Matt Kemp

The Los Angeles Dodgers are approaching a pivotal stretch in the 2010 season. The next 11 out of 17 games the team will play will be against division opponents.

The 2010 baseball season has been a fiesta thus far for these outfielders.

As of Cinco de Mayo, the statistics of these amigos speak for themselves.

When they aren’t pushing their teammates across the dish, they are spending their time on the lawn fielding flies and throwing out hopeful base runners.

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I know what you’re thinking.

“All Stars? It’s only the beginning of May!”

Well, believe it or not, All Star voting is well underway. MLB opened the ballots for this year’s game in Anaheim on April 20th, the earliest in the league’s history!

Before you fill out your ballot, let me show you who I think should represent the National League in this summer’s showdown with the American League.

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There may be cause for panic in Tinsel Town, as the Boys in Blue are off to a rough start, but no need to sell the farm just yet.

The Dodgers still have a lot to live for, and a lot to look forward to.
So far 2010 has been marked by poor defense, streaking hitting and pitching that looks like it fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

The Dodgers are off to an 8-13 record entering a nine game homestand. The road has been rough on the Dodgers, but then again home still doesn't feel like home.

When watching the Los Angeles Dodgers' Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, shades of past glory in California come shining through.

Remember the days of Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco in Oakland? I don't...I was born in the 80's, but I've seen the footage.

Just watching two players electrify a crowd like McGwire and Canseco did draws parallels to today in Chavez Ravine. Add to the beat Silver Slugger Awards for two-thirds of the Dodgers outfield, and the stage is set for a new slugger-duo dynasty.

With the first game of the MLB season tonight and the full slate kicking off tomorrow, it's time for everyone to make their picks for the season.

NL East: Phillies

The Phillies are the consensus choice to win the National League East for the fourth year in a row. Roy Halladay could win 25 games with that offense backing him up. Their lineup is still one of the best in baseball, and their rotation is good enough to get them back on top of the division.

Matt Kemp and Rihanna are still in Mexico, and they don't care who knows it. The two were romantically linked earlier this week, and those reports seem to be right on the money judging by these latest pics. The two are pulling no punches, and have no problem playing to the camera. The life of a professional baseball player, and that of a pop princess. Does it get any better than this?

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Thus far, the offseason for the Los Angeles Dodgers has been mired in speculation about the divorce of Frank and Jamie McCourt.

Does the team have enough expendable money to fill their roster holes? 

Will Frank have to sell the team to a third party? 

Is this organization dedicated to winning even with the front office distractions? 

But no amount of off the field drama can sour the recognition being earned by Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp.

The National League MVP will be announced this week, and it will undoubtedly be handed to Albert Pujols.

With this year's race all but locked up, I wanted to take a look at a player who I consider to be the front-runner for MVP in 2010. 

At 25 years old, Matt Kemp has already put up impressive numbers that rank up there with some of the elite names in baseball history. 

By Ryan of The Sportmeisters

About The Philadelphia Phillies:

The Phillies march into the NLCS by virtue of winning a four game series against the Colorado Rockies.

In the NLDS, the Phillies were led by six players hitting above .300 in the series.  Leading the charge were RF Jayson Werth (.357, two home runs) and Shane Victorino (.353, home run).