Whatever became of you, Jason?

[satchel]

What happened to Jason Kendall? A few years back he was among the most exciting young players in the majors.

Here is a link to his stats. His yearly OPS showings:

1996: .773
1997: .825
1998: .884
1999: .939 <- PT limited by horrible ankle injury
2000: .882
2001: .693
2002: .706

Was it just the aftermath of that horrible injury he suffered sliding into first base? I didn't think so at the time, because he put up a respectable season in 2000. But since ... yikes.

What happened? Is Kendall done? Does he have any chance of a comeback? Do you think he'd benefit from a change of scenery (not that the Pirates would find many takers)?

[Max Power]

Ask me - a classic case of a guy hitting the skids as soon as he signed a mega-$-long-term contract.

His MGR has another opinion:

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/c...ik302colp2.asp

Kendall's best seasons were 1997-2000, which coincide with the four years Manager Lloyd McClendon was his batting coach. McClendon was asked about Kendall's decline.

"I wish I knew the answer," he said.

McClendon pointed to the thumb injury that bothered Kendall almost all last season, and which required surgery in October, and PNC Park as being factors in the decline.

"Injuring his thumb certainly hurt him last season, and the surgery has affected him this year, too. It has affected his timing and his strength at the plate. It has affected his catching, the way he handles pitches, too.

"He hasn't made the adjustments to the new park the way he should have. A lot of hitters are intimidated by such a huge ballpark. Their thought process should be just the opposite. Hit the ball the other way, take advantage of the short porch [in right field] and use the gaps.

[JamesI]

I think he could surprise and return to form, maybe a .840 ops. This shows why you can't give huge many season contracts to anyone, especially catchers.

[SmedIndy]

Perhaps he's pressing?

Maybe that ankle is still bugging him a bit. Those things never really heal.

I thought he'd bounce back last year, and I was sorely wrong.

[satchel]

Originally posted by Max Power
Ask me - a classic case of a guy hitting the skids as soon as he signed a mega-$-long-term contract.

Originally posted by SmedIndy
Perhaps he's pressing?

I wonder which. Though it's possible he's pressing because he feels he has to work hard to live up to the $. But I don't think that's what Max was implying.

That ankle injury was truly gruesome. (cf. Geoff Jenkins, 2002.) I guess I wouldn't be surprised if it slowed him down permanently, but why the huge OPS dropoff after a full season after the injury?

I can't imagine it's fun being Jason Kendall right now. I think he might do better in a different club, but as I said above, it would be tough to move him..

[Craig S.]

I think it's a combination of the physical and mental affects stemming from the ankle injury. You can even see at the plate that he doesn't have the confidence he once did.

Some guys make it all the way back, others don't. And when you suffer severe injury, it can be difficult not to always have it in the back of your mind that it could happen again.

[sweaver]

Kendall has had a lot of injuries of the nagging type the last couple of years. That's why the talk about moving him to the outfield has been recurring.

[LisaG]

i'll bet he has more injury problems than he's let on. cuz his swing isn't the same and he doesn't run aggressively any more. tho i definitely think max has a point about the mega contract.

[nyy26wc]

A free sneak preview of my book (which the delivery company says should be delivered on Monday)--

Kendall’s 94 RCAA from 1998-2000 was the 3rd highest by a catcher for ages 24-26 —

RCAA
1    Mike Piazza                 120   
2    Johnny Bench                 97   
3    Jason Kendall                94   
4    Joe Torre                    76   
5    Yogi Berra                   74   
6    Mickey Cochrane              67   
7    Bill Dickey                  63   
8    Bill Freehan                 60   
9    Rudy York                    58   
10   Carlton Fisk                 56   

Kendall then set the major league record for the worst RCAA in ages 27-28 (regardless of position) for a player with 90+ RCAA for ages 24-26 —

                               27-28     24-26 
1    Jason Kendall              -36       94
2    Harry Lumley               -11       97 
3    Dutch Zwilling              -7       93 
4    John Mayberry               -2      128 
5    Mike Greenwell              -1       94 
6    Jesse Barfield               0       92 
7    Joe Cronin                   2       92 
8    Rudy York                    4      108 
9    Jose Canseco                 6      102 
10   Bill Bradley                10      106 
T10  Johnny Callison             10       90

[satchel]

Originally posted by nyy26wc
Kendall then set the major league record for the worst RCAA in ages 27-28 (regardless of position) for a player with 90+ RCAA for ages 24-26 —

Wow - interesting, Lee. So: the worst dropoff in history, in what's usually the prime years, for a player who looked damn good leading up to those years.

It doesn't make it look good for him coming back, does it?

Sad. Who wants to see all that baseball potential go down the toilet?

[Ytown Tribe fan]

Lots of Pirate fans around these parts, and nearly ALL of them love Kendall. The perception is that he's really talented and a real gamer -- that seems to be the prevailing opinion of his teammates as well -- and that he tried too hard to carry the team, too soon after the injuries.

Catching is a damned tough position. If anyone can come back, it's Jason.

[gyb13]

another minor point, which no one has brought up, is the attempted move to the OF in 01....

[KCBOOMER]

He had an excellent year after the injury so I don't see that as the main factor. If he's a gamer I wouldn't see the contract being a big deal either. Even though he is young he has caught a ton of games, maybe he is just worn down.

[Max Power]

Originally posted by nyy26wc

Kendall then set the major league record for the worst RCAA in ages 27-28 (regardless of position) for a player with 90+ RCAA for ages 24-26 —

Mayberry's swing was just as great 'tho, no? 130 points.

[WiredTiger]

Originally posted by nyy26wc
A free sneak preview of my book (which the delivery company says should be delivered on Monday)--

Kendall’s 94 RCAA from 1998-2000 was the 3rd highest by a catcher for ages 24-26 —

RCAA
1    Mike Piazza                 120   
2    Johnny Bench                 97   
3    Jason Kendall                94   
4    Joe Torre                    76   
5    Yogi Berra                   74   
6    Mickey Cochrane              67   
7    Bill Dickey                  63   
8    Bill Freehan                 60   
9    Rudy York                    58   
10   Carlton Fisk                 56   

Kendall then set the major league record for the worst RCAA in ages 27-28 (regardless of position) for a player with 90+ RCAA for ages 24-26 —

                               27-28     24-26 
1    Jason Kendall              -36       94
2    Harry Lumley               -11       97 
3    Dutch Zwilling              -7       93 
4    John Mayberry               -2      128 
5    Mike Greenwell              -1       94 
6    Jesse Barfield               0       92 
7    Joe Cronin                   2       92 
8    Rudy York                    4      108 
9    Jose Canseco                 6      102 
10   Bill Bradley                10      106 
T10  Johnny Callison             10       90

It would be interesting to see what happened to these guys from age 26+. Some of these guys rebounded and some of these guys never reached their peaks again.