeruns, 3 silver sluggers and 5 gold gloves.

Griffey Jr. is the greatest complete baseball player that I have been able to see in person. While Kemp looks like he is a star in the making, comparisons to Griffey seem a little premature. He reminds me a lot of Larry Walker or an Andre Dawson who still had knees.

it is unfair to go by stats by age. Griffy broke thorugh at a yearly age and the game has changed alot since then making it alot harder for players to break through like he did. I am simply saying he could be as big a star as Griffey

 

[Hollywood]

Base chrome didn't reach $100 in recent months, but there is no reason why they shouldn't be there. $60 is still undervalued when compared to all these prospects selling for more that have multiple rookie auto's etc. Pretty good when your only full season as CF you win GG and SS. He played half the season in RF 2 years ago. His power really came around 2nd half last season. Avg was above .300 all year until he slumped badly the last 10 days. Stays out of trouble, doesn't drink just cares about being the best. If his stuff finally does blow up, very interesting to see what BGS parallels do. There's only 3 9.5 Xfracotors out of 40 graded, 4 9.5 Blues out of 36 graded, 4 9.5 Golds of 16 graded. No Pristine at all in his entire chrome run. 11 Gems better than Ref doesn't leave much out there not in collections.

 

[XdanX]

Base chrome didn't reach $100 in recent months, but there is no reason why they shouldn't be there. $60 is still undervalued when compared to all these prospects selling for more that have multiple rookie auto's etc. Pretty good when you're only full season as CF you win GG and SS. He played half the season in RF 2 years ago. His power really came around 2nd half last season. Avg was above .300 all year until he slumped badly the last 10 days. Stays out of trouble, doesn't drink just cares about being the best. If his stuff finally does blow up, very interesting to see what BGS parallels do. There's only 3 9.5 Xfracotors out of 40 graded, 4 9.5 Blues out of 36 graded, 4 9.5 Golds of 16 graded. No Pristine at all in his entire chrome run. 11 Gems better than Ref doesn't leave much out there not in collections.

Didnt say the recently did that much but i know they did cause I sold two at that lever and also l have goten 150 on a refractor.

 

[pitt23]

vetsgt02 - I love Matt Kemp, I really do, but the comparison to Griffey is kinda silly. I'll grant you that he didn't start playing full time until last year but ...

Kemp at age 24 - 61 career homeruns, 1 silver slugger and 1 gold glove

Griffey at age 24 - 172 career homeruns, 3 silver sluggers and 5 gold gloves.

Griffey Jr. is the greatest complete baseball player that I have been able to see in person. While Kemp looks like he is a star in the making, comparisons to Griffey seem a little premature. He reminds me a lot of Larry Walker or an Andre Dawson who still had knees.

it is unfair to go by stats by age. Griffy broke thorugh at a yearly age and the game has changed alot since then making it alot harder for players to break through like he did. I am simply saying he could be as big a star as Griffey

there are some merits to your argument -

10 youngest players in 1989 - (includes Griffey, Juan Gonzalez, Sammy Sosa, Gary Sheffield, Kevin Appier, and a few others)
19, 19, 19, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 21, 21
Average age of a MLB position player in 1989 28.5 years old.

10 youngest players in 2009 -
20, 21, 21, 21, 22, 22, 22, 22, 22, 23
Average age of a MLB position player in 2009 28.8 years old.

I just think that if you are ready to be a big league player then you are going to be at the big league level. But it really is a shame that Grady Little was in love with Juan Pierre .331 OBP in 2007 - Kemp should have been playing every day.

 

[MarlinsManiac20]

I would buy 1 blue or X and keep it for a while Not like 10 base and 30 Refs not a hoard but one or two and if they climb nicely then pick up still if there cheap enough :mrgreen:

 

[sheetskout]

There's no reason to sell on Matt Kemp right now. Not a substantial one anyhow. Hold until he gets hot or makes the AS team. He'll be hard pressed to win an MVP with the likes of Pujols, Fielder, Wright, Hanley etc.

Hold at least until then....or wait to see if they make the playoffs.

 

[marterburn]

Let me start with: I don't follow his 05 autos. I will never be able to afford it considering my collecting habits.

His cards in general have undoubtedly been on the rise. He has a TON of autos there, so that holds the general value of them down to an extent. His 06 (RC) autos command a premium over more recent years and have risen in the past year significantly.

But, his 09 TTT cards right now sell for as much as or more than they did right after release, there was no cool-down. The same goes for other premium branded products.