Comments on: Down Goes Kendall

By: % (in the UK)

% (in the UK) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:44:34 +0000

Kcghost-I’ve been away a few days & what do i see upon my return,another slant against Bloomquist even though the piece has absolutely nothing to do with him or is factualy correct,shamefull.

All this on the back of Wee Willie practically single-handedly defeating Texas in game 2 in the ninth as short a time ago as Tuesday,he wasnt in the starting line up even then or in the Tigers series at all,like most of the season!

As for Kendall,i thought of Craig upon hearing the news of his injury,all what he said in his article way back at the start of the season has been vindicated!

By: Craig Brown

Craig Brown — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:28:24 +0000

Troy – Interesting theory about Kendall “mentoring” Pena. Good thing we’ll get to see for ourselves over the next month. Of course, that 100 page manual does no good when you spend the first five months of the season rusting on the bench.

And Buck is doing something different this year to boost his CS%? Sounds to me like a failure on the Royals coaching staff to get the most out of the talent at their disposal. Wouldn’t be the first time.

Finally, your quote: “Where as Kendall threw more guys out then Buck and Olivo combined 2008 and 09 combined” Not true. Buck and Olivo combined to catch 56 attempted base stealers in ’08 and ’09. Kendall has 41 CS this year. You know better than to come here and make a wild statistical claim…

Again, teams were running on Kendall like crazy. There have been 163 attempted steals this year (mostly against Kendall). Last year there were 153 attempted steals total against the Royals. And we still have a month left in the season.

By: kcghost

kcghost — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:41:42 +0000

Yeah, Kendall was a real winner. I am sure his stunning abilities as a catcher is why the team ERA is higher this year than last. And the teams runs allowed per game is up also.

Yost is just another veteran-presence-loving manager. He just can’t help himself. As long as Jason Kendall and Willie Bloomquist can breathe they will get way more playing time than their skill merits. Their good guys, they work hard, say the right things, and try to do the right things, but they just aren’t very good.

I have no ill will toward Kendall but hope his recovery time is well over the norm. Even better if Pena can actually return to hitting like he did last year (league average).

And a pox on anyone repeating that Jeff Francoeur nonsense.

By: Troy Johnson

Troy Johnson — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:16:05 +0000

I get it, we all get it Craig you think he sucks. Yeah, his offense if any is based on heart, hardwork and hustle and nothing more. Okay, fine we get it, but your blind in regards to his catching ability. I watched while Buck and Olivo missed throw after throw that last 2 years and couldn’t throw a ball in the water if they were in a boat. Yeah, Buck did good this year, but when he was here he didn’t toss out crap. He had a rocket arm, but it took him forever to get up and let the thing fly. Where as Kendall threw more guys out then Buck and Olivo combined 2008 and 09 combined. He was good and I am glad he came to KC. You ask our switch hitting backup catcher if he learned much from him even off the record and you’ll get 100 page ‘how-to’ play the game the right way. Bryan Pena will be a much better catcher after watching and learning from Kendall.

By: gbewing

gbewing — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:20:40 +0000

great post, been waiting for someone to say this and call it what it was. The Royals are so political these days, they spin more than professional politicians, if they tell the truth they are exposed on the lunacy of signing a 37 year catcher over market value for MULTIPLE years and then play him every day. Now of course he’ll be back for ST if not they’d have to explain why they have another dead salary on the bench-him and Meche can grit together. This is why people called this a horrible signing.

let’s look at Pena (who appears freed) and May and don’t forget manny Pina- an ideal ML backup – i want to see him too

By: Joe Zdeb Experience

Joe Zdeb Experience — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:08:35 +0000

When I read this morning that Kendall was out for the year, I felt like the scientist in “2012″ that found out the Mayans were RIGHT!!! Now that the world is safe for travel, I realized that we can finally see Pena and May, and determine whether they are viable major leaguers or not!! (However, I am keeping a travel bag packed just in case, and I am taking flying lessons…)

By: Abh

Abh — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:31:43 +0000

Isn’t it possible the organization figured this out a while ago and Mgmt and Kendall agreed he would tough it out until september 1 when rosters expand? Sounds like he was hurt before they even acquired Lucas May. I mean, it’s clear they despise sending Pena out to catch.

By: Adam C.

Adam C. — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:05:45 +0000

I think the most disappointing thing about Kendall this year was that he only had 6 HBP. I don’t know if he has enough time left in his career to overcome such a poor performance and claim the title.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:23:19 +0000

I hate to see anyone get hurt, but if the training staff wasn’t so horrible they might have seen it sooner. Kendall was over played, and over used in the 2 hole (1 time was too many). He would have been fine if they had played him 3 or 4 times a week with Pena getting the other 2-3 starts. I hate stupid money excuses, but there were ZERO other options for the Royals. Olivo and Buck would have been double after arbitration, and Pudge did not want to go to KC. I think May/Pena will be a nice platoon for the rest of this year, and May/Pena/Pina might be the options for most of next year. Sal Perez is only 20, but he has been doing a hell of a job this year in A+. So maybe he would be ready for 2012.

Meche is going to get his 12 mil for next year, so having him be a long reliever for next year isn’t a horrible thing. They will start the season with 7 relievers, and I think he helps the team. Does Hardy get a chance at the rotation or is he a bullpen guy? Coleman, Collins, Soria, Tejeda, Wood, Meche are definites, and maybe Holland, Chavez, and Texeira figure things out to get chances.

By: KMartin

KMartin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:35:35 +0000

I wonder, after Jason learned of the extent of his injury, if he thought, “Well, this should make some people happy (out for the season)”. Well Jason, yes it did. And I say that with apology because it’s not your fault that Yost keeps batting you #2. And I agree with Craig, at least border-line selfish. But again, Yost is his enabler.
So enter the month of September where it makes no difference how well you do at bat because it’s “September pitching”. Ryan Shealy proved that in 2008 when his September OPS of .927 got him a “no look” the next year because of Mike Jacobs.
JK has had 6 sac bunts? I’m glad I only have seen one (and a wiff at another one). Honestly, I’ve seen 8 year old kids with better form and technique than Kendall’s. But now I know why. It’s because his shoulder was so jacked up. Again….selfish.
They should also hog tie Meche’s selfish self to an operating table and MAKE him get his surgery now so he’s not blocking someone from AAA from being called up (like Blane Hardy, or Louis Coleman).