by
Greek Giant
Jeff Kent belongs in the Hall of Fame! There! I said it! I don’t want to get into advanced metrics and his sometimes average to below average defense. That would be rude. Jeff Kent was a beast and arguably the greatest power-hitting second baseman in Major League Baseball history! Are you really going to sit there and talk about his range, prickly personality or average glove?
Jeff Kent mashed baseballs. He drove in runs at an amazing clip. He wan an MVP. He won a pennant. He had longevity, enough so that he is the all-time leader in home runs by a second baseman. He was Paul McCartney to Barry’s John Lennon.
The right-handed slugger played for 17 seasons with a variety of teams including the Giants, Mets, Blue Jays, Indians, Astros and Dodgers. His career numbers are: .290/.356/.500 with 2,461 hits, 377 home runs, 560 doubles, 1,518 RBI and 1,320 runs. That’s Hall of Fame stuff boys and girls. Forget your counter-arguments. Kent made the All-Star team five times, won four Silver Sluggers in addition to his 2000 MVP win. In three separate seasons he finished in the top ten in the MVP balloting. You want to bring WAR into this? Sure, go ahead. Kent was in the all time 100 for career WAR!
I have a theory that Kent’s gruff, and sometimes downright offensive personality hurt his status as a potential Hall of Famer more than any of his baseball skills did. Between former players and baseball writers, Kent and Bonds were more like Genghis to Barry’s Khan…
For Kent to get less than 15% of the vote last year is a scandal and a stain on the legacy of Hall of Fame voters. Something needs to be done to rehabilitate his image and highlight his career accomplishments.
I remember watching Kent play and the first thing that comes to my mind is his remarkably consistent offensive production. To produce the numbers he did as a second baseman gives your team a major advantage in terms of your lineup. You just don’t see many players like him ever!
And there’s that awesome mustache! Talk about a player marching to the beat of his own drum! Jeff Kent was a man’s man and a ballplayer’s ballplayer in an age that saw the evolution of namby pamby touchy feely baseball come into the mainstream… He should be in the Hall for his hard-nosed play alone.
I agree, he should be in, he was an offensive production machine playing (solidly though not spectacularly) a position that is defense first, offense a bonus. When he first came to the Giants he was a more reliable hitter than Bonds. GG is right, 15% of the vote, that is ridiculous.
Huh? Bonds won a MVP in his first year with the Giants and they won 103 games.
Love me some JK, though.
That was 1993, Kent didn’t arrive till about 1996 and for a couple of years he was a more reliable hitter than Bonds, till of course Bonds started on the flaxseed oil. He used to bat clean up behind Bonds.
1997 actually. That 1996 team was weak, but the trade of Matt Williams brought four players (Kent, Jose Vizcaino, Julian Tavarez and Joe Roa) that all contributed to us going from worst to first in one year.
Yup…..
…some time well after Barry
Boys and girls? Why don’t you guys just Xerox the Giants lineup card.
POTD
Two words: Hobie Landreth.
Like others said….
1) BLB
2) All others
Now … … Larry bring him back to the staff.
I personally think that by my standards (which are very high–“one of the dominant players of his era” is my test) Jeff Kent is a marginal Hall of Famer. However, given the fact that fellow second baseman (among other positions) Craig Biggio is in the HOF, not only does Kent belong in the HOF, but he should have an entire wing named after him
I really agree with you on this one. If Biggio made the HOF, and I agreed with it then, Kent deserves it as well.
Biggio gets points for being a good guy who moved around the field as needed, which helped his case.
biggio is in the 3000 hit club, which is pretty much, a golden ticket into the HOF. in a big spot, i’d rather see kent in the batters box, than biggio. kent having a gruff attitude should have no bearing, but, of course, it does.
Biggio’s 3000 hits cam over 22 years– less than 150 hits per season. Kent in many many less at bats had a higher batting average, way more home runs and RBI– not to mention an MVp and multiple all star games.
As I said if Biggio is in, Kent deserves his own wing
Biggio could catch a baseball,dependably. It also helps that he was an AS at multiple positions and won multiple GG. . To see Kent as a viable comp for Biggio you have squint through one eye.
Kent was an RBI machine with 6 straight 100 RBI seasons with the Giants. He would have had 9 straight if he got 7 more RBIs in his first season in Houston in which he played in only 130 games.
I don’t think the HOF really cares if it was 22 years to get 3K. They just see the number, plus the longevity helps.
Imagine if Biggio played his whole career for the Yankees. He’d be the greatest shortstop.. i mean second baseman of all time.
Based on Biggio – yep. But not the building.
Some very interesting takes on the Duke star, Grayson Allen, being suspended after his third incident of tripping an opponent in less than 10 months.
The obvious comparison people are making is to Draymond Green (congrats on the new baby, Dray!), but one article I read pointed out that while Green’s in-game kicks are more dangerous, they are arguably at least within the flow of a game–trying to draw foul calls–but Allen’s have all been retaliatory because he was frustrated with how a game is going.
Then I just read this: http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/columnists/gregg-doyel/2016/12/22/doyel-grayson-allen-you-have-change/95752918/
The writer, Gregg Doyel, talks about Allen’s obvious lack of impulse control/anger management issues and expresses sympathy, saying he’s been there himself (and changed). It’s a compassionate take. Maybe too compassionate. And it’s one of several I’ve read. People feel sorry for this young guy, so talented and with a bright future, who’s screwing up his life repeatedly.
I don’t know anything about Grayson Allen’s background other than he’s from Florida, is a white kid with a preppy name, and he goes to Duke and plays for Coach K. I don’t know if he has anything in his background that makes him act the way he does. (If you look at the video of him on the bench after he was called for a technical for this latest tripping incident, he looks mentally unbalanced to me. It’s kind of scary, really.)
But I’m trying to remember if there were any similar compassionate takes about Draymond Green and what drives him or made him the way he is. I certainly don’t remember any during the playoffs last year, and I didn’t feel any compassion towards him myself, either. Just references to his rough background from the ‘hood with a feisty single mom who makes her own waves on Twitter.
Yeah, I’m saying it: I think Grayson Allen is getting more sympathy from the media (not fans, necessarily) because he’s white and a “nice kid” (except when he’s not, of course).
Come on Lefty. He’s just a scrappy kid. Lots of heart and grit! He just cares so much about his team that he gets carried away. A few mistakes shouldn’t doom his whole career.
Draymond?- clearly a selfish thug.
Grayson Allen is a tremendous talent, with an attitude that exudes confidence and often moves to arrogance. He’s one of my favorite players on my favorite college basketball team, but he needs to step up and act like a young adult. I think it will do him a world of good to sit and watch the other guys play, especially given that Duke is about to have all three highly touted one-and-done players ready to play at the same time.
you’re an obvious idiot, if anything both had very similar actions as Lefty mentioned.
you see Dry as the thug because he is black and give Grayson slack because he is a white kid at Duke. What if it was a black kid at USC or Ohio State? Feel the same now.
If anything, Dray’s actions are more excusable as they are in the flow of a men’s game, and the NBA has had moments of rough activity, as in the great Pistons / Celtics / Knicks matchups where what Dray did would not have even been a big deal.
Yep, you’re a biased idiot
Clearly my sarcasm didn’t come through.
sorry!
Thank you for the beautiful Allen post.
We need to do another R’Cats game next season. How’s your mom doing?
She’s mad at the bullpen but likes Melancon. Love that ballpark. I’m in.
Awwww, please give her my best for the holidays. Loved meeting both of you. I still have that roll of Dodgers toilet paper you brought for my birthday. It’s on the bobblehead/gnome shelf (i.e., the back of our piano).
Dodger TP belongs closer to the biffy.
She holds you in high regard.
Keep working on this Raleys Field idea. Pick a date.
One of these years, we might get Greek to join us at the Lefty birthday game at Raleys.
I read quite a bit from Warrior fans, some right here on the blog (well, Giants Extra at that time) trying to justify Green’s actions. Now there are some people trying to rationalize what this kid has done. I think the majority of people who aren’t fans of their teams don’t support either guy.
Perhaps Brian Dozier is the next Jeff Kent?
Kent didn’t exactly start off banging either. But what a trade that was, targeting then CLE/NYM second baseman. I take that back, he did have two 20 HR seasons with the Mets.
Anywho, hope the Dodgers can’t get it done – CLANK!
When you think of Cal Berkeley alums, don’t you just think of Jeff Kent ? 🙂
He could accelerate baseball particles over the wall !! BOOM!!
But he was a defensive clanker. He should have been DH.
He was a tough cookie at the pivot, and a strong arm as I recall. He worked hard on his D, but naturally, the bat carried the way.
That’s what I said, a DH.
That sounds like the perfect argument against having a DH.
Thy Devils Advocate
The truth’s advocate.
That’s absurd. He was far from a “bad” defensive player.
Nobody hung in better on the DP Pivot
(That’s because JK would hit guys who were not sliding in the middle of their forehead)
wish their was a better motorcycling Jeff Kent picture than this:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8EvekAlURPg/SXe_57JGiuI/AAAAAAAAAGA/Evju7QtoHR0/s320/jeff-kent-motocross.jpg
Let out your clutch, son.
Speaking of clutch.
Steve Kerr told a nice audience this week In discussing his NBA career that for many years he was afraid of making a mistake.“I didn’t feel like I was clutch,”
Read More at: http://www.sfchronicle.com/warriors/article/Kerr-has-become-a-Bay-Area-treasure-10812030.php
Dozier’s going to be a Giant. C’mon, Santa–get ‘er done!
I think for Dozier to be a Giant that Mrs. Claus may have to enter the picture.
Grant Brisbee thinks the Giants are working on something. He notes that the Giants, despite having a very good utility infielder in Kelby Tomlinson, are quietly stacking up more of them–Adrianza (guaranteed contract this time), Calixte (on the 40), Pena (back to Sacramento), Rollins, and another guy playing in the VZL right now (spring training invite).
He said that when the Giants traded for Nunez, he had a feeling that another shoe was about to drop (turned out to be Duffy for Moore), and he has the same feeling now. Not that it’s Dozier, but it does sound like maybe Kelby could be part of some trade.
Are there any available infielders in their 40s who could serve as a mentor to young Jimmy Rollins?
Shawon Dunston looks like he could still play, and so does Omar Vizquel.
Kelby? Aren’t you putting too much value on him, even in a package for multiple players?
You know if anything happens, Panik is part of the equation.
Or – shudder…
NO NOT JOE.
Kent developed his strong arm at CAL under Bob Milano. Milano developed some ML players besides Kent: Rod Booker, Chuck Cary, Bob Melvin, Lance Blankenship, Jerry Goff, Kevin Maas, , Darren Lewis, Matt Luke, Geoff Blum, Tyler Walker, and Xavier Nady.
Kent played SS all three yrs he attended “Go CAL” as a three-year starter for the Bears at shortstop from 1987-89, setting a school record with 25 doubles during the 1987 season, a mark that stood for 11 years and was selected second-team All-Pac-10 on Cal’s 1988 team that won the NCAA Central Regional and advanced to the College World Series … the Jeff Kent Batting Cages are part of the Carl J. Heuit Training Center at Cal’s Evans Diamond, and he helped raise several thousand dollars for women’s athletics scholarships through his Women Driven program while he played for the Giants.
CAL Bio
Here is his moms favorite photo of Jeff. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a23717f3f77d5636d398e1405f979b6551723b0201b0c7a467c12008dc896c14.jpg
He used a 2 thumbed glove, I guess.
“Hello, Mrs. Cleaver! I must say, you look very nice today. May I take Beaver to the Five and Dime?”
“Oh Gee Ward, let Wally and the Beav go to the movies…” said June
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oay9VxFVFmE
Guess Wally was out with Lumpy.
I thought Jeff Kent was overrated…until he came to the Giants and we got to watch him play every day. Right away in 1997 he was an essential component in our rise from second division to the NL West championship. Six straight years of 100+ RBIs? Very impressive.
His 2000 season was one of the best SF Giants seasons ever. I remember that year the Giants had Russ Davis pegged as backup 3B/1B. He then decided he was uncomfortable at 1B. No problem: Kent slid over to play 1B vs. lefties, with Ramon Martinez filling in at 2B. Slash line of .334/.424/.596. For a 2B. 33 HR, 125 RBI, 114 runs scored. Never a great defensive player, but he had a very good year on D in 2000.
Total team guy, especially given his willingness (eagerness?) to stand up to Bonds and all his BS/drama. I remember writers asking Dusty who should be the NL MVP that year: Bonds or Kent? Dusty immediately said Kent was overall more valuable to the Giants success that year. Bonds got pissed, but Dusty was spot on.
Kent getting 15% of the HOF vote? A travesty indeed.
no need for the Bonds dig, for no reason at all. Comes off childish.
I do agree that year Kent had one of the best seasons period, but don’t forget that a lot of it had to do with hitting next to Bonds. Kent was in a premium position to succeed, and he made the most of it.
Kent was good before he became a Giant, it wasn’t like wearing orange and black transformed him. He was just one of those guys you knew was good but didn’t really grab a great deal of a attention.
First time was the best in that it had been awhile. Awhile for the Organization and certain players. It was also the first time for some YOUNG star-studded players. (“Hey, this is easy”)
The other two were GREAT and hard and just as worthy but for a high % of Giant fans that had been around the block “10” was euphoric.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d5dfb0b5f87672c1d8dd1bb5b8b72d5cc34a7bb511a81936e26290314c5ecf14.jpg
Burrell – Huff – Wilson and Posey were beyond belief.
2010 had THAT look about it.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/876de2379fd92a646a187ee106f4864a739165ee85409813d9ba5edc2798f86a.jpg
Lefty made a very nice comment about Fitz today. I concur.
Also: yes he may come off a bit condescending, but he studies hard, and does a very good job.
I listened to a few other local announcing teams lately on NBATV…. There are so many bad ones.
Again, we are lucky out here in almost every sport.
It’s a little fun having Tim Roye for the next couple games w/JB, too…I think Roye’s terrific.
Roye is really good on the radio play by play. This season he’s started reading poeple’s tweets (Joe from Vallejo is listening while driving on 80), can’t imagine who came up with that and thought it would make for good radio.
…in almost every sport, which leaves us all saying “you mean our pitiful 49ers, right?” The NFL coaching changes are already starting. The strongest GM candidates are already getting into the networking and back-channel stuff that lands them the best positions. Meanwhile, the York family remains clueless, and we’re doomed to at least three more years of this nonsense.
If Lott and Rodney Peete can have their Raider financial “package” disrespected and about 12 Niners from the past can establish (they did) the ‘Golden Heart Fund’ to support fallen alumni then I now believe that guys like Lott and Young – Harris Barton – Keena Turner – Merton Hanks – Eric Davis – Tim McDonald – Bryant Young – Dennis Brown – Derrick Deese – Jesse Sapolu and many others are ready to step into the frey and lead Jed to the Perch or lead him out the door.
Although he let it slip out of his mouth and then he recovered, Steve Young said “we’re ready, we just need to be asked”..
My alma mater really rallied around Fitz and family. His two boys are Serra Padres
http://www.mercurynews.com/2015/02/03/serra-grad-bob-fitzgerald-achieves-broadcasting-dream/
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0ca506c651cd7ea9645b49f61695316c1914524ff0659d21874041e0992b7546.jpg
Fitz in 1984
It’s a sad thing when something like that happens to any young family, but I still can’t stand him, and personal tragedy doesn’t change my opinion.
I think his radio show with Rod Brooks is pretty much unbearable, and KNBR was smart to cut back their hours from 3 to 2. He’s better with the TV work with the Warriors–but I’d still rather have Tim Roye or Greg Papa calling the games.
Technically speaking, he can call a game. My opinion is based on everything else.
Funny, I don’t get to listen much because of work but when I hear the show it’s usually pretty good, I don’t mind them at all. Fitz doesn’t seem to drop in all the reminders that he’s someone’s announcer like he used to do years ago when he thought he was really bitchin’. Maybe I think the show is OK because I usually only get to hear the morning shows on The Game and KNBR and those shows are dreadful.
I usually only hear Gary and Larry because I tend to drive to campus a bit later in the morning, and I only listen to KNBR in the car (don’t get The Game here). I think Gary & Larry are OK.
I’ve dissed Lo Neal a few times here, he hollers incoherently at the morning audience, he’s just plain awful. Saw him on TV the other day, very calm and was able to make his points without cutting off words and changing direction every mid sentence. Can’t imagine why the radio station doesn’t tell him to calm down and use his TV voice.
Have you ever met him?
We’re not as close as you and Sabean. I can’t give out his phone number.
Fitz’s land line is in the Foster City phone book (he said to the oracle/lower case)
You’ve probably looked it up.
I know phone numbers of people I know by heart.
(650) 341-****
(650) 574-****
And I’m sure they appreciate you publishing them.
I don’t see phone numbers posted…. **** is not a number.
You’ve posted Sabean’s supposed number a few times.
5,765 people have his cell number
Komo mai e inu ka wai
How is that one poster hanging in your den still doing?
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6532e23520a200af26e6f5dd5ad07cb880abfdf8c81c52d81a8b66bbd9693769.jpg
Speaking of Sabey-Sabes, Alex posted a podcast he did with Sabean at the winter meetings. I love listening to Sabean because he’s very candid. I can’t say there was a ton of new information, but I enjoyed listening to it.
Sabean is an interesting guy. He doesn’t strike me as the least bit phony. I remember a radio commercial he did for Patrick James Clothiers a few years go. It always made me laugh because it was about the flattest and worst commercial read in the history of advertising.
…except for the Brandon Crawford Wells Fargo commercials…shudder…
Nah…you have to hear the Sabean commercial.
I like his accent, and his forthrightness. His speech at one of the Parades (there were so many!) was great.
You’re a living, breathing heart emoji
He has a speaking part.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yZERI42eRU
60 minutes has uncovered that Fernando Rodney was indeed not the first to tilt his lid.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8d85f0bcdc54ac7be0c9037f12051d5481cd6c22a92e6e297a11cbe3400f83b1.jpg
Some don’t remember but Bill Walsh’s hair still had a lot of black in it until Super Bowl XVI vs the Bengals when no sooner was Diana Ross finished with the Anthem – that Famous Amos fumbled away the opening kickoff. It was at that moment suspended in time that Coach reached for his Tums and looked quickly into the reflection of Bobb McKittrick’s Ray Bans.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bf73c1a46cf906eba4b7ea6a64101f9adb7068ca72934e58ff91c18105b1396d.jpg
Draymond Green – MVW
One of Timmys better “gets”
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/899c87beaa066fd94e2930b6867b5c4a588bb5009131c76be10377bf8d2f3e58.jpg
The Warriors are playing poorly, but I am still amazed at the incompetence of the theoretically best officials in the world.
Trying to figure out why the Dubs tv broadcast is so much better tonite.
Who did the game on TV? I saw the highlights and the little CSN logo was in a corner of the screen. Was it also on ESPN? And on the radio broadcast on 95.7 The Game, who were those 2 guys? Why was Tim Roye not doing the game?
I’m referring to Tim Roye who did the TV with Jim Barnett on CSNBA
Fitz was missed
So was Roz
I feel sad for Fitz, just dont miss him. I didnt even realize Roz wasnt there.
In the totality of things Fitz does good comprehensive work. He has several speaking nuances that are annoying and people remember King and Greg Papa etc.
As Matthew said – the rest of the NBA compared to Fitz is rather bleak.
True…I also heard a lot of Chick Hearn so Fitz, for me at least, falls well below that level somewhere in the vast wasteland of the rest of them. At least he’s mostly tolerable unlike some (Johnny Most immediately comes to mind, and he was considered one of the best!)
Whatever this means . . . .
Andrew Baggarly @extrabaggs 2h2 hours ago
Returns to country, opens Twitter.
Sees #Baseballbands.
Leaves country.
Oh, and … Jimmy Rollins Eat World.
Weird.
Red Hot Grilli Peppers
https://twitter.com/hashtag/baseballbands?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Ehashtag
Yeah, I saw that already. Still weird.
There are other reasons to leave the country. Not that I’m leaving the country, but just as a figure of speech. Yu2 Darvish.
The cryptic, hide-in-seek tweet, after a long absence, is weird. If he’s no longer a Giants beat reporter, what are his tweets doing on TWG?
You’ve got a beef against the guy, don’t you?
When was the last time Baggarly reported straightforward Giants news? It’s clear Alex and Hank are still on the job. If Baggarly is no longer the Giants beat reporter for the Merc, then his Twitter account does not belong on TWG.
It just takes some time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV-HPOHu8mY
That was an AMAZING second half for the Warriors, and it was nice to see Durant take charge with Draymond absent.
It is so, so, so fun to watch Durant.
I’m pretty sure Santa is bringing me some custom Durant kicks in Warriors colors. (After 33 1/2 years of marriage, I’ve learned to be pretty directive about what I want for gift-giving occasions.).
Indeed Durant is incredible.
You count the half?
It happens that our half-year anniversary is on Christmas, so it’s pretty easy to remember. 🙂
THIS IS WHY I FREAKIN’ LOVE STEVE KERR.
https://twitter.com/anthonyvslater/status/812131956758630402
Whoa. That’s like a message to the utes of America.
Funny. Santaland Diaries. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/47/christmas-and-commerce?act=1#play
10 biggest sports busts of the year.
http://www.rollingstone.com/sports/lists/10-biggest-sports-busts-of-2016-w457441
The best comp to the 2016 Cubs, the 2012 Rays. The case… http://www.hardballtimes.com/the-2016-chicago-cubs-and-their-most-similar-team/
Edwin Encarnacion to CLEVELAND. Not so fast on handing the AL pennant to the Red Sox. Cleveland will still have its stud bullpen, Kluber, their #2-3 starters back, Brantley back, and now EE.
Encarnacion can hit, but really what else does he bring to the table?
It’s bad that he can hit? They already have great pitching.
true, type of numbers the GMen could utilize!
Nice landing. Great signing. Cleveland is definitely a juggernaut. Happy for the fans of that team.
He can hit.
Don’t think Dray is going to miss playing a game in Detroit. Then a Xmas gift for lil Dray vs Cleve and see you back home next week.
We often discuss handedness and splits. But the advantage of LHB over RHB has almost vanished. LHP usage has topped out and pretty much stabilized as well.
https://i.imgur.com/ZNpKyWe.png
https://i.imgur.com/vC0ow71.png
http://varianceexplained.org/r/hierarchical_bayes_baseball/
The more ABs effect. We complain about not letting a young player hit stunting his development at the plate. Well, that’s been studied by looking at number of ABs vs batting average across large numbers of players, and the change in BA has been evaluated. The slope of the green line tells that, and the scatter plot also suggests why a 100 ABs is sort of a minimum number to take the measure of what a hitter is doing at any given time.
https://i.imgur.com/MdGqiSh.png
http://varianceexplained.org/r/beta_binomial_baseball/
Happy Festivus, everyone!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0JR6xt9S02o
You too!
*Had me at Namby Pamby
I would like to piggyback on what Lefty said as far as wishing everyone a Happy Festivus. More to the point, myself and Mrs. Crawnik would like to wish everyone here in TWG, a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa or however you and your loved ones celebrate this time of year. May the holidays and the upcoming new year be a joyous, happy and healthy one. Pitchers and catchers report in 52 days.
Happy Pagan Winter Soltice to you too! The birth of the sun is nigh.
What does Angel have to do with the Winter Solstice? : )
He is to be sacrificed atop the altar – a flowery and honorable death to feed the hungry Toniatu.
I learn something new everyday.
I’ve been re-reading the book ‘Aztec’ by Gary Jennings – a graphic, historical fiction.
Looks like I got the market cornered so far on “MELE KALIKIMAKA!”
(Sorry, Surf.)
The 3 “Juggernauts”, projected 95-105 wins:
Cleveland Indians:
Lindor SS
Santana 1B/DH
Kipnis 2B
Brantley* LF/CF
Encarnacion DH/1B
Ramirez 3B
Chisenhall RF
Gomes*/Perez C
Naquin/Zimmer CF/LF
Kluber-Salazar*-Carrasco*-Tomlin-Bauer/Clevinger/Merritt —-> Shaw-Miller-Allen
Boston Red Sox:
Bogaerts SS
Pedroia 2B
Betts RF
Ramirez DH/1B
Moreland 1B
Sandoval*/Holt 3B
Bradley Jr. CF
Leon/Vasquez C
Benintendi/Young LF
Sale-Porcello-Price-Wright-Rodriguez-Pomeranz —->Thornburg-Kimbrel
Chicago Cubs
Zobrist RF/LF
Bryant 3B
Rizzo 1B
Schwarber* LF/C?
Russell SS
Baez 2B
Contreras/Montero C
Heyward CF/RF
(+Jay/Almora Jr. CF)
Lester-Hendricks-Arrieta-Lackey-Montgomery —> Edwards Jr.-Rondon-Uehara-Davis
Under the radar, right where we want to be.
The next NL tier (85-95 wins): SFG, WAS, LAD, STL, NYM
Next AL tier: HOU, TEX, TOR, BAL
93 wins should do it for the Giants in winning the West.
93 hard fought wins in a tough division. Going to be tough to birth a Wild Card as well.
Tuned into the TNT game to check the Warriors score, silly me, but did hear an interesting observation about the Dubs. The announcer asked if the Warriors were Steph’s team, Durant’s team or Draymond’s team? The conclusion, they are Steve Kerr’s team. And that is why they’ve been successful.
What is really odd, is it sounded like Charles Barkley making the comment.
When you see pretty much the same roster go from 51 wins and knocked out in the first round to 67 wins and the NBA championship in ONE year, that’s GOT to be Steve Kerr’s leadership. I’m extremely impressed with how he and his staff are doing this year so far–so much change in personnel, a rough start the first couple weeks, and now they look like a well-oiled machine (or getting there fast). I figured they’d gel–in February or March. The fact that they’ve come up with a new, effective defensive approach without Bogut, Barnes, or Ezeli again speaks to smart coaching (that both comes up with good schemes and gets the players to execute them).
Interesting that the A’s were in on Encarnacion – or at least going hard.
The Rockies may make the connection on Trumbo now that Encarnacion off the board. Either them or the O’s.
I agree Kent should be in the HOF. Below is a statistical analysis and you’ll see a number of HOF 2nd base below Kent in the number. For me he should be in.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/jaws_2B.shtml
As a DH maybe, he had hands of steel.
Look it up, I just did, he was in top 3 in put outs, assists, and double plays and range factor, most of his career at 2nd base !!!
Oh bs, even you know more than to use metrics that you pick and shop from to make a case for someone to be an outstanding ballplayer.
You Know Jack about Baseball, some people think you do and that is funny, you think Babe Ruth is overrated and Ozzie Smith was a God !
Sure PJ. Whatever. BTW, read up before you embarrass yourself. http://www.hardballtimes.com/players-and-coaches-skepticism-of-defensive-metrics/
JT Snows’ dad was named Jack and CC knew him well.
Yes. Metrics are dumb. Projections are where it’s at. Kent wasn’t projected to be that good, so he must not have been.
He was labeled as having a frying pan for a glove when the Giants first traded for him, and then he pleasantly surprised everyone with his defense. For such a stat/chart/metric guy I don’t know why you keep harping on this…
He was bad at 3rd base, but good at 2nd base according to the stats .
Because most of a baseball game is played with a glove and not a bat in your hand. Jeff Kent was a good hitter, but about all you can say about him defensively is that he learned to quit embarrassing himself with the glove. To conclude he was even adequate defensively over his career requires a imagination Walt Disney lacked. For christ sake, who cares if he’s in the HOF. All kinds of marginal players are in it, it’s a PR device. But don’t try and make the case on Kent like it’s an obvious oversight. It’s a wildass stretch at best if all around outstanding skill at the game of baseball is a requirement.
That’s just flat out ridiculous and I’m pretty sure you know it. I guess for some reason, you have something against Kent, and you want to justify that with your comments.
I’ve got nothing against anyone. Why is it when someone disagrees with you HOP homer zealots, they have to hate the player in question. Kent could hit a baseball, make him an allstar/HOF DH if you must campaign a home town favorite, don’t make him a baseball god of some sort. He wasn’t.
Now you’re making up all kinds of stuff. Almost nothing in your comment is true
No, he’s right Mooose. Everyone forgot that about Kent.
Yeah. Too bad they didn’t have Darwin Barney instead. Who are the marginal Hall of Famers?
Merry Christmas to all of you. If that offends you my apologies and I wish peace to you and your families.
Enjoy
Mele Kalikimaka, Noce.
same to you and yours, champ
Those who had or have a problem with that phrase … …. should have met my 4’11, 90 year old, Italian mom…. Hee Hee. Oh Boy.
Have I ever told you all how much I love you?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZNQ_OoYwQE
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