Kent wants to spend more time "washing trucks"

[Bench]

So he decided to hang 'em up and head out to the bluebonnet pasture for good.

Sorry if this is Cabrera'd.  It was certainly expected, but the official announcement was news to me.

So... hall of famer? 

[JimR]

i really liked Kent as an Astro. i was sorry to see him leave.

[Houston]

His HR in the 9th inning of Game 5 of the 2004 NLCS is probably my all-time favorite moment in Astros history.

[Gizzmonic]

His HR in the 9th inning of Game 5 of the 2004 NLCS is probably my all-time favorite moment in Astros history.

Yeah, same here.  I was at that game...the atmosphere was fantastic.  I'll never forget it.

[Limey]

His HR in the 9th inning of Game 5 of the 2004 NLCS is probably my all-time favorite moment in Astros history.

I will bring my DVD of that along to the post-golf debacle debacle on Saturday.

[austro]

I will bring my DVD of that along to the post-golfdebacle debacle on Saturday.

FIFY.

[Mr. Happy]

So... hall of famer? 

Based upon his numbers at his position, I say yes.

[Bench]

His HR in the 9th inning of Game 5 of the 2004 NLCS is probably my all-time favorite moment in Astros history.

Me too.  My ears were ringing for days after.

[Limey]

Me too.  My ears were ringing for days after.

"The Shot Still Ringing in My Ears"

[BlownRanger]

His HR in the 9th inning of Game 5 of the 2004 NLCS is probably my all-time favorite moment in Astros history.

The greatest 4-6-3 in the history of the sport, which just happened to end Game 4 of the '05 NLCS, is my favorite moment.

[Bench]

The greatest 4-6-3 in the history of the sport, which just happened to end Game 4 of the '05 NLCS, is my favorite moment.

Especially after cat-piss "stole" third base. 

[Limey]

The greatest 4-6-3 in the history of the sport, which just happened to end Game 4 of the '05 NLCS, is my favorite moment.

What puts Kent's dinger at the top, for me, is that is has the backdrop of a La Genius brainfuck. 

[Wild Dog]

So... hall of famer? 

I think so.  More HR's than 2B in history.  IMO, better than most second sackers already in the Hall.  Clutch hitter.  Run producer.  Definately not an iron glove.  During his career who was better at his position?  Biggio, yes.  Sandberg, no.  Alomar, not the longevity.  What would keep him out of the HOF?

[Limey]

I think so.  More HR's than 2B in history.  IMO, better than most second sackers already in the Hall.  Clutch hitter.  Run producer.  Definately not an iron glove.  During his career who was better at his position?  Biggio, yes.  Sandberg, no.  Alomar, not the longevity.  What would keep him out of the HOF?

Don't forget the trucker-style baseball hat.  And the 'tasche.  And that he didn't go postal having to listen to interviews of Barry being Barry for so many years.

I agree, HoF for all of these things.  But mostly the hitting.

Maybe they will perch his bust atop a Ford F-350 die-cast model.

[Taras Bulba]

I'll always remember his "see the ball, hit the ball" swing.  Also, that he didn't go in for any buttfucking or other foolishness in the clubhouse.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I think so.  More HR's than 2B in history.  IMO, better than most second sackers already in the Hall.  Clutch hitter.  Run producer.  Definately not an iron glove.  During his career who was better at his position?  Biggio, yes.  Sandberg, no.  Alomar, not the longevity.  What would keep him out of the HOF?

I always loved Kent's workers' mentality. His job was being a baseball player. He didn't fuck around.

Don't for get one MVP and 1500 RBI. Like Biggio and Alomar, he gets in the HOF.   

The guy most like Kent to me is Chase Utley. And other than Utley, among the current crop of second sackers, I don't see any other potential HOFers on the horizon... yet.

[HudsonHawk]

I'll always remember his "see the ball, hit the ball" swing.  Also, that he didn't go in for any buttfucking or other foolishness in the clubhouse.

I liked Kent's swing too.  He wasn't quite "wait, wait, wait, explode on the ball" like Moises Alou, but he was quiet and quick with the bat.  You could rarely sneak a fastball by him.

[austro]

I liked Kent's swing too.  He wasn't quite "wait, wait, wait, explode on the ball" like Moises Alou, but he was quiet and quick with the bat.  You could rarely sneak a fastball by him.

I'd like to see Kent swing a golf club, although he probably thinks golf is for pussies. But the way he brought the bat through the zone (quick, swinging the bat, not his arms) makes me think he would probably crush golf balls, too.

[Limey]

I'd like to see Kent swing a golf club, although he probably thinks golf is for pussies. But the way he brought the bat through the zone (quick, swinging the bat, not his arms) makes me think he would probably crush golf balls, too.

Is he available on Saturday?  To make it fair, we can give him his choice between playing for Team Pinko or Team Bushneck.

[chuck]

"I don't do lunch."

[JimR]

I'll always remember his "see the ball, hit the ball" swing.  Also, that he didn't go in for any buttfucking or other foolishness in the clubhouse.

what i learned from watching him every night was that he was a pure hitter, not merely a HR guy. he hit the outside pitch hard to RF and RCF.

[Randy Watson]

The greatest 4-6-3 in the history of the sport, which just happened to end Game 4 of the '05 NLCS, is my favorite moment.

My uncle and I were sitting in the front row of the diamond level -- about 3 feet from where Mabry was warming up in the on deck circle.  We kept yelling at him, telling him over and over that he was going to ground into a double play to end the game.

I still can't believe Everett and Bruntlett turned that. 

[ValpoCory]

His HR in the 9th inning of Game 5 of the 2004 NLCS is probably my all-time favorite moment in Astros history.

Very nice.

ETA:  This is a link to AstrosDaily's video of the event.  Click at your own discretion.

[ValpoCory]

From the AP article,

"Kent made his only World Series appearance with San Francisco in 2002, when the Giants lost to the Los Angeles Angels in three games." 

Three games, eh.

"Kent's eyes watered as he watched a video reel of his career set to music. His wife, daughter and three young sons smiled while highlights of Kent's career flashed on television screens around the room."

Wonder how many Astros highlights were on it.

[JimR]

Very nice.

do not FUCKING EVER link me to astrosdaily. NEVER.

[pravata]

Kent talked about the influence of his father, a police officer.  "Hence the mustache," he said. "It's a reminder of where I came from."
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-dodgers-kent23-2009jan23,0,3490702.story

[juliogotay]

Kent talked about the influence of his father, a police officer.  "Hence the mustache," he said. "It's a reminder of where I came from."
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-dodgers-kent23-2009jan23,0,3490702.story

Kent's dad was in the Village People?

[juliogotay]

what i learned from watching him every night was that he was a pure hitter, not merely a HR guy. he hit the outside pitch hard to RF and RCF.

Exactly right. Hence a .290 career average. We may never see the likes of as much talent as was on that 2004 team again in Houston.

[ValpoCory]

Exactly right. Hence a .290 career average. We may never see the likes of as much talent as was on that 2004 team again in Houston.

Yep. I remember asking this question last summer.

[Randy Watson]

Exactly right. Hence a .290 career average. We may never see the likes of as much talent as was on that 2004 team again in Houston.

Just in the last 25 years, we have had three better teams. 1986, 1998, and 1999.  Our 1998 team, especially after picking up Johnson, was ridiculously salty.  You had a bunch of stud everyday players in their prime and they won 102 games:

1B: Bagwell (age 30 - .424 OBP and .557 slugging, probably the best fielding and baserunning 1B of his era)
2B: Biggio (age 32 - .403 OBP and .503 slugging -- 51 doubles, 50 steals with only 8 CS)
SS: Gutierrez - respectable defense + .340 OBP
3b: Berry and Spiers (very, very productive platoon - OBP around .370 combined with 17 homers and 95 RBI's)
LF: Alou (38 homers and 124 RBI, .399 OBP and .582 slugging)
CF: Carl Everett - .359 OBP and .482 slugging
RF: Derek Bell --  .364 OBP and .490 sluggingEverett, Bell (had a great year), a very productive platoon at
C: Ausmus - in his prime defensively and hit .269 with a .356 OBP
Bench -- whoever had day off between Spiers and Berry, Hidalgo (batted .303), Eusebio

Starting Pitching
Randy Johnson - 10-1 with 1.28 ERA after trade deadline acquisition
Shane Reynolds - 19-8 with a 3.51 ERA in 233 innings
Jose Lima - 16-8 with a 3.70 ERA in 233 innings
Mike Hampton - 11-7 with 3.36 ERA in 211 innings
Sean Bergman - 12-9 with 3.72 ERA in 170 innings

Relievers
Wagner - 2.70 ERA in 60 innings
Doug Henry - 3.07 ERA in 71 innings
Trever Miller - 3.04 ERA in 54 innings
CJ Nitkowski - 3.77 ERA in 60 innings
Scott Elarton - 3.32 ERA in 57 innings
Jay Powell - 2.38 ERA in 34 innings

2004 Squad (won 92 games)

1B: Bagwell (age 36 - .377 OBP and .465 slugging, shoulder injury hurt his production and especially his defense, still very good but not nearly as good as the 1998 version that could get hot and carry the team on his back for weeks against any kind of pitching)probably the best fielding and baserunning 1B of his era)
2B: Kent (.348 OBP and .531 slugging -- not as good as the 1998 version of Biggio)
SS: Everett was awesome in the field and looked like he was turning the corner with the bat until he broke his hand.  Vizcaino filled in admirably.
3b: Ensberg - very average at the plate in 2004 but Lamb platooning helped offensively.  Berry and Spiers were better
LF: Biggio -- not his fault but he was below average in the OF and at 38 was a good but not great offensive player -- Alou was much better and basically was about equal to Berkman was in 2004
CF: Hidalgo was bad but then we acquired Beltran who played like a hall of famer - advantage 2004 (but Carl Everett was no slouch)
RF: Berkman - better than Derek Bell was in 1998, but overall the outfield's were probably about equal
C: Ausmus - not as good offensively or defensively as he was 6 years earlier
Bench -- whoever had day off between Ensberg or Lamb, Raul Chavez, Jason Lane (give me the 1998 bench)

Starting Pitching
Clemens- outstanding10-1 with 1.28 ERA after trade deadline acquisition
Oswalt- outstanding
Pettite/Miller - combined to pitch about 2/3 the workload of a starter and did pretty well
Pete Munro - bad
Tim Redding - terrible
Carlos Hernandez - terrible

Bullpen
Lidge -awesome (better than Wagner was in 1998)
Miceli - started off great, killed us at end
Gallo - below average
Harville - below average
Backe - a little above average, but great in postseason as starter
Qualls - came in and pitched well to make our bullpen at least decent the last 1/3 of the season
Wheeler - came in and pitched well in the last month and pitched 8 scoreless innings in the playoffs

Relievers
Wagner - 2.70 ERA in 60 innings
Doug Henry - 3.07 ERA in 71 innings
Trever Miller - 3.04 ERA in 54 innings
CJ Nitkowski - 3.77 ERA in 60 innings
Scott Elarton - 3.32 ERA in 57 innings
Jay Powell - 2.38 ERA in 34 innings



I loved the 2004 squad -- that team had heart.  But injuries really hurt our pitching staff.  We got less than 90 innings from Pettite and Miller.  So we had two super stud starters -- Roy and Roger -- and then a collection of journeyman to take of the slack (Munro, Redding, post injury Carlos Hernandez, Backe).  The 1998 squad had awesome pitching depth, a better lineup, and better defense.

[Bench]

I guess with Alomar, Biggio and Kent (and Sandberg in his later years, if you want to go there) we just witnessed the second golden age of second basemen. 

[Limey]

I guess with Alomar, Biggio and Kent (and Sandberg in his later years, if you want to go there) we just witnessed the second golden age of second basemen. 

You left out Chris Burke.  He'll be upset.

[chuck]

I think that the 1998 team was easily the best team the organization has ever fielded. Maybe not easily, but definitely.

[JimR]

I think that the 1998 team was easily the best team the organization has ever fielded. Maybe not easily, but definitely.

by far, imo.

[juliogotay]

Just in the last 25 years, we have had three better teams. 1986, 1998, and 1999.  Our 1998 team, especially after picking up Johnson, was ridiculously salty.  You had a bunch of stud everyday players in their prime and they won 102 games:

1B: Bagwell (age 30 - .424 OBP and .557 slugging, probably the best fielding and baserunning 1B of his era)
2B: Biggio (age 32 - .403 OBP and .503 slugging -- 51 doubles, 50 steals with only 8 CS)
SS: Gutierrez - respectable defense + .340 OBP
3b: Berry and Spiers (very, very productive platoon - OBP around .370 combined with 17 homers and 95 RBI's)
LF: Alou (38 homers and 124 RBI, .399 OBP and .582 slugging)
CF: Carl Everett - .359 OBP and .482 slugging
RF: Derek Bell --  .364 OBP and .490 sluggingEverett, Bell (had a great year), a very productive platoon at
C: Ausmus - in his prime defensively and hit .269 with a .356 OBP
Bench -- whoever had day off between Spiers and Berry, Hidalgo (batted .303), Eusebio

Starting Pitching
Randy Johnson - 10-1 with 1.28 ERA after trade deadline acquisition
Shane Reynolds - 19-8 with a 3.51 ERA in 233 innings
Jose Lima - 16-8 with a 3.70 ERA in 233 innings
Mike Hampton - 11-7 with 3.36 ERA in 211 innings
Sean Bergman - 12-9 with 3.72 ERA in 170 innings

Relievers
Wagner - 2.70 ERA in 60 innings
Doug Henry - 3.07 ERA in 71 innings
Trever Miller - 3.04 ERA in 54 innings
CJ Nitkowski - 3.77 ERA in 60 innings
Scott Elarton - 3.32 ERA in 57 innings
Jay Powell - 2.38 ERA in 34 innings

2004 Squad (won 92 games)

1B: Bagwell (age 36 - .377 OBP and .465 slugging, shoulder injury hurt his production and especially his defense, still very good but not nearly as good as the 1998 version that could get hot and carry the team on his back for weeks against any kind of pitching)probably the best fielding and baserunning 1B of his era)
2B: Kent (.348 OBP and .531 slugging -- not as good as the 1998 version of Biggio)
SS: Everett was awesome in the field and looked like he was turning the corner with the bat until he broke his hand.  Vizcaino filled in admirably.
3b: Ensberg - very average at the plate in 2004 but Lamb platooning helped offensively.  Berry and Spiers were better
LF: Biggio -- not his fault but he was below average in the OF and at 38 was a good but not great offensive player -- Alou was much better and basically was about equal to Berkman was in 2004
CF: Hidalgo was bad but then we acquired Beltran who played like a hall of famer - advantage 2004 (but Carl Everett was no slouch)
RF: Berkman - better than Derek Bell was in 1998, but overall the outfield's were probably about equal
C: Ausmus - not as good offensively or defensively as he was 6 years earlier
Bench -- whoever had day off between Ensberg or Lamb, Raul Chavez, Jason Lane (give me the 1998 bench)

Starting Pitching
Clemens- outstanding10-1 with 1.28 ERA after trade deadline acquisition
Oswalt- outstanding
Pettite/Miller - combined to pitch about 2/3 the workload of a starter and did pretty well
Pete Munro - bad
Tim Redding - terrible
Carlos Hernandez - terrible

Bullpen
Lidge -awesome (better than Wagner was in 1998)
Miceli - started off great, killed us at end
Gallo - below average
Harville - below average
Backe - a little above average, but great in postseason as starter
Qualls - came in and pitched well to make our bullpen at least decent the last 1/3 of the season
Wheeler - came in and pitched well in the last month and pitched 8 scoreless innings in the playoffs

Relievers
Wagner - 2.70 ERA in 60 innings
Doug Henry - 3.07 ERA in 71 innings
Trever Miller - 3.04 ERA in 54 innings
CJ Nitkowski - 3.77 ERA in 60 innings
Scott Elarton - 3.32 ERA in 57 innings
Jay Powell - 2.38 ERA in 34 innings



I loved the 2004 squad -- that team had heart.  But injuries really hurt our pitching staff.  We got less than 90 innings from Pettite and Miller.  So we had two super stud starters -- Roy and Roger -- and then a collection of journeyman to take of the slack (Munro, Redding, post injury Carlos Hernandez, Backe).  The 1998 squad had awesome pitching depth, a better lineup, and better defense.

I agree the 1998 was probably better than 2004. Certainly the starting pitching. My point is that the 2004 team may be the last club to have that much talent and high-profile baseball players. Economics is more and more making it difficult to have that many star players in a market that is not NY, Boston, Chicago.

[toddthebod]

by far, imo.

Fucking Kevin Brown.

[austro]

Fucking Kevin Brown.

Kevin Brown was kind of understandable. But Sterling Hitchcock?

[JackAstro]

STERLING HITCHCOCK. STERLING FUCKING HITCHCOCK. I hate everyone right now.

[Limey]

STERLING HITCHCOCK. STERLING FUCKING HITCHCOCK. I hate everyone right now.

This is where the argument - that I usually make - about the bullshit afternoon, on again, off again, schedule...falls down.  If you get shut down by Sterling Hitchcock, you lose all bitchin' rights.

[MusicMan]

STERLING HITCHCOCK. STERLING FUCKING HITCHCOCK. I hate everyone right now.

Don't forget Jay Powell, who had been absofuckinglutely lights out since arriving, imploding in the 8th.

[homer]

How many days until pitchers and catchers report?

[MRaup]

Man, I hate you guys sometimes.

[Bench]

How many days until pitchers and catchers report?

16 days, 21 hours, 23 minutes.

And not a moment too fucking soon.

[Mr. Happy]

Don't forget Jay Powell, who had been absofuckinglutely lights out since arriving, imploding in the 8th.

Did you have to bring up KaPowell? It just upset my stomach.

[remy]

From today's Statesman, a more local look at Kent and his retirement.

[Limey]

From today's Statesman, a more local look at Kent and his retirement.

The Spicewood winery makes some decent stuff.

[subnuclear]

Kent said Biggio, who played outfield in 2004 but lacked the skills to play there much longer, was part of the reason he decided to leave.

"He'd earned the right to be an Astro," Kent said of Biggio. "I hadn't. I just knew it was time to move on."

I don't remember him saying that before.   At least he thinks its a privilege to be an Astro. 

[Limey]

I don't remember him saying that before.   At least he thinks its a privilege to be an Astro. 

Which = being respected as a player but taking slightly less than maximum revenue from each contract.

[HudsonHawk]

I don't remember him saying that before.   At least he thinks its a privilege to be an Astro. 

You know, for all the talk about what a prick Kent was/is, he sure didn't seem to have any problems in Houston.  I guess part of it was playing with some respected veterans here (Biggio, Bagwell, Ausmus, Pettitte, Clemens, Vizcaino, Palmeiro, etc) and part of it was getting away from Barry Bonds.