Peoria Free Press: A Matt Kemp Interview

Catching Up With Matt Kemp, A Handful On & Off The Field




The countdown is on. The Peoria Cardinals run to back-to-back Eastern Division titles begins in only nine weeks. With the countdown officially underway, we thought it would be a good time to sit down with one of 2009’s through breakout stars, OF Matt Kemp.
The last time we saw Matt Kemp he was helping lead the Cardinals to a division crown while stuffing the scorebook in every major offensive category. Kemp, who doesn’t turn 26 until the end of the season should continue to see his already impressive stats grow. With a ferocious combination of speed, power and athleticism, Kemp should be a serious contender for the MVP award in 2010.
So how does a young superstar spend his time staying in shape in the offseason? We caught up with Matt Kemp on vacation in Tijuana over the weekend.

Rey Bingo: Thanks for sitting down with me today, Matt.

Matt Kemp: No problem, always a good thing to give exposure to our team.

RB: Let’s start off with last season, how surprised were you to capture the Eastern
Division crown?

MK: Honestly, the team had high hopes coming into the season, but we quickly floundered. At first I was concerned that it was going to be another long season in the Peoria clubhouse.

RB: Is there a signature win that you can point to when you and the rest of the team realized that this team might actually be onto something?

MK: Well actually, it was a loss that got things turned around. Right after the All-Star Break we had pulled to .500 ball and were riding high, winning 4 of our last 5. We went into a series with Quebec City with some swagger, but left completely embarrassed. QC absolutely destroyed us which prompted Broyo (Bronson Arroyo) to call a team meeting. In what has got to me the most unconventional team meeting in the history of baseball, Arroyo simply picked up his guitar and did his very own rendition of Europe’s “The Final Countdown”, reminding everyone in the room that if we were to make a run, our ‘playoffs’ so to speak needed to start immediately, the following week in Golden. We went on to win 8 of our next 9 series and the rest you can say is history.

RB: Certainly a rags to riches story in 2009, but with success comes expectations. What do you foresee for the 2010 Peoria Cardinals?

MK: Well there’s absolutely no doubt that our days of sneaking up on other teams is over. I really feel like with the makeup of our roster there is absolutely no way this team doesn’t compete for the EHCC Title this season. I think our lack of experience showed in our Semi-Finals matchup with Golden last year. I think gaining that playoff experience, as well as having a lot of players that are just now coming into their prime, should only serve to improve our standing this season.

RB: What have you been doing personally to ensure that you continue to progress heading into 2010?

MK: Well, I have a new lady friend that keeps me pretty busy. Thank God Chris Brown is such a psycho because Rihanna has ensured that I will definitely be heading into 2010 in the best cardio shape of my career. Surprisingly, I have never been a huge free weights guy. I’m into yoga and finding my inner strength, with some workouts thrown in. That’s why I like to come down here and float around on my boat. Just get away from the world, find tranquility and be completely as peace going into Spring Training. Plus, I think it’s funny that Tijuana GM Peter Kantor has continued to send me chocolates, flowers, even transvestite hookers… yea, I’m not sure what he is getting at with that gift, but I continue the process of return to sender. Tijuana is a nice place to play from November – February, but I wouldn’t like an extended stay during the Spring and Summer months.

RB: Interesting. Well that is all the time we have, anything you’d like to say to the fans?

MK: Be ready for more fireworks this year. We have our whole cast coming back, as well as getting Grady (Sizemore) on the field for a full season. Definitely get your tickets now because unlike season’s past I am sure the stadium will be filled with more than just family and give-aways.