Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent has never been known as the most congenial guy on the planet. If I were to describe Jeff's personality in one word, well, one word that I can use here, I'd take cantankerous. The dude just gets mad at everything. He's like the old man next door always yelling at you to get off his lawn or turn the damn music down.Jeff's fought with teammates, most memorably Barry Bonds, and has a general disdain of all things media. One member of the media that's generally been considered untouchable though is Dodgers play-by-play man and living legend Vin Scully.
Well, like a lot of people following the Dodgers, Scully has said during Dodgers games that Kent hitting third in front of the newly acquired Manny Ramirez has really helped Jeff out. Well, after Jeff talked to the T.J. Simers about what Vin and others have been saying, Scully was no longer untouchable.
"Vin Scully talks too much," Kent said.
Now that's funny, the guy who normally doesn't say much, this time saying way too much.
"You can't say that," I told Kent, and he said he had just spoken to 200 women (at a Dodgers function) "and I told them the same thing, and they laughed.Still, even though Kent was only taking a playful jab at Scully and his opinion, he went on to make it clear that the idea he's a better hitter now that he's hitting in front of Manny is idiotic.
"We all love you, Vin," Kent added with a mischievous grin, "but you still talk too much."
"Scully is making the same point everyone else is making," I said. "He says the stats indicate you are having success hitting behind Ramirez -- tell me that isn't the case."And then, just for good measure, Jeff goes after Vin one more time.
"See my answer to the first question," said Kent, and sometimes you wonder if he sleeps with his bed against a wall forcing him to always wake up on the wrong side. "Listen, I'm so tired of talking about this stuff. It diminishes my whole career and all the hard work. I take it as an insult.
"I'm [a man! I'm] 40. You don't get better when you are 40.
"It's so pathetic. You guys write about things happening in a week's time. That's why we don't like you. Baseball is a six-month game.
"Manny was only hitting .300 in Boston with 20 home runs," Kent said, as a prelude to the sarcastic kicker. "And he's doing way better than that here -- so I'm helping Manny."
"I've been here four years and I have never seen Vin Scully down here in the clubhouse," Kent said. "How does Vin Scully know me? How does Vin Scully know Derek Lowe?"To be fair, it's pretty obvious that Kent's remarks about Scully are meant in jest, but I don't get why he's so adamant about the fact that Manny's presence in the lineup doesn't help him. There's no pitcher in the National League that's going to want to walk Kent to get to Manny, and that leads to a lot more good pitches to hit for Kent, and he's hitting them.
Yes he deserves the credit for getting the hits, but to act as though Manny's presence has no effect on anything is just stupid. I have a feeling Jeff could be getting attacked by five grizzly bears and if somebody came to his aid by shooting the bears, Kent would then yell at the guy. "I could have taken them! I don't need your help!"
It's kind of sad, really.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-17-2008 @ 2:39PM
Phil said...
People are always trying to find ways to explain Kent's inexplicable behavior. It is easy. Jeff Kent is an idiot. It is that simple. As a Dodger fan of 40 years, I cannot wait until he is no longer a Dodger. Kent thinks that he is the key to the Dodgers but statistically Kent's production is nearly identical that of Andre Eithier (a part time player).
Eithier is a solid young player who should start each game. Jeff Kent is an overrated, cranky old man whose only "Hall of Fame" credential is that he hit relatively well while playing second base. It is time for the Dodgers to acquire a second baseman that can play defense and who cares about the Dodgers (two things that Kent refuses to do).
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8-17-2008 @ 4:06PM
bridgehome said...
What's wrong with Kent speaking his mind. He has paid his dues. The first thing I like about Kent is that he didn't kiss Bond's butt like everyone else. He is one hell of a ball player and as far as I know has never been accused of taking roids. Scully is a nice old man but the trouble with a lot of old farts like him is that they never know when to leave and give some one else a chance to earn a living which is becoming pretty hard to do these days. The game of baseball could use a few more Jeff Kents-- some people with credibility and integrity. Finally, I am not Jeff Kent's agent or uncle.
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8-20-2008 @ 12:14AM
LADeb54 said...
You must be really young or else be a Giants fan. Those could be the only possible reasons you'd make such an ignorant statement.
8-20-2008 @ 5:04PM
CR said...
Yeah, youre a giant fan alright, a Giant fan of being a complete idiot. People like you always play the victim and expect something great to happen to them without doing anything. You're probably in and out of jobs and wait by your phone all day waiting for someone to call and offer you their executive position that they have worked so hard for. Get over yourself. Vin Scully is more of a Dodger than anyone wearing the uniform today, and any real dodger fan knows that. I actually feel sorry for the person that replaces Vin, because no one can fill his shoes.
By the way, McDonalds is hiring!!
9-05-2008 @ 12:38AM
Mike said...
Dude, you're kidding right? Vin Scully - best of ALL TIME....even if you are n ot a Dodger fan you have to respect him and consider him sacred.........Jeff Kent (as Berkman said) "hates everyone"......Berkman is as nice a guy as you'd want to meet or play with and I'm not a Houston fan at all. That said, Kent finds new ways to proclaim his idiocy in the public eye, no matter how old and more "mature" he is suppose to grow. And we all thought Bonds was the biggest tool in the SF clubhouse all those years. Maybe it would have been nice (after all) if Bonds had actually put his ass through that dugout wall before everyone pulled him off.............
8-17-2008 @ 7:23PM
Lakergregg said...
To bridgehome, you sir are a dick.
Obviously you don't live in the L.A. area or watch Dodgers games. If you did you'd know that Vin Scully doesn't work every inning or every game anymore and hasn't for a while now, therefore the Dodgers employ around 47 other guys to do radio and television play by play and analysis. Combined none of these guys can hold Vin's jock strap.
Secondly, to favor Jeff Kent over Vin Scully you must be a real A-HOLE, congrats you sir are a real A-HOLE.
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8-17-2008 @ 11:13PM
mark A said...
why should this be a revelation as to what kent said. Lance Berkman , a few years ago, put it into proper perspective: " jeff kent does not like anybody."
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8-18-2008 @ 10:22AM
Jon L said...
I live in Nashville, TN (lifetime Tennessean) and have no allegiances to the Dodgers; but I consider Vin Scully to be the greatest announcer in the history of sports.
Jeff Kent has proven again and again over the years to have little or no character. Same with Manny Ramirez. How sad that guys like this continue to prosper in professional sports.
Vin Scully has more class in his left pinkie then Jeff Kent has in his entire body.
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8-21-2008 @ 4:22PM
doug brimmer said...
Kent, like bridgehome is an A-HOLE
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9-03-2008 @ 3:21PM
fez said...
Kent does not care what anyone thinks-and I dont care - The giants were idiots for letting him get away and keeping Bonds
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9-03-2008 @ 4:29PM
seattleben said...
I agree with Phil. Kent is an idiot. Doesn't mean that I want to diminish his accomplishments--he's absolutely the best hitting second baseman of his time and will probably end up in the Hall of Fame (justly). It also doesn't mean that I haven't appreciated his candor in various instances throughout his career. The problem with him is that he's a little too outspoken given how one-sided his perspective is, and because of that, I think it's fair to say that he's been more of a negative force in the clubhouse than a positive. By the way, that goes for all the stops he's made (Mets, Giants, Dodgers). True leaders, which he seems to think he is, make their point without upsetting everyone around them. He's a great hitter and a upstanding man (I honestly believe both those things) but just not a great leader, and not the positive force that I wish he was.
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9-03-2008 @ 8:58PM
NeroLA said...
Im a Life long dodger fan. Been watching since i can remember turning on a television. ive been threatening to start a drinking game while watching dodger games brodcased by Vin, everytime he gets an inning wrong a ball/strike count wrong or in general calling a player by another name, you drink. by the 3rd inning you'll be toasted.
R.I.P Chick Hearn.
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9-05-2008 @ 12:52AM
LouieOne said...
u know jeff kent was wrong to say that , maybe not this year but in previous years he has played good , shit Either is playing better than every other Dodger and he doesn't even play all of the time , the Dodgers should just let Blake Dewitt take over 2nd base & see how it goes , GO DODGER BLUE!!!!!!!!!!
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9-06-2008 @ 6:52PM
Deidra said...
I'm a Dodger Fan who lives in the bay area! Every time I watch a game up here I mute the volume and talk about Vin. I too like the fact that Kent didn't put up with Bonds. I appreciate Kent as part of the TEAM(no''I' in it). Vin is a legend and Kent needs to show some respect. It is a treat for me to listen to Vin calling a game, brings back memories of growing up DODGER BLUE!
VIN IS BASEBALL!
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9-06-2008 @ 7:01PM
Koma said...
I lived in Southern Cal 51 of my 55 years, and a Dodger fan during my younger years. Been a baseball man all of my life, and can humbly say know about the game. How the game should be played and am against the incredible egos existing in the major leagues.
Not being a Dodger fan, I have always been a Vin Scully fan. His knowledge about the game and personality that fittingly compliments his broadcasting is unmatched by anyone. Above all he has been broadcasting for 60 years. Obviously longer than any active major league player.
For Kent to make a comment about Scully, in jest or not, proves that an ego cannot accept or overcome fact. Vinny has never spoke about any player other than construtively. His constructive critisism is always based on fact, not his opinion.
Jeff Kent is an outstanding baseball player and also always outspoken. I wish he would have been more agressively outspoken in the Barry Bonds incident. But that was an example of two incredibly sickening egos clashing.
However to disrespect a legend, who knows more about the fundamentals of playing the game, shows how ego destroys the integrity of the baseball.
When it's all in the wind, Jeff Kent will be exactly that...gone with the wind as far as Dodger Blue is concerned. Vin Scully will always be mentioned when on thinks of the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers.
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9-06-2008 @ 8:41PM
dodgerpepsifanclub'68 said...
...we have had the greatest voices in the business in los angeles in my 50 years...vin scully is a true legend along with chick, dick enberg, gil stratton, harry henson, trevor denman, don drysdale, and others...the difference is that vinny is still THANKFULLY around to sooth us for six months per year with his dulcet tones and verbal pictures that NO ONE else can deliver. jeff kent always has something to say to stir the pot. he behaves like a 5 year old when he strikes out. he makes a joke out of veteran team leadership of which he provides none, and he voiced off last year about the kids that were dragging the dodgers down...he comes off as though he was never a rookie, he never had to gain experience and poise, and like he was ALWAYS a superstar. a real star shines its light from within and the moon reflects the light in front of it...hey, that's it...jeff kent doesn't contribute anything to the success and longevity of the los angeles dodgers any more than the man in the moon...an angry old man at that...torn maniscus...shredded ego...inexcusable lashing out at a los angeles institution...nick colletti please punch his ticket and let him off at the next stop.
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9-08-2008 @ 12:27PM
dan said...
Kent is a good player with a bad attitude. Always has been. That's no news. What's really sad is that he can't admit that hitting in front of Manny has given his bat a spark. As for going after Vinny the way he did - that's just ignorant. It confirms what we already know about Jeff Kent.
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9-08-2008 @ 1:08PM
BIGPOPPA said...
Vin Scully=LEGEND...Jeff Kent=IDIOT.....nuff said!
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