He said Dodgers announcer Vin Scully "talks too much." He called Vin Scully "some guy." Jeff Kent, the irritable bastard that he is, insulted Vin Scully. The same Vin Scully who has been calling play-by-play for the Dodgers since 1950 -- when they were in Brooklyn. Scully is a legend in Los Angeles. He ranks among the city's most beloved sports figures, next to John Wooden, Magic Johnson, Sandy Koufax and fellow broadcaster Chick Hearn. It's not that he could get away with murder (although even ex-Southern Cal running back O.J. Simpson pulled it off in L.A.), but there is a certain respect that is maintained for the 80-year-old Scully.
So, when Scully opined over the airwaves recently that Kent's increased productivity (.410 batting average so far in August) has coincided with the arrival of Manny Ramirez, who hits behind Kent in the lineup, it would have been best for Kent to do what he so often does: keep his trap shut. In Kent's interview with L.A. Times sportswriter T.J. Simers, the 40-year-old expressed his dissatisfaction with anyone and everyone who could possibly question Kent's ability to hit a baseball with a bat.
Now, it should be mentioned that Scully has perpetuated a long-held baseball myth: that one hitter can have a significant effect on another hitter's performance. Many nerdy baseball statgeeks have devoted countless lonely Friday and Saturday nights to prove that the "lineup protection" myth, is, in fact, just that. But that doesn't make it right for Kent to say Scully talks too much. First Christ sake, it's Scully's job to talk.
Anyway, Kent has argued in the past with ex-teammate Barry Bonds (hey, who can blame him?), current teammate Matt Kemp, assorted sportswriters and other members of the media. Scully hasn't offered a retaliation to Kent's illogical comments, but there's something to be said for a man who has too much class to get involved in Kent's childish tirade. Scully's been in the game too long to let little pests like Kent bother him. That's why he's got to treat Kent like a Jay-Z song and scrape that dirt off his shoulder.
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1 comment:
What a tool. Vin's job is to talk, and he does it well. I don't see why Kent would get so offended over that comment, it's not really a criticism. Vin is the best. Most older broadcasters annoy me because the game has past them by, but Vin is still very much on top of his sport.
Scanson led me to your blog Kyle, I like it!
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