Is Jeff Kent really that stupid?

[micropolitan guy]

Don't know if this is buried on the baseball thread or not, I went back 5-6 pages and didn't see it, but if it's a d-b, my apologies.

I read in the paper today that Jeff Kent said, "Vin Scully talks too much," or something very close to that, for Scully even suggesting that the addition of Manny Ramirez has helped Kent because it's given him some protection in the lineup.

Now, I have never met Jeff Kent. I've read he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer, and isn't always the nicest guy in the clubhouse, etc., which explains why he's traded every 3-4 years.

But insulting an icon like Vin Scully - a guy who knows his baseball, by the way - in Los Angeles might be one of the dumbest things I've ever heard a baseball player do. And that's saying something.

 

[slappy4428]

Barry Bonds would say yes.

 

[Claws for Concern]

Yes.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Jeff Kent said that in response to a baiting from T.J. Simers where Simers relayed that Scully said Kent was benefitting from hitting behind Manny Ramirez. No matter what Kent said to defend himself, Simers was stuck on the position that Kent was deluded.

It was a weak column in that Simers used a couple week's worth of stats to say that Kent is only doing well because Manny Ramirez is now on the team. He then used Kent's reputation to mock Kent when Kent defended himself and his career.

Lame article, which now apparently is leading to this quote being taken out of context and used against Jeff Kent.

 

[MileHigh]

I think part of it was Kent being an idiot and also Kent playing it up because the interview was with T.J. Simers, who was saying the same things Scully has been saying on the air. Kent is a notorious grouch anyway, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's some backlash from this.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Bonds was better liked in the Giants clubhouse. That's all anyone needs to know about Kent.

 

[spnited]

Yes, Kent is that stupid.
But he most likely was used by piece of **** Simers and was too dumb to know it.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I'm glad I've never met Simers, because I would hate to have any reason not to love reading the guy.

I don't know too many who like him, but he remains my favorite read.

 

[joe_schmoe]

Yes, he is. If you ever meet him, you'll agree too. Just start talking about the history of the game and some of the great players of the past, then you'll see, he's not just stupid but very egocentric (not that ego's a bad thing in baseball, but his is).

 

[Gold]

I'm not going to miss this opportunity to bash Simers.

I was going through newspapers yesterday, and saw a column where he said he wore a Giants sweatshirt into the Dodgers clubhouse. Perhaps somebody can explain to me how that meets the highest professional standards.

I will concede that Simers probably does not a good deal about the NFL, which does a heckuva lot of good in Los Angeles, which doesn't have an NFL franchise. He doesn't know the first thing about hockey, really doesn't understand basketball, and would probably be in the lower 25 percent of reporters in a major league clubhouse when it comes to understanding baseball.

I can't see how anybody with that little knowledge is really worth reading. He is not a funny person, either. as my parents used to describe some people, he is a BS artist.

 

[heyabbott]

SOunds like the beginning of an old joke,
What do you call it when Simmers, Bonds and Kent are at the bottom of the ocean?
A good start.

 

[westcoastvol]

Jeff Kent is a munt. One more reason not to darken the doorway of the baseball stadium ten minutes from my pad.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I'm not going to miss this opportunity to bash Simers.

I was going through newspapers yesterday, and saw a column where he said he wore a Giants sweatshirt into the Dodgers clubhouse. Perhaps somebody can explain to me how that meets the highest professional standards.

I will concede that Simers probably does not a good deal about the NFL, which does a heckuva lot of good in Los Angeles, which doesn't have an NFL franchise. He doesn't know the first thing about hockey, really doesn't understand basketball, and would probably be in the lower 25 percent of reporters in a major league clubhouse when it comes to understanding baseball.

I can't see how anybody with that little knowledge is really worth reading. He is not a funny person, either. as my parents used to describe some people, he is a BS artist.

It's hard to hold him to any kind of standard since nobody in the country has a job like his.

I've been at events with Simers but never met him. A few years ago I was out with a bunch of writers and it just turned into a Simers rip fest. One of the guys from the LA Times who was with us, said, "Oh, come on, he's not that bad..."

I enjoy reading his stuff, but apparently his antics make life hell for his beat writers.

 

[spnited]

Figures Mizzou would enjoy reading the arrogant ramblings of an arrogant prick.

 

[ArnoldBabar]

I do give credit to Simers for one thing: After ripping someone, he goes out of his way to show up the next day and let the guy have his say. Most columnists don't have the balls to do that.

 

[Drip]

If Kasty were around, he would give you an answer to Jeff Kent.
Yes Kent is not the brightest person in the world.

 

[Starman]

From virtually all reports, Kent is indeed a knob of the highest order.

To play devil's advocate for him, the huge majority of all statistical studies show the conventional belief in "lineup protection" is largely an illusion, supported almost exclusively by anecdotal evidence (much the same as intentional walks and sac bunts). Good hitters hit, regardless who is in front of/behind them in the order. And bad hitters don't.

 

[Editude]

He was a pretty good 1-2 punch with Bonds in the 2002 World Series. Of course, that was more than negated by the toothpick-toting embarrassment in the dugout. How 'bout those 2008 Reds?

 

[leo1]

I do give credit to Simers for one thing: After ripping someone, he goes out of his way to show up the next day and let the guy have his say. Most columnists don't have the balls to do that.

if this is true, he should be far more respected than he is.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Figures Mizzou would enjoy reading the arrogant ramblings of an arrogant prick.

You want to throw down old man? :D