BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Simers: This is one fight Jeff Kent isn’t going to win (RR)

Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Simers: This is one fight Jeff Kent isn’t going to win (RR)

Why wasn’t Jeff Kent this much fun in N.Y.?

“Scully is making the same point everyone else is making,” I 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.”

Kent’s batting average has increased by more than 20 points in the past 10 days since hitting third. Manny being Manny has rejuvenated Kent. It’s so much fun telling him that.

“It’s so pathetic,” he said. “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.”

Repoz Posted: August 17, 2008 at 12:48 PM | 55 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: announcers, dodgers, television

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

1. bob gee Posted: August 17, 2008 at 01:16 PM (#2906156)

funny - the "stats" people are the ones who say that this stuff doesn't matter because it's too little...

and it's the "we watch every game!" people who say it's valid.

2. Swoboda is freedom Posted: August 17, 2008 at 01:42 PM (#2906160)

Jeff Kent is also not going to win the fight against his own #############.

3. Milford Blatti Posted: August 17, 2008 at 01:55 PM (#2906165)

Am I crazy or does Simers repeatedly make the mistake of claiming that Kent is hitting behind Ramirez, when, as he points out, Kent is batting third, i.e. in front of Manny?

Am I just confused or is Simers a moron?

4. OCD SS Posted: August 17, 2008 at 01:58 PM (#2906166)

"Jeff Kent isn't going to win a fight against small sample sizes" would be a good screen name.

5. Harvey Berkman Posted: August 17, 2008 at 02:01 PM (#2906168)

behind Ramirez, when, as he points out, Kent is batting third, i.e. in front of Manny?

Maybe he just copy/pasted some old Bonds/Kent article and forgot to edit properly

6. CW hits the pinata for the candy Posted: August 17, 2008 at 02:15 PM (#2906170)

"Jeff Kent isn't going to win a fight against small sample sizes" would be a good screen name.

I don't think it fits. At least not when I tried it.

7. OCD SS Posted: August 17, 2008 at 02:22 PM (#2906175)

I don't think it fits. At least not when I tried it.

I didn't even realize that there was a character limit. Of course I only just figured out how to delete a thread I bookmarked (that little "del" is kind of inconspicuous).

8. buddy Posted: August 17, 2008 at 03:06 PM (#2906185)

is simers always this stupid?

9. Dan In Toronto Posted: August 17, 2008 at 03:10 PM (#2906187)

Jeff Kent really needs a PR agent. Yes, it is certainly a small sample size, and it may be a coincidence that he is getting hot right after Manny arrived. Still, who wouldn't want to hit ahead of Manny. It certainly helped Ortiz all of these years. No matter how hot Kent might get, he won't be "pitched around' with Manny batting behind him. Having an extra slugger doesn't hurt. Kent should have just said something like "it is great to have Manny on the team, and having the team hitting on al cylinders"...

10. Slapinions Posted: August 17, 2008 at 03:21 PM (#2906192)

I don't dislkie the MSM as much as most of the people here, but this guy's a dick. He baits Kent, he ridicules him, he's generally just an a*hole.

11. James SC Posted: August 17, 2008 at 03:34 PM (#2906196)

Slap, I totally agree that this guy baits Kent and ridicules Kent and is probably an a-hole, but since Kent is such a monumental a-hole of epic proportions, I am fine with that.

12. Riki Tiki Javy Lopez Posted: August 17, 2008 at 03:52 PM (#2906199)

It’s so pathetic,” he said. “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.

I love that. The general public's impressions of players are almost solely developed by the MSM, so it is nice to see this quote sneak through. Unfortunately, it only goes to reinforce the impression (right or wrong) that Kent is an #######.

13. wcw Posted: August 17, 2008 at 05:03 PM (#2906221)

this guy.. is probably an a-hole.. Kent is such a monumental a-hole of epic proportions

Me, I continue to be puzzled that anyone cares. Simers's job is sportswritwing. I haven't followed his career, but it appears mainly to involve repeating the same pattern you see here: bait and ridicule, then print the inevitable, negative response and pat yourself on the back. To my mind, that's bad writing, and that's my complaint. Kent's job is to play baseball. His defense isn't much, but he sure can hit. On balance, that's good baseball, and that's why it puzzles me when people harp on Kent, or on Bonds, or on Manny Being Manny, or on whomever they think they don't like as people.

14. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: August 17, 2008 at 05:28 PM (#2906230)

I could be wrong, but I don't think Kent is an unwilling participant here. Strange as it sounds, I think he genuienly gets along with Simers, and this isn't a case of an antagonistic sportswriter baiting a reluctant jock, but of one buddy (or a reasonable facsimile) busting the chops of another.

And in this case, Simers is essentially correct. If Scully and Torre and most Dodger fans think Manny is the cause of Kent's improved hitting, Jeff Kent's protestations are not going to change that. He can't win this fight.

I don't like Simers style of baiting guys. But I thought this was pretty good.

15. robinred

Posted: August 17, 2008 at 06:05 PM (#2906303)

So, how hard is FOX praying for a Boston/Dodgers WS? I think they would go for that even ahead of getting the Cubs in.

16. Justin 'The Cespedobear' T Posted: August 17, 2008 at 06:21 PM (#2906336)

No way. Cubs come from a big market and would also draw in the casual fans across the country as the Sox did breaking their curse.

17. Andrew Edwards Posted: August 17, 2008 at 06:24 PM (#2906342)

Hilarious that Kent is essentially right about the sample size issues.

18. Dag Nabbit apealing [sic] his own check swing Posted: August 17, 2008 at 06:30 PM (#2906355)

Didn't the exact same thing happen to Kent when the Giants flipped him to hitting just before Bonds one year?

19. Enrico Pallazzo Posted: August 17, 2008 at 06:42 PM (#2906372)

I want the Cubs to win it all to drag some of the bandwagoners away from Boston. As a Boston fan (and I assume it's the case for everyone else) man, that gets tired.

20. robinred

Posted: August 17, 2008 at 06:44 PM (#2906374)

No way. Cubs come from a big market and would also draw in the casual fans across the country as the Sox did breaking their curse.

Maybe, but FOX likes soap operas and with the Red Sox and then the White Sox, I think the "Curse" thing has lost some of its luster to casual fans. I'd say Cubs/Red Sox or Cubs/Angels, along with Red Sox/Dodgers, are their top 3. Then Mets/Angels.

I want Rays/Brewers.

21. Justin 'The Cespedobear' T Posted: August 17, 2008 at 06:59 PM (#2906387)

FOX likes nothing more than beating things into the ground, especially curses. And I don't see any compelling soap operas in your FOX Top 3. McCourt is from Boston isn't going to captivate many.

But Rays/Brewers is also my choice.

22. robinred

Posted: August 17, 2008 at 07:04 PM (#2906392)

And I don't see any compelling soap operas in your FOX Top 3.

Ramirez vs. the Red Sox in the Fall Classic is a FOX wet dream.

23. Justin 'The Cespedobear' T Posted: August 17, 2008 at 07:12 PM (#2906408)

Ramirez vs. the Red Sox in the Fall Classic is a FOX wet dream.

Yeah I missed that one. I guess if FOX were smart and figures Manny has a good chance to be back in the AL next year they may prefer LA/BOS followed by Cubs next year.

24. robinred

Posted: August 17, 2008 at 07:16 PM (#2906413)

by Cubs next year

.

You're right in that the Cubs' story will be huge if they get there. But I don't think it will be as big to casual fans/MSM as the 2004 Red Sox were--that was a perfect storm: Yankees, bloody sock, 0-3 deficit. The only thing missing was another nailbiter in the WS.

25. danup Posted: August 17, 2008 at 07:32 PM (#2906427)

T.J. Simers just made me into a Jeff Kent fan. I hope he doesn't interview Hitler anytime soon.

26. robinred

Posted: August 17, 2008 at 07:34 PM (#2906433)

I hope he doesn't interview Hitler anytime soon.

Nah. But he may taunt Hitler for not having the guts to come back from the dead to talk to him.

27. akrasian Posted: August 17, 2008 at 07:39 PM (#2906434)

Jeff Kent really needs a PR agent.

It'd be a waste of money. He will very likely retire after this season and take his $87 million or so he's earned in his career to his ranch and ride motorcycles the rest of his life. I doubt he'll want to do anything to be in the public eye.

28. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: August 17, 2008 at 07:48 PM (#2906446)

We're talking about Fox Sports here. Fox wants a simultaneous midair collision between 16 NL team planes so that the Yankees can step in and play the Red Sox in the World Series.

29. Shiny Beast Posted: August 17, 2008 at 07:55 PM (#2906464)

You don’t get better when you are 40.

I personally take exception to this.

30. Chase Utley, Shooty's Favorite Robot (Joey Belle) Posted: August 17, 2008 at 08:36 PM (#2906548)

Here's to the Dodgers getting revenge for 1916.

31. haven Posted: August 17, 2008 at 10:22 PM (#2906585)

T.J. Simers just made me into a Jeff Kent fan.

Really?

Simers was just asking a question. Not that confrontational IMO.

To me Kent was clearly being the @sshole. Almost made me a Simers fan. Which might actually be worse than becoming a Kent fan.

32. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: August 17, 2008 at 10:31 PM (#2906589)

The problem is, Kent doesn't know how to deal with old people.

33. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: August 17, 2008 at 10:34 PM (#2906590)

Jeez. Kent can't win around here. He sounds EXACTLY like us in the quotes above. Small sample size? Check. Players performance declining or at least not improving with age? Check. Hatred of idiot sportswriters? Check. He couldn't have been any more BBTF if he had asked what the proper weight of OBA should be in the ops+ formula and then started dividing the real punk bands from the poseur punk bands.

34. Crispix Attacks Posted: August 17, 2008 at 10:38 PM (#2906593)

Jeff Kent sounded like a real moron when he said the Replacements' best album was "Pleased to Meet Me". Jeez, just give a Crash Davis answer! This guy really needs a PR advisor. Nobody wants to see or hear from either players or sportswriters.

35. haven Posted: August 17, 2008 at 11:03 PM (#2906597)

Jeez. Kent can't win around here.

This is sort of funny because there is a much larger bias against sportswriters like Simers "around here" than there is against ballplayers like Kent.

36. Greg Pope Posted: August 17, 2008 at 11:48 PM (#2906617)

It does seem like there's someone to rail against a person no matter what they say. When a GM says GM-speak like "Vidro's a veteran, he'll turn it around", people jump on him for being an idiot. But when a player like Schilling comes out and says what he really thinks, people jump on him for being a loudmouth.

For those of you that have a problem with what Kent said, has there ever been a player that does say the right thing? If not, then I'd suggest that you're tilting at windmills.

37. haven Posted: August 18, 2008 at 12:07 AM (#2906621)

For those of you that have a problem with what Kent said, has there ever been a player that does say the right thing? If not, then I'd suggest that you're tilting at windmills.

Plenty of players say the "right" thing. Plenty of players are not assh@les.

"Everyone" seems to want sports reporters to ask tough questions. Yet Simers and Mariotti, yes I said the "M-word", are vilified "around here" for not defering to players. If there is a double standard for players like Kent, there is an even bigger double standard for reporters like Simers. Especially "around here".

38. Robert S. Posted: August 18, 2008 at 12:26 AM (#2906626)

since Kent is such a monumental a-hole of epic proportions, I am fine with that.

Aside from the useless sportswriters who depend on this sort of nonsense to keep themselves employed, why does any baseball fan honestly care if Jeff Kent is a jerk? Or if Juan Pierre is sweet as pudding? Do you care if real writers, chefs, musicians, actors, architects, painters, or videogame creators are ########? If so, why?

39. Perros Posted: August 18, 2008 at 02:19 AM (#2906658)

That might work if everyone was writing for their high school annual.

Excellent comp, TJ.

Kent's a kick, both a challenge and pushover, and more often than not nothing like the public perceives the grouch.

I hate Simers for pointing out that our opinions of Kent being an assoul are grounded upon...?
Sportswriters. Seriously, how do we know Kent is an assoul? Didn't get along with Barry Bonds?

Our lists of good guys/bad guys are like grandma's of her favorite soap characters.

40. Sox Machine Posted: August 18, 2008 at 02:27 AM (#2906662)

I could be wrong, but I don't think Kent is an unwilling participant here. Strange as it sounds, I think he genuienly gets along with Simers, and this isn't a case of an antagonistic sportswriter baiting a reluctant jock, but of one buddy (or a reasonable facsimile) busting the chops of another.

Kent and Simers have been doing this for a couple of years. People should be wise to it by now.

41. Gambling Rent Czar Posted: August 18, 2008 at 04:21 AM (#2906703)

Kent and Simers have been doing this for a couple of years. People should be wise to it by now.

You would think.

it boggles the mind that so many people, are so filled with anger, for Simers. He is just an old man, in a locker room everyday, bantering with ballplayers.

i see the word ####### 20 times plus in this thread, both for Kent and Simers, and i can't help but wonder if we all just read the same piece. wow.

42. shoewizard Posted: August 18, 2008 at 04:25 AM (#2906705)

I'm surprised everyone here hasn't picked up on the schtick yet. Kent and Simers actually like each other. It's all a gag.

43. Ray (RDP)

Posted: August 18, 2008 at 04:30 AM (#2906707)

Jeff Kent is my new hero.

44. GIANTlhbASS Posted: August 18, 2008 at 04:54 AM (#2906716)

primey #30 ...

45. Perros Posted: August 18, 2008 at 04:54 AM (#2906717)

I'm surprised everyone here hasn't picked up on the schtick yet.

Shhhhh -- you'll ruin the fun of pretending we know people through mass media.

46. Ray (RDP)

Posted: August 18, 2008 at 04:56 AM (#2906718)

THE LINE grows longer. Manager Joe Torre also disagrees with Kent.

"I think it's helped him," Torre said, while aware this might draw a steely glare from Kent. "Jeff is a good enough hitter in his own right, and being a good hitter he has the patience to take advantage of a pitcher who doesn't want to walk the guy who bats ahead of Manny."

Always one of my favorite theories. "Hey, let's turn the hitter in front of Manny into an even better hitter by grooving pitches to him!"

47. Perros Posted: August 18, 2008 at 05:12 AM (#2906719)

Kent's one of the best-hitting second basemen of all-time, but on his last legs. Adding a hitter of Manny's caliber likely boosts all the Dodgers' hitters because he adds a very tough out to that lineup.

As soon as I saw this thread, I wondered who's popularity would get a boost as a result -- Simers or Kent.

48. Justin 'The Cespedobear' T Posted: August 18, 2008 at 06:28 AM (#2906730)

I can't think of anything Simers could do to get his popularity boosted here. It has nowhere to go but up, but still, almost everyone thinks he's as bad or worse than the Plaschkes and Mariottis. Otherwise rational people think all the Dodgers hate Simers but still give him good copy when he busts their chops.

49. tjm1 Posted: August 18, 2008 at 08:35 AM (#2906735)

I really didn't like his article making Juan Pierre look bad. This one's fine. Kent's obviously in on the joke. It's also pretty obvious that Kent doesn't care about the opinions on his character of people who've never met him, and is one of those guys who doesn't realize that he's supposed to speak in platitudes rather than to say what he actually thinks. For some reason, baseball players who tell the truth are branded as malcontents and/or eccentrics, while the people who speak like programmed robots are considered normal, good guys.

50. PreservedFish Posted: August 18, 2008 at 09:05 AM (#2906737)

The more Simers I read, the more fascinating he becomes. To think that one could make a comfortable living and gain some measure of fame by going to locker rooms and berating pro athletes once per week. What an interesting world we live in.

51. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: August 18, 2008 at 12:43 PM (#2906780)

Yet Simers and Mariotti, yes I said the "M-word", are vilified "around here" for not defering to players.

I think you're wrong about why Mariotti is vilified. Agree about Simers, though.

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

<< Back to main

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Simers: This is one fight Jeff Kent isn’t going to win (RR)

Reader Comments and Retorts

Support BBTF

Bookmarks

Hot Topics