Jeff Kent is Just Boring
Race to 400 Points
Hitting: 300 points
Fielding: -20 points
Baserunning: -15 points
MVP Bonus: 15 points
The real MVP hit ahead of him: -10 points
All-Star Bonus: 10 points
Silver Sluggers: 12 points
Most Home Runs ever for a Second Baseman: 5 points
Hit about as well in the postseason as he did in his career: 18 points
Total: 310 Points
This exercise, for me, really boiled down the argument against Jeff Kent for the Hall of Fame. Looking at his ledger, again, with the benefit of a somewhat objective exercise NOT JAWS related helps: Kent simply does not bring all that much to the table.
First off, Jeff Kent was an offense first second baseman, which is relatively unusually. Most second baseman (like shortstops, catchers and center fielders) focus on defense. Jeff Kent was not a good defensive second baseman, granted he probably was better than many people realize, but he certainly was not awful. Most of his negative value stems from the last three seasons of his career when he really should not have played second base; he was negative -43 runs below average the final three seasons of his career, for the remainder he was about average (which is why I adjusted his defensive RT400 points). On the flip side, even with a big benefit of the doubt: he still falls about 3/4 short of 400.
Furthermore, while Kent undoubtedly hit well for a middle infielder: he is not the best offensive second baseman ever. He's probably not even in the top 10. By OPS+ he ranks 14th at the position (minimum 5,000 plate appearances) four of them who rank ahead of Kent are outside the Hall of Fame. Furthermore, I am not convinced Jeff Kent is even the best offensive second baseman outside the Hall of Fame. Bobby Grich was also a terrific hitter, who was completely ignored by the BBWAA & the Veteran's Committee:
Bobby Grich
Hitting: 255 points
Baserunning: 0 points
Black Ink: 15 points (home runs, slugging percentage, OPS+, all once)
Total: 270 hitting points
Now, this does not even account for some of the other things Grich did well. Grich was a better fielder than Kent (to the tune of about 100 runs). Another second baseman who's really good offensively? Robinson Cano:
Hitting: 280 points
Baserunning: -5 points
Total: 275 points
If we include Hall of Famers in this discussion, we can find other second baseman with good hitting records:
Roberto Alomar
Hitting: 250 points
Baserunning: 60 points
Black Ink: 5 points (runs scored once)
Total: 315 points
Hitting: 250 points
Baserunning: 75 points
Black Ink: 25 points (runs scored twice, doubles three times, stolen bases once, HBP five times)
Total: 350 points
Again once we consider defense into this equation: Jeff Kent consistently becomes less impressive, and I did not even consider a ton of other second baseman who are clearly superior. Is Jeff Kent a better offensive player than Joe Morgan? Rogers Hornsby? Eddie Collins? Rod Carew? No. Basically the only claim Jeff Kent can make which grants him a concise Hall of Fame argument is the home run argument. Jeff Kent does lead all second baseman in home runs. So what? The implication seems to me is Jeff Kent is an unusually great offensive player. For a second baseman: Kent was a great offensive hitter. However, I see no argument Kent is a better offensive player than other players both inside and outside the Hall of Fame. Even his home run record is less impressive: he played in the Selig Era! He never led the league in home runs, he only ranked in the top 10 once (7th, in 2002).
In short, there's a fine argument for Jeff Kent as a Hall of Famer, but its not convincing at all once you apply some scrutiny. Kent was a great player, we should be able to leave it at that.