Kent Justify It

Yeah, I think Jeff Kent was a very good ballplayer. Yeah, I know he was one of the best htting 2nd baseman ever to play the game - most homers from that position, etc. He was a gamer and I hated him when he was a Giant and loved him when he was a Dodger. He won one MVP award and he had some very solid years. Still, there's a certian intangible something that sometimes separates a player with a great career and a great player who's worthy of entrance into the Hall and I'm still not sure if Jeff qualifies in my book. This, I admit, is most peculiar since, if you were to ask me about Hall of Fame 2nd basemen, Ryne Sandberg and Joe Morgan, I would agree with their entrance into that hallowed institution without hesitation. Yet, Kent's offensive career numbers are higher than both Ryno's and Joe's in almost every offensive category. So, why are Ryno and Joe Morgan Hall of Famers and the jury is still out on Kent? As far as intanglibles, impact is definitely one reason. I feel like Ryno and Morgan had more impact on their respective teams with the exception of Kent's 6 years with the Giants, when he was hitting in front of and behind Barry Bonds. Sandberg batted 2nd much of his career, but he did have the protection of Andre Dawson for many of those years. Morgan played for a poor Astros team, and then the Big Red Machine. For his era, his numbers were stellar. There's also no doubt that Ryno and Morgan were revered by their fans and Kent simply was not, due to his surly demeanor (which I never minded at all).

Then, of course, one tangible reason. Ryno won the Gold Glove 9 times! Every year from '83 - '91, Ryno was honored with his excellence in the field. Morgan won 5 Gold Gloves. Kent won zero. Perhaps it's not fair to deny Kent entry into the Hall just because he wasn't a great fielder and just because he wasn't as beloved or because played in a different era. But I'm not sure Hall of Fame entrance should be based solely on having the best stats for that one position. A lot of writers do. I think if Kent was an outfileder or a 1st baseman and you looked at his final numbers, he'd have little chance of getting in. Yes, the middle infield is a more demanding position and it used to be filled by tiny little guys like Dustin Pedroia and David Eckstein. But not so much anymore. So, I'm just not sure that rationale holds the weight it used to.

On Kent's side, one can argue that he accomplished his impressive offensive numbers without the benefit of steroids. As the news of ARod's positive 2003 steroid test comes out today, maybe that should be a factor in determining eligibility for all borderline Hall of Famers during the doping era. My guess is, Kent will eventually get in. First ballot? We'll see. Hall of Fame or not, I will miss Jeff Kent and I appreciated him both as a player and as a Dodger. Thanks, Jeff, for always playing the game the way it's supposed to be played - hard. Enjoy your retirement and your family.