Jeff Kent - HOFer?

[nuzzy62]

ESPN just posed this question during the Dodgers-Cubs game ...Is Jeff a Hall of Famer?

Joe Morgan said no, Chris Berman said he's have to think about it a bit (fence sitter) before saying no.

What do you guys think?

[TheNamelessPoet]

no

[Reade]

Joe Morgan

Joe's not doing the game, its Rick Sutcliffe

No

[beerchaser]

I've been a Dodger fan all my life, but I can't really say that I've ever been a Jeff Kent fan. Even though he's worn the Blue the past few years.

Clayton Kershaw sure looks good wearing the Blue though. Looking forward to watching that kid's career.

[dickay]

I don't have the stats in front of me, but when I think of Jeff Kent I see him as the most dominant 2nd basemen of the past 10 years. Sure he hasn't been the most dominant EVERY year but long term he has been w/o question.....and to me a HOF'er is about being amongst the best at your position during a long period of time.

So I vote yes according to the eye test, though I'd have to confirm with statistics. Realize that there aren't many, if any, 2nd basemen who meet the benchmarks often referred to for automatic HOF entry (3000 hits, 500HR's, etc.etc.). I'll wait for others to post the stats before i finalize my opinion...im too drunk to do it at the moment..

[HoustonGM]

Among second basemen all-time:

1st in home runs
2nd in RBI (to Hornsby)
12th in hits
3rd in doubles
3rd in extra-base hits
23rd in batting average
36th in on-base percentage
3rd in slugging percentage (one of the guys ahead of him is no longer a 2B, Alfonso Soriano)
10th in OPS+

He was never more than an average defender (for his career, he is exactly average according to FRAA).

Being a very good hitter at 2B, and the second best power hitting second basemen of all-time, I'd say yes.

[robinhoodnik]

Yes. A little thought about it, but yes. Compared to the other second basemen in the hall, I think he gets in.

[Arctic Blast]

Wpow. I didn't realize his numbers were that good. I dunno...based on the stats, yes, but he was never a guy I watched play and said "Wow, that guy is INCREDIBLE!", and I'm one of those people who sort of thinks that's who a Hall of Fame should be reserved for.

[ohms_law]

humm...

HOF Standards: Batting - 48.9 (79) (Average HOFer ≈ 50)
HOF Monitor: Batting - 121.5 (111) (Likely HOFer > 100)

Yea, he'll get in. He's really a marginal HOF'er, but the voters love him and will put him in.

[jcbarr]

As far as offensive second basemen, I don't see how he doesn't get in. With that said, I still don't think that he should be in the hall of fame. I watch baseball with regularity and have been doing so for the last 10 years. There was only about a 3-4 year stretch where the guy was really even noticed. He has always been a good player, one that would be good to have on your team, but he has never really dominated. He got a lot of attention because he was one of the few second baggers that could hit at all for a few years. Guys at second who can hit always get attention. Anyone remember Carlos Baerga? People were calling him a future hall of famer too.

Great player. Hall worthy, I don't think so.

[ohms_law]

Yea, agreed.

[nuzzy62]

Yes, but then Bearga petered out while Kent kept on going.

He's probably one of those guys, who, if he gets in, will get between 75 to 80 per cent of the vote, or one of the top vote getters who doesn't get in.

I would say that it wouldn't be unreasoanble if he was in the Hall, compared to some other choices (but we already have some bad apples in that barrel)

[jcbarr]

He'll get in. I'm not denying that at all. I'm just arguing that his induction could be a bit unworthy.

[HoustonGM]

He'll get in. I'm not denying that at all. I'm just arguing that his induction could be a bit unworthy.

There's far greater mistakes in the Hall, and about to get in, as well.

[jcbarr]

That we can both agree on.