Opinion: Kyle Kendrick Isn’t Cut Out Yet

Posted by Tim Malcolm, Fri, March 06, 2009 08:30 AM

It pains me to say it. It pains me after a 10-4 season in 2007 when he was one of two sure things in the Phillies rotation. But it’s true: Right now, Kyle Kendrick just can’t cut it in the major leagues.

After a slightly better than mediocre start against the Rays Saturday, Kendrick faced a United States team that was a veritable murderer’s row. The names — the game’s best: Rollins, Wright, Pedroia, Youkilis, Braun, Dunn, McCann, Victorino, Jones. No pitcher should be asked to be brilliant against them, of course, and Kendrick wasn’t expected to be brilliant against them. For two innings, however, he performed well; only when he faced his teammates Victorino and Rollins did things start to fall apart. They crumbled when Chipper Jones blasted a three-run bomb off him.

Throughout that harrowing third inning, Kendrick displayed the type of emotion you’d expect from a little leaguer: Throwing arms in the air, he acted like a man who lost all hope in his teammates. Of course, having a first baseman whose glove still resembles a rubber wall might hurt, but Kendrick has to be better than that.

We forget very quickly that Kendrick is merely 24 years old. He broke into the majors at age 22, coming in with an above-average sinker, an average fastball and a non-existent changeup. For that first season, Kendrick was tough to beat because nobody had a read on him. Stashed in double-A, Kendrick was a wild card at first glance — he willed his way through 2007 by beating up on aggressive, young and bad offenses (Florida, San Diego, Pittsburgh all hit poorly against him). Against powerful offenses such as the White Sox, Rockies and Reds? Not so hot. His game two blowup in the 2007 division series against the Rockies only confirmed the kid had a long way to go.

2008 wasn’t such a banner year for Kendrick. Though he hung in for a while, he quickly turned into a one-trick pony. And once hitters found out the trick, he was cooked. That’s when the head games began: Reports said Kendrick’s mind was sailing in other places; once there was doubt about his rotation position, he only made it worse. He couldn’t handle it. And now, with Kendrick in the midst of yet another competition, he’s not handling it.

Are we jumping the gun? Possibly. (It is only Spring Training, remember.) Kendrick could rebound and toss a few solid outings en route to the fifth-starter role, but I doubt he will. In 2007 Kendrick was thrown into the rotation as a beacon of hope. There wasn’t much pressure for Kendrick to perform well — if he wasn’t the medicine, he’d move back to Reading; instead, he gave the Phils enough chances to win, and in time their record improved. By the time he had proven himself, Kendrick was a lock for the rotation; there was no reason for his head to play games. But in 2008, and now, Kendrick has many reasons to let his emotions get the best of him.

Sure, the Phillies don’t need a dominant force at the No. 5 spot, but who would you take? The seemingly poised and stuff-stuffed JA Happ, or the uncertain and grounder-reliant Kendrick? Personally, I’d take Happ, who doesn’t mind uncorking a high and inside fastball that can beat hitters; when Kendrick throws a high and inside fastball, it gives hitters a meal for a feast.

Maybe Kendrick can channel his inner chi and keep the ball down, initiate grounders and not allow himself to get rattled when the defense doesn’t come up perfectly. But as baseball is a season-long roller coaster of emotions, it’s very hard to believe Kendrick can keep himself composed long enough. He just isn’t cut out for it yet.

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39 Responses to “Opinion: Kyle Kendrick Isn’t Cut Out Yet”

  1. Havoc Says:

    I’ve still got hope for Kendrick down the road, but I’ve gotta agree with you Tim he’s not ready for the majors right now. I guess i’m pulling for Happ to win the 5th spot even though that’ll be a lefty heavy rotation.

    I just hope the phils don’t bail on Kendrick, given how young he is a year in the minors to master the changeup and learn how to handle himself and we could have a solid 5th starter from him. I’d much rather have him in the minors getting more training than whatever we’d get on the trade market.

  2. Tom G Says:

    Kendrick is a Greg Maddox-ish pitcher, similar stuff. If he does not have the mental make-up to handle the tough innings and bring his focus to the game he is a lost cause…evidence is proving out that he is nothing more than a temp fix, short term solution for a rotation…a potential journey-man in the making…cannot last long anywhere…add his temper to his lack of consentration and you get…a short career.

    The GOOD is that it knocks one person from the 5th spot derby…

  3. Bottom of the first 3.6.2009 | Red Phever Says:

    [...] Blogger thinks Kendrick can’t cut it in the major leagues. [Phillies Nation] [...]

  4. Doug D. Says:

    Yes, you could say he is Maddux-like, but Maddux had a GREAT changeup to go with his sinker. Kendrick is just trying to gain confidence in that pitch…If you read Dubee’s comments, it is apparent that Kendrick needs more maturing. But also, Dubee did point out that he was getting grounders. If he would have been able to get one more, but in an infielders reach, you’re talking about an inning-ending DP. He seemed to get those DPs in ‘07. I wonder how much that practical joke last year messed with his mind.

  5. Manny Says:

    Poor, poor Kyle.

    I say that as I throw my arms up in the air.

  6. Rob E Says:

    I am no where near as optomistic about Kendrick, I dont think he is a major league pitcher now and could use time in AAA. Give the job to Happ

  7. Alex D Says:

    Kyle Kendrick never had an above average sinker, in fact none of his stuff is above average, and to even mention his stuff with Madduxs’ is insulting to one of the top 10 pitchers ever. Maddux had 80 control on the 20-80 scouting scale, and plus plus movement on his fastball. KK’s pitches are flat and straight, sorry to say hell never be a good major league starter, guys like him are a dime a dozen in this league. Id rather give C.C. a shot at least his stuff will play well in the bigs.

  8. Manny Says:

    C.C = Carlos Carrasco haha

  9. Geoff Says:

    To say that KK’s stuff is similar to Greg Maddux’s is one of the most ridiculous things Ive ever seen on this site…Come on man…Greg Maddux can move a fastball in any direction and pinpoint it on the corners almost at will. This guy had some of the best command of any pitcher that has ever taken the mound in MLB. His stuff was very good because he could control it and move it around.

    Kendricks only dominant outing – ever – came against the Oakland A’s when he went 8 shutout innings. His stuff isnt in the same galaxy as Maddux’s because he cant control it and it comes out flat half the time and gets crushed. Hes got a sinker that doesnt sink half the time, and a slider that doesnt slide, and a changeup thats improved but needs work still. Thats a formula for disaster against keen-eyed big league hitters. He needs more time in the minor leagues. Much more. He needs to totally reestablish his confidence against AAA competition for an entire season before you can seriously consider him for a major league slot again.

  10. Geoff Says:

    Its down To Happ, Carrasco, & Park now. Id say Happ will get the nod at this point, with the other two close behind. Carrasco has some nasty stuff though.

  11. Maverick Says:

    One outting doesn’t make a season. Kyle can still out duel Happ and Chan “i gave up 2 grandslams in 1 inning” Park.

    He just needs to stop crying like a little baby and grow a pair. I think what he needs is a boost of testosterone and he should be fine.

  12. Jeff Says:

    Speaking of pitching … what’s the rotation like now for Saturday’s game and beyond? I got lost in all these B games…

  13. JohnKruksLoveChild Says:

    The only reason he’s around is because he saved the pitching staff in 2007, and coaches are grateful for it. IMO this is why Dubee told the press he was the front runner, they’re not going to throw him under the bus after he helped them out

    But Kendrick made a fatal mistake by giving them an opening. Now they can list negatives and create the groundwork for replacing him. Granted they may have been thinking that all along, now they have a public reason.

    You can’t come up with a major league worthy off-speed pitch in between Nov and March, which is really the heart of his downfall. Deal is sealed, he’s gone.

  14. James Kay Says:

    J. A. Happ, $380,000, What a bargain. Go with the fresh blood. The book on Kendrick is out.

  15. Chuck P Says:

    Without control, Kendrick is toast. He has average stuff and only two (maybe three) pitches that really work. When his slider isn’t sliding (which seems to happen once a game, nowadays), teams feast on him. When his slider is working, patient hitters are willing to sit on his fastball until they’re forced to swing. In his prime, Maddox had four pitches… pitches that he could get to break in either direction. His fastball wasn’t overpowering but he because of his other stuff, he could run it by players and, of course, his location was amazing.

    Park had a great year last year… I don’t know why everyone is down on him. I hope it’s not motivated by non-baseball issues.

  16. Jim Says:

    Shut up Chuck P. Put your tired racism card back up your arse.

  17. Albert Says:

    Kendrick really needs to spend some time at AAA to get his head right. One of the things I liked about Kendrick in 2007 and the beginning of 2008 was his poise on the mound. Yea he would give up a hit or two, but it would never phase him. Kendrick would stick to his guns and induce double plays. Kendricks 10-4 rookie season could of easily gone to 4-10 if it wasn’t for the key double plays he would get. I still honestly think Kendrick can be a 4-5 guy, he just needs to figure it out at AAA. Chalk this up to growing pains I guess, I still think he can get it together.

  18. Maverick Says:

    Chuck I agree buddy….

    Phils pitching is the whitest in the league… if hamels were to spend a week at the beach he would be the darkest guy on the team!

    im not implying Dubee is a racist or anything just an observation

  19. Chuck P Says:

    Tired racism card… not usually the card I play. After being injured for two or three out of the past four seasons, the guy had arguably one of his best years as a professional and worked hard to get back to where he once was. He has always been a strong-headed pitcher.

  20. Geoff Says:

    Thats the big thing for me: What has Kendrick been doing the whole winter? If youre a guy like that, you need to go to the indoor training facility and throw until you improve the slider and the changeup and learn to better locate the fastball. thats 5 months. im pretty sure if i worked on just that for 5 months id be able to throw some decent off speed pitches too…come on man, what were you doing all winter?

    This guy shouldve improved the pitches he has and maybe even learned a new pitch (curveball) to throw batters off and to give himself new life…I get nervous that Hamels has three pitches and its Hamels..even though its more like 4 or 5 because he can move his fastball around anywhere he wants and make it cut (in on the hitter) & run (away from the hitter) like maddux used to.

    Anyways theres no excuse for Kendrick not having improved his pitching arsenal.

  21. Chuck P Says:

    You can’t force your ducks to be eagles… He doesn’t have great stuff and he’s never going to have great stuff. He can try all he wants but he’ll always be a duck. He needs to command his pitches and improve his presence… Dubee nailed it. KK is not going to survive if he’s not strong mentally because he’s a groundball pitcher that relies on getting calls on the corners; he’s not always going to get those calls and errors are going to happen. He needs to focus on the things that made him successful and his strengths… he needs to be a rock. Ultimately, his upside is limited but he can be a solid back-end guy.

  22. reddeath Says:

    I don’t think having a lefty heavy rotation is going to kill us. All the lefties in the rotation rely on a fastball and change-up combo, even Happ. A lefty with a good change-up can get righties out. Thats the problem with Kendrick no change-up to get out lefties.

  23. william Says:

    k.k. needs time in AAA to work on a change up and regain some degree of self control. remember myers had this same problem and was able to work it out i am not ready to give up on k.k. yet he is only 24 and i think he was rushed up from AA too soon. besides you’re talking about the 5th rotation spot !! C.C. needs time in AAA also and happ really has not proved himself in the majors just yet, park should get the 5th spot and let happ work either from the pen or give him more starts at AAA

  24. Tom G Says:

    Idiots…my reference to ’stuff’ and ‘Maddox’ is writing about the fact KK is not a power pitcher, he relies on off-speed, location and ground-balls…If I have to spell that out…you need to be worrying about your food stamps…
    I was not comparing the quality of stuff…you fools!
    I see a bunch of poor SAT’s on this site…you idiots complain about TIM’s choices for HIS list, you complain about a reference (mine) that points to the absolute NEED for a pitcher like KK, who brings similar types of pitches to the game as Maddox, to have the edge mentally…you lacks it is you fools!

  25. Kevin Says:

    I think we used to scratch our head a bit back in ‘07 when Kyle was lulling opposing bats to sleep after they would routinely score 2-4 on him every first two innings. There are talented pitchers who have projected high ceilings once they overcome mental issues or fix a mechanical flaw (Gavin Floyd, Homer Bailey, Kazmir, Chad Billingsley, Bobby Jenks) and then there are young pitchers who overachieve in their debut seasons who have too little to fall back on once hitters figure them out to sustain prolonged success (Dontrelle Willis, Hideo Nomo, Horacio Ramirez, Zito, John Q. Flamethrowing-turn-of-the-century-closer). I think you can add Kendrick to the latter group. If he developed a killer change then obviously he’s a different pitcher with a higher ceiling, but in the unliklihood of that happening, I’d say the party’s over.

    I agree with Geoff though, not only have you just returned from your offseason failing to achieve your only priority, you (for now) share a rotation with a pitcher that has the best or second best change in the majors. That’s like being back in middle school, having only one book assigned for Summer Reading, living next door to the author of the book, and then just buying the Cliff’s Notes the last day of August. Kendrick blew it.

  26. Geoff Says:

    Dude, Tims list is flat out insane…I stopped reading it when He put Pete Rose waaaaaaaaay down there…

    Who needs a pitcher that cant maintain his composure anymore when things go wrong, who doesnt have good stuff, and who apparently didnt do much about it in the winter when he shouldve been working on it!

    They already have a pitcher who has below average stuff and who relies on guile, mental toughess, and some calls to get by – Moyer – in case, you know, you ddint understand that..chief.

    You can NOT have two guys like that in the same rotation. You need varierty and depsite his weaker stuff its ok to have a guy like Moyer at the back of your rotation. You need a sinkerballer (Blanton), Strikeout guys who can get ground balls when they want to or have to (Hamels, Myers), and guys with good stuff who just make their way through the lineup however they can (happ). They have those ingredients so to have another guy like Moyer but not even half as good (Kendrick) is unacceptable.

  27. Chuck P Says:

    Calm down Tommy Boy. Geoff was the only one that said anything about the reference; everyone else kind of built on that comment and I would guess that everyone understands what you were getting at. When successful, they are pitchers that should have similar results; a bunch of groundballs and some strikeouts on the corners. No need to get your panties in a bunch… it does seem wrong to mention KK in the same breath as Maddux. I would start with Derek Lowe…

  28. Chuck P Says:

    Geoff- Rose spent 5 out of his 24 seasons with the Phillies. He averaged 165 hits per season with the Phils close to 200 per season with the Reds. He never had more than 100 runs as a Phillie… he did it 10 times as a Red. He hit 8 total HR as a Phillie in 5 seasons… he’s a top 5 Reds player but I would argue that he’s barely a top 50 Phillies player.

  29. Geoff Says:

    Thats because youre prely looking at stats here and so is he. They were a bunch of playoff choke artists until he showed up in town. He was the final piece and the guy that taught them to stay cool in big situations.

  30. Albert Says:

    I totally agree with William. Send KK down and let him compose himself and work on pitches. If he develops a respectable change up, and he can locate his sinker I would welcome him as our 5th starter. He has proven in the past he can win, I’d like to see regain this.

  31. Chris.I Says:

    Happ is going to be the #5 guy. Kendrick will get sent back down to the minors, until (or if) he improves on the control of his curve. He might get called up later in the season if someone goes down in the bullpen, but I think thats pretty much the end of making it into the rotation this season. I personally think he would be great in the Bullpen against Righties.

  32. metsblow4show Says:

    What Pete Rose brought to this team couldn’t be measured in stats. This was a team that dominated the regular season and couldn’t win a pennant. Rose showed this team what it took to get over the hump. He was only here for 5 seasons but they went to the World Series twice. What Rose brought to the Phils was attitude, a winning attitude.

  33. ryan Says:

    kendrick all too often gets that ‘deer in the headlights’ look about him. he ain’t cut out for the mental aspect of the game. and he doesn’t exactly have great stuff either. It really looks like Happ is going to be the 5th starter. and thats fine by me.

  34. nick Says:

    I could not agree more about Pete Rose he showed the phils how to win and that can not be mesured in stats. Kind of like what Jamie Moyer does for the pitching staff and the team, granted he never won anything before coming here but he helped this team mature.

  35. Albert Says:

    Well Brett Myers got knocked around in the B squad game. I wonder how “bad taste in his mouth” is now?

  36. Tom G Says:

    Chuck P…Tommy Boy is a must see film…appreciate the ref…
    Yes, to point remains….Panties are no longer waded…

  37. Chuck P Says:

    Rose might have been the catalyst but there are other guys with his intensity that could have bred similar success with those players around him…

    We’ll have to agree to disagree on Rose but the point is that the list is subjective. You value players on championship teams and intangibles higher than others… I tend to lean towards guys that spent their careers here.

  38. Joel Says:

    Nice Article! You’ve just stated what I’ve known for a while now. Kyle Kendrick cannot cut it in the major leagues. We should trade him before his value continues to tank like our economy!

  39. KM Says:

    His psyche is just too fragile at this point, while his stuff isn’t quite good enough. The reason he was so successful in 2007 is because he could give up a couple runs in one inning, and completely forget about it in the next. We could see in 2008 that he would get shelled in one inning, and then come back the next and get shelled some more. His stuff has never been good enough to compensate for a fragile mindset, and until he develops an effective 3rd pitch, i doubt it will. I am sorry to say this, but I think he is a long-relief man at best.

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