Jeff Kent's final series

by Gabafnerhagen on Sep 26, 2008 1:50 PM PDT

So Jeff Kent is retiring.

Personally I think it's awesome that fate would see his final series in San Francisco, where he made a name for himself.

If I were going to any of the games this weekend, despite him being Jeff Kent and a Dodger, I would feel compelled to give him a complimentary ovation. I have not forgotten how much of an asset he was to this team. And frankly, he's been the greatest "villain" role for this team in a long time. I mean, come on, who doesn't love to boo Jeff Kent? It's half the reason for a lot of the people to be going to Giants-Dodgers games.

What are your thoughts? Is it time to give him some respect? Or do we boo him to the bitter end?

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

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Booing IS the ultinate respect!

F___ Mike Marshall!!!

by NuschlerFace on Sep 26, 2008 1:55 PM PDT 0 recs

Ultimate too

F___ Mike Marshall!!!

by NuschlerFace on Sep 26, 2008 1:55 PM PDT 0 recs

I will cheer and boo. I boo because he’s a Dodger, and a Giant Killer. But I cheer because he’s one of my favorite players of the last decade, plays the game the right way and goes all out, and because he was a great Giant.

I for one will be sad to no longer see him play.

by Hobbes2d on Sep 26, 2008 1:59 PM PDT 0 recs

I hope he goes into the HOF as a Giant.

Neglectful father of David Quinowski

by marcello on Sep 26, 2008 2:15 PM PDT 0 recs

I do too but,

I know the Hall has final say on a player’s team when he’s inducted. But I’d be surprised if he’s inducted as a Giant. He hated, absolutely hated, Bonds and he hated the front office for letting Bonds do whatever the hell he wanted. If Kent doesn’t want SF on his statue, why would the Hall start of pissing match with him about it if Kent preferred a different team?

"If I can change and you can change, then everybody can change!" Rocky Balboa, Rocky IV

by WithTechron on Sep 26, 2008 3:05 PM PDT up 0 recs

They used to let players choose the team

until Dave Winfield quite openly put he honor up for bid, trying to extract hard cash from the Pads to get their little logo on his plaque. That was a little much for the museum, so they took the decision away. And I believe they follow a pretty strict and simple formula — who’d they play the most games for?

Get the hell out the way Bengie, Pablito's hit the show!

by Roger on Sep 26, 2008 3:15 PM PDT up 0 recs

according to Baggerly, “Jeff Kent has told friends that if he’s elected to the hall of fame he will go in as a Giant.” It’s obvious that with Kent about to retire, the two sides are doing all they can to mend fences and bring him back into the fold.

Brian Sabean's new dad: Firm believer in corporal punishment

by rxmeister on Sep 27, 2008 8:10 AM PDT up 0 recs

I dunno know if you’ve noticed, but since 2000 Kent has hated every front office his played for, and clashed with teammates and managers and so on. It wasn’t just a Bonds-thing. Plus the two of them have publicly complimented the other’s skills and playing. And as pointed out below, he’s been mending fences with the Giants org, SF media, and even the fans. I bet he goes in the Hall wearing a Giants cap. It’s is where he got his MVP and RBI streak after all.

Castillo got the DFA. Guestimate for Castillo DFA to come before the 2009 season = 2.

by kennv on Sep 27, 2008 9:00 AM PDT up 0 recs

Not just 2000

with the possible exception of Toronto (where he was just a youngster on a vet laden team) every clubhouse Kent has ever been in has at some point become about his dislike for teammates. Amazingly that list even includes Cleveland, where he was just a utility player for about two months. He’s just a guy who doesn’t much like other people. Remember, the famous fight on the bench with Bonds started because of Kent’s totally unprovoked and self-centered attack of David Bell (who had just “embarrassed” Kent on the field by making a brilliant play).

Get the hell out the way Bengie, Pablito's hit the show!

by Roger on Sep 27, 2008 2:18 PM PDT up 0 recs

i bow before your early-career Kent knowledge.

Castillo got the DFA. Guestimate for Castillo DFA to come before the 2009 season = 2.

by kennv on Sep 27, 2008 5:32 PM PDT up 0 recs

what other cap would he wear? He won his MVP in SF, and played better and longer in SF than any of his other stops. His time in LA has been mainly as an afterthought, NY and Cleveland were forgettable, and he only spent three years in Houston.

by tyrannoman on Sep 29, 2008 10:06 AM PDT up 0 recs

Believe he would like too

Sure fire HOFer

by wilriv21 on Sep 26, 2008 3:42 PM PDT up 0 recs

Anybody else think this poster is actually Jeff Kent?

There amass been plenty of articles written this spring about the stud shortstop Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum , as well as the fluid young outfielders and thirteen basemen Kevin Frandsen.
comics | cartoons | Nattowear | McFAQ

by Natto on Sep 26, 2008 2:18 PM PDT 0 recs

Aurilia sounds like a planet out of StarFox.

by Gabafnerhagen on Sep 26, 2008 2:23 PM PDT up 0 recs

But seriously

As long as the guy is still wearing a Dodger uniform, I can’t cheer for him. If/when he enters the HOF (as a Giant, of course), I’ll give him a standing O.

by Natto on Sep 26, 2008 2:27 PM PDT up 0 recs

I hope he parks his truck on the roof of a tall building, slips off while washing it and plummets to his death.

Kent career over:

I am Cameron Wood and this is my son and business partner CW Culberson.

by camwoody on Sep 26, 2008 2:21 PM PDT 0 recs

i will boo until that final out, then a standing ovation. i hate the guy with every ounce of my being, but he is/was one hell of a ballplayer.

by druncan on Sep 26, 2008 2:23 PM PDT 0 recs

back to back to back homeruns! :D

If my head is full of white hairs by the end of this season.. I blame Brian Wilson. (I'm only 22, dammit!)

by GiNgiNxbOi on Sep 26, 2008 2:26 PM PDT 0 recs

I hate Kent because of the stupid comments he made about the Giants after he left. I saw a Baggarly article last week when he reversed field and only had kind things to say about the organization. His picture is on the outfield wall, so I’m thinking that all is forgiven between Kent and the Giants. I still won’t cheer him, but after he retires I’ll forgive him and remember him only for his great years with the Giants.

Brian Sabean's new dad: Firm believer in corporal punishment

by rxmeister on Sep 26, 2008 2:33 PM PDT 0 recs

“I have not forgotten how much of an asset he was to this team”

I swear, reading this the first time I thought you wrote “asshat” instead of “asset”.

No, my Crazy Crab bobblehead is not for sale.

by Kitspool on Sep 26, 2008 2:52 PM PDT 0 recs

He was both an asshat and an asset to the team.

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Sep 26, 2008 3:09 PM PDT up 0 recs

But mostly that first thing.

It's my blarg! Quick Pitch

by can of corn on Sep 26, 2008 4:37 PM PDT up 0 recs

i think it was truly equal doses of both.

Castillo got the DFA. Guestimate for Castillo DFA to come before the 2009 season = 2.

by kennv on Sep 27, 2008 9:01 AM PDT up 0 recs

I think fans and players

would all agree that Kent is one of the biggest jerks to come through the game in the past two decades. That said, I wonder which team’s uniform he will (dis)grace on his plaque in the HOF, since I think it is a foregone conclusion he is going to make it to Cooperstown someday.

P.S.
One of the funniest things I have ever seen on this or any other sports blog is the post where the seagull attacks Kent.

by baseballjunkie on Sep 26, 2008 3:05 PM PDT 0 recs

Is he really a jerk though? Or just brutally honest? I tend to have respect for people that speak their mind like Bonds (who can be pretty damn fake though sometimes) and Kent then some asshat who runs off cliche’s and acts like everything is great 100% of the time. I’m looking at you A-Rod.

by Hobbes2d on Sep 26, 2008 3:14 PM PDT up 0 recs

Kent is a dick

Plain and simple

Billy Hayes: His job is better than yours.

by delorean on Sep 26, 2008 11:54 PM PDT up 0 recs

That's ok

Most of us still love Bonds right?

Kevin Pritchard has Chuck Norris tied up in the trunk of his car.

by otis29 on Sep 27, 2008 8:16 AM PDT up 0 recs

this reminds me of Team America.

Castillo got the DFA. Guestimate for Castillo DFA to come before the 2009 season = 2.

by kennv on Sep 27, 2008 9:03 AM PDT up 0 recs

pain in simple: Bonds is a dick, Kent is an asshole, and Schmidt is a pussy haha

by sfgiants114 on Sep 27, 2008 10:18 AM PDT up 0 recs

What players would say that - and why?

"Ain't got a hope in Hell - that's my belief." - Bon Scott

by victor frankenstein on Sep 26, 2008 5:03 PM PDT up 0 recs

I agree that Kent is one of the biggest jerks around, but THE biggest jerk was Mr. Bonds and we all love him. As much as Barry irked some people, he was always careful to say how much he loved the Giants and how much he loved the fans. Barry always seemed like he didn’t care what others thought of him, but he actually did. Kent really doesn’t care who he pisses off.

Brian Sabean's new dad: Firm believer in corporal punishment

by rxmeister on Sep 27, 2008 8:13 AM PDT up 0 recs

Absolutely cheer

Great Giant and it was PMG and Sabean who CHOSE to not bring Kent back in lieu of Ray Durham

Do you Wazzel?

by NeifiChicken on Sep 26, 2008 3:08 PM PDT 0 recs

Sabean said in that Amy G interview that this was one of his biggest regrets. He blamed it more on the poor relationship that had developed between Kent and the organization more than a lack of appreciation of what Kent brought to the team. That “truck washing” incident was really the end of Kent and the Giants.

Brian Sabean's new dad: Firm believer in corporal punishment

by rxmeister on Sep 27, 2008 8:16 AM PDT up 0 recs

Exactly. Yet people seem to think Kent is some terrible traitor or something. The Giants are the ones who blew the injury out of proportion. Yes he lied about it, but apparently so would anyone else, look at Monta Ellis. That doesn’t make it right that he lied, but to basically destroy any good relationship you have with one of the best players in the game over some small incident like that was stupid.

by Hobbes2d on Sep 27, 2008 11:30 AM PDT up 0 recs

as I recall, the Giants’ actually made a bigger offer to Kent than the Astros did at the time. I’m not sure how that means they kicked him out…

by tyrannoman on Sep 29, 2008 10:12 AM PDT up 0 recs

I don’t know if it’s right or wrong, but I’m filled with a resounding sense of meh.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Sep 26, 2008 3:31 PM PDT 0 recs

He should have a glass tube shoved up his peehole, then shattered with a hammer

Billy Hayes: His job is better than yours.

by delorean on Sep 26, 2008 3:36 PM PDT 0 recs

Definitely a Giant

He spent more years and played more games with the Giants than with any other team, won an MVP, and went to the World Series. His plaque will picture him in a Giants cap, and he’ll be far from the biggest jerk in the Hall.

Proud member of the Adopt-a-Giant program (Aaron Rowand)

by antinous on Sep 26, 2008 3:54 PM PDT 0 recs

:: steam shoots out of Ty Cobb’s ears ::

by satyricrash on Sep 26, 2008 4:54 PM PDT up 0 recs

He'll have respect...

when we say he get’s respect!
< /blutarski >

They say some players get out of bed hitting; Pablo Sandoval doesn't wait that long

by bgunn on Sep 26, 2008 4:12 PM PDT 0 recs

I would cheer him without any reservations at all.

He was a great Giant, was instrumental in their success while he was here, made a stupid mistake at the end, and then got disrespected by the same petty-assed owner who kissed Bonds’ ass and gave Zito the bank. And if I am supposed to boo him for being a jerk and a Dodger, sorry. No sale.

NO, we're not trading Matt Cain! What's that you say? We are? Armageddon is upon us!

by Buck Henry on Sep 26, 2008 4:17 PM PDT 0 recs

+ 10000000000000000

by Hobbes2d on Sep 27, 2008 11:31 AM PDT up 0 recs

So… still gonna cheer him?

by Natto on Sep 26, 2008 8:55 PM PDT 0 recs

I'll miss him.

He was one of those players/people in baseball that make it interesting. I will always think about that sound bite “…enjoy the game.” Cracks me up every time. I love how he got mad at the dodger announcers (Scully?) because they said he was hitting better because of Ramirez.

But he was a great Giant. I loved those years that he played with us because we always competed; we always had a chance at the WS then.

Greetings, Marklar! I am Marklar! This is Marklar.

by marklar on Sep 29, 2008 8:40 AM PDT 0 recs