Chan Ho Park and Kyle Kendrick
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Chan Ho Park and Kyle Kendrick
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Tonight, Kyle Kendrick makes his sixth start of the season. The first five, with the exception of one very good outing in Atlanta, have been disasters.
So why are the Phillies sticking with him? Well, for one, pitching coach Rich Dubee believes he solved one important thing in the past week -- Kendrick was throwing across his body at times, which caused mechanical problems.
And more importantly, there really isn't anyone else within the organization.
"Do you have somebody down in Lehigh or somebody in the free-agent market who you think is better right now?" Dubee asked a reporter earlier in the week.
True. Nelson Figueroa is an option, but not an ideal one. He's been useful (when used correctly) in the bullpen. The Phillies prefer that role for Figueroa.
At triple-A Lehigh Valley, the candidates are less than thrilling. Andrew Carpenter has struggled since going down, with a 1.57 WHIP in 22 1/3 innings. Ryan Vogelsong has a strikeout to walk ratio of 24/20 in 26 innings. Joe Savery has a 5.57 ERA and as many walks as strikeouts in 21 innings. OK, you get the picture...
But if history tells us anything, the Phillies may seek a replacement for Kendrick relatively soon if his struggles continue.
Remember Chan Ho Park? Of course you do. But you remember Chan Ho Park the reliever. Chan Ho Park the fifth starter made seven starts at the beginning of the 2009 season. His numbers as a starter looked like this:
1-1, 33 1/3 IP, 41 H, 17 BB, 21 K, 5 HR, .311 oBA
Through five starts, Kendrick's stat line is similar:
0-1, 23 2/3 IP, 29 H, 10 BB, 12 K, 6 HR, .302 oBA
Park appeared as a reliever once before making his first start April 12. The plug was pulled after Park's start May 17 in which he allowed five runs to Washington in 1 1/3 innings.
It was easier in 2009, though. The Phillies had J.A. Happ, who had battled Park in spring training for the fifth starter's spot and pitched decently. Happ was in the bullpen already and served as a logical candidate to replace Park.
In 2010, that logical candidate does not exist. Does that mean Kendrick has some leash left? Probably. But there will reach a point, just as there was with Park in 2009, when the Phillies decide they cannot simply keep running Kendrick out there -- should his performance trend continue.
If Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton can become consistent enough, that gives the Phillies a good amount of security.
But as Jamie Moyer has said, the big innings are killing him this season. Happ will not pitch for the Phillies in May and his return is unknown.
All of that makes the decision on Kendrick even more important.
Give Johan Flande a shot in Double AA at least for 3 starts!— Cmac35- I strongly question the abilities of Rich Dubee as their pitching coach. How can Kendrick be throwing across his body and no one noticing that he's doing it? I question what he's done with Hamels and his new pitch selections. Cole seems much better with throwing a fastball/change-up exclusively mixed with a cutter. The other pitches don't work in his pitch mix.— beegal99
- Hello? Pedro? Can you be here by May 18th?— Grazman
- Happ won't be back until after the All-Star break, if then.— scootch
- beegal99 : you have no idea what you are talking about. Dubee is a great pitching coach. hamels strike out rate is thru the roof also Kendrick is trash. he always is. He is not a starter. They need to pick up a fill in until Happ comes back.— sheeron
- If we are not going to sign werth, we should trade him for a stud pitcher! Starter, or a closer! how about papelbaum or one of the florida studs like garza?— PEFF
- Park won the 5th starting job out of spring training. Kendrick lost out to Moyer and is only starting because of injuries. Not the same story as last year.— P Even
- If we are not going to sign werth, we should trade him for a stud pitcher! Starter, or a closer! how about papelbaum or one of the florida studs like garza?— PEFF
Comment removed.- Hate to say it, but what about Pedro? Got to be a better option than Kendrick, especially if Happ is out for what could be a long stint on the DL. Moyer OK as 5th starter, at least he knows how to pitch, but they need another starter like NOW!— Z-Force
- Comment removed.
- Beegal, Do you know anything about baseball or pitching. Hamels added 2 new pitches. Even if he just added 1 pitch it would be the same story... Theres more to it than just throwing a ball and making your pitch. Its all about counts and situations. Knowing when to use the specific pitch and when not to. What do you expect him to be successfull over night? It doesnt happen that way. Its how you learn anything in life, the more you do it and practice it, the better at it you become. Each start that goes by Hamels will become more and more comfortable with his new pitches and will learn when to throw them. Its really common sense so what do you not understand. IF you can throw 4 or 5 pitches well, you become a very dangerous pitcher— philliekev04
- Pedro Martinez is available on the free agent market, and he is better than Kendrick. Pedro Martinez, Cliff Lee and Chan Ho Park should have remained with the Phils in 2010, but we like to make things so difficult, don't we???— JimmyD
- Why does it take 6 starts for Dubeee to notice that throwing motion?— davekrieg
To compare Park last year to Kendrick this year is ludicrous - Park's stuff is remarkably better than Kendrick. KK is not a major league pitcher, and to keep trotting him out there every 5 days is an embarrassment. Park last year had great stuff, but at his age, just isn't able to sustain it over several innings. Kendrick cannot pitch in the bullpen, because he can't get anybody out, regardless of the inning. I like the Flande option for a couple starts - who knows, maybe he can come in and do some good things for a short stretch - and the jump from AA to the majors happens often.— CosmoK
