Jeff Kent Doesn’t Like Vin Scully

While Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent second basemen is regarded as one of the best offensive second basemen in baseball history and a candidate for Cooperstown, he has never been regarded as an affable player when speaking with the media or a great locker room presence. Kent has fought with numerous teammates over the years, most notably Barry Bonds, and is known for his general contempt of the all things media related. One member of the media, who has always been been treated with the utmost respect by all players and coaches is the great play-by-play man and living legend Vin Scully.

Like many people who follow the Dodgers and major league baseball, Scully has said during Dodgers telecasts that Kent hitting third in front of the newly acquired slugger Manny Ramirez has really helped out his offensive performances. Well, after Jeff talked to T.J. Simers of the Los Angeles Times about what Vin and others have been saying about batting in front of Manny, it seems as if he feels as if Scully isn’t knowledgeable about anything baseball related.

"“Vin Scully talks too much,” Kent said.Now that’s funny, the guy who normally doesn’t say much, this time saying way too much.“You can’t say that,” I told Kent, and he said he had just spoken to 200 women (at a Dodgers function) “and I told them the same thing, and they laughed.“We all love you, Vin,” Kent added with a mischievous grin, “but you still talk too much.”"

Vin Scully talks to much? Give me a break.

While Kent decided to take a little jab at Scully, he went on to make it clear that the idea he’s a better hitter now that he’s hitting in front of Manny is idiotic.

"“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.“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.“Manny was only hitting .300 in Boston with 20 home runs,” Kent said, as a prelude to the sarcastic kicker. “And he’s doing way better than that here — so I’m helping Manny.”"

And then, Jeff goes after Vinny one more time.

"“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?”"

I don’t get why he’s so adamant about the fact that Manny’s presence in the lineup does not help him. I can not name one pitcher in the National League who is going to want to walk Kent to get to Manny, and that leaves a lot more good pitches for Kent, to hit. Kent deserves some credit for hitting those pitches, but it is clear that Manny’s presence has had a positive effect on his performance. He probably even knows it too.