Scouting Kennedy

by shmik on Jun 15, 2005 5:45 PM PDT

Anyone else watching his start on MLB.TV. I haven't been able to watch much, but will watch this inning and offer a little scouting report.

Comes from a low 3/4 delivery. Will make him effective against LH but will likely give RH too good of a look at his pitches. Throws across his body, gives the 2 seamer its movement and the slurve its break... could cause arm troubles doesn the road. Decently fluid motion. Seems to know how to pitch: changes speeds between pitches, sets batters up, etc.

Uses mostly a 2-seamer. High 80s, with a little natural ride and sink. Hittable pitch if not located well. Likes to keep it down, problems when it's up.

Can reach back and hit the low 90s with his 4 seamer; doesn't throw it much.

Throws a low 80's slurve, with big sweeping movement. Decent tilt, but mostly side-to-side. Throws it fairly often for strikes, can (and often does) use it to get ahead; probably won't throw it from behind the count (unverified). Plus pitch, would be great if he could locate it consistently... seems to rely on movement and change in speed rather than location with this pitch (ie. aim it at the middle and see where it goes). Will hang it occasionally... bad news if he does, loses tilt, is up and center & gets smoked.

Stuff is pretty good, doesn't seem to have the ability to locate it so well, though (other than the 4 seemer, which he can go up & down with, side-to-side not so much).

inning over... not a great one. looks like a 4-5 kinda guy. could be a 3 if he learned to locate his slurve a little better. but the rest of his stuff is pretty hittable.

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But what about his hair and his butt?

These are the attributes that AN (well, ok, maybe ANN) values in a pitcher!

by monkeyball on Jun 15, 2005 6:03 PM PDT reply actions

sounds like a cheaper Redman

by OaklandSi on Jun 15, 2005 7:53 PM PDT reply actions

He pitched terrible

and his era is over 7. Forget this guy he is a gascan.

by ChavyGoldX4 on Jun 15, 2005 8:09 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree

I meant that he's a 4/5 pitcher...so was Redman for the a's, but more expensive.

I don't want to give up any prospect with a good upside for him, frankly.

by OaklandSi on Jun 15, 2005 8:34 PM PDT reply actions

Kennedy for Garcia

Joe Kennedy pitched absolutely amazing last year, but very few pitchers have managed to post good years back-to-back in Coors Field. He has overcome an injury filled past to prove he bleongs in the bigs.

So what does he mean to Oakland?

Unless Meyer is shot, Joe Kennedy would have little (if any) direct effect on the Oakland franchise. Assuming Zito gets an extension, the Oakland rotation would start with Harden, Zito, and Haren while Blanton and Meyer filled in the 4 and 5 spots. And when you factor in Jason Windsor and Dallas Braden coming up fast there really isn't a long term spot for Kennedy.

But everyone seems to be over-looking the other side of the coin. Just how good is Garcia going to be? A lot of publications and talking heads say he has the stuff to close but Oakland has Street to fill the Closer role for the next 5-6 years. Right now Garcia is a hard throwing youngster with more potential than results and he could turn into anything. The A's have traded such arms in the past, with Jesus Colome and Franklyn German (pardon any spelling errors) being two of the more obvious examples.

What if Oakland management believes that Garcia is headed in the same direction? In that case it would make sense for Oakland to pull off a Garcia/Kennedy deal. There is already a strong demand for Kennedy and Beane would be able to play off the various suitors to his advantage. Beane could then ship Kennedy off for a player or players who'd have a much greater impact in Oakland.

by grover on Jun 15, 2005 11:13 PM PDT reply actions

Two things

Assuming Zito gets an extension,

We can't really assume that.

And when you factor in Jason Windsor and Dallas Braden

From all that I've read, both have a ceiling somewhere around what Joe Kennedy is right now: bottom of the rotation starter. The difference is, JK has reached the big leagues, while Windsor and Braden aren't a lock yet. If they start looking like they'll pan out, we trade Kennedy later on (like Lilly or Redman).

by OaktownTribesman on Jun 16, 2005 6:55 AM PDT up reply actions

The Zito assumption

Right now I'm taking Beane's words on this subject at face value... Zito's staying put. That means he is in Oakland through the 2006 season and there isn't really any place for Kennedy in the rotation. Right now it looks like Harden, Zito, Haren, Blanton and Meyer/Etherton/Saarloos through 2006. Whether or not I agree with Beane's decision to keep Zito, fact is he's got a bit more say in the matter than I do!

Windsor projects at best as a 3rd starter. Braden added some heat to his fastball so I don't know what the latest projection for him is. Meyer (for what it's worth) was projected as a #2 SP before his injury. My point is the A's don't need to be looking for a top of the rotation arm, they have their anchors in Harden and Zito. And unless Zito gets traded the top of the A's rotation is set through 2006. It's very possible that by the time the 2007 season roles around Haren or Meyer will be ready to step into the #2 SP slot behind Harden.

by grover on Jun 16, 2005 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions

beane's extentialism...

...can often be baffling if you're not watching for it. i've been wondering why on earth beane would possibly trade garcia for kennedy. given most accounts and past stats, kennedy isn't worth garcia (or even a bag of balls). but if you take a moment to think about it, trading for kennedy makes some sense...just not kennedy for the a's, but for kennedy to be traded to team "X" for player "Z". the "'tribesman" is right on the mark...kennedy will be traded for as a "means to an end"...in other words; assests beane already has picked out and targeted.

The "Free Matt Watson from Sacramento-III", "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in"- Watson, mutterin' back to "the sac"

by bigelephant on Jun 16, 2005 7:20 AM PDT reply actions