Jeff Kent Retires

[NYgiantsfan5689]

Kent walks away after 17 seasons | MLB.com: News

LOS ANGELES -- Jeff Kent, the premier slugging second baseman of his generation and arguably of all-time, will announce his retirement at a Dodger Stadium news conference Thursday. The 40-year-old Kent will retire with a resume worthy of Hall of Fame consideration. The all-time leading home-run hitter at his position, he played the last four seasons of a 17-year MLB career with the Dodgers, hitting a combined .291 with 75 home runs.
He will retire with a .290 career batting average, 377 home runs, 1,518 RBIs and a .500 slugging percentage. His 351 home runs hit as a second baseman are 74 more than the next closest second baseman, Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg.
The 2000 National League MVP, Kent was a five-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger. He drove in more than 100 runs eight times (a record at the position), scored at least 100 runs three times and had at least 20 home runs 12 times. In 2008, he passed Ralph Kiner, Gil Hodges and Carlton Fisk on the all-time home-run list and passed Billy Williams, Dave Parker and Mickey Mantle on the all-time RBIs list. He's tied with Eddie Murray for 20th on the all-time doubles list with 560.
Last year, Kent became the first 40-year-old in Dodgers history to go into a season as a starting position player. After batting .253 during the first half of the season with little protection in the lineup, he enjoyed a resurgence when Manny Ramirez was added to the lineup. Kent caught fire to hit .353 in August, only to injure his knee Aug. 29 and undergo surgery Sept. 2.

Hell of a career, that's for sure. Is he HOF worthy?

[browntown653]

I'd say he's a Hall of Famer. Truck washers would agree.

[NYgiantsfan5689]

I say he gets in, if not only on pure numbers, but that he was arguably the best at a historically weak hitting position. He's definitely deserving IMO.

[ljshorty89]

I'd put him in. Kent was a damn good player at a typically weak position, and his numbers even in general were very strong. The only thing that could hurt him are his personality issues that apparently caused issues between him and his teammates as well as between him and the media.

[DirtyKash]

Not even close to being a Hall of Famer for me. Good player for a long time, but not elite. He's out.

[ljshorty89]

Really DK? 2400+ hits, 1500+ RBI, 377 HR, 4 top 10 MVP finishes, one MVP win, 4 silver sluggers, a career 123 OPS+. At 2B, I think he's one of the best all time. He's not a no doubter, but I think he deserves to be in...

[NYgiantsfan5689]

Ryne Sandberg (Hall of Famer): .285 avg, .452 Slug, 282 HR, 1061 RBI, 761 BB
Jeff Kent: .290 avg, .500 Slug, 377 HR, 1518 RBI, 801 BB

By those stats Kent is EASILY in, comparing him to another hall of famer at the same position. EASILY.

[GiantsFanatic]

Really DK? 2400+ hits, 1500+ RBI, 377 HR, 4 top 10 MVP finishes, one MVP win, 4 silver sluggers, a career 123 OPS+. At 2B, I think he's one of the best all time. He's not a no doubter, but I think he deserves to be in...

Its because he played on the Giants, thats why this person mentality is a bit skewed.

[DirtyKash]

When your team plays Jeff Kent's team, you don't think "Whoa Jeff Kent is coming to town, I have to go to the ballpark and watch him". Kent's no superstar, he's not Hall worthy. When your team plays Albert Pujols's team, you get your ass to the ballpark.

[DravenX]

Not HoF worthy in my book.

[NYgiantsfan5689]

Not HoF worthy in my book.

How is he not HoF worthy but Sandberg is in with worse numbers in so many categories?

[cjkalt]

Times have changed, Sandberg's numbers weren't in the steroid era, I agreed with Draven and DK, he's put a good career, but he's not elite. You don't fear Kent like you do a Ricky Henderson or a Cal Ripken Jr.

[NYgiantsfan5689]

So are you saying Jeff Kent used steroids? I don't care if his numbers were in the steroid era, unless he himself used. In fact, if they were in that era, and he DIDN'T use them, that's all the more impressive.

[ljshorty89]

When your team plays Jeff Kent's team, you don't think "Whoa Jeff Kent is coming to town, I have to go to the ballpark and watch him". Kent's no superstar, he's not Hall worthy. When your team plays Albert Pujols's team, you get your ass to the ballpark.

So you can only have one future HoFer on each team? When the Mets played the Giants it was "Oh god, Bonds AND Kent? We're in trouble".

[cjkalt]

5 seasons from 1992-1996 with no more than 20 HR then in 1997 as soon as he leaves the Mets and goes to the Giants he is a HR hitting machine. After 97 bonds had 5 40+ HR seasons compared to only 2 beforehand.

I'm not accusing him, but you have to wonder...

I also never said bonds and kent... u said, ohh i better pitch to kent so I don't have to face bonds... or ohh shit I just gave up a bomb to bonds, I better be perfect here which causes mistakes.