Kendall's power in perspective

by atomopawn on Oct 24, 2005 7:06 AM PDT

Many of the complaints about Kendall center on his lack of power. While it is depressing that he didn't hit a single homerun all season, I think this little clip from Baseball Today puts things in perspective:

The White Sox have a 2-0 lead in the World Series after Scott Podsednik's ninth-inning homer gave Chicago a 7-6 victory over Houston on Sunday. Podsednik, who did not homer in 507 regular-season at-bats, has two postseason homers.

Perhaps, if we'd made it to the post-season, we'd have seen Mr. I-Play-Every-Game come alive.

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IfJason Kendall

Could deposit a ball into the seats 400 feet away like Scott Posednik did last night, well then pigs can fly.

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Oct 24, 2005 7:10 AM PDT reply actions

I'm sure he could

Just don't ask him to use his bat or his arm. But he could probably ask Adam Melhuse to do it for him, and that's sort of the same thing, isn't it?

Copernicus felt the same way about the geocentric crew.

by salb918 on Oct 24, 2005 7:54 AM PDT up reply actions

Until last night, I'd have said the same

about Scotty P, though. That's the whole point.

by atomopawn on Oct 24, 2005 8:10 AM PDT up reply actions

not the same thing

kendall (great ballplayer) is on the decline. he has warning track power now.

by AllThingsOakland on Oct 24, 2005 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions

I can't wait for his first Home Run

This site will LIGHT UP!!

I just hope it is going to be televised, unlike the other two awesome plays he made this year! More-so, I hope I will be there.

<rubs head to receive prediction>
I see... A Kendall Home Run... on... May... 25th! Yes, the 25th!

"We play our best ball when we're goofing around and having a good time" ~Bobby Crosby

by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Oct 24, 2005 9:41 AM PDT reply actions

Are you sure you didn't just channel my sister???

May 25th's my sister's Bday.

Why does everybody stand up and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" when they're already there? ~Larry Anderson

by lansfords1 on Oct 24, 2005 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions

Kendall

I think Kendall can still hit the ball out, he just doesnt swing with much power. Not really his game. I bet in BP hes put a few out just to show the guys he can do it.

by pickinmachine on Oct 24, 2005 10:00 AM PDT reply actions

Yep. He hits them out in BP

if he wants to.

Street is a friggin physical marvel... -Mychael Urban

by rookieoftheyear on Oct 24, 2005 10:01 AM PDT up reply actions

"Not his game?"

What WAS his game this season, grounding weakly into double plays...or at least a force out? This may be unfair of me, but Kendall's inability to drive the ball this season was incredibly frustrating. No one is saying he had to be swinging for the fences, but putting a good swing on the ball often would be nice.

There is NOTHING more frustrating to me than reading "he could do it if he wanted to" or "if it was his style." He isn't Ichiro, who knows he can beat out throws for infield singles (and he STILL drives the ball harder than Kendall).

by nycfan @ Athletics Nation on Oct 24, 2005 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions

I wasn't expecting homers from Kendall

but I was hoping for enough pop to drive the ball when the situation called for it.

I can't fault him for his work ethic or his desire. I hope I'm wrong, but I think he is beginning to wear down. Yeah he's only 31, but he's caught an awful lot of games and has sustained some serious injuries in the past.

by OaklandSi on Oct 24, 2005 3:22 PM PDT reply actions

I share your concern

about Kendall's age finally catching up to him.

I sipped the Kool-Aid, and it tastes gooooooooood!!!

by kaweahkaweah on Oct 24, 2005 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions

It is a sad day

When 31 is considered OLD!

FYI: Melhuse is 33, 34 in March! And Castillo is 35, 36 in February. Now if age is your argument, we have some real problems!

"If I'm not having fun, then I am not playing well" ~Bobby Crosby

by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Oct 24, 2005 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Me too

I've been 31 for 5 years now.

I sipped the Kool-Aid, and it tastes gooooooooood!!!

by kaweahkaweah on Oct 24, 2005 4:44 PM PDT up reply actions

it wouldn't be old for any other position

but for a catcher who has caught as many games as he has -- plus sustained the serious injuries that he had to his foot and hand -- it has to be considered.

by OaklandSi on Oct 24, 2005 6:38 PM PDT up reply actions

The A's entire pitching staff,

like Podsednik and Kendall, failed to hit any homers during the regular season. So (based on the logic above) perhaps, if we'd made it to the World Series, we'd have seen multiple postseason homers by Harden, Blanton, Yabu, Rincon, etc.

by rubin sierra on Oct 24, 2005 3:30 PM PDT reply actions

that reminds me

Remember in 89 when Mike Moore hit an RBI double over Brett Butler's head in game 4?

That was awesome.

Kendall Haiku by FormerHuntsvilleStar, " Ball in hand, a leap,--- a veteran catcher blocks--- and secures a win"

by Athletics fan and runner on Oct 24, 2005 7:35 PM PDT up reply actions

McCarver's call just before the pitch

Joking about whether or not the Giant's had a report on Moore: "Has trouble with a pitched ball." Whack! Sweet.

by ArakSOT on Oct 25, 2005 6:10 AM PDT up reply actions

I wouldn't be

Critiquing him, I'm sure not any of us can hit HR's, Kendall is old and that surgery hurt him a lot. He hit a GS in Minute Maid last year, I almost fell out of my chair when I saw that one.

You tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is 'never try'.-Homer Simpson

by doublehustle22 on Oct 24, 2005 3:43 PM PDT reply actions

yeah

whenever I want a laugh I watch the clip of that GS.

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~Rogers Hornsby

by AinOz on Oct 24, 2005 3:53 PM PDT reply actions

here's the question

this coming from a kendall fan - not intended to insult his hitting ability - have you ever seen a player with as little power as jason exhibited this past season?

by oakath on Oct 24, 2005 5:51 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah, my 6 year old nephew

I sipped the Kool-Aid, and it tastes gooooooooood!!!

by kaweahkaweah on Oct 24, 2005 5:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Kendall

The problem with older catchers is their performance tends to fall off very very suddenly. There is typically no graceful droppoff as a catcher ages, the performance just goes into the tank very quickly.

One of the things I have noticed about Jason is that he just flat out does not swing very hard. He seems to only want to make contact. This would be fine if he had some speed like Ichiro (as someone else pointed out) but he doesn't have that speed so his chopping at the ball leads to lots of outs.

by skwid on Oct 24, 2005 8:58 PM PDT reply actions