The Dodgers called a news conference Thursday but obviously were embarrassed and probably concerned that no one would make the drive to Anaheim for the signing of Jeff Kent, so they kept his identity a secret and said they had the signing of a "significant player" to announce.
They were lying, of course, probably to make Kent feel at home, because that's what Kent is known best for, telling everyone he had hurt his wrist washing his truck when he later had to admit he was injured while doing wheelies on a motorcycle.
Anyway, I couldn't imagine any significant player agreeing to play for the Dodgers, so I stayed in L.A. and listened to the news conference on mlb.com.
The first thing I heard was Kent crying. I wasn't surprised. I would think that would be the first reaction of most players coming to the Dodgers these days, especially knowing they might be given the locker next to Milton Bradley.
Kent said he was emotional because he recalled going to Dodger Stadium with his dad, and now the Dodgers were giving him $17 million to come to their games. I began to tear up when I thought about that.
*
THE DODGERS declined to say what position Kent will play because in reality they signed a designated hitter, and for a moment there maybe General Manager Paul DePodesta, who worked previously in Oakland, forgot which league he's in.
If the Dodgers put Kent at second, they break up the best shortstop-second base combination in baseball. If they put Kent, who turns 37 in March, at third, that means Adrian Beltre, who turns 26 in April, will be on another team. If they put him at first, it'll be an admission DePodesta traded for a stiff in Hee-Seop Choi.
Kent gives the Dodgers a right-handed hitter who is also a known malcontent, although DePodesta referred to him as a leader. To be honest, I'm excited; it just hasn't been the same around here since Kevin Brown left.
Kent has the reputation for not getting along with his teammates, which seems to be the kind of athlete L.A. is best known for these days. He wasted no time, in fact, in belittling Beltre, Eric Gagne and Shawn Green.
He told the media he was happy to play for Manager Jim Tracy because "Jim was able to win last year with no franchise players."
Holy Malone, the next thing we'll probably hear is Beltre's agent telling Fred Roggin in a radio interview that Beltre's irate and he won't be playing for the Dodgers. And Plaschke will write it's all Kobe's fault.
