Cubs Trade Rob Bowen and Jerry Blevins for Jason Kendall

[weis21]

Yeah, he just never really seemed comfortable back there last night and thus played bad. Hopefully he'll turn it around and be a solid player all around for the remainder of the year. Of course that could just be the eternal optimist in me....

 

He hasn't been solid for quite some time now.

 

Of course that could just be the eternal optimist in me...

[Soriano12]

He should have made that catch on the popup behind the plate, but it would have taken a hell of a play to pick that throw from Soriano and put a tag on the runner.

 

Soriano made a tough throw for a catcher to handle. I'd like to see any catcher cleanly pick that throw and put down a tag.

 

That is a play that any MLB catcher should make.

[weis21]

He should have made that catch on the popup behind the plate, but it would have taken a hell of a play to pick that throw from Soriano and put a tag on the runner.

 

Soriano made a tough throw for a catcher to handle. I'd like to see any catcher cleanly pick that throw and put down a tag.

 

The consensus around here is that acquiring Kendall voided any hope of cub success for the rest of the year.

[Banedon]

I will admit thought that my arguments in his favor did take a hit last night.

 

Any argument made in favor of Kendall took a hit long before last night.

 

My arument was merely that with the choices of catchers currently available that Soto was the best option, but forgoing that, Kendall was no worse than Bowen or Hill, and possibly could be better. Last night did not back up that opinion unfortunately. I longed for Koyie Hill.

[The Voice of Reason]

He should have made that catch on the popup behind the plate, but it would have taken a hell of a play to pick that throw from Soriano and put a tag on the runner.

 

Soriano made a tough throw for a catcher to handle. I'd like to see any catcher cleanly pick that throw and put down a tag.

 

That is a play that any MLB catcher should make.

 

 

My catcher makes both of those plays last night - he's nine years old.

 

Although in Kendall's defense, my catcher is a Little League All-Star.

Edited July 18, 2007 by The Voice of Reason

[apete6]

He should have made that catch on the popup behind the plate, but it would have taken a hell of a play to pick that throw from Soriano and put a tag on the runner.

 

Soriano made a tough throw for a catcher to handle. I'd like to see any catcher cleanly pick that throw and put down a tag.

 

Watch the replay of the Cubs-Sox game when Soriano did the same thing. Bowen got the ball and made a flawless tag. If you're not going to hit, at least be good on D and thats what Bowen and Hill did.

[Backtobanks]

Yeah, he just never really seemed comfortable back there last night and thus played bad. Hopefully he'll turn it around and be a solid player all around for the remainder of the year. Of course that could just be the eternal optimist in me....

 

I'm pretty sure what we saw last night is what he is now.

 

I think you're being a little rough on Kendall. Let's not forget that this guy just got traded, hopped on a plane, barely had time to meet everyone and discuss pitch selection, signs, etc, and was put in the starting lineup. Let's give him a week or two before we give up on him. I don't expect him to be they second coming of Johnny Bench, but let's give him a few games to acclimate himself to the pitching staff and field conditions.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Field conditions? He was a Pirate for like 30 years, he's played over 50 games at Wrigley.

[Banedon]

Field conditions? He was a Pirate for like 30 years, he's played over 50 games at Wrigley.

 

I'm not sure that field conditions or pitching staff had anything to do with either the failed pop up or the missed pitchout anyway.

[davearm]

With all the Kendall bashing going on here, I'm surprised that he's not taking heat for the Roberts AB in the 8th, specifically the 3-2 breaking ball that was nowhere close.

 

Ohman's gotta groove a fastball there and make Roberts get a hit to beat him. If it was Kendall calling for the curve, then that's his mistake.

[coreyMVP]

I was surprised by Kendall's game last night. My memories of him are from Pitt, as I saw him maybe a handful of times the past three years. It is unfortunate how he has changed (read "now stinks")

[Soul]

With all the Kendall bashing going on here, I'm surprised that he's not taking heat for the Roberts AB in the 8th, specifically the 3-2 breaking ball that was nowhere close.

 

Ohman's gotta groove a fastball there and make Roberts get a hit to beat him. If it was Kendall calling for the curve, then that's his mistake.

 

Kendall can't possibly know the pitching staff yet. Maybe it was just too soon to start him in the first place.

 

I hate that Soto was sent down and Hill is still here.

[Soriano12]

Quick question. If we aquired Bowen bascially to find out how Rich Hill was tipping his pitchers, now that he is on the A's, will he informed them how he inform us how Rich "tippped" his pitches, thus starting this vicous circle all over again? Good thing we don't play Oakland this year. Edited July 18, 2007 by Soriano12

[CubinNY]

It was one game.

 

If he'd hit two HRs and thrown out 5 baserunners and the Cubs still lost it wouldn't mean anyhting either.

 

They had 7 walks last night.

[A New Era]

Has anyone else gotten an anxiety disorder reading critical over-reactive posts on this messege board all the time? Just curious.

 

Put me in the "it was one game" camp. These players are people too. He had a lot of jitters no doubt. Think about if 40,000 fans gave you the welcome they gave kendall. You'd probably put a bit too much pressure on yourself. This will all work out soon enough.

[Soul]

Has anyone else gotten an anxiety disorder reading critical over-reactive posts on this messege board all the time? Just curious.

 

Put me in the "it was one game" camp. These players are people too. He had a lot of jitters no doubt. Think about if 40,000 fans gave you the welcome they gave kendall. You'd probably put a bit too much pressure on yourself. This will all work out soon enough.

 

They applauded him early, then booed him late. I kind of chuckled at that.

[jersey cubs fan]

Has anyone else gotten an anxiety disorder reading critical over-reactive posts on this messege board all the time? Just curious.

 

Put me in the "it was one game" camp. These players are people too. He had a lot of jitters no doubt. Think about if 40,000 fans gave you the welcome they gave kendall. You'd probably put a bit too much pressure on yourself. This will all work out soon enough.

 

One game among many in a terrible season for a catcher whose career began fading years ago and is probably very close to the end.

[Derwood]

Has anyone else gotten an anxiety disorder reading critical over-reactive posts on this messege board all the time? Just curious.

 

Put me in the "it was one game" camp. These players are people too. He had a lot of jitters no doubt. Think about if 40,000 fans gave you the welcome they gave kendall. You'd probably put a bit too much pressure on yourself. This will all work out soon enough.

 

One game among many in a terrible season for a catcher whose career began fading years ago and is probably very close to the end.

 

yes, i just don't like pinning this loss solely on him. let's not make him the whipping day less than 24 hours after he's arrived

[jersey cubs fan]

Has anyone else gotten an anxiety disorder reading critical over-reactive posts on this messege board all the time? Just curious.

 

Put me in the "it was one game" camp. These players are people too. He had a lot of jitters no doubt. Think about if 40,000 fans gave you the welcome they gave kendall. You'd probably put a bit too much pressure on yourself. This will all work out soon enough.

 

One game among many in a terrible season for a catcher whose career began fading years ago and is probably very close to the end.

 

yes, i just don't like pinning this loss solely on him. let's not make him the whipping day less than 24 hours after he's arrived

 

Jim Hendry is the whipping boy on this one.

[TheDude]

Has anyone else gotten an anxiety disorder reading critical over-reactive posts on this messege board all the time? Just curious.

 

Put me in the "it was one game" camp. These players are people too. He had a lot of jitters no doubt. Think about if 40,000 fans gave you the welcome they gave kendall. You'd probably put a bit too much pressure on yourself. This will all work out soon enough.

 

One game among many in a terrible season for a catcher whose career began fading years ago and is probably very close to the end.

 

yes, i just don't like pinning this loss solely on him. let's not make him the whipping day less than 24 hours after he's arrived

 

Jim Hendry is the whipping boy on this one.

 

How about attributing the loss to the dope that walked in the winning run? That's simply inexcusable.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Wow, can't believe the venom regarding this trade. Cubs gave up a zero catcher and a middle reliever who had showed little before this year. Plus, the Cubs are taking on very little of Kendall's money, and he is a pure, 2.5 month rental.

 

Given that we already know what Bowen and Hill can do with the bat--little--and the Cubs reluctance to give Soto much of a shot, then where is the risk in bringing in Kendall? He has the upside POSSIBILITY of giving you a strong OBP and he can still run a tiny bit. If he can't do it, then where is the big harm here? That we gave up the Great Jerry Blevins?

 

Give the guy a chance and maybe he'll surprise us. Trades like this have worked out surprisingly well in the past (e.g., Gary Gaetti in 98).

[jersey cubs fan]

Has anyone else gotten an anxiety disorder reading critical over-reactive posts on this messege board all the time? Just curious.

 

Put me in the "it was one game" camp. These players are people too. He had a lot of jitters no doubt. Think about if 40,000 fans gave you the welcome they gave kendall. You'd probably put a bit too much pressure on yourself. This will all work out soon enough.

 

One game among many in a terrible season for a catcher whose career began fading years ago and is probably very close to the end.

 

yes, i just don't like pinning this loss solely on him. let's not make him the whipping day less than 24 hours after he's arrived

 

Jim Hendry is the whipping boy on this one.

 

How about attributing the loss to the dope that walked in the winning run? That's simply inexcusable.

 

I'm talking about the fact that Kendall is on the team, not that particular game. I was out of town and didn't even see the game. I just come back to see the Cubs catchers are now Koyie Hill and Jason Kendall, and I'm not the least bit happy. It's pretty much a guarantee Hendry is going to extend Kendall. They've shown no willingness to give Soto a shot, and Bowen was the only thing resembling a regular catcher on the roster. 2008 is going to be Kendall and Blanco behind the plate. Beautiful.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

It's pretty much a guarantee Hendry is going to extend Kendall. They've shown no willingness to give Soto a shot, and Bowen was the only thing resembling a regular catcher on the roster. 2008 is going to be Kendall and Blanco behind the plate. Beautiful.

 

I think your handwringing is juuuuuuust a little premature.

[RynoRules]

I get that no one wanted Kendall b/c I did not either. But no one knows if he's getting an extension. Its going to depend on how he plays the rest of the season, if history is any guide.

[jersey cubs fan]

I get that no one wanted Kendall b/c I did not either. But no one knows if he's getting an extension. Its going to depend on how he plays the rest of the season, if history is any guide.

 

It's going to depend on whether or not Jim Hendry is still GM in November. If Jim and Gary are in love with a guy, they'll extend him regardless of how he performs down the stretch.

 

Prior to the deal, it appeared the most likely catching scenario was Bowen/Soto. But they've shown no interest in giving Soto a shot. Now that Bowen is gone, they don't really have anybody you could even pass off as a starting candidate for 2008. If Kendall shows even the slightest improvement from his first half stats (and really, it would be hard to not improve upon a 45 OPS+), Hendry will look at it as a success. Considering the enthusiasm that Jim has shown for the deal (announcing it on TV as if it's akin to the Yankees signing Roger), and the enthusiasm Kendall has shown for being on the team, it would be a tremendous upset if the two don't try and stay together in 2008 and likely, beyond.

 

The only thing I see getting in the way of this is Kendall getting injured or Hendry getting fired before he gets the chance to make the move.