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The Brewers just signed Jason Kendall to be their catcher, after trading Johnny Estrada for Guillermo Mota. On the surface these seem like completely ridiculous moves for them (good for us though), but presumably real baseball people are running the Brewers. I saw Jason Kendall last year, and I can read stat sheets too. What are these baseball people seeing that I am not? Is there something I am missing?
I am completely serious, because those two moves look completely nuts. Granted, Estrada apparently had worn out his welcome in Milwaukee with a hot temper and failure to throw out basestealers, despite respectible offensive numbers (sound like a former Cub catcher we know?). So, in return for him, the acquire Guillermo Mota, a reliever who turned in a poor year after a 50-game suspension for Steriod use. Not exactly a hot commodity. It's the signing of Kendall that is really puzzling.
Jason Kendall is a good guy and team player, and he won't pick a fight with Ned Yost. But in terms of ability to play baseball, did anyone else see how cooked he was last year? Am I missing something? He is immobile behind the plate, and can't throw anyone out either. He has zero power, and declining ability to make contact. All he gives you, then, is singles, and he didn't even give Oakland that last year.
He is 33, and his career decline to this point is huge. Does that figure to turn around next year at age 34? Or, plateau? Or, continue to slide? I think the latter.
Maybe I am not smart or missing something, but it seems like the Cubs caught a break here, because Kendall will be a defensive and offensive liability for the Brew Crew, and make them easier to catch. Maybe?
I am completely serious, because those two moves look completely nuts. Granted, Estrada apparently had worn out his welcome in Milwaukee with a hot temper and failure to throw out basestealers, despite respectible offensive numbers (sound like a former Cub catcher we know?). So, in return for him, the acquire Guillermo Mota, a reliever who turned in a poor year after a 50-game suspension for Steriod use. Not exactly a hot commodity. It's the signing of Kendall that is really puzzling.
Jason Kendall is a good guy and team player, and he won't pick a fight with Ned Yost. But in terms of ability to play baseball, did anyone else see how cooked he was last year? Am I missing something? He is immobile behind the plate, and can't throw anyone out either. He has zero power, and declining ability to make contact. All he gives you, then, is singles, and he didn't even give Oakland that last year.
He is 33, and his career decline to this point is huge. Does that figure to turn around next year at age 34? Or, plateau? Or, continue to slide? I think the latter.
Maybe I am not smart or missing something, but it seems like the Cubs caught a break here, because Kendall will be a defensive and offensive liability for the Brew Crew, and make them easier to catch. Maybe?
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