Chan Ho Park and Kyle Kendrick
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.
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.
I love how the knives come out for Dubee. People always have to find a scapegoat for everything, huh?— everydayguy- When did the Phillies trade Doug Drabek to Seattle? When did the Phillies have Doug Drabek?— sagjag7
- Pedro would be the #2 starter on this team right now, especially until Cole proves that the set of cajones he had last night are his to keep.— 23
- Beegal, you make a good point about Dubee and Kendrick. I dont think Kendrick is worth anything really but you would think dubee would notice mechanical flaws somewhat quicker. I havent heard 1 phillies pitcher during the time that Dubee has been their coach ever say anything overly positive about Dubee teaching them anything or catching any flaws, etc. Does anyone remember Dubee being praised by any pitcher? Im not saying they are against him, but does he really add anything as a pitching coach that allows him to make this staff acheive more? You would think once in a while a pitcher would praise him for finding a flaw or changing their flawed delivery for the better. who knows.— Sewellmatt
Let's replace Kendrick in the rotation with J. Fred Muggs. Can't do worse.— lgroniko- Figuero a better option than KK, gotta put somebody else out there until Happ returns. Phils may perfer Figuero in bulpen, but how can that be worse than Kendrick? Saving Figuero for long releif when KK gets bombed out early? If KK has one more poor showing, gotta get him out of the rotation.— Z-Force
- Trade Werth for one of Seattle's pitchers. They need a hitter, we need a pitcher.— aerussel
- Someone will remember that Aumont might be an option. After all if Strasberg can come up very soon, why not Aumont? He cannot be any worse than Kyle or Jaime. And as to Happ, he is the really big blow because if Roy and Cole can stay fairly up, Happ would have been a third day stopper and who knows how Joe will be. But, if Kyle dies tonight, why not try the big kid Aumont? Maybe he really is a pearl.— KGKoons
- it was kyle drabek and he went to toronto, numbskull.— jayfril
- Jarod Washburn is just sitting out there!— xcyrsist
- there's no one to replace kendrick? wait, isn't that why we traded lee -- for minor league depth?— snakeplissken
- Be patient people. Sometimes it takes a while but if you stick with someone they will come through strong.— ChrisM
- Drew Carpenter's probably pitching so poorly because he's depressed. Every five days he watches the guy that beat him out for a roster spot this spring get shelled, and thinks, "People say I'm worse than him...I must really suck".— B in DC
- The correct name is Kyle Drabek and he currently has a near 4.00 ERA at Double AA. He would not have helped either as he is not close to being ready.— matty177
- He is better than we seen so far— jimmy@22
