30/30 Under 30

This week Ian Kinsler did something only 33 other players in the history of Major League Baseball have ever done. That might sound like a lot, but if you remove the steroid era players Kinsler joins the company of guys like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Bobby Bonds. In fact before the late ‘80s only 6 players had accomplished 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same season.

Kinsler becomes the second Jewish player to join the 30/30 club. The first was Shawn Green in 1998 for the Toronto Blue Jays. That year Green hit 35 home runs and swiped 35 bases. But the difference between Kinsler and Green is that Kinsler has the potential to do this year in and year out. He is not an overpowering guy. He just has a beautiful swing that allows him to keep his head on the ball and drive it out. Now we know Green also had the power to jack one, but Green never had the wheels that Kinsler has. Kinsler is probably the fast and most threatening Jewish base stealers ever.

Two players joined the 30/30 club in 2008, Grady Sizemore and Hanley Ramirez. This year only Ramirez has the chance repeat those numbers. Sizemore most definitely will not (as most Sizemore fantasy owners know he is not having his best season). Matt Kemp is also threatening to join the 30/30 club and stands 4 homers shy of the mark as of today.

This is truly a great accomplishment for any player, Jewish or not, and our hats off to Ian Kinsler. This young second basement has joined the elite major leaguers. He is a fantasy owners dream having both speed and power. I see no reason why Kinsler can’t be a 30/30 guy for many seasons to come.

Although TGR’s polls showed that Kevin Youkilis was this year's best baseball player (winning the Hank Greenberg Award - MVP of TGR) I want to publicly write that I voted for Kinsler myself. While Braun and Youkilis have had tremendous years and their teams have been successful, the Rangers came out of nowhere. They have surprised everyone as a threat to win the wild card. And with their golden boy Josh Hamilton not putting up his 2008 numbers, much of the dirty work has been because of Kinsler. So wild card contention, team leader, and the 30/30 club made Kinsler my pick.

And Let Us Say…Amen.
-Jeremy Fine
Photo by: Richard Bartz