Is Anyone Else Real Happy With Jason Kendall's Consistancy?

[Guest]

He hasn't slipped at all, despite playing everyday for a catcher. In fact, he's getting better. His AVG is up to .323, and his OPS has got to be like .820, which is very good considering the guy doesn't HR much.

[Madison]

Nice average, just no pop and a bad lineup.

[jdh]

Yeah, I think Kendall is a top 5 catcher. I think that power hitting catchers like Posada wind up costing way too much in the draft for the 30 or so HR you'd get from them, when you could stock up on outfielders, and take an underrated catcher like Kendall or Lieberthal later on. Basically, all I want in my catcher is a guy who hits for at least a .290 average, so he doesn't hurt you, with all other production from that spot being a bonus.

[Guest]

YADDA YADDA YADDA

[jdh]

??

[Madison]

Probably meant that Kendall is boring. Nice average, but other than that, he doesn't get much else.

[jdh]

Yeah, he's boring and vanilla, but those are the types of players I like because you can get them cheaply in the draft and they will perform as well or better than more high profile players. Another example of that type of player is Huff; despite the .300-30-100 season he's having, he'll surely be underrated again next year because he's a DRay.

[pkarr5000]

kendall does nothing. hes a bust.

[jdh]

Don't you consider playing everyday almost (which is rare for catchers), hitting near the top of the lineup, and hitting for over a .300 average to be very useful? How is that a bust? The only catchers that consistently hit for a higher than .300 average, plus have all kinds of power are Piazza and IRod, and those two will cost alot more than Kendall to get. Behind IRod, Piazza, and Posada, Kendall is the next catcher I would take.

[pkarr5000]

at top of a crappy lineup.
a.j. pierzynski.
if he werent a bust, why do you think the pirates dont want him