Comments on: Jason Kendall was a really, really good player

By: schrutebeetfarms

schrutebeetfarms — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 17:48:18 +0000

“Catchers tend to age horribly? Ugh!”

- Twins fans

By: thefalcon123

thefalcon123 — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 13:44:21 +0000

But…he was virtually the same player in 2000. He came back from the injury and hit .320/.412/.470 with his career high in home runs with 14. In the 5 years after that injury, he still hit .302/.380/.398. As a high average hitter with very little power before, this dropoff isn’t that uncommon.

By: jl9830

jl9830 — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 13:41:06 +0000

To get your exact response. It’s called a “troll.”

By: thefalcon123

thefalcon123 — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 13:38:52 +0000

He still had some fine seasons after that:

2000: .320/.412/.470
2003: 325/.399/.416
2004: .319/.399/.390

I think the bigger culprit is that catcher’s tend to age horribly.

By: comeonnowguys

comeonnowguys — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 13:18:17 +0000

Key phrase in that being “his last years.”

By: comeonnowguys

comeonnowguys — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 13:16:48 +0000

Careful what doors you open, you may be ruined by what you see inside…

By: lionsfan415

lionsfan415 — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 12:32:41 +0000

Living in KC i will tell you that in his last years Kendall could barely hit the ball back to the pitcher, never seen a weaker MLB pro, he made Alcides Escobar look like Hank Aaron

By: istillbelieveinblue

istillbelieveinblue — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 11:43:52 +0000

“You just summed up your entire sorry career here in one sentence! If you had a tenth of the heart of Ruettiger, you’d have made All-American by now! As it is, you just went from third team to the prep team! Get out of here!”

By: florida76

florida76 — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 05:46:03 +0000

Agreed, the constant losing with the Pirates eventually wore on Kendall toward the end of his time in Pittsburgh, and his attitude slipped. Still, that’s really not representative of his entire career, and at his peak, was one of the finest catchers in Pirate history.

Classic case of a player who will be appreciated later, with the benefit of hindsight.

By: dwrek5

dwrek5 — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 03:35:05 +0000

+1, sometimes a player’s later years can shade our perception of a career. Appreciate the historical perspective.

By: sorryimbusypolishingmy6lombardis

sorryimbusypolishingmy6lombardis — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 02:46:47 +0000

“Welcome to hell.” – inside joke for Bucco fans only!

By: hushbrother

hushbrother — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 02:18:01 +0000

He was running the bases and his leg came own awkwardly on the base, injuring his thumb.

By: nightman13

nightman13 — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 01:43:06 +0000

I loved him in Milwaukee, I’d hope that some of our younger guys that played with him inherited that toughness.

By: stex52

stex52 — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 01:34:06 +0000

Fitting tribute for a tough catcher. Thanks for the round-up, Matt.

By: hammyofdoom

hammyofdoom — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 01:19:36 +0000

Just curious, why even post if your reaction is “whatevs”? I’m genuinely curious

By: buccobrigade

buccobrigade — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 23:21:11 +0000

He was a jerk in the Pirates locker room though. I did still like him as a player though

By: brewcrewfan54

brewcrewfan54 — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 22:43:19 +0000

Dude was tough as hell. In a bench clearer he’s the catcher I’d want chasing the batter down.

By: royhobbs39

royhobbs39 — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 22:41:29 +0000

One of the worst ankle injuries I have ever seen. I always thought he would have been a HOFer if not for that one injury…

By: hittfamily

hittfamily — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 22:25:31 +0000

Doe anyone see an unshaven Theo Epstein when they see that pic?

By: Matthew Pouliot

Matthew Pouliot — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 22:22:08 +0000

Probably should have mentioned that somewhere in there too — unfortunately, most of the pictures of Kendall in a Pirates uniform online are from the broken ankle — but he actually came back really strong the next season. I always thought it was the torn thumb ligament and trying to play through it that did him in.

By: charlutes

charlutes — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 22:19:29 +0000

whatevs

By: schlom

schlom — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 22:19:11 +0000

I always thought it was the brutal ankle injury he suffered on July 4, 1999 that ruined his career.