Kemp's Baseball Season is Over

Nooooo! 

So, I spent the last several days in the "City of Sin" in order to partake in some general revelry and drunken debauchery with some fellow Kings fans at Frozen Fury.  That's an annual preseason event that ushers in the new hockey season.  I'll be sure to share some pics from that trip in the next few days. 

Anyway, my temporary escape from Dodger Baseball meant that I missed the Dodgers Annual Blogger Night at the stadium for the first time since its inception in 2008, and the entire final series of the 2013 season against the Rockies.

Needless to say, I missed a lot, but I had no idea how much until an hour ago.

It was declared earlier today that Matt Kemp's 2013 Baseball season is officially over.

Kemp ruled out for playoffs.
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) September 29, 2013

Kemp said ankle could break if he continues playing.
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) September 29, 2013

Per Steve Dilbeck at The LA Times:

Kemp, who came in second for the National League most-valuable-player award in 2011, saw his difficult, injury-filled 2013 season come to an end when the ankle that had sent him to the disabled list back on July 6 flared up again.

Dr. Neal ElAttrache said the talus bone in his left ankle, one of the major weight-bearing bones in the foot, was swollen and in danger of fracturing.

“We have to protect Matt,” ElAttrache said.

Matt Kemp last played on Friday, but sat out the following game due to waht was thought to be a minor flare up in his ankle.

“I felt good going home,” he said. “I woke up the next morning and my ankle was really stiff and sore. Usually, you wake up, you walk around and everything is good. And I got to the stadium and it just felt really, really, really bad.

“It’s weird to me because I was playing and everything felt good. I didn’t twist my ankle or anything during the game. Just crazy. Really crazy.”

This is horrible news and only strains an already ailing lineup that is starting to look woefully short of outfielders.  Andre Ethier is nursing a bad ankle and has not played in the field since Friday, September 13th.  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA:

"He is purposely not running the bases, in an effort to give his ankle maximum rest," said Dodgers director of medical services Stan Conte. "I really truly have to wait to see him Tuesday to see. We have to evaluate him day by day."

In a year that has been filled with so many pitfalls, this loss just adds another hurdle that has to be crossed.  Considering what this team has accomplished so far, I see no reason why they can't make that leap.  Still, this is a great loss.

Tony Jackson at Dodger Scribe has a video up featuring Dodger surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache speaking about Kemp's injury.  Watch it here.

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