Kemp or Howard - this year only

[swampdragon]

Pick one
Kemp - in a big park - bounces back
Howard - not a lot of support anymone

OBA, RUNS, HITS, RBIs, (total xbases plus steals-caught)

[Gregg]

Howard don't need no stinkin support.

All kidding aside if both are the same money or in a draft both available. I take Howard. I like Kemp but after last year he has issues and question marks.

[onanmasaoka]

I have Kemp on two different teams . . . so the answer is obviously Howard.

[OaklandA's]

Since your league doesn't use SB as a separate category, Kemp loses value. Howard should be the clear pick here.

[Blue&White]

If it's either/or at the same price, then it's Howard without question.

[joncarlos]

Kemp's got an edge in hits which erases any advantage Howard has in OBP. Kemp hits more XBH and steals more bases, but oh the caught stealing! I think the Phils lineup is an issue and I'd give Kemp a slight edge in R/RBI. So take Kemp.

[Sour Masher]

I agree wtih joncarlos. The Phillies line up is a concern this year, and I expect a big bounce back from Kemp. Yes, this league devalues Kemp's steals since there is no SB cat, but it devalues Howards HRs too, as there is no HR cat either. Kemp should win the combined hybrid extra base hits cat, and I think he ends up outprodcuing Howard in this format.

[overkill94]

Keep in mind that the Dodgers brought in base-stealing guru Davey Lopes this year. While it might not totally resurrect Kemp's SB%, it should at least get him closer to his 2008-2009 average of 25 net steals. His strong spring would hopefully increase his XBH total as well, but it's hard to tell with that guy.

[Gregg]

Kemp's got an edge in hits which erases any advantage Howard has in OBP. Kemp hits more XBH and steals more bases, but oh the caught stealing! I think the Phils lineup is an issue and I'd give Kemp a slight edge in R/RBI. So take Kemp.

umm....Howard had 152 hits last year in 550 abs, Kemp had 150 in 602 abs. 2009- Kemp 606aabs -180 hits. Howard 616/ 172.

I think I can live with the two year 6 hit difference for the stability of Howard.

If this was for a new 3 year deal I might feel different and go with Kemp. Although it sure seems that Kemp's name comes up a lot in trade rumors. Makes me wonder what is going on in the club house.

[overkill94]

Kemp's clashes were with all the coaches that are now gone (Torre, Bowa, and Shaffer) and things seem a lot calmer this year with the younger Mattingly at the helm. Plus, a lot of the trade rumors are other teams wishing they could get Kemp, not the Dodgers' front office trying to pawn him off.

I don't think Kemp will ever hit close to as low as the .249 he put up last year - he's too fast and hits too many balls hard for that to happen again. Look for him to bounce back to the .290-.300 range like he had the previous 2 years.

Howard's no slouch in the hits department either so the gap isn't as big as you'd think. My money would be on Kemp racking up more hits than Howard this year and I agree with Sour Masher that Kemp should be the choice in this format.

[Gregg]

Kemp's clashes were with all the coaches that are now gone (Torre, Bowa, and Shaffer) and things seem a lot calmer this year with the younger Mattingly at the helm. Plus, a lot of the trade rumors are other teams wishing they could get Kemp, not the Dodgers' front office trying to pawn him off.

I don't think Kemp will ever hit close to as low as the .249 he put up last year - he's too fast and hits too many balls hard for that to happen again. Look for him to bounce back to the .290-.300 range like he had the previous 2 years.

Howard's no slouch in the hits department either so the gap isn't as big as you'd think. My money would be on Kemp racking up more hits than Howard this year and I agree with Sour Masher that Kemp should be the choice in this format.

So you are saying he had 40-50 points of BA bad luck? And this year the law of large numbers is going to swing back his way?

Isn't it a red flag if "Kemp' clashes were with ALL the coaches that are now gone?"

I like the guy for fantasy baseball. I just think for this year Howard is less risk and he doesn't really lose much in the way of stats. In fact he could produce more.

[Gregg]

Two things:

1. Yes, his BABIP was 50 points lower than his career average in 2010.
2. Who cares if he argued with his coaches?

I still cannot fathom why so many of you give a rat's ass about "character" when playing fantasy baseball. This game is all about numbers, not personality.

Unless you think that Kemp is going to get himself thrown off the team or something (in which case you're severely deluding yourself), he could punch puppies all day long on his off days and it wouldn't matter one tiny iota in terms of fantasy.

I agree for the most part. He will not get thrown off the team. You and I have had several discussions on why his name keeps coming up for trade rumors. It is not because others want him. It seems that the Dodgers have mildly shopped him. In a keeper only league that is death.

[Gregg]

I think you have it exactly the opposite on the trade rumors. Insofar as anyone is available on a MLB team, sure Kemp could be had. Of course other teams are interested in him. You'd have to have one hell of an outfield not to be interested in acquiring Kemp.

This actually is the first off season that I haven't heard of the Dodgers shopping him since he has been up. Last year it was for a stud pitcher (a move I was against) who's name escapes me.

I am on the "Dodgers should keep Kemp side" unless of course they want to trade him to the Cubs. Then you see and old guy wearing a Cubs Kemp Jersey.

[Gregg]

For the record, I think the Kemp vs. Howard debate with Swampy's particular league parameters is extremely close. I can convince myself either way. I went for Kemp because I think he has a little more upside and is in line for a nice rebound season.

Again, I agree he might...then again he might have the same year as he did last year. Howard is rock solid. I normally like to gamble a bit. If this was 2 or 3 years I probably end up with Kemp. Just this year Howard would be the play for me.

[OaklandA's]

The category is Extra Bases, not Extra Base Hits, right? I see Howard as the better pick. Here are their totals in these categories over the last 3 years. Howard has won easily every year.

2010	OBA	Runs	Hits	RBI	XB + SB - CS
Howard	.353	87	152	108	126
Kemp	.310	82	150	89	125
					
2009	OBA	Runs	Hits	RBI	XB + SB - CS
Howard	.360	105	172	141	187
Kemp	.352	97	180	101	143
					
2008	OBA	Runs	Hits	RBI	XB + SB - CS
Howard	.339	105	153	146	178
Kemp	.340	93	176	76	126