Last week I posted an article on a brief pre-game interview that I had with Dodger manager Don Mattingly on June 13 regarding Matt Kemp’s participation in the 2012 All-Star Game. In that article (entitled Mattingly Expects Kemp to “look out for the club” at All-Star Game), Mattingly said that he expected Matt to put the team’s interests ahead of participating in the All-Star Game.

Prior to the interleague series finale in Oakland on Thursday, both Mattingly and Kemp commented further on this hot subject, comments which should put fan’s anxieties and concerns to rest.

“If I’m not ready, I can’t play, but as of right now I plan on playing,” Kemp told reporters.

Matt Kemp has been doing baseball activities for over a week now. He is seen here taking a few ground balls at third base. (You don’t suppose…? Nah).

Mattingly reiterated his earlier comments that even though he would love to see Kemp participate in the July 10 All-Star Game, the team’s number one priority is to have a healthy Matt Kemp back in the line-up for the second half of the season; something that Kemp readily agrees with.

“Of course I want to play but I’ve got to do what’s best for the team,” Kemp said. “I’ve got to be ready for the second half.”

Kemp prepares to enter the cage for BP.

Kemp added that being the National League’s top vote-getter makes playing in the All-Star Game all that much more important to him. “It means a lot. It shows that the fans really appreciate the way that I play the game. I thank them for that. That’s pretty tight right there, so I’m going to definitely try to do whatever it takes to play in the game.”

With regards to the 2012 State Farm Home Run Derby (of which Kemp is the National League team captain), Mattingly said that Kemp may compete in the Home Run Derby even if he isn’t active to play in the game.