Kendell gets LASIC eye surgery, leads NL catchers in batting average and is third in OPS

by yo on Apr 19, 2008 1:33 AM PDT

Why couldn't he have done this a few years ago? I guess the fact that he was apparently blind before explains his hitting with us for a few years before we traded him. Not that this really matters too much to the Athletics, just thought it was kind of interesting that hes become such a beast now, not that he would be under contract with us or anything. I like Suzuki more any way.

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It was probably all the lasik givewaways that convinced him

A True American Hero

by Zonis on Apr 19, 2008 7:27 AM PDT reply actions

Just think if he had gotten LASIK instead

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LASIK

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Apr 19, 2008 7:31 AM PDT reply actions

I got Lasik, and now I have ...

Just like all the TSA officers at the airport.

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Apr 19, 2008 7:55 AM PDT reply actions

There's little incentive to make a change

when you have this mustachioed voice constantly telling you how perfect you are in every way. I’m surprised Fosse didn’t throw his body in front of the laser.

More importantly, I hope this doesn’t adversely affect his 1000-yard stare. That was perfect in every way.

Storage is for business, or for family.

by bloodsweatndonuts on Apr 19, 2008 8:36 AM PDT reply actions

It’s now a 2000-yard stare.

And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched a monkey into it. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Apr 19, 2008 9:10 AM PDT up reply actions

... and he can slice bread with it.

Not that plastic-bagged spongy stuff you get at Safeway, either, but crusty mikeA-approved Acme sourdough.

(Yes, that’s a strategic comma omission.)

And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched a monkey into it. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Apr 19, 2008 9:11 AM PDT up reply actions

GOT ANYTHING BETTER TO DO?

SMHALLERT(STUDMUFFIN)

by smhallert on Apr 20, 2008 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions

YEAH, I DO.

I RUN AN EXTREMELY AFFORDABLE CAPS-LOCK-UNLOCKING CONSULTING SERVICE. EMAIL ME FOR MY RATES.

And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched a monkey into it. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Apr 20, 2008 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions

I got Lasik

eye surgery as well. I hope he doesn’t get run at the plate because it can actually dislodge your corneas if you get hit really hard. The flaps don’t allegedly fully heal for about eight years.

by Tyler Bleszinski on Apr 19, 2008 10:03 AM PDT reply actions

Interesting -- one of the docs hereabouts uses a 49er RB as his endorser.

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Apr 19, 2008 11:17 AM PDT up reply actions

I actually saw that doc for a consultation a few years ago.

He advised me to stick to Special Teams and only call for fair catches.

"Huston, you're hot!'' said first baseman Dan Johnson, dressed as a bottle of mustard.

by Poppy on Apr 19, 2008 7:55 PM PDT up reply actions

yeah

let’s see

blah blah blah through the eyes of a san francisco 49ers running back.

“gosh where do i start with the problems i’ve had with my contact lenses”

the laser will last about 25 seconds, you won’t see it or feel it…

...and you’re all done everything went great!

too much KNBR for me, methinks.

President of the Joey Devine fan club as of 1/15/08. Accepting applications for other positions. "He has no equivalent." -Paul DePodesta on Jeremy Brown

by flipgatey3 on Apr 21, 2008 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Kendall will remain in the Eric Byrnes category for me

What I mean by the Eric Byrnes category is that no matter how well he hits for another team I can just tell he wouldn’t be doing as well with the A’s. It’s something about all the foul ground in Oakland or the white cleats or playing in the NL or something. Johnny Damon, Kendall, and Byrnesie all have done very good for other teams but I never miss them or wish they were still in green and gold. Miggy on the other hand…..

And yes, I know this isn’t very statistical (even though it is Staturday) and more of gut feelings; but as a fan, you don’t always have to just go statistically.

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton

by vignette17 on Apr 19, 2008 2:16 PM PDT reply actions

Psst ...

Eric Byrnes played better in Oakland than he has in Arizona—he just gets more press now …

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Apr 19, 2008 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Rechecking the stats....

You could make an argument that Byrnes has played worse in Arizona than he did here, but it’s hard to say that for sure. I would be more comfortable saying that he’s performed equally but with higher counting stats (i.e. more HR’s and SB’s although that could be explained by more PT and opportunity) in AZ.

Then again, the media does say Byrnes is doing well now. Since they’re my only source of information, how was I supposed to know there was even a team in Oakland? I kinda remember a Yankees minor league team from there; isn’t that where Giambi came from?

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton

by vignette17 on Apr 19, 2008 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions

He's gotten more PT in Arizona and has definitely received a greener light ...

but any comprehensive, rate based measure of his offensive production (EQA, for example, which includes SB, show that Byrnes was better in Oakland) ...

EQA
2003 Oak .275
2004 Oak .285
2005 Oak .285
2006 Ari .267
2007 Ari .284

OPS+
2003 Oak 108
2004 Oak 111
2005 Oak 112
2006 Ari 96
2007 Ari 104

But, you’re right … I’m totally being unreasonable.

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Apr 19, 2008 9:27 PM PDT up reply actions

I had a really nice, long reply written....

and then I hit cancel instead of post. Why can’t there be a little thing that comes up when you click cancel saying “are you sure you want to cancel?”? Ugh.

Anywho, Sparknotes version:
1. I’m wrong and I’m happy to admit so
2. I’m surprised that OPS+ is so different for an .813 and .814 OPS (2004 and 2007)
3. To my credit, I did say in my original post that it was gut feel and not statistics
4. Byrnes did play CF for AZ in 2006 while playing LF mainly for the A’s (except in 2003 when our other options were TLong and Chris Singleton and so Byrnes played 75% of his time in center) making that 96 OPS+ a little closer to redeeming my about equal remark

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton

by vignette17 on Apr 20, 2008 12:58 AM PDT up reply actions

I wasn't really trying to drive home the point to you ...

more of posting the numbers for everyone else’s benefit.

1. I hope you’ve learned your lesson—if ESPN tells you one thing, assume the opposite ; )

2. The difference is in the ballpark factors - since the 2004 AL was a stronger batting league - without park adjustments, 2007 Byrnes beats 2004 Byrnes 114-111.

4, Byrnes did primarily play CF in 2006 - but he also primarily played CF in 2003 - so I’m not sure how much this really affects things …

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Apr 20, 2008 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions

ugh

He’s so much more consistent in Arizona. He was mindnumbingly inconsistent in Oakland. He wasn’t just putting up EQA of .285 every year. He’d be at .340 half the season and .230 the other half, which at some point isn’t acceptable for a team that wants to win.

Sure over the course of 162 games I’ll take the guy with the EQA of .285, but when I’m in the playoffs I don’t know if I’d rather have a .275 guy, or have to take that gamble for only 10 pts of EQA EV.

by mrrickyg on Apr 20, 2008 9:36 AM PDT up reply actions

You mean like how ...

in 2007 he had a so-so April, a fantastic May, a good June and July and a poor August and September?
Or how in 2006 he had a poor April, a fantastic May, a good June, a so-so July and a poor August and September?

The only thing consistent about Byrnes is his inconsistency. You just don’t watch enough D-Backs games to notice now that he’s gone.

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Apr 20, 2008 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions

probably true...

...never said i missed him ;-)

by mrrickyg on Apr 20, 2008 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions

good for him!

i wish kendall nothing but the best.

by gotgreen on Apr 19, 2008 6:04 PM PDT reply actions

Kendall At the Plate

I wish Kendall the best, too, but Jason Kendall TRIES to hit weak ground balls to the second baseman every time up. If he’s accidentally rolling a few into right field, go for him. But by the end of the year he won’t be far from .240 with virtually no extra base hits.

by solotar on Apr 19, 2008 8:07 PM PDT reply actions

correction, it’s ground outs to short

by RMac on Apr 20, 2008 10:57 PM PDT up reply actions

speaking of catchers ...

Suzuki, who delivered a key RBI single in Saturday’s win over the Royals, hopes to stay hot as Oakland goes for a series sweep on Sunday.
Suzuki also has been handling a pitching staff that has the lowest ERA in the American League.

by gotgreen on Apr 20, 2008 1:00 AM PDT reply actions