Kendall evaluation

[YearofDaCubs]

I certainly would not bash Hendry for the deal, as the cost to the Cubs was minimal.

However, the deterioration of Kendall's ability is shocking.

It makes you wonder what kind of "scouting" they really did before making the trade.

[moorecg]

Where can you find the line drive % and BABIP #s? I didn't see them on ESPN or on Baseball reference....am I missing something?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

hardballtimes.com

[moorecg]

hardballtimes.com

 

Thanks...

 

So with the very small sample size of at bats with the Cubs he's seeing over 4 pitches per plate appearance (very good), and his BA/BIP is .071 (statistically that has to improve) ....

 

I'm not ready to write him off just yet...

[MustangMike]

I really don't understand some people's thought processes. Kendall cost the Cubs all of $500K cash over the big league minimum; Rob Bowen; and the Great Jerry Blevins, Minor League Superstar.

 

We saw enough of what Bowen could and could not do.

 

$500K cash is peanuts to the Cubs.

 

So you take a flyer on whether Kendall is truly awful awful awful and finished, or maybe he had a lousy 1st half and could do something akin to recent years of posting 340+ OBPs; which would be a genuine improvement for the Cubs. You put him back in his comfort zone in the National League and see if he has something left. It's not like some veterans don't post horrible half-seasons, and then go nuts the second half....it seems to happen every year to someone.

 

The evidence to date looks like Kendall can't deliver the goods, but the cost to find out was trivial. I am one of the biggest Hendry bashers around, but not on this deal. It was a very low risk gambit. If Kendall continues to reek, then so long as Lou forces him to grab perma-pine and/or Hendry waives him, then I say no harm, no foul.

 

I couldn't agree more. Kendall has a past, and the hope was to catch lighting in the bottle. Maybe coming back the central will wake up his bat. I don't see the big deal, its not like Bowen or Hill are any good anyway. I still hold out hope he'll adjust to NL pitching soon and help the club.

[jersey cubs fan]

I really don't understand some people's thought processes. Kendall cost the Cubs all of $500K cash over the big league minimum; Rob Bowen; and the Great Jerry Blevins, Minor League Superstar.

 

We saw enough of what Bowen could and could not do.

 

$500K cash is peanuts to the Cubs.

 

So you take a flyer on whether Kendall is truly awful awful awful and finished, or maybe he had a lousy 1st half and could do something akin to recent years of posting 340+ OBPs; which would be a genuine improvement for the Cubs. You put him back in his comfort zone in the National League and see if he has something left. It's not like some veterans don't post horrible half-seasons, and then go nuts the second half....it seems to happen every year to someone.

 

The evidence to date looks like Kendall can't deliver the goods, but the cost to find out was trivial. I am one of the biggest Hendry bashers around, but not on this deal. It was a very low risk gambit. If Kendall continues to reek, then so long as Lou forces him to grab perma-pine and/or Hendry waives him, then I say no harm, no foul.

 

I couldn't agree more. Kendall has a past, and the hope was to catch lighting in the bottle. Maybe coming back the central will wake up his bat. I don't see the big deal, its not like Bowen or Hill are any good anyway. I still hold out hope he'll adjust to NL pitching soon and help the club.

 

Soto may be good. He was the only guy who actually stood a chance of doing something good this year.

[moorecg]

He was the only guy who actually stood a chance of doing something good this year.

 

That's just not true...Kendall hit .295 in the month of June with a very solid OBP...there is still a reasonable chance of him "doing something good" this year.

[Backtobanks]

I really don't understand some people's thought processes. Kendall cost the Cubs all of $500K cash over the big league minimum; Rob Bowen; and the Great Jerry Blevins, Minor League Superstar.

 

We saw enough of what Bowen could and could not do.

 

$500K cash is peanuts to the Cubs.

 

So you take a flyer on whether Kendall is truly awful awful awful and finished, or maybe he had a lousy 1st half and could do something akin to recent years of posting 340+ OBPs; which would be a genuine improvement for the Cubs. You put him back in his comfort zone in the National League and see if he has something left. It's not like some veterans don't post horrible half-seasons, and then go nuts the second half....it seems to happen every year to someone.

 

The evidence to date looks like Kendall can't deliver the goods, but the cost to find out was trivial. I am one of the biggest Hendry bashers around, but not on this deal. It was a very low risk gambit. If Kendall continues to reek, then so long as Lou forces him to grab perma-pine and/or Hendry waives him, then I say no harm, no foul.

 

I couldn't agree more. Kendall has a past, and the hope was to catch lighting in the bottle. Maybe coming back the central will wake up his bat. I don't see the big deal, its not like Bowen or Hill are any good anyway. I still hold out hope he'll adjust to NL pitching soon and help the club.

 

I totally agree with both of you. When you look at the crap that is available and what the GMs are asking for it, getting Kendall was a decent move. 90% of the players mentioned are players in the "hope to catch lightning in a bottle for 2 months" category.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I really don't understand some people's thought processes. Kendall cost the Cubs all of $500K cash over the big league minimum; Rob Bowen; and the Great Jerry Blevins, Minor League Superstar.

 

We saw enough of what Bowen could and could not do.

 

$500K cash is peanuts to the Cubs.

 

So you take a flyer on whether Kendall is truly awful awful awful and finished, or maybe he had a lousy 1st half and could do something akin to recent years of posting 340+ OBPs; which would be a genuine improvement for the Cubs. You put him back in his comfort zone in the National League and see if he has something left. It's not like some veterans don't post horrible half-seasons, and then go nuts the second half....it seems to happen every year to someone.

 

The evidence to date looks like Kendall can't deliver the goods, but the cost to find out was trivial. I am one of the biggest Hendry bashers around, but not on this deal. It was a very low risk gambit. If Kendall continues to reek, then so long as Lou forces him to grab perma-pine and/or Hendry waives him, then I say no harm, no foul.

 

I couldn't agree more. Kendall has a past, and the hope was to catch lighting in the bottle. Maybe coming back the central will wake up his bat. I don't see the big deal, its not like Bowen or Hill are any good anyway. I still hold out hope he'll adjust to NL pitching soon and help the club.

 

I totally agree with both of you. When you look at the crap that is available and what the GMs are asking for it, getting Kendall was a decent move. 90% of the players mentioned are players in the "hope to catch lightning in a bottle for 2 months" category.

 

And furthermore, sometimes it DOES work. With the Cubs for example, how about Gary Gaetti in 1998?

[CubinNY]

I really don't understand some people's thought processes. Kendall cost the Cubs all of $500K cash over the big league minimum; Rob Bowen; and the Great Jerry Blevins, Minor League Superstar.

 

We saw enough of what Bowen could and could not do.

 

$500K cash is peanuts to the Cubs.

 

So you take a flyer on whether Kendall is truly awful awful awful and finished, or maybe he had a lousy 1st half and could do something akin to recent years of posting 340+ OBPs; which would be a genuine improvement for the Cubs. You put him back in his comfort zone in the National League and see if he has something left. It's not like some veterans don't post horrible half-seasons, and then go nuts the second half....it seems to happen every year to someone.

 

The evidence to date looks like Kendall can't deliver the goods, but the cost to find out was trivial. I am one of the biggest Hendry bashers around, but not on this deal. It was a very low risk gambit. If Kendall continues to reek, then so long as Lou forces him to grab perma-pine and/or Hendry waives him, then I say no harm, no foul.

 

I couldn't agree more. Kendall has a past, and the hope was to catch lighting in the bottle. Maybe coming back the central will wake up his bat. I don't see the big deal, its not like Bowen or Hill are any good anyway. I still hold out hope he'll adjust to NL pitching soon and help the club.

 

I totally agree with both of you. When you look at the crap that is available and what the GMs are asking for it, getting Kendall was a decent move. 90% of the players mentioned are players in the "hope to catch lightning in a bottle for 2 months" category.

By why do it when you have Soto tearing up AAA? Why trade Barrett in the first place? If you are going to get crap why accept crap?

 

I'm not really against getting Kendall because of who the Cubs had playing after trading Barrett, however, Kendall has a past alright and its a long one.

[MustangMike]

I really don't understand some people's thought processes. Kendall cost the Cubs all of $500K cash over the big league minimum; Rob Bowen; and the Great Jerry Blevins, Minor League Superstar.

 

We saw enough of what Bowen could and could not do.

 

$500K cash is peanuts to the Cubs.

 

So you take a flyer on whether Kendall is truly awful awful awful and finished, or maybe he had a lousy 1st half and could do something akin to recent years of posting 340+ OBPs; which would be a genuine improvement for the Cubs. You put him back in his comfort zone in the National League and see if he has something left. It's not like some veterans don't post horrible half-seasons, and then go nuts the second half....it seems to happen every year to someone.

 

The evidence to date looks like Kendall can't deliver the goods, but the cost to find out was trivial. I am one of the biggest Hendry bashers around, but not on this deal. It was a very low risk gambit. If Kendall continues to reek, then so long as Lou forces him to grab perma-pine and/or Hendry waives him, then I say no harm, no foul.

 

I couldn't agree more. Kendall has a past, and the hope was to catch lighting in the bottle. Maybe coming back the central will wake up his bat. I don't see the big deal, its not like Bowen or Hill are any good anyway. I still hold out hope he'll adjust to NL pitching soon and help the club.

 

Soto may be good. He was the only guy who actually stood a chance of doing something good this year.

 

Look I don't know anything about Soto, but why didn't he come up before Hill if he's so good? Why didn't he come up after Barrett was gone and we had Bowen/Hill up? Is it really everyone blocking him? I would think if he's so good, he'd been given a chance. Its not like guys aren't getting chances this year from the minors.

[jersey cubs fan]

Look I don't know anything about Soto, but why didn't he come up before Hill if he's so good? Why didn't he come up after Barrett was gone and we had Bowen/Hill up? Is it really everyone blocking him? I would think if he's so good, he'd been given a chance. Its not like guys aren't getting chances this year from the minors.

 

Oh good, the old, "if it was the right move the Cubs would have done it" theory. Nice to see that one back again.

[moorecg]

Look I don't know anything about Soto, but why didn't he come up before Hill if he's so good? Why didn't he come up after Barrett was gone and we had Bowen/Hill up? Is it really everyone blocking him? I would think if he's so good, he'd been given a chance. Its not like guys aren't getting chances this year from the minors.

 

Oh good, the old, "if it was the right move the Cubs would have done it" theory. Nice to see that one back again.

 

The results the Cubs are getting since the original move sure aren't too bad.

[Sarcastic]

Look I don't know anything about Soto, but why didn't he come up before Hill if he's so good? Why didn't he come up after Barrett was gone and we had Bowen/Hill up? Is it really everyone blocking him? I would think if he's so good, he'd been given a chance. Its not like guys aren't getting chances this year from the minors.

 

The answer is that the Cubs organization is not always right. Soto could definitely have flopped, and I don't think he had as good a chance at giving solid production in his first full time stint in the MLB, but he deserved a shot after Barrett was traded. He didn't get it.

 

I'm sure Kendall will continue to get chances for a while, and he should. There is a reasonable chance that he could play well for two months, considering his past performance. There is also the possibility that he sucks as badly as he did in the first half. I don't think we can have a definitive answer about his second half performance based on his couple of games with the Cubs so far. But if, approaching mid to late August, he shows no signs of turning around, it would be a mistake for Lou not to ask to give Soto a shot.

Edited July 25, 2007 by Sarcastic

[MustangMike]

Look I don't know anything about Soto, but why didn't he come up before Hill if he's so good? Why didn't he come up after Barrett was gone and we had Bowen/Hill up? Is it really everyone blocking him? I would think if he's so good, he'd been given a chance. Its not like guys aren't getting chances this year from the minors.

 

Oh good, the old, "if it was the right move the Cubs would have done it" theory. Nice to see that one back again.

 

It was a general question...nice attitude.

[MustangMike]

Look I don't know anything about Soto, but why didn't he come up before Hill if he's so good? Why didn't he come up after Barrett was gone and we had Bowen/Hill up? Is it really everyone blocking him? I would think if he's so good, he'd been given a chance. Its not like guys aren't getting chances this year from the minors.

 

Oh good, the old, "if it was the right move the Cubs would have done it" theory. Nice to see that one back again.

 

The answer is that the Cubs organization is not always right. Soto could definitely have flopped, and I don't think he had as good a chance at giving solid production in his first full time stint in the MLB, but he deserved a shot after Barrett was traded. He didn't get it.

 

I'm sure Kendall will continue to get chances for a while, and he should. There is a reasonable chance that he could play well for two months, considering his past performance. There is also the possibility that he sucks as badly as he did in the first half. I don't think we can have a definitive answer about his second half performance based on his couple of games with the Cubs so far. But if, approaching mid to late August, he shows no signs of turning around, it would be a mistake for Lou not to ask to give Soto a shot.

 

Maybe they want Soto to catch one more full year and not platoon since Hill had developed a good relationship with Zambrano. If Zambrano is gone, no need for Hill...or even if he stays, Soto can take Hill's place, although I doubt kendell comes back next year. I still don't see why its such a shock to think we fans are possibly over-valuing Soto.

[jersey cubs fan]

Look I don't know anything about Soto, but why didn't he come up before Hill if he's so good? Why didn't he come up after Barrett was gone and we had Bowen/Hill up? Is it really everyone blocking him? I would think if he's so good, he'd been given a chance. Its not like guys aren't getting chances this year from the minors.

 

Oh good, the old, "if it was the right move the Cubs would have done it" theory. Nice to see that one back again.

 

It was a general question...nice attitude.

 

General question? You specifically questioned how he could be any good if the Cubs didn't call him up.

[frostwyrm]

I can't believe the Cubs have any faith in Soto. If they did then he would have had a shot immediately after Barrett's departure. Instead the Cubs used Hill/Bowen, then got Kendall. Soto is in a simliar situation to Murton.

[jersey cubs fan]

I can't believe the Cubs have any faith in Soto. If they did then he would have had a shot immediately after Barrett's departure. Instead the Cubs used Hill/Bowen, then got Kendall. Soto is in a simliar situation to Murton.

 

That's what I'm thinking, and it's why I think Kendall resigning is a real possibility.

[weis21]

I can't believe the Cubs have any faith in Soto. If they did then he would have had a shot immediately after Barrett's departure. Instead the Cubs used Hill/Bowen, then got Kendall. Soto is in a simliar situation to Murton.

 

That's what I'm thinking, and it's why I think Kendall resigning is a real possibility.

 

I don't see any reason to jump to that conclusion right now. Hell, there's a good chance that Hendry won't even be the GM next year with the ownership change, so who knows who the new GM wants.

[Sarcastic]

I can't believe the Cubs have any faith in Soto. If they did then he would have had a shot immediately after Barrett's departure. Instead the Cubs used Hill/Bowen, then got Kendall. Soto is in a simliar situation to Murton.

 

Except that Murton has a better MiL track record and a year of success in the majors, whereas Soto has been an OK catcher up until this year in AAA and hasn't had a real chance yet.

[SouthSideRyan]

I can't believe the Cubs have any faith in Soto. If they did then he would have had a shot immediately after Barrett's departure. Instead the Cubs used Hill/Bowen, then got Kendall. Soto is in a simliar situation to Murton.

 

That's what I'm thinking, and it's why I think Kendall resigning is a real possibility.

 

You've been on this since the trade happened and I'm just not seeing it. Kendall would have to get hot, and I'm definitely not seeing that.

[FergieJ31]

I still don't see why its such a shock to think we fans are possibly over-valuing Soto.

 

I think a lot of us value Soto much like a street person with 3 cents in his pocket would value a quarter on the sidewalk.

 

Having said that, I think the Hendry bashing is a little overboard re Kendall ... just my opinion. Kendall may be done - or maybe he's not - the book hasn't been written on him yet. Without the benefit of hindsight, that wasn't a terrible trade to make, given that Bowen was already dfa'd.

 

But I really wanted to see Soto get more of a shot.

[frostwyrm]

I can't believe the Cubs have any faith in Soto. If they did then he would have had a shot immediately after Barrett's departure. Instead the Cubs used Hill/Bowen, then got Kendall. Soto is in a simliar situation to Murton.

 

That's what I'm thinking, and it's why I think Kendall resigning is a real possibility.

 

I agree. Kendall just needs one good hot streak to be considered. Hendry is a sucker for lightning in a bottle.

[MustangMike]

Look I don't know anything about Soto, but why didn't he come up before Hill if he's so good? Why didn't he come up after Barrett was gone and we had Bowen/Hill up? Is it really everyone blocking him? I would think if he's so good, he'd been given a chance. Its not like guys aren't getting chances this year from the minors.

 

Oh good, the old, "if it was the right move the Cubs would have done it" theory. Nice to see that one back again.

 

It was a general question...nice attitude.

 

General question? You specifically questioned how he could be any good if the Cubs didn't call him up.

 

and I said "I don't know anything about Soto". It was a general question as to why he hasn't been given the chance when it seems like there should have been opportunities if the cubs deemed him worthy of the openings. I don't image they value Koyie Hill more than Soto, why did he get the call?