Revisiting the Jeff Kent Shunning

Jeff Kent was the first player who declined my interview request.  We were on the field at Dodger Stadium well before the game was to start.  At the time, abtting practice hadn't even begun and a handful of players had just reached the field and started lightly stretching.
After nabbing interviews with Hall of Fame broadcasters Jon Miller and Peter Gammons and coaches Larry Bowa and Mike Easler, I was feeling good.  I approached Kent and was shot down.  Kent said he had to take bp (although it hadn't started yet).
I actually like Kent and think he has a shot at the Hall of Fame.  I must be impartial though, as I present the splits for his 2008 season before and after shunning Johngy's Beat.
Before the shun, in 52 games, Kent hit .257, with 8 HR's, 28 rbi's and 28 runs scored.
After the shun, in 69 games, Kent hit .296, with 4 HR's, 28 rbi's, 21 runs scored and was 0-1 in stolen base attempt.
Kent's average did go up, but his production certainly went down.  Kent probably suffered the least effects from the shun, but still suffered.
Did the effects of the shun push Kent to retire?  He was only 23 HR's away from 400.  If he would have kept his pre-shun pace, he would have finished 2008 with around 382, only 18 away from the magical 400.
It might be a close call on his Hall of Fame enshrinement.  It isn't a close call on the Shun Splits, though, as it now stands Johngy's Beat 5, players (Kent, Torre, Byrd, Jenks and Manny) 0.

Jeff Kent in Los Angeles, CA-June 2008.

Revisiting the Joe Torre Shunning

In my ongoing quest to study the effects on a major leaguer after declining an interview request with Johngy's Beat, I am revisiting Joe Torre.  In all fairness to Torre, he did say he might have time after the game, but I did not pursue that option as it usually doesn't come to fruition.
Torre had an excellent playing career and has gone on to have a Hall of Fame managing career.  While his stay in Los Angeles didn't produce a World Series title, he has compiled a 259-227 record for a .533 winning percentage, which is just slightly below his career percentage of .538.
Torre and the Dodgers were off to a great start in 2009.  Then Torre made the mistake of shunning Johngy's Beat.  The results are as follows:
Before the shun, the Dodgers were 55-31 for a .639 winning percentage.  They were in 1st place, 7 games up.
After the shun, the Dodgers went 40-36 for a .526 winning percentage.  They ended in 1st, 3 games up.
Looking deeper into these stats, post-shun the Dodgers would have been in 3rd place.  The Colorado Rockies would be in 1st (six games up on the Dodgers and 5 up on the 2nd place San Francisco Giants.  The San Diego Padres would be in 4th, only 1/2 game behind the Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks would be in last (12 out of 1st and 6 behind the Dodgers).
Continuing the research, Torre and the Dodgers finished 2010 in 4th place, 12 games out of 1st.  Late in the season, Torre announce it would be his last (at least in Los Angeles).  Was he retiring for good or was he just trying to lift the Johngy's Beat Curse?  Only time will tell.
Sooner or later, even Bill James will have to jump on this statistical trend.  For now, all I can say is Johngy's Beat 3 and the players (Torre, Byrd and Jenks) 0.

Joe Torre as he decline my interview request in Milwaukee, WI-July 2009.

Revisiting the Marlon Byrd Shunning

Last week, I wrote about being shunned by Bobby Jenks and how his stats took a nose dive.  It got me wondering about some of the other people who have shunned us.  This brought me to Marlon Byrd, the previous most-recent shunner.

Byrd had a fine season for the Cubs.  He hit .293 with 12 home runs, 66 rbi's, 84 runs scored and 5 stolen bases.  Byrd shunned me before the game on July 21.  Let's see how his stats compare before and after the shun.

Before the shun, in 93 games, Byrd hit .315, with 10 HR's, 42 rbi's, 53 runs and 4 stolen bases.
After the shun, in 59 games, Byrd .259, with 2 HR's, 24 rbi's, 31 runs and 1 stolen base.
Percentage-wise, the only stat that is comparable is his runs scored.  Clearly, this is another case of the player going into a downward spiral after declining an interview for Johngy's Beat.
I am not making up this stuff.  I am simply presenting the stats as is.  I will continue this series, but for now it is...Johngy's Beat 2, the players (Byrd and Jenks) 0.

Marlon Byrd moments before shunning me at Wrigley Field-July 2010.

Shunned by Bobby Jenks

On our trip to Target Field earlier this year, a new member joined the Johngy's Beat Shunners Club.  White Sox reliever Bobby Jenks gained membership by shunning us while sitting alone in the dugout during a pre-game rain storm. As always, I was disappointed, but not upset.  The player has that right, even if he is seemingly doing nothing while watching the rain fall.  However, in this case, I feel the need to do a statistical analysis of Jenks.
Overall, Jenks was 1-3 with a 4.44 ERA, a 1.367 WHIP and 27 Saves.  I'd like to look beyond the totality and do a pre- and post-shun Bobby Jenks.  Here is where it gets interesting.
Before shunning us, in 36 games, Jenks was 1-1, with a 3.97 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP and 20 Saves (with only 1 blown Save).
After shunning us, in 19 games, Jenks is 0-2, with a 5.30 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP and 7 Saves (with 3 blown Saves).
Is this mere happenstance?  An odd statistical anomaly?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  A solid case could be made that his plunge cost the Sox a playoff spot.  Next time, perhaps Jenks will play it safe and talk to us.

Shunned by Marlon Byrd

Marlon Byrd is probably the Cubs MVP for this season. Byrd, who signed with the Chicago Cubs as a free agent, has had a solid career, but is clearly delivering much more than promised.

A couple weeks ago however, Byrd joined an exclusive club. Byrd shunned me, joining former Johngy's Beat shunners Jeff Kent and Manny Ramirez. Like with the others, I don't have a problem with being shunned. There is no obligation and any interview I get is a plus.
I would have liked to talk to Byrd. I planned on asking about the Texas heat versus Chicago's current heat streak. Of course, the one time I have a totally different question, I don't get to use it.
Byrd has been one of the subjects of trade rumors. I am sure this isn't what he expected when he signed here. At only 32, Byrd still has some good years left. I'd like to see him stay in Chicago. Maybe then, I'll get another opportunity and maybe next time, he won't shun me.

Shunned by Manny Ramirez

A couple months ago, I wrote about Jeff Kent shunning my interview request. Today, I am featuring another member of the Dodgers who shunned me (and pretty much everyone else).
Manny Ramirez had a tough season in 2009. He was suspended for 50 games because of PED's. On a good day, Ramirez isn't exactly people-friendly. I happened to catch him shortly after his suspension ended.
My nephew Matt and I were on the field getting interviews. We saw Ramirez and wanted to add him to our list. Okay, I admit, it was my pettiness. I wanted to 'log in' Ramirez. I didn't care what I got. I just wanted something.
Matt and I stepped in between him and the batting cage, but he essentially split us as he strolled past. He made brief eye contact with me, but he actually patted Matt on the shoulder. We didn't get anything from him though. Not even a "no comment". It was the worst shun of all, the silent shun.
Matt did capture the aftermath on film though. There is me, forlornly looking on as Ramirez enters the batting cage area. Manager Joe Torre and Coach Jeff Pentland are also in the shot (on the right side area).
Maybe having Ramirez shun me was a right of passage. Now I can consider myself a legit part of the press, because Manny wanted nothing to do with me. I feel proud.

Manny Ramirez (far left) and me (far right) in Dodger Stadium Los Angeles, CA-June 2008.

Shunned By Jeff Kent

Since I started doing interviews, people have often asked the usual questions. They want to know who has been nice, mean, funny etc. I have told many stories of very nice, accommodating celebrities. Today, I am highlighting a not-so-accommodating player.
When we were in Los Angeles, I got a lot of good material. I started to feel good and tried to 'up' my game a bit more.
I approached Jeff Kent and asked if I could just ask a couple questions. He barely acknowledged me and muttered that he needed to hit.
Look at the picture. Does it look like any real hitting was happening? Coach Larry Bowa is hitting fungos. My friend Chuck and I actually helped him with retrieving errant throws back from the infielders.
I don't really remember what Kent did next, but I know he didn't take major batting practice.
Don't get me wrong though. Kent had every right to turn down my request. In fact, he did not even have to give me a reason. However, if I left it at that, there would be no post today.
I do think Kent could have given me 30 seconds without it messing up his day. It was well before game time and most players weren't even out on the field. Coach Bowa and Coach Mike Easler were actually joking around with Chuck and me while they were doing their duties.
Actually, I like Kent. I have liked him ever since he broke into the majors as a skinny second baseman with the Toronto Blue Jays. I also think he will get into the Hall of Fame at some point (and then I will probably me more upset that he screwed me out of an interview with a Hall of Famer!).

Jeff Kent and me (and Larry Bowa) in Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA-June 2008.