The Brewers and Kendall

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:46 pm

The Brewers have announced that they will have Jason Kendall hitting ninth this year. For fantasy purposes this does not affect the way I would feel about Kendall. 25 MLB catchers would have to take a cruise on the Edmond Fitzgerald before he became a thought for me on draft day. Does it affect JJ Hardy or Billy Hall or Ricky Weeks? Yes, more on that later.

In real baseball, what are the Brewers thinking?

Defensively, Kendall does stop the ball, he does catch pop ups, and he is considered a good clubhouse guy and handler of pitchers. He is missing that all-important catching trait of throwing runners out.

Offensively, the guy hits singles and a few well placed doubles. Most of the pitching staff has more power. The Brewers aren't alone in knowing or not knowing what to do with Kendall. Oakland led him off and hit him 2nd, now Milwaukee wants to go Tony LaRussa.

If they thought so little of him as a hitter, why did they sign him? Even a Barajas or a trade for Barrett seems like a better fit.

Milwaukee's brass says that in effect they are getting another leadoff hitter. Really? Are they going to hit and run with Weeks and the big hole in his swing? Will Kendall be on the front end of double steals with Weeks? How many wasted plate appearances will Weeks have sacrificing his leadoff partner along?

Which is where we get back to the fantasy ramifications. Two outs, anybody on base, do you think Hall will see a pitch to hit with the pitcher behind him? Hardy? In effect, whether it's Hall or Hardy,the Brewers have made the seventh hitter, the eighth hitter. How would this change if Kendall were the eighth hitter? Even though Kendall hits like a Nancy, he is fully capable of putting up a good batting average and is a professional hitter, something opposing managers and pitchers would keep in mind while throwing to Hall or Hardy.

Weeks may take the biggest hit, fanalytically, by having first base clogged more often by Kendall. Kendall would be on second after a sac by the pitcher in normal circumstances. RBI chances taken away from Weeks,but the reduction in sb's would more be more of a hit with Kendall on first base more often. It's not enough of a hit to downgrade Weeks by more than a few spots, but a hit nonetheless.

The Brewers say they have crunched the numbers and have come to the conclusion that this would be the best thing for their lineup. I'm not a number cruncher, maybe one of the number crunchers out there can tell me why they believe in this strategy. My perspective is that this will hurt their lineup a lot more than help it.

eddiejag · Post by **eddiejag** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 2:32 pm

I agree with you, makes no sense and hurts Weeks,Hardy, and Hall.Why would they take the bat out of Hardy or Hall.I cant see any of the players liking it and it wouldnt suprise me if this thing falls apart in the spring and they will go back to a more normal lineup.

mgk2004 · Post by **mgk2004** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 2:39 pm

First off, the Brewers have not confirmed that Kendall will be hitting ninth. That is one option they are considering. I think the primary rationale that they stated (the numbers that the crunched) was that it would give their best hitters (Braun and Fielder) more at bats over the course of the year if they were hitting 2nd and 3rd (rather than 3rd and 4th). So, the lineup might be ...

Weeks

Braun

Fielder

Hart

5

6

7

Pitcher

Kendall

They were especially considering this since they did not have an obvious choice for their #2 hitter. (However they have been hitting Cameron at #2 for many of the spring training games).

The Brewers like the fact that Kendall gets on base via walks (even though his batting average is not so good). Hence the idea of a "second leadoff hitter". It may or may not happen, but they are experimenting with it. My guess is that once Cameron gets back from his 25 game suspension he will be batting second and this will be moot. They MIGHT try this for the first month ...

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 3:23 pm

Originally posted by mgk2004:

First off, the Brewers have not confirmed that Kendall will be hitting ninth. That is one option they are considering. I think the primary rationale that they stated (the numbers that the crunched) was that it would give their best hitters (Braun and Fielder) more at bats over the course of the year if they were hitting 2nd and 3rd (rather than 3rd and 4th). So, the lineup might be ...

Weeks

Braun

Fielder

Hart

5

6

7

Pitcher

Kendall

They were especially considering this since they did not have an obvious choice for their #2 hitter. (However they have been hitting Cameron at #2 for many of the spring training games).

The Brewers like the fact that Kendall gets on base via walks (even though his batting average is not so good). Hence the idea of a "second leadoff hitter". It may or may not happen, but they are experimenting with it. My guess is that once Cameron gets back from his 25 game suspension he will be batting second and this will be moot. They MIGHT try this for the first month ... MLB.com for confirmation. Story was posted a few hours ago.

headhunters · Post by **headhunters** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 3:50 pm

actually hitting kendall 9th is the correct baseball move. this thing should be done more often. of doughboys -if you are into lineups and value- see why you wouldn't have a hitter that gets on base alot (swisher) bat 1st for the sox. stolen bases are probably the most overrated part of the game. swisher should bat 1st. also- why have 2 power hitters back to back? homer- then no one on base. how about walk, hit. homer hit hit homer. lots of egos involved. have speed at the bottom to generate xtra runs. then doughboys - you can do an essay on the value of d lee- with soriano hitting 1st. if sorian hits 40 homers, bats. 280 , walks 18 times in 600 abs and gets thrown out 10 times a year trying to steal and theriotte has on base of about .300- how does d lee get rbis- oh ya i just looked at his rbi's- he doesn't get them. ok- your turn, you do the dodgers.

RedRum · Post by **RedRum** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:14 pm

Double-Leadoff theory... now go to sleep

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 5:04 pm

...so you like Weeks.

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 6:31 pm

Originally posted by headhunters:

actually hitting kendall 9th is the correct baseball move. this thing should be done more often. of doughboys -if you are into lineups and value- see why you wouldn't have a hitter that gets on base alot (swisher) bat 1st for the sox. stolen bases are probably the most overrated part of the game. swisher should bat 1st. also- why have 2 power hitters back to back? homer- then no one on base. how about walk, hit. homer hit hit homer. lots of egos involved. have speed at the bottom to generate xtra runs. then doughboys - you can do an essay on the value of d lee- with soriano hitting 1st. if sorian hits 40 homers, bats. 280 , walks 18 times in 600 abs and gets thrown out 10 times a year trying to steal and theriotte has on base of about .300- how does d lee get rbis- oh ya i just looked at his rbi's- he doesn't get them. ok- your turn, you do the dodgers. You said this was the correct move and then went on a rant about other things. Why is this a good move?

And to reply as to why power hitters hit back to back, if you have the luxury of having two power hitters they usually hit together in the lineup to provide protection from pitching around the power hitters in RBI situations.

In regards to Swisher, I've always wondered if a Helton, Swisher, Giambi type who sees a lot of pitches would do well in the leadoff spot. These guys are used to driving in runs on "their" pitch. Leading off I think they get more strikes and will lessen their on base percentage thus negating putting them there in the first place. It should be interesting to see how Swisher does..Personally I see more value hitting at #2.

bjoak · Post by **bjoak** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 11:21 pm

As the numbers go, lineup order doesn't make a whole heck of a lot of difference and I really don't see much difference between having Kendall or the pitcher there. I think if you search your soul you will find that you are so frustrated that anyone would give an MLB job to Kendall that you will find myriad reasons to complain about any piece of related news.

I don't know that I agree, but I think the Brewers rationale is that their leadoff guy can hit for power so it is best to create a situation where he can accumulate more RBIs.

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 2:05 am

Thanks Brian, you're probably right on all counts.

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 2:08 am

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

...so you like Weeks.

I'll bet you sent in the box tops for your Johnny Quest deecoder ring, Lance.