Jeff Kent Excited About Getting Started

Friday, February 23, 2007

By JOHN NADEL, AP Sports Writer

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VERO BEACH, Fla. —

For veterans like Jeff Kent, spring training is usually a drag. Not this year. "It says something when I say I'd rather be here than racing motorcycles. I love motorcycles," Kent said with a smile before Friday's workout at the Los Angeles Dodgers' spring training complex.

Kent, who turns 39 next month, was limited to 115 games last season _ his fewest since the strike-shortened 1994 campaign. That's one of the reasons he's pleased to get started. Another is he likes the assembled team at Dodgertown.

"I'm excited to be here. I'm healthy," he said. "Because I missed so many games last year, I'm anxious to start playing. I've been fortunate enough in my whole career to have been on the disabled list only once or twice (before last year). It was twice last season. The times I played last year, I did what I normally do."

A five-time All-Star, Kent has a .289 career batting average, 345 homers including a record 319 as a second baseman, and 1,380 RBIs. He hit .292 with 14 homers and 68 RBIs last season.

"I feel as youthful now as I did five, six, seven years ago," he said. "That's how I feel. Whether the body is telling me something else, I don't know."

Kent came to spring training last February still recuperating from offseason surgery on his right wrist, but was ready to go on opening day. His problems began in May.

"My hand slipped off a bat in Washington," he recalled. "That had never happened to me in my entire career, even in batting practice. That was a fluke."

The result was a sprained left wrist, putting him on the disabled list.

Then, Kent strained his right oblique muscle in early July, putting him out of action again. It was a problem that never totally went away.

"There were a lot of oblique injuries in baseball last year _ muscles in your side," he said.

Among other standout players missing time with similar injuries were St. Louis star Albert Pujols, Cleveland ace C.C. Sabathia, Atlanta's Chipper Jones and Oakland's Milton Bradley.

"I had never had an injury like that," Kent said. "When you get older, you'd think that would be associated with old age _ there is no excuse. There were 20-year-old kids having them last year.

"I was playing through injuries the last half of last season _ I was pretty sore. The oblique was treacherous."

Nevertheless, Kent went 8-for-13 while the Dodgers were being swept in three games by the New York Mets in a first-round playoff series.

Doug Jarrow, the Dodgers' strength and conditioning coordinator, traveled to Kent's home in Texas during the offseason and spent a few days working with Kent to get him ready for this year.

"We weren't changing too much, just modifying his program, placing more emphasis on his exercises to deal with his oblique muscle, working with flexibility in his midsection his hips," Jarrow said. "I spoke with him periodically _ nothing but positives.

"He worked his tail off. He's ready to go. He said he worked harder than he ever has. He looks great coming in, with a great attitude and ready to go."

The Dodgers went from a 71-91 record in Kent's first year with them to 88-74 and a playoff berth last season. He believes the improvement will continue.

"This team is better now than it was last year. I really like the direction that Mr. McCourt has taken," Kent said, referring to Dodgers owner Frank McCourt. "He's moving up _ pretty soon, he's going to get to the top.

"I'm getting a taste of ownership. I own a couple motorcycle dealerships. I'm really excited about that. In that small, small example, I understand where he's coming from."

Kent's dealerships are located in San Antonio and New Braunfels, Texas.

"I grew up racing in Southern California. I still race now (in local motocross events in Texas)," he said. "I sneak out there every now and then. My kids, race, too. I'd like to see people enjoy that kind of fun.

"I've slowed down. I've got a day job I won't jeopardize."

Kent was injured during spring training five years ago while playing for the San Francisco Giants, saying at the time he fell off his truck while washing it rather than falling off a motorcycle.

He shrugs that off now.

"It had no affect on my baseball season," he said. "I was ready to go on day one. I hit 37 home runs, drove in over 100 runs, we went To the World Series."

Kent realizes his career is nearing an end. He's uncertain as to when that might be.

"I'm signed through this year with a mutual option for next year," he said. "I've talked about it in past years. I really don't want to talk about it much. Maybe that's the telltale sign that this is the end. When it comes, I'll know for sure."