Jeff Kent's Career Could Be Coming to an End Sooner Than We Thought (Like Now)

Jeff Kent has been in baseball a long time. He has also said that he has zero intention of going out the door like Brett Favre (you know, indecisive whining that tortures a fanbase). And now he may have a touch decision ahead, if he wants to stick to his guns on that call.

See, he's probably going to be out for the season. And it was supposed to be his final season. So, um, yeah.

Kent, 40, has been playing through pain from slightly torn cartilage in his knee for about a month, fully aware that the continued grind of playing baseball on an everyday basis meant there was a strong risk of additional, more painful tearing.

That additional tearing is believed to be what took place during Friday's game. Kent was said to be in "excruciating pain" after leaving the game, and club officials were holding out slim hope of getting him back in what is widely expected to be his final season.

"Knowing him, I can't say (he is done) for sure," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said.

Torre also went on to say that he felt like Kent's goal in sticking around was to help the Dodgers "win a pennant", which seems kind of obvious, but it's pretty indicative that he wouldn't have still been playing if the Dodgers didn't have a shot at winning this year.

Kent's a lockjob for Cooperstown, and it would make sense that the only thing he wants to do before he rolls out of the game is pick up a championship ring. But it also stands to reason that he knows how pathetic chasing one looks. So, he may just call the dogs off, head back home and spend the rest of his days not watching porn.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

9-01-2008 @ 5:26AM

Steve said...

Jeff Kent absoluely deserves to be voted in the hall of Fame.The numbers don't lie.

9-01-2008 @ 5:33AM

Jeff Kent absolulely deserves to be voted in the hall of Fame. His numbers don't lie.

8-31-2008 @ 5:53PM

bobdunk said...

Jeff Kent is NO Hall of Famer. A nice solid, and sometimes super 2nd baseman over a distinguished career, but NOT enough for Cooperstown. Let's not delute the HOF with guys like Kent.

Besides, he won't get tons of media support, as he has been a prick to most of them over his career. Payback is always sweet.

8-31-2008 @ 6:30PM

CUBSFAN said...

KENT HAS TOO MANY OTHER GUYS WITH CAREERS LIKE HIM THAT NEVER MADE IT...
IF ANDRE DAWSON DOESN'T GET IN... KENT HAS NO CHANCE... HOWEVER I BELIEVE THE HAWL MAY STILL GET IN... HE WAS A COMPLETE PLAYER...

9-01-2008 @ 12:48AM

TED said...

NOT A HALL OF FAMER..... ATLEAST 400 HOMERS 300 AVG MAYBE A FEW RINGS.... OR A COUPLE OF MVP AWARDS... HOW ABOUT THE BEST PLAYER ON YOUR TEAM? TO ALL OF THE ABOVE ITS NO TO THE HALL FOR MR. KENT.....

8-31-2008 @ 7:00PM

Adam said...

Yes, Kent is a HOF player - the all time 2b home run champ. He's one of the best 2B ever - and position weighs heavily and an MVP award is huge.

BTW - Kent does have a WS ring - he was awarded one when he played with the Blue Jays - he was traded before the end of the season - so he didn't play in the series - but he got a ring anyway. So he doesn't have to wait around for that.

8-31-2008 @ 7:53PM

jim Trott said...

Absolutely he should be in there. He is the all time leader in home runs for second basemen, an MVP, 9 years in a row he drove in 90+ runs, something never done by a second baseman, and is a 5 time all star, yes he should be in there. His numbers are better than yogi's

9-02-2008 @ 11:39AM

louis said...

alot better players than kent not in the hall of fame. he doesnt deserve to be in.

9-01-2008 @ 3:34AM

Dave said...

I'm surprised that Jeff Kent making the Hall of Fame is up for questioning. He's an obvious pick. Long time player with lots of records. Second basemen just don't last as long as he has. And look at some of the names he has passed along the way such as Joe Morgan. His stats have to be compared to other second basemen, not outfielders or others. To last as long as he has at tha position speaks volumes. Second base is a competitive position and many good ones get replaced by the next hot thing to come along long before their careers could have lasted. Kent just out lasted them all and he deserves a place in the Hall of Fame.

9-06-2008 @ 9:24PM

dodgerpepsifanclub'68 said...

kent is deserving of all the hall of fame accolades he gets. the man posted the numbers. i think all the guys who got it done should be HOFers. it is just better when they get into the hall and they are good ambassadors for the game as well. jeff kent by his own admission is not a team player. his narcicism and continued carping over the nagging obstacles that have kept him from realizing a life-long dream of world series victory makes him a bitter boy who will get in but not because it is tasteful. i wish that kent would realize how many kids dream of a day when they step on the grass at a major league level. when the honor of being mentioned in the same sentence with joe morgan ought to stir him to grace. put him in the hall, his bronze bust alone in a room that is lined with mirrors. it would be nice if he spent eternity looking at the one who truly loves him. there's no i in team, jeff!

9-18-2008 @ 8:42PM

bachslunch said...

Jeff Kent isn't necessarily a lock for the baseball HoF, but he's a reasonably good option. His 10 closest in similarity scores are Yogi Berra, Carlton Fisk, Ivan Rodriguez, Johnny Bench, Jim Rice, Ron Santo, Ryne Sandberg, Ted Simmons, Andres Galarraga, and Ellis Burks. Berra, Fisk, Bench, and Sandberg are in. Rice will likely just squeak in on his last year of eligibility. Rodriguez should make it in with some degree of ease. Santo and Simmons are not in but arguably belong in. Galarraga and Burks won't make it in. In short, a mixed bag of candidates, some better than others.