Matt Kemp – “It felt like I was in AT&T Park.”

Matt Kemp is clearly struggling. The Dodgers as a team have not met early expectations. Frustration levels are high among everyone. So does that mean the fans should be booing the team and Kemp during the struggles? Matt Kemp was asked by LA Times writer T.J. Simers oh his thoughts about the booing, below are some of his quotes.

[box type=”shadow” align=”alignleft” ]”It felt like I was in AT&T Park. I’m taking a beating from the fans; It’s disappointing to get booed by our own fans, even shocking. Maybe the fans are disappointed in me for not performing, I would never boo one of my favorite players or someone on my team, As a true fan I would stick with him in the bad times as well as the good.”[/box]

Obviously fans are entitled to boo if they like, but I feel when a player is struggling as Kemp is the booing could be doing more harm. I honestly feel Kemp is playing hurt and he needs to realize that he is doing more harm to the team by him playing right now. The team’s early struggles could possibly be playing a role in why he does not want to take time off. If he did go on the Disabled List Scott Van Slyke is with the team and has shown he can produce at this level early on could see more playing time. Also prospects such as Yasiel Puig and Joc Pederson could get the call to come in and fill in as Kemp heals.

Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten was on ESPNLA this morning and basically reiterated the same sentiment. Fans are paying a lot of money to come see the games and are entitled to boo if they like, but he feels that support at this time is more helpful than booing. If you are going to tonight’s game, lets support Matt when he comes up to the plate. Give him a response like he got in 2011 when he was having the MVP type season. We all know he will come out of this eventually; lets make sure he knows he still has the support of the fans.

The rest of the article by T.J. Simers is Here.