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#1
10-23-2004, 08:13 AM
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Jason Kendall (yes, you read that correctly)
Playing in Pittsburgh, this guy has almost slipped under the radar, despite being a tremendous catcher. Now at age 30, with 9 years under his belt, his stats look like this:
.306/.387/.418 1409 Hits 706 Runs 259 Doubles 39 Triples 67 Homers 140 Stolen bases He rarely strikes out, and has the anomaly factor, in that he is one of the few leadoff-catchers. 3 time all-star 3 top 10 BA finsihes already ranks 11th all-time in HBP Should easily get 2,500 hits in his career. His only huge weakness is his slugging%, but again, he isn't a slugger, so that is expected. His ink stats are all on good track, he just needs to build some counting stats. Any opinions?
__________________
 This is the old left hander, rounding third and heading for home. "And this one belongs to the Reds!" 
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#2
10-23-2004, 09:14 AM
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--Well Pittsburg has been trying desparately to get rid of him (strictly financial as far as I know) for a couple years now and that doesn't help a players rep. I haven't actually seem him play much, but I've heard is below average defensively. he doesn't run much anymore and probably needs to do something about that lack of slugging as he moves into his 30s if he wants to retain hsi value as a hitter.
--If the Pirates find a contender who is willing to take on that contract and Kendall can manage a couple good years for a team with a higher profile that would be a huge boost to his chances. If you are right about him getting 2,500 hits he would end up as a candidate worth talking about. However, Ted Simmons was a much better hitter and probably as good a catcher and hasn't made much of an impression on Hall voters. That doesn't bode well for Kendall.
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#3
10-23-2004, 11:51 AM
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Seems to me that 2000 hits and a .300 career BA get him into the discussion. He's at 1409 hits and .306, so it's a reasonable goal. If he catches Simmons in hits, he's really a top candidate. (Simmons being the best catcher not in -- and he'd have to do a lot more than get more hits to convince me he's better than Simba.)
His defense is about average, which is fine given his bat. He was better defensively before the leg injury that really stunted his development as a player overall -- looked like he was starting to develop a little extra-base power until that happened. As of now, he's not a candidate, but it's not unreasonable to say that he's on track.
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#4
05-28-2006, 03:03 PM
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Kendall does not have the defensive reputation to overcome his lack of power. His HOF candidacy is dependent on staying at catcher for a long time, and racking up a huge number of career hits. The big obstacle to Kendall getting into the Hall is that the writers don't think he's a HOFer. Nobody thinks Kendall is a HOFer among the BBWAA; if they do, they are keepin it quiet. He won't go in on the first ballot, and is in danger of being one and done. (Will Clark and Lou Whitaker were one and done, so that's a realistic possibility but not an insult.) If Kendall is able to stay on the ballot, his chances will, over time, depend more and more on his batting stats. So if he hits in the high .290s and has 2,600 hits, minimum, he might get in on the strength of being a catcher. Even at that, he is still a longshot. I still think that Kendall has to keep his BA over .300, but to do that, he'll have to take his game up a notch, and I don't think he can at this point in his career.
__________________
"I do not care if half the league strikes. Those who do it will encounter quick retribution. All will be suspended and I don't care if it wrecks the National League for five years. This is the United States of America and one citizen has as much right play as another. The National League will go down the line with Robinson whatever the consequences. You will find if you go through with your intention that you have been guilty of complete madness." NL President Ford Frick, 1947
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#5
05-28-2006, 09:03 PM
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I don't disagree with a word Fuzzy wrote. Since my previous post, Kendall has changed teams and played a full season in 2005 and a partial in 2006. In that time, he's looked like a player in decline, both offensively and defensively. His big contract is probably the main reason the A's haven't considered other options at catcher yet.
He's aging badly, which a player with a longshot case who needs to reach counting stat milestones and maintain rate stat milestones can't do. Barring a revival of fortune, Kendall's chances are nil.
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#7
05-29-2006, 04:49 PM
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I tend to think of Kendall as similar to a modern day version of Bresnahan. Good OBP, no power, excellent speed for a catcher, and a solid but not great defensive catcher. I think Bresnahan was clearly better than Kendall, but similar players.
While I am a Bresnahan fan as a solid choice for the HOF, many consider Roger to be on the lower (or lowest) rung in Cooperstown. Barring any significant changes in the rest of Kendall's career, that probably puts Jason in the "close but not quite" level for induction.
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#8
05-29-2006, 05:10 PM
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We'll have to see if he maintains the same level for, say, 6 or more seasons. But right now, he's not in. I'd rather have Miker Lieberthal running for the Hall.
__________________
The Exactor says:"Let's go BJ's"
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#9
05-29-2006, 05:28 PM
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Some of Kendall's "decline" since coming to Oakland is the result of switching leagues and switching to a tougher hitter's park. It doesn't look like he's adjusting well, however, and some of that decline may well be real.
Kendall's real hope for the HOF is dependent on having a better career in his thirties than he did in his twenties. Fisk did it, and so did Boone. Fisk is a HOFer, and there was much disucussion of Boone as a HOFer at the end of his career, although he didn't make it. A long, long career at or near career norms is Kendall's big hope; if he does that, there may well be a late-in-life reassessment. It's not something one can predict will happen, but it is possible if (A) Kendall stays healthy, (B) Kendall stays at catcher, and (C) Kendall moves into a more favorable park to help his numbers.
__________________
"I do not care if half the league strikes. Those who do it will encounter quick retribution. All will be suspended and I don't care if it wrecks the National League for five years. This is the United States of America and one citizen has as much right play as another. The National League will go down the line with Robinson whatever the consequences. You will find if you go through with your intention that you have been guilty of complete madness." NL President Ford Frick, 1947
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#10
05-30-2006, 05:52 AM
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Switching leagues is not as hard as it used to be, with interleague play and all the player movement today. I think you can adjust for context all you want, but eventually a guy just needs to hit, whatever his circumstance. Oakland's had two offensive MVP's this decade, and they had numbers that didn't need park adjustment. (Granted, PED's were an issue in at least one case...)
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#12
05-30-2006, 07:58 PM
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__________________
"I do not care if half the league strikes. Those who do it will encounter quick retribution. All will be suspended and I don't care if it wrecks the National League for five years. This is the United States of America and one citizen has as much right play as another. The National League will go down the line with Robinson whatever the consequences. You will find if you go through with your intention that you have been guilty of complete madness." NL President Ford Frick, 1947
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#13
12-24-2006, 12:31 AM
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Jason Kendall
Of the 13 Hall of Fame Catchers:
Only 4 have higher career Batting Averages than Kendall Only 3 have higher career On Base Percentages than Kendall Only 3 have more stolen bases than Kendall Only 7 have more career hits than Kendall (unless he gets injured or just falls off the planet, Kendall will pass Lombardi in ’07, making it only 6 with more hits than Kendall) Only 8 have more runs scored than Kendall (he will most likely pass Hartnett this year, making it just 7 with more runs than Kendall) Does Kendall have a shot, or none at all? What more does he have to do?
__________________
"Any ballplayer that don't sign autographs for little kids ain't an American. He's a communist." -Rogers Hornsby Last edited by candy curveball cummings; 12-24-2006 at 12:55 AM.
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#14
12-24-2006, 06:43 AM
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To have a real shot, Kendall needs to keep his BA over .300. The trade to Oakland has clobbered him on that score. Kendall has no power to offer, although his career OBP is pretty good. Kendall is not considered a top defensive catcher. He calls a good enough game, but he's had injuries, and his throwing arm is not good. He gets no help here. Kendall has never received a vote for MVP. He has played in only 3 All-Star games, none since 2000. He has never been the best catcher in his league, although his competition has been Mike Piazza, so that's not a big ding against him. If Kendall makes it to 2,500 hits, or thereabouts, with his BA and OBP no lower than what they are now, he MIGHT make the HOF. Kendall's problem is that, like Don Sutton, he just doesn't seem like a HOFer, even though he's done (as least superficially) some of the things that HOFers at his position do. But if he stays at catcher and makes it to 2,500 hits at the BA and OBP levels he's at now, he's in the game. (Kendall will DEFINITELY make the HOF if he gets 3,000 hits, but it is extremely unlikely that he'll last that long.) I don't think Kendall will keep his BA over .300. Kendall has played almost 1,500 games at catcher (1,493 to be precise). He's also had major injuries, so he's at the stage where he could be expected to wear down. If he doesn't; if he shows unusual durability, THAT would be a sign of greatness. If Kendall ages in the pattern that is likely, he'll resemble more closely the one HOFer he is comparable to: Rick Ferrell. He'll also resemble more closely one of the still burining HOF controversy cases: Thurman Munson. Is Kendall better than Munson? Is he better than Ferrell? Is Ferrell better than Munson? Maybe none of those questions matter, either. Ferrell is considered a HOF mistake; being better than Ferrell, in and of itself, isn't an argument for the HOF. On the other hand, I doubt Kendall is as good as Munson, who was a Gold Glove defensive catcher who was the best catcher in the AL at one time, and who DID win an MVP award and who DID lead his team to a pennant. If Munson isn't in the HOF, why, really, are we discussing Kendall? (There may be a good answer for that question, but it needs to be asked.) The same can be said for Kendall vis a vis Bill Freehan, Lance Parrish, and even Bob Boone. One thing that would help is for Kendall to get out of Oakland and play in a park that would mask his decline a bit. A trade to Houston or Chicago would be helpful. Oakland is KILLING his BA. Another thing would be a return of his power; Kendall hit only ONE HR last year; he's hit as many as 14 in a season. A few more All-Star selections would be helpful as well. I'm not betting on any of the good stuff to happen here, though. Kendall will play a few more years, end up with a BA in the .290s, and miss the HOF. He's overshadowed by Piazza, Rodriguez, Pierszynski, Mauer, even Posada. He's not thought of as a HOFer now, and he's not doing anything to add to this.
__________________
"I do not care if half the league strikes. Those who do it will encounter quick retribution. All will be suspended and I don't care if it wrecks the National League for five years. This is the United States of America and one citizen has as much right play as another. The National League will go down the line with Robinson whatever the consequences. You will find if you go through with your intention that you have been guilty of complete madness." NL President Ford Frick, 1947
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#15
12-24-2006, 11:36 AM
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Kendall is a long shot. He's been on somewhat of a downturn. He would realy need to kick things into high gear for about 3 years to have a descent shot. I don't think he'll maintain his .301/.381.400.
There are a few catchers who have higher numbers than Kendall but are not HOFers with at least a similar numbers games. All the catchers with a higher average are or will be HOFers. Wally Schang has the highest OBP, but I have Kendall only rank slightly ahead on Schang at this point. Slugging percentage is not in Kendall's favor. Even Benito Santiago has a higher slugging %, so does Ted Simmons, Smoky Burgess, Darrell Porter, a host of others. I think he's just going to find himself in that group of catchers who were very good, but far enough from boarderline like an Elston Howard. And I know this sounds shallow, but he hasn't been an All Star since 2000. I think he's going to need that kind of recognition just for support and to make more of a name for himself.
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#16
12-24-2006, 03:29 PM
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If Kendall stays at catcher and gets 2,500 hits as a catcher, he'll get looked at. I do believe that much.
Kendall is the kind of guy whose chances can go way up or way down with one season. If Kendall hits .330 next season in a full season of play, his chances of making the HOF go up a lot. Especially if he's an All-Star, or wins a major award. A .255 season in 400 ABs would push Kendall under .300 lifetime, and that would decrease his chances significantly, not just because he'd become a .299ish hitter, but because it would affect his future playing time. Kendall won't make the HOF if he spends any part of the next 5 years as a part-timer.
__________________
"I do not care if half the league strikes. Those who do it will encounter quick retribution. All will be suspended and I don't care if it wrecks the National League for five years. This is the United States of America and one citizen has as much right play as another. The National League will go down the line with Robinson whatever the consequences. You will find if you go through with your intention that you have been guilty of complete madness." NL President Ford Frick, 1947
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#17
12-24-2006, 03:53 PM
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He's going to have to do a lot before he retires, because he's never gotten an MVP vote in his career. Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk, Gary Carter, Yogi Berra, Mickey Cochrane, Gabby Harnett & Bill Dickey all finished in the top 5 in MVP voting at least once, with many of them winning it. He might have a chance with the veterans committee, but considering his contemporaries (Piazza, Pudge, and even Javy Lopez finished 5th in the voting once), I don't think he has a snowball's chance with the BBWAA.
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#18
12-24-2006, 04:17 PM
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__________________
"Any ballplayer that don't sign autographs for little kids ain't an American. He's a communist." -Rogers Hornsby
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#19
12-25-2006, 07:52 PM
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He will definitely be an interesting case, he seems to be built like a tank and is a lock for 140+ games, year in and out. If he can be productive and healthy for the next 7 years then he will actually get close to 3000 hits, 1265 to go and his age 33 season coming up next year, it wont happen but you never know and cant discount a late career spurt that tends to happen from time to time. Its just ashame he has no power anymore. He will put forward an interesting case for sure, it all depends when he starts falling off. A catcher who hits leadoff and has an OBP of .381 are a rare breed, Im sure he will find work somewhere.....
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#20
12-26-2006, 04:58 PM
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Kendall
i vote no......by a moderate amount.......Is his career better than T.Munson?
Cav
__________________
You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the $%#%! plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all. ~Earl Weaver
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#21
12-26-2006, 08:10 PM
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I don't think Kendall can be seriously looked at. He might have a nice BA, but that's about it. Ted Simmons was vastly superior to Kendall and he can't get in. Simmons WARP3 is 98 while Kendall's is 68. His lack of power is just a killer.
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Buck O'Neil: The Monarch of Baseball
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#22
12-27-2006, 01:22 AM
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#23
12-27-2006, 01:37 AM
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#24
12-27-2006, 01:40 AM
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#25
12-27-2006, 01:43 AM
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