Howie Kendrick ETA

by goose102977 on Apr 9, 2006 2:05 PM EDT

I realize it is extremely early in the season, but it is tough to ignore Howie Kendrick already tearing up AAA to a tune of a .600 BA and .692 SLG. I think the Angels realize that Adam Kennedy is just keeping 2B warm for Kendrick, but how long can the they afford to keep Howie's bat in AAA, when their offense is a clear weakness?

I think the Angels need to consider a mid-May call up for Kendrick. His glove was an issue in Spring Training, but his offensive abilities have to negate those deficiencies. I am interested in everyone's thoughts on this topic.

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Nah

Kennedy, barring injury is their man the whole the year.

"Second guessers are guys that could have never gotten it right the first time." - Tommy Lasorda (for guys that have no other defense for their actions.)

by slurve on Apr 9, 2006 2:18 PM EDT reply actions

Just like Spivey blocked Weeks last year...

Please! This is Kennedy's last year of his contract. The Angels have no reason to be loyal or committed to him if they have a better option in their organziation. If Howie Kendrick puts up Rod Carew-esque numbers at Salt Lake, the Angels will find a place for him in Anaheim.

by sdbaseballfan on Apr 9, 2006 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Please!

yourself. They had chances to move Kennedy in the off-season. They didn't do it. I'm not saying Kendrick doesn't get a call this year, but he he's not going to displace Kennedy. Steal AB's, maybe. Replace him outright. Nah.

"Second guessers are guys that could have never gotten it right the first time." - Tommy Lasorda (for guys that have no other defense for their actions.)

by slurve on Apr 9, 2006 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Kendrick didn't have any Triple-A experience

Entering 2006, Kendrick had less than a half year of experience above Single-A. Of course, the Angels were going to enter 2006 with Kennedy as their starting 2B.

Throughout baseball history, hitters that tear the cover off the ball end up playing. Yes, Kennedy is the Angels 2B in April of 2006, but the summer is an entirely different story.

If Kendrick batting .370 at Triple-A Salt Lake through the first two months, he's going to wind up as the starting 2B in Anaheim and there's nothing Adam Kennedy can do about it. That is the way it has always been in baseball.

by sdbaseballfan on Apr 9, 2006 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Howie 2006

They Angels are very slow in advancing players. In 2004, with Glaus on the DL recovering from shoulder surgery, and with a platoon of Chone Figgins and Rob Quinlan at third base, the Angels allowed Dallas McPherson to languish in the minors, even though he was on his way to slugging 40 homeruns at the AA and AAA levels. (McPherson was the Sporting News player of the year that year, I believe). The Angels' reasoning? McPherson had to refine his defense further. So I, too, doubt the team will jettison Kennedy and replace him with Kendrick this year. Howie Kendrick's only chance to make the big club this year is as the DH, and even that's unlikely. But there is little doubt, based on comments of team officials, that Kendrick will be the starting second baseman next year.

by Crows Landing on Apr 9, 2006 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions

.370

"Throughout baseball history, hitters that tear the cover off the ball end up playing." Ya don't say.

"batting .370 at Triple-A Salt Lake through the first two months" is a better spot for "Please!" Calm down. We're not even a week into the season, it's WAY premature to start burying Kennedy. If Kennedy plays well, he's got nothing to to worry about.

Anaheim is going to be in a tight race w/ the A's. Not where you typically see a rookie relied on heavily - especially one that doesn't have much experience above A-ball, has glove issues and doesn't know how to draw walks. Like I said, I expect to see him up, but unless Kennedy contributes to Kendrick's fate via injury/sucktitude, Kendrick is not going to seize the spot from him. If LAA completely falls out of the race, you'll see a lot of him, but if the tighter the race, more than likely, you'll see less.

"Second guessers are guys that could have never gotten it right the first time." - Tommy Lasorda (for guys that have no other defense for their actions.)

by slurve on Apr 9, 2006 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I am not burying Kennedy!

You first said that Kennedy was going to guy the entire year. There's a chance he may very well be, but Kendrick is such an exceptional hitter that he's going to be tough to keep down in Salt Lake during the summer.

.370 in Salt Lake is not a crazy statement given his track record and the friendly environment.

The walks are a non-issue. Since when have the Angels stressed BBs throughout their organization anyway? Kendrick's bat control is so good that he is one of the few guys who can get away with a below average walk rate.

I think Kennedy is a solid 2B. I have nothing against him, but I feel so strongly about Kendrick's ability to hit, that he's going to force his way into the lineup at some point.

by sdbaseballfan on Apr 9, 2006 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions

We'll disagree to disagree

on on his PT and the Angels motivations. I do have some arguements of your new points tho...

"The walks are a non-issue." Maybe they are in the minors, but big league pitchers are going to zero in on this right away as an area to try and exploit. If he has holes in his swing, we're gonna find out where for exactly this reason.

"Second guessers are guys that could have never gotten it right the first time." - Tommy Lasorda (for guys that have no other defense for their actions.)

by slurve on Apr 9, 2006 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Kendrick

Mike Scioscia and GM Bill Stoneman are of the believe that Howie Kendrick is ready to hit at the major league level. In fact, Scioscia was quoted as saying that Kendrick is capable of hitting -- "and hitting big" -- at the major league level right now. Following a Kendrick AB that resulted in a hit during spring training, Stoneman was quoted as saying that Kendrick is a "magical" hitter. Nonetheless, both agreed that Kendrick needed to polish his defense before he was ready to play at the major league level. Scioscia places enormous importance on defense, in particular middle infield defense, and isn't likely to install Kendrick at second base unless the Angels are out of the playoff hunt.

by Crows Landing on Apr 9, 2006 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah

I can't give you a quote, but over the years I've come heard many times that the Angels org doesn't even like Kennedy that much. They did stick with him through his injury last offseason (2004-05) so that says something, but for years they buried his bat in the 9-hole. Also, he's a relatively high-OBP, mediocre-contact guy, which leads me to conclude that he just doesn't fit into the Angels style of play.

The Angels, I think, will have Kendrick up by July. He's ready, and everyone knows he's ready. And, by that point, with all the mid-season injuries weighing on the team, the Angels will be looking to add a jolt to the lineup.

by Azteca on Apr 10, 2006 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Kennedy

The Angels like Kennedy alot. After all, he's been their the starting second baseman for six going on seven years. But they like Kendrick's upside even more, which is why the club will make no attempt to re-sign Kennedy when his contract expires at the end of this season.

by Crows Landing on Apr 10, 2006 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions

ok

but until 2004 he was platooned (remember Benji Gil?), and he was consistently hidden at the bottom of the order, with the idea of keeping guys like Erstad & Eckstein &, last year, Orlando Cabrera at the top.

I like Kennedy. He's a stellar defensive 2Bman with the ability to get on base, and a little pop in his bat. I just don't think the Angels have sufficiently appreciated his abilities, and, like you said, now they seem ready to move on.

by Azteca on Apr 11, 2006 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Dont mess with a good thing

Difference with Weeks/Spivey and Kennedy/Kendrick is that Spivey was a defensive liability and wasnt hitting at the time (wasnt there an injury involved too?) if Kenedy is still doing 290/350/400 and playing good D and the Angels are in contention i dont know why they would downgrade their D and put Kendrick in when you consider that rookies usually have an adjustment period. I dont think Kendrick would be all that likely to outhit Kennedy THIS YEAR and it would hurt them on D.

UNLESS they could spin Kennedy for another need they had at the deadline.

by nms on Apr 9, 2006 3:55 PM EDT reply actions

Kennedy

Kennedy is batting 9th...
If Cabrera, Erstad, and Anderson don't produce in April and May, expect to see Hendrick get the call.

They may even be desperate enough to use him at DH and leave Kennedy at 2B.

Rays in '08....

by youALREADYknow on Apr 9, 2006 4:03 PM EDT reply actions

dh

"They may even be desperate enough to use him at DH and leave Kennedy at 2B."

...though they have other young DH options, like Kendry Morales.

by FI @ Minor League Ball on Apr 9, 2006 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions

yes

management has already been quoted back in sprig training saying they would consider his bat at DH.
If he outperforms Morales, he would get the call first.

Rays in '08....

by youALREADYknow on Apr 9, 2006 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions