Wasn't sure whether to use this icon or the Giants icon, but since he's announcing his retirement at Dodger Stadium, I figured the former is more appropriate at the moment.
Jeff Kent, who built a strong Hall of Fame case while setting the Major League Baseball record for career home runs by a second baseman, will formally announce his retirement Thursday at Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles Dodgers said.
Kent's 351 career home runs as a second baseman are 74 more than Ryne Sandberg's total.
Kent spent 17 years in the majors -- the last four with the Dodgers -- tying for 20th on baseball's all-time list with 560 doubles, while ranking 47th with 1,518 RBI and 62nd with 377 home runs.
His career batting average is .290. He drove in more than 100 runs eight times and had at least 20 home runs in a season 12 times. He won the National League MVP award with the San Francisco Giants in 2000, made five All-Star teams and won four Silver Slugger awards at second base.
I like Jeff Kent and all, but if he goes to the HoF, it needs to be as a Giant, where he made most of his career. And besides that, there might still be a couple of...well...offended Dodger fans out there. No one should say anything derogatory about Vin Scully...EVER!
The day he reaches the hall is the day I stop watching baseball. The man was only a five time all-star, broke .300 only three times, never broke the NL top three for RBIs in a year, was only in the top five for MVP one time (the year he won it,) and his OPS suddenly shot up right around the time that the other (better?) 'roiders went up.
Pass.
I don't mean to seem like I care about material things (like a social status,) I just want four walls and adobe slabs for my girls
Originally posted by Super Shane SpearThe day he reaches the hall is the day I stop watching baseball.
Pass.
He's an easy first ballot, so enjoy the next five years.
As of 2/28/05: 101 pounds since December 7, 2004 OFFICIAL THREE-MONTH COUNT: 112 pounds on March 9, 2005 OFFICIAL SIX-MONTH COUNT: 142 pounds on June 8, 2005 OFFICIAL ONE YEAR COUNT: 187 pounds on December 7, 2005 As of 2/27/06: 202 pounds "I've lost a heavyweight" As of 7/31/06: 224 pounds As of 12/7/09 (four years out): Still 210 pounds down! Now announcing for NBWA Championship Wrestling! *2008 NBWA Personality of the Year* www.IlliniHQ.com home of DWS Sportsnight PODCASTS, the E-Files and downstate radio home of thecubsfan!
Originally posted by BigDaddyLocoBaseball just lost one of it's finer mustaches
I bow to your greatness. That alone gets him into the HoF.
Eh, the quality of mustaches in MLB has gone down tremendously these days. If Kent had to go against the likes of Ecks or Rollie, his 'stache would be blown out of the water.
He's definitely a HOF'er. When you have equal of better batting stats to Ryne Sandberg (who I consider the class of the field for 2nd basemen), you have to at least have strong consideration. The only thing is that I'm not sure he'll get in the first ballot like Sandberg did or Roberto Alomar is likely to do next year. For that, I blame his defense (decent but not amazingly memorable like the other two) and his character (a total jerk teammate).
I think he should go in, but don't think it's a slam dunk. If he gets in it won't be the end of the world. I'd say if he gets in it should take a few years(even though I HATE that, if someone is a HOFer, they're a HOFer). Sure, he put up great numbers as a 2B, but if he had played one of the corner outfield or infield positions his numbers wouldn't look as great. And he was average at best defensively. Also, when looking at his stats you notice something. Nearly all his best seasons he had one Barry Lamar Bonds protecting him in the lineup. He was never even the best player on his team. IMO he is a HOFer, but not a first-ballot shoo-in.
Supersalvadoran, while I agree with you that Sandberg is one of the all-timers at 2nd, I'd put Eddie Collins, Alomar, Rogers Hornsby, Jackie Robinson, and Nap Lajoie ahead of him all-time. Maybe it's the Cardinal fan in me.
Originally posted by MUTigermask Supersalvadoran, while I agree with you that Sandberg is one of the all-timers at 2nd, I'd put Eddie Collins, Alomar, Rogers Hornsby, Jackie Robinson, and Nap Lajoie ahead of him all-time. Maybe it's the Cardinal fan in me.
(edited by MUTigermask on 22.1.09 1119)
Fair enough, those guys were really good as well. I'm just used to picking Sandberg because I actually got to see him. It's kind of the same reason I choose Mike Schmidt over Brooks Robinson as the best 3rd baseman, even though I've heard how much better he was defensively.
Did anyone ever believe that when Toronto traded Kent and Ryan Thompsen to the Mets for David Cone, it was Toronto that traded away the Hall of Fame player? For some reason, I don't think the Blue Jays regret that trade.
Originally posted by MUTigermaskSure, he put up great numbers as a 2B, but if he had played one of the corner outfield or infield positions his numbers wouldn't look as great.
his most similar players:
Carlton Fisk (881) * Ivan Rodriguez (861) Yogi Berra (848) * Johnny Bench (829) * Ted Simmons (824) Dave Parker (824) Jim Rice (823) * Luis Gonzalez (815) Ryne Sandberg (809) * Andres Galarraga (802)
Only one of which was a middle infielder: HoFer Sandberg.
Originally posted by MUTigermask And he was average at best defensively.
Lifetime FA .980 to the avarage .982, but a lifetime range factor of 4.71 to the average 4.33. Above average overall, I'd say.
Originally posted by MUTigermaskHe was never even the best player on his team.
A. Except when he was MVP of the entire league that one time. b. Being the second-best offensive player on a team that has quite possibly the best offensive player of our lifetime isn;t a bad thing.
Originally posted by MUTigermask IMO he is a HOFer, but not a first-ballot shoo-in.
If he's not, then they should disband the voting committee.
As of 2/28/05: 101 pounds since December 7, 2004 OFFICIAL THREE-MONTH COUNT: 112 pounds on March 9, 2005 OFFICIAL SIX-MONTH COUNT: 142 pounds on June 8, 2005 OFFICIAL ONE YEAR COUNT: 187 pounds on December 7, 2005 As of 2/27/06: 202 pounds "I've lost a heavyweight" As of 7/31/06: 224 pounds As of 12/7/09 (four years out): Still 210 pounds down! Now announcing for NBWA Championship Wrestling! *2008 NBWA Personality of the Year* www.IlliniHQ.com home of DWS Sportsnight PODCASTS, the E-Files and downstate radio home of thecubsfan!
Originally posted by Super Shane SpearWell, that's a little much, considering 83% of ESPN's Sportnation says he's not a first ballot HoFer after over 33k votes.
All that tells me is that 83% of ESPN's Sportsnation is wrong.
As of 2/28/05: 101 pounds since December 7, 2004 OFFICIAL THREE-MONTH COUNT: 112 pounds on March 9, 2005 OFFICIAL SIX-MONTH COUNT: 142 pounds on June 8, 2005 OFFICIAL ONE YEAR COUNT: 187 pounds on December 7, 2005 As of 2/27/06: 202 pounds "I've lost a heavyweight" As of 7/31/06: 224 pounds As of 12/7/09 (four years out): Still 210 pounds down! Now announcing for NBWA Championship Wrestling! *2008 NBWA Personality of the Year* www.IlliniHQ.com home of DWS Sportsnight PODCASTS, the E-Files and downstate radio home of thecubsfan!
Originally posted by thecubsfanIs there any particular reason he got much better at age 30?
A conspiracy theorist would say it's because he started playing in San Francisco. However, it seems unlikely that Kent would have forged the personal bonds needed for any of his teammates to tell him where to get the good stuff.
Also, with regards to the David Cone trade, as a 12 year old Jays fan I was fine with getting Cone, but I did NOT want to give up Kent. I thought he was WAY better than Kelly Gruber.
It is the policy of the documentary crew to remain true observers and not interfere with its subjects.
If you wanna reach the Co-op, boy, you gotta get by me.
Originally posted by thecubsfanIs there any particular reason he got much better at age 30?
A conspiracy theorist would say it's because he started playing in San Francisco. However, it seems unlikely that Kent would have forged the personal bonds needed for any of his teammates to tell him where to get the good stuff.
Also, with regards to the David Cone trade, as a 12 year old Jays fan I was fine with getting Cone, but I did NOT want to give up Kent. I thought he was WAY better than Kelly Gruber.
Good luck convincing any Jays' fan of THAT at the time. Gruber was untouchable. A lot of those World Series Heroes have immortal status 'round here, even the craptacular Pat Borders.
Originally posted by thecubsfanIs there any particular reason he got much better at age 30?
A conspiracy theorist would say it's because he started playing in San Francisco. However, it seems unlikely that Kent would have forged the personal bonds needed for any of his teammates to tell him where to get the good stuff.
Also, with regards to the David Cone trade, as a 12 year old Jays fan I was fine with getting Cone, but I did NOT want to give up Kent. I thought he was WAY better than Kelly Gruber.
Good luck convincing any Jays' fan of THAT at the time. Gruber was untouchable. A lot of those World Series Heroes have immortal status 'round here, even the craptacular Pat Borders.
I worship all former champion Jays, with the notable exceptions of Kelly Gruber and Jack Morris.
Y'know, Borders DID win a World Series MVP...
It is the policy of the documentary crew to remain true observers and not interfere with its subjects.
If you wanna reach the Co-op, boy, you gotta get by me.
Originally posted by MUTigermaskSure, he put up great numbers as a 2B, but if he had played one of the corner outfield or infield positions his numbers wouldn't look as great.
his most similar players:
Carlton Fisk (881) * Ivan Rodriguez (861) Yogi Berra (848) * Johnny Bench (829) * Ted Simmons (824) Dave Parker (824) Jim Rice (823) * Luis Gonzalez (815) Ryne Sandberg (809) * Andres Galarraga (802)
Only one of which was a middle infielder: HoFer Sandberg.
Which sort of goes to my point that if he wasn't a 2nd basemen he wouldn't be considered a shoo-in. All the guys on that list who are corner players are either not in the Hall, or just got in after a lot of tries(Jim Rice). The ones who are in besides Sandberg were great catchers who would have had a harder time getting in with their offensive numbers if they had played a corner position.
Originally posted by Eddie Famous
Originally posted by MUTigermask And he was average at best defensively.
Lifetime FA .980 to the avarage .982, but a lifetime range factor of 4.71 to the average 4.33. Above average overall, I'd say.
Okay, maybe above average at best, but still never great.
Originally posted by Eddie Famous
Originally posted by MUTigermaskHe was never even the best player on his team.
A. Except when he was MVP of the entire league that one time. b. Being the second-best offensive player on a team that has quite possibly the best offensive player of our lifetime isn;t a bad thing.
Yeah, he won that one MVP, but it was very debatable that his teamate Bonds was the real MVP. Bonds was superior in every statistic except batting average and RBI. Depends on which statistics you prefer I guess. But I'd say that Bonds was still the superior player(of course they were probably BOTH on somethin if ya get my drift).
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