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The Kendrick Conundrum
June 1st, 2009, 8:47 am · 36 Comments · posted by MARK SAXON, OCREGISTER.COM
The Angels soon might have a difficult decision about what to do with second baseman Howie Kendrick.
Leaving yesterday’s thrilling comeback aside, the Angels are coming off an embarrassingly skimpy offensive homestand. Kendrick’s 
season-long struggles (.225, .266 obp) are making it difficult to establish offensive chemistry. Some nights, it looks as if he is trying with all his might to hit four pop-ups to right field.
Kendrick has no hits in his last 14 at-bats. His last extra-base hit came on May 21.
One of the team’s beat writers recently suggested the club might bench (or demote) Kendrick in favor of hot-hitting minor-leaguer Sean Rodriguez. It’s an intriguing possibility since Rodriguez probably would be a major upgrade defensively. That’s not to say he’s Robbie Alomar, but Kendrick is a bit stiff and mistake-prone when he’s wearing a glove.
It’s risky, though. Bringing in Rodriguez has a more permanent feel to it than simply plugging in utility guy Maicer Izturis. It might send Kendrick into an emotional tailspin, giving him the impression the team has lost all faith in him. This is a player whose worst minor-league batting average was .318 and who entered this season batting .306 in the big leagues.
One informed guess: Kendrick’s nagging hamstring problems eventually give the team a convenient off ramp, the disabled list. Maybe after two weeks of mental rest and extra batting practice, Kendrick will get back in touch with his inner hitter. It’s in there, but these days it looks like it’s deeply repressed.
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Offensive chemistry?
Maybe if the middle of the order started doing their job the #8 hitter wouldn’t be an issue.
Or, maybe if he wasn’t benched every 3 games he could actually find a groove or this mythical chemistry.
As it is, he is 3rd in rbi and runs scored on the team. Sure, he could hit better, but he is batting 8th, not 3rd.
Give him a break and let him play out of it.
Nobody wanted to listen to me–because of the hype. A pop-gun hitter with 6 walks to 32 K’s in 171 TPA. What would one think would happen against Major League pitching?
One thing Howie Kendrick needs to learn is “he’s not going to win the hearts of the fans by hitting his way on”. Howie has GOT to learn to take some walks.
But, to me, I’d prefer:
1B - Morales
2B - Izturis
SS - S-Rod
3B - Wood
or
1B - Morales
2B - S-Rod
SS - Aybar
3B - Wood
If Figgins has to stay at thirdbase, moving Wood to leftfield might be another option.
I just benched him on my fantasy baseball team this week. That should do the trick. I predict he’ll start hitting tomorrow when I can’t get credit for him…
I am sick and tired of the Angel brass saying that these guys who arn’t hitting will “find their swing”
I say send Howie to the minors and bring up Rodriguez…absolutely. Howie has had plenty of chances to do what he is paid to do and has failed. Let him find his swing in the minors and give someone else a chance to revitalize this team.
Vlad…another story in itself. I was watching a game the other day and there was a man on first. I correctly predicted that Vlad would hit into a double play. He is getting old, has no plate discipline and is no longer a serious threat. More often that not he has been a rally killer. He absolutely should be traded at the end of the season. Perhaos he too should spend some time in the minors so that we can give Wood another shot.
The Angels need to do something or else they will be mssing the playoffs this year for sure
This one is correct Mickey Hatcher has totally wscrewed up Howie. The inly thing you can do is send him dow. Sean Rodriquez should be your new second baseman.Bring Wood up to play short and get rid of the immature Aybar. Trade him and Howie and Shields to SD for some real talent like Adrian Gonzalez.
bench
I would send him to the minors along with benchung Aybar and bring up Wood and Rodriguez and play them at SS and 2nd
bring up Brandon Wood while their at it.
I wouldn’t assume that Sean Rodriguez would be a defensive upgrade. By UZR, Kendrick has been the best defensive player on the team so far. Here’s Sean Smith’s take . . .
http://lanaheimangelfan.blogspot.com/2009/05/angels-and-defense.html
Hard to distill that array of opinions.
It sounds like people are genuinely baffled about what to do with this kid, kind of how the Angels are.
First, no one cares about your fantasy team. Ever.
Second, Vlad won’t be traded at the end of the season, because that’s when he’ll become a free agent. He also won’t be sent to the minors because you can’t do that.
Third, how does a career .300+ hitter fall so far so fast? It’s either injury, or the worst case of the “yips” I’ve ever seen. If only we had someone on the Angels staff whose job it is to help hitters figure out their swings… hmmm… Also, someone needs to pull those Howard’s TV ads. They’re awful.
P.S. Don’t tell Rex I was bagging on Mickey Hatcher, he’ll come over and punch me in the face.
Howie is one of my favorite Angels but he has looked very tentative both at the plate and in the field this year. Looks like he is trying really hard “not to make a mistake” and we know how that usually turns out for players.
I think the Angels messed up Kendrick by trying to make him into a “patient” hitter. He was a hitting machine in the minors and previously in the majors. Now they have him trying to go deep in the count. Unless he is hiding an injury I would say let him go up, trust his instincts and hit and forget trying to take pitches.
The kid has never hit below .300. Let him work it out.
Time to shake things up. It’s the only way to light a fire under this bunch.
Bench Howie, Bring up S-Rod and Wood, and let them play. Use Wood at DH if you have to when Vlad needs a night off. Love Figgy, but he cut be part of a huge Peavy trade, and we all know pitching help is needed since Santana looks like a shell of his old self, and Lackey has been … well, lacking.
My guess, though, is that conservative Tony Reagins will wait until the All-Star break and by then it’s too late to make any moves. Why? Because that’s the time that the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Mets and others who don’t mind spending money and/or trading prospects rise to the occasion and always trump the Angels’ offers.
If we’re not going to TRADE the prospects, then let ‘em play. What else are they good for? Plus, if they don’t get a chance, they sour on the organization and want to leave later on. Howie’s had a chance, and may get another one, but it’s time to sit him and play a fresh face.
Why would the Pads want Figgy, who is in his 30’s and will be a free agent at the end of the year? They want young, high ceiling prospects who they can control for years if they’re going to trade Peavy. Even though we’re close to home for him, the guy has stated repeatedly that he wants to remain in the National League and has flexed his no trade clause to do so. Why would we want someone who is so uncomfortable with the thought of pitching in the Big Boy League, anyways?
any player who doesn’t produce has to be sent to the minors so that they can relearn the commitment they made when they came up, period.
It’s all in my head…both in terms of confidence and intelligence. He needs to be sent down so he can regain his confidence by mashing AAA pitchers. When he comes back up, he needs to listen more and closer to guys like Abreu and Hunter. Pitchers are smart in the big leagues. They’ve easily learned how to pitch to Howie and he has not adjusted. Give him a curve or breaking ball to start. He’ll flail at it. Do it again on pitch #2…maybe even a little more of out of the zone. And you’ve got in where you want him: 0-2. Then, game over. The guy can hit. He just needs more seasoning. Send him down. Don’t call up Woods or Sean…why ? because Scioscia won’t play them even if they’re called up. He’ll play Izzy at 2nd instead.
Man, no matter what team, 1 good player struggles and everyone either wants to trade, send down, bench or burn the guy at the stake. Funny how everyone demends immediate perfection and doesn’t let a guy work his thing out. Leave the guy be, have him check video of what he’s doing wrong with his swing and figure out what’s different about his approach at the plate and make the adjustments back to what worked. He’ll get his swing back once he gets some consistancy.
For everyone else, quit cryin. And on the Peavy trade, he doesn’t wanna come to the AL, so leave it at that.
It would be a HUGE mistake to give up on Howie Kendrick. This guy is a phenomenal hitter. He needs to just break out of this slump.
Definitely send Kendrick down and bring up Sean and Wood. Enough is enough. This ship is sinking. Vlad is swinging at balls that bounce 2 feet in front of the plate and Kendrick is nervous in the box and on the field. The Management needs to grow a pair and not be so concerned with player’s ” feelings “. Isn’t this ” professional basaeball “? Isn’t this a “team” sport? It’s obvious what should be done. The Angel brass is stubborn as hell
I say let him hit his way through it. He looks pretty bad at the plate right now, but he’s never hit below .300 before. He’ll start hitting. If he doesn’t turn it around by the end of June, then make a move.
And regarding Vladdy…has anyone else but me noticed that when he was out the team was hitting great and were winning games. As soon as he came back, it seems like the rest of the team (except Hunter) just went into a shell and waits for Vladdy to carry them. Vladdy is just looking awful at the plate. He’s swinging at pitches that bounce 5 feet in front of the plate. I hate to say it because I’ve always loved to watch the guy play, but he is DONE!
Kendrick needs some time in the minors to get his head on straight. Mark my words, if he gets it worked out between the ears, he’ll come back and put up the monster numbers everybody expects. He just needs to clear the game up mentally for a bit, get his swagger back, and he’ll be fine. In the meantime, PLAY RODRIGUEZ AND WOOD! (2b, SS)
I don’t know that the Angels are letting Vladdy carry the team, but there is probably something to that in that I’m sure the team collectively felt the offense would have more production with Vlad in the lineup - - Can you blame them? - - He’s barely been back at all yet and judging from his swings - - he’s still jumping at the first pitch - - strike or not - -and when he connects, he’s ahead of it more often than not. That said, I think it’s just a matter of readjusting his timing.
I think the bigger threat to the Angels right now - - apart of the lack of confidence HK has in himself and the reasons he’s “squeezin the stick” (hockey, I know, but it works, ok?) - - is Santana and Aybar.
Santana’s been an absolute mess. Remember last season? Saunders, LAckey, and Santana could have been team starters 1a, 1b, and 1c. This year, I think Weaver Saunders Palmer Lackey and then the other spot starters have been the Angels best rotation - - in order - - thus far. His velocity has dropped, and he’s back to that bipolar can’t figure it out guy. Whats the deal there? he clearly needs more rehab time or something - - this just doesn’t make sense. Something is missing.
Aybar is still an average fielding less than average hitting/OBP SS. I hear all the time that he’s got the tools to make the truly amazing defensive plays more often than, say a Brandon Wood, but may struggle from time to time on the more routine play. I think he TRIES to make the routine stuff harder than it needs to be, and subsequently bobbles the play.- - yet he still preceeds Wood on the SS depth chart. WHY? Aren’t there MORE routine plays - that’s why they’re called routine, right? - - than “potentially challenging” ones? Shouldn’t we WANT someone who may lack the flash but have the consistency? Am I the only one who thinks Eckstein was amazing for this VERY reason?
C’mon Halos. It’s time to look at what you have, what you need, and what you could have. The figure out what you want. If it’s wanting to win games, start fresh and re-evaluate everything - - don’t go based on the Spring Depth chart. Go with what’ll work. Aybar, KEndrick, Santana? Right now? they aren’t.
Can we all just calm down and realize that without some truly epic bullpen meltdowns - A’s first week (Adenhart’s last game), the Kubel game in Minnesota, the huge lead against the Yankees in Ortega’s best start, the Detroit game when Shields completely melted down, the Seattle game the other night - we would be in first place already over a Texas team that is already showing signs of weakness? I mean, we’re not talking typical ho-hum losses - those losses were very unusual, and you rarely see that many terrible losses in a whole season, let alone two months. I know we’re all frustrated, and we want to nitpick this about the lineup, or that about who Scioscia prefers to play. But let’s just face the facts - it’s NOT THE LINEUP that has killed us so far this year. We could improve, sure - who couldn’t? But THE PROBLEM IS THE BULLPEN. Period. If our bullpen even performs around the league average up to this point, we’re probably not all up in arms about everything already. Here’s the deal: we can send Howie down, bench him, bring Wood up, bench Vlad, put Quinlan in the lineup every day, play Aybar AND Izzy in every game for the rest of the season, whatever - but this team is not going to make the playoffs unless the bullpen stops exploding on a regular catastrophic basis. If the bullpen improves, we’ll be fine. But if the bullpen keeps doing what they’re doing, all I know is I won’t be looking forward to all the doom and gloom on this blog later in the season. Let’s just all realize that the only thing that is really going to “fix” this team right now is if Fuentes, Dondo (especially those two), and the rest get their command back and start pitching like they actually belong in the majors.
Whole-heartedly agree with the statement that the ‘pen has been an absolute mess. What many sportswriters touted as the best bullpen in baseball has been an absolutely and outright disaster. Scioscia has continued to adjust, trying to play starters deeper into games (which is a whole other gamble for injury potential, etc), trying to supplement starters in reliever roles and vice versa, etc.
The thing is though, the only way to really supplement a bad bullpen (and thus far - - it might be a statistical anomaly, but’s it’s been a MESS) is with additional offensive production. THAT adjustment has yet to be made, and I know that Scioscia uses what he feels will be the best lineup for run production, but getting away from “Productive Outs” and more into “Players with Pop” at least on a short term just to see if potential gets realized - - might be a way to play it. The long and the short of it: We can’t win close games, BUT we can substitute in some guys who MIGHT be able to pop for minimal “what if” gambles. Rodriguez and Wood - hell - - give ‘em some games - - it’s not going to be WORSE than what we have right now, and at least then, they might get some more base hits while the other guys work it out. Maybe a little competition for position/starting roles is what all four players need to light the fire.
Absolutely. Both Wood and Rodriguez have both (admittedly in very limited major league samples) shown better power potential and better approaches at the plate than Aybar and Kendrick. Maybe I’m biased as I have never liked Aybar (even as a prospect) but I feel like Wood would be an improvement over him in every way, other than that strong arm of his (hey, why not try him in the bullpen???). Mike has shown time and again that he has a fetish for this type of player. At least in the past with guys like Erstad, Eckstein and Kennedy, they played the game “the right way.” Aybar just seems clueless out there, and I highly doubt it ever clicks for him.
As for Kendrick, it makes me sad to see him struggle like he has. He put up monster numbers his whole minor league career and genuinely seems to enjoy playing baseball. Its hard to deny, however, the Sean Rodriguez has also put up consistently great minor league stats and is a much slicker defender, Howie’s UZR not withstanding. Yes, his power was inflated at Rancho and now at Salt Lake, but his OBP has always been outstanding, and he seems to improve every year. Why not give him a shot while Howie is obviously struggling to find himself?
The Angels should have traded Wood, Kendrick, even Morales for Gonzalez of the Padres.Proven for unproven. Padres may have tossed in Peavey if he would ok trade to AL team.I don’t know why Peavey is so set on NL team.1) He can’t hit at all 2) He could keep his home in north county and drive up for Angel games and not unseat his family from daily life. 3) He would be with a winner and a true NL manager in Scioscia. Gonzalez is third highest paid Padre behind Peavey & Gillis.The Angels would welcome him and give him a HUGE raise over what he is making.Plus we have all the minor leaguers they want.Throw in Willits and one of our catchers.
For the 2,435,642nd time… THE PADRES DO NOT WANT TO TRADE GONZALEZ!. Its not going to happen. His contract is reasonable and he is their only other star besides Peavy. Just get it out of your heads already.
But Carlos, what if we give them Robb Quinlan, Kevin Jepsen, Freddy Sandoval, Shane Loux and Reggie Willits? We’re just not thinking hard enough!
/sarcasm
For all the “we need more offense!” apologists here - Joe Posnanski noted this on his blog in that link that Sam posted yesterday:
“So how about this? Tampa Bay has someone leading the league in hitting (Jason Bartlett), doubles (Evan Longoria), home runs (Carlos Pena), RBIs (Longoria), walks (Pena), stolen bases (Carl Crawford), extra base hits (Longoria), batting average vs. lefties (Akinori Iwamura) and hardest to double up (Carl Crawford) and as a team they lead the league in runs scored. And they are three games under .500.”
Offense is awesome, people, and we certainly could improve ours… but pitching is the thing that wins championships. Tampa’s pitching is dramatically worse than it was last year, and no amount of offense can compensate for that. The bullpen must improve. And - if Santana keeps exploding like he has his last two starts, he’s got to be put on the DL again, even if it’s just so he can go work on things somewhere else.
Great point Paul. Look at Texas over the years. They have always had a lineup full of mashers but could never win consistently because their pitching has always been questionable.
Even with my earlier comment about Vlad, which I stand by, the points made about the bullpen are the true reasons for the Angels hovering around .500 and not leading the division. I still think that eventually things will straighten out down there, Texas will start to falter in the heat, and the Angels will rise to take the division again.
I do not know how good a major leaguer Brandon Wood may eventually be but folks should dial back the expectation that he can be some savior for the Angels. In the big league at bats he has so far, he has looked more like Dallas McPherson than Mike Schmidt. His BA is .198 and he has 6 homers in 192 at bats. For those who are so willing togive up on Howie Kendrick, consider his career MLB average was over .300 coming into this season (currently .294) and his minor league avg was vastly superior to what Wood is doing now.
If you figure Howie can’t get on track, the numbers suggest that Wood is also likely to fail. By the way, it is not just average that concerns me about Wood. His minor league power has not translated to big league production. Nor has he shown the defensive skills he would need, particularly if he is to plat shortstop.
I really like Sean Rodriguez but he is no sure bet either. In 167 major league ABs, his batting average is only .204 with very limited power(only 3 HR). He is very solid defesively, at 2b, ss, and 3b. At this stage, he is more of a utility man than anything else in the bigs. If he is to be a starter on the Angels, it should be at short where he has far more range and is far mor reliable than Wood if the team wanted to go in a different direction rather than sticking with Aybar.
As for Kendrick, there are two realistic potential lineup tweaks if he is to be sent to the minors. The most likely is that Izturis simly replaces him at second. In that scenario, Rodriguez is probably called up to fill Izturis’ utility role. Alternatively, the team brings Wood up to play 3rd everyday and slides Figgins to 2nd.
I favor option #2 because the team can get another look at Wood at the major league level - not just to see if he can add some punch now but to start figuring out what to do at the trade deadeline or this winter when Figgins becomes a free agent. Afterall, besides the six players noted above, Matt Brown, Freddy Sandovol, and Robb Quinlin are also on the 40-man roster and vying for playing time in the Angels’ infield. That’s nine guys competing for at most 5 spots. The heard must be thinned.
Last but not least, the most accurate posters are those who have pointed out that none of the issues about who plays where in the infield, or what they hit will matter unless the rest of the pitching staff joins Saunders and Weaver in performing consistently well.
After reading everyone’s comments, these are mine:
I agree that the starting pitching and the bullpen especially need help. As one said above about the hitting being great until Vlad came back, it can also be said for the starting pitching. We had a good rotation of Saunders, Weaver, Palmer, Oliver, and ? (don’t remember now), but when Santana and Lackey came back, it disrupted everything. I know they are the big names, but Santana should go back to the minors like Scosh did to him 2 years ago and maybe he’ll remember how to pitch. He has gotten back to taking forever to pitch and thinks to much about which pitch he is going to make. Last year when he did so well, he took the ball, got the signal and just pitched the ball. He needs to get back to that. Lakey hasn’t done too bad, but needs to pick up his game a little too or he will hurt his “Free Agent” status.
I agree that the offense was doing much better before Vlad came back and hsd mentioned that to many of my friends. It does seem that the mindset of the team is that Vlady will provide all the offense needed. However, like others, I think he has reached the end of his career unless he becomes a more patient hitter. He swings at too many out-of-the-strike zone pitches. When he is patient, he walks (which I don’t think he likes to do), but this would give others like Hunter, etc. a chance to do their thing and bring him home. Vlady should take some pointers from our other “big bopper” Bobby Abreu. We got him for his power, but he only has one homerun, but 27 walks and quite a few singles and doubles. He is patient and gives us baserunners. It’s not as exciting, but we will win more games that way than with the “long” ball. Likewise, our “little” guys should also go for base hits instead of the homerun (Figgins, Aybar) for the same reason. They are more of a threat on the bases (stealing & speed) than they are as “homerun” hitters. They team needs to wake up and look at what they really are (and probably always will be) - a “littleball” team.
The other offensive problem I see with the Angels is that nobody knows how or can bunt!! How many times this year already have we had the perfect sacrifice situation with one or two men on and the batter either can’t get the bunt down or just can’t bunt. Everyone on the team should know how to bunt - even if they are a “power” hitter. No one should be above sacrificing themselves for the team. So many times we have such a situation, but Vlady, Morales, Rivera, etc. come up to bat and they are NOT told to sacrifice AND we end up not scoring and leaving men on base and/or in scoring position. That is partly due to the management too. The Angels win and will continue to win more games playing “little ball” than they will ever win playing “long or power ball”.
As far as the controversy about Aybar and Figgins instead of Rodriguez and Woods - that will probably solve itself. Figgins will be a Free Agent at the end of the year and will probably not be resigned. That will leave 3rd base open. However, don’t count on our Angels management to look to the minors. Lately, we have been forsaking them for “older” players with experience and supposedly better bats. We have a dirth of excellant prospects that will probably never play regularly for us. They are played like ping-pong balls. Look at Willits. He is another Eckstein. Enthusiastic, fast, great skills and can bat too (when he can play regularly like last year). But where is he today? Back in the minors. And if he ever gets the chance again, he’ll probably be like Quinlan, who gets to bat and play once every two weeks.
Oh well, enough with this. Let’s hope someone wakes up!
Go Angels (before it’s too late).
Therepy Lady. Big bats don’t bunt. Never have and never will. You will not manage very long asking Vlad to bunt. As much as I can question MS on some of the things he has done and player personnel he knows when to move runners.
I am not as down on Erick Aybar as some of you are but I am not in love with him either. Aybar’s main flaw is that he is not disciplined. I believe this is exacerbated by his idol-worship of Vlad Guerrero. Aybar is not as talented as Vlad used to be so he cannot get away with playing the way he does (BTW, neither can Vlad anymore). If the coaching staff believes that Aybar can be more properly coached up after the team refuses to bring back his “mentor” this winter then maybe alittle patience is called for.
Of course, if he could be part of a trade that brought value in return, that would be ok since the team can get at least what they are getting from him from Izturis, or Rodriguez, or Wood.
Getting Gonzalez from the Padres (assuming SD is willing), with or without Peavy, would be great. If the Angels could reduce the organization’s glut of middle infielders and catchers in the process, that would be good too. Of course, at least one pitching prospect would certainly have to be thrown in. With the way the guys in the majors are performing added to the death of Nick Adenhart, trading pitches away is an iffy proposition right now.
I would not be so eager to give away Kendry Morales because he can also play right field and DH. He hits for decent power and is developing into a reliable run producer. As far as I can tell, the team does not have another prospect that fits that description.
The problem is those gawd-awful Howard’s commercials they roped Howie into doing. Kill that campaign and the albatross will be lifted.
Yeah, I wonder if the station charges less for those ads if Kendrick gets sent to the minors.