Matt Kemp's tear with Dodgers is now breaking records

By Steve Dilbeck

April 16, 2012 12 AM PT

Get off to a ridiculous start like Matt Kemp, and historic things tend to happen.

History met up with Kemp on Monday when he was named the National League Player of the Week for the second time in as many weeks.

Kemp became the first NL player to win the back-to-back honor to start a season and the first to win three consecutive awards (dating back to the last week of 2011) since the award’s inception in 1974.

Otherwise, he just cannot get on track.

Kemp’s current numbers are a tad otherworldly. After 10 games, Kemp not only leads the triple-crown categories in the NL, but for the entire major leagues.

He leads the majors in home runs (six), RBI (16) and batting average (.487). Also in slugging percentage (1.026), hits (19) and runs (13). Alas, this slacker is going to have to pick it up if he wants to steal 50 bases, since he’s stuck at one.

Kemp, last year’s NL MVP runner-up, currently has more home runs than four entire teams (Cubs, Nationals, Phillies and Pirates).

The only other player to capture consecutive Player of the Week awards to open a season was Tony Armas, who managed it in the American League in 1981 with the Oakland A’s.

Kemp earned this week’s honors by leading the majors with these numbers: a .545 (12-for-22) batting average, four home runs, a 1.182 slugging percentage, .615 on-base percentage and 26 total bases.

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Matt Kemp’s tear with Dodgers is now breaking records