If you needed more proof that Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent and his pornstache are extremely unhappy, here ya go: he hates longtime announcer Vin Scully.
Okay, maybe that’s overstating it a bit, but Kent bristles at the notion that he’s become a better hitter with Manny Ramirez behind him in the lineup, and he’ll gladly let you know as much. And that includes you, Vin.
From the LOS ANGELES TIMES‘ T.J. Simers:
“Vin Scully talks too much,” Kent said…. “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,” [Simers] said. “He says the stats indicate you are having success hitting behind Ramirez — tell me that isn’t the case.”
“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 40. You don’t get better when you are 40.”
Simers then pointed out that Kent’s batting average has increased by more than 20 points in the past 10 days since moving to third in the order in front of Manny. Kent was still unimpressed: “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.”
Well, I suppose that’s true; the season is six months long, but it doesn’t take half a year to figure out when a player is on a hot streak. In any event, Kent isn’t budging on his stance and wonders how Scully knows anything about him since he never shows his mug in the clubhouse.
“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?”
Lowe wanted no part of the conversation, but I have to applaud Kent for standing up to Scully. I don’t know how many times the 80-year-old Hall of Fame broadcaster deserved to have his ears boxed. Sure, he has more awards than Kent has mustache combs, but there’s only so far that’ll get you. Sheesh.
My advice: Kent should be less concerned with what Scully’s saying during the game and more concerned with, oh, I don’t know, doing his job. Which, thanks to Ramirez, has gotten a lot easier in recent weeks.
9:58 pm on August 19th, 2008
Trust me I like Vince, but there are times were he knows what buttons to push, and who to push them with. Everyone knows Kent is a straight shooter. Does he not have the same right as Vince to say whats on his mind. I think everyone has blown this way out. But if questions are asked why cant they be answered without bias. I have not scene nor heard anything from Vince. If he let it go why cant everyone else. I support Kent. And I Like Vince. He is the best ever.
12:21 am on August 20th, 2008
his name is vin, not vince
9:37 pm on August 20th, 2008
Hal, you lost your credibility when you called him “Vince.” You’re a complete f-ing idiot. And you would do us all a favor by just throwing your computer in the trash.
5:38 am on August 21st, 2008
Vin Scully broadcast Brooklyn Dodger games when Jackie Robinson played. Vin has been the voice of baseball since the mid 50’s. Jeff Kent is what is wrong with the Dodgers lately. They keep signing, to huge contracts, over-the-hill guys like Jones, Kent, Penny, Lowe, Schmidt, Garciapara…what losers. Of course the fabled Dodger franchise has a history of that…remember Dick Allen, Frank Robinson, Reggie Smith, Dusty Baker, Kirk Gibson…Unfortunately they also have a history of letting go young superstars such as Roberto Clemente, Pedro Martinez and Mike Piazza. The Dodgers should get rid of all that old high priced baggage and give it all to Manny, and their best young pitchers. I do like Casey Blake at third though…and the young guys seem to be hitting better now too. Of course Manny makes the whole offense better. Jeff Kent should go back to Houston where he belongs. Jeff Kent has been for years accused of being prejudiced against Black players (Bonds, Bradley)…another Will Clark…and this seems to me Kent’s slap at Manny. Manny will be in the Hall of Fame before Kent every will be, Manny is one of the greatest hitters of all time, and he may have 4 more good years left in him! That’s why Joe Torre should be happy that Manny’s new dreads…Manny can help earn Joe another World Series ring. Manny just got two,and he wants another!
4:38 pm on August 23rd, 2008
I used to have the utmost respect for Jeff Kent…and I still think he is a fantastic player. But to take pot shots at Vin Scully has just risen him to the top of my Most Classless list!! Vinny is an icon in LA, in all of MLB, for that matter. He is not taking ANYTHING away from Jeff Kent by stating the obvious! Would he be hitting this well if he were hitting ahead of Nomar or Russell? Maybe. But he was not before Manny came on the scene. Maybe he needs to take his attitude and ego back to San Francisco…he and Barry Bonds have that in common!!
11:03 am on September 2nd, 2008
Mark I agree with some of those names you posted but Kirk Gibson? Uhhh lets see what did he do. Ohh yeah only hit what many believe is the single most memorable homer in the history of baseball. Reggie had many great years for the Dodgers as did Dusty. Remember the year they Garvey and Cey all had 30+ homers. Penny had a fantastic year last year and almost won they Cy Young. Lowe is always good for 10-14 wins so a good 2nd or 3rd starter (he is on that pace this year too). Now that I think of it … I disagree with most of those names LOL. I doubt Manny will be in the Hall sooner simply because he will still be playing when kent retires and so Jeff will have a head start. I think Kent gets in first ballot but it may be close. Being an a$$hole doesn’t keep you out. Just ask Ty Cobb.
3:45 pm on September 4th, 2008
Announcer’s love to tell us why players perform as they do. Does Vin even know which end of the bat to hold. If he loves stats so much perhaps he can explain why the Dodgers are playing at the same percentage now (exactly .500) as they were (exactly .500) before they acquired Manny. They’re the same with or without Manny, and with or without Kent– At least in the small number of games Scully used as a sample.
6:44 pm on September 6th, 2008
Hey Joel have you seen the last two games against the Diamond backs. They are a different team with Manny, and Ethier knows why he is getting the good pitches to hit.
2:00 am on September 7th, 2008
This is turning into a big deal about nothing, but I sense that some people are trying to make Jeff Kent into a man of integrity here. Please! I’ve been watching him play since I moved into the Bay Area and let me tell you, he can be a big jerk……it just went unnoticed often because Barry was busy pissing off sports writers in a bigger way than Kent at the time. Kent had his sizeable ego bruised and had a public hissy fit…….now because he won’t admit that he came a little unglued, he’s a stand up guy? My Dad always said it takes a big man to admit when you’re wrong.
And Jim, Vin may not have been a pro, but he’s forgotten more baseball than most people know……………