A's Jason Kendall Traded to Chicago Cubs | MLB | Chicago Cubs

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7/16/07

A's Jason Kendall Traded to Chicago Cubs

MLB, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics

CriticalFanatic

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If you were watching ESPN Monday Night baseball you're probably aware Jason Kendall has been dealt to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Rob Bowen and a minor league pitcher named Jerry Blevins.

Judging by Athletics Nation's response, it sounds like I'll love the guy.

The official AN whipping boy is an Oakland Athletic no longer. Um, not really sure why the Cubbies want Kendall except for the fact that he apparently loves hitting in Houston and he probably won't take a swipe at a starting pitcher. More to come on this deal...I'm going to take a closer look at the players the A's got in return, particularly Blevins.

Jason, I never hated you, how could I hate someone who would put his face in front of some jagged cleats to win a game? I just got tired of watching you hit. The Kendall era in Oakland is officially over and the Suzuki era has officially begun.

Or not. Actually, I am quite fond of Kendall, though I've never understood why. You know, that guy you draft every single year in fantasy despite his never living up to expectations. Or it's a much lamer reason, like we share the exact same first eight letters to our name.

This is definitely a move by the Cubs to win now, despite Kendall's hit and mostly miss hitting. It's not often you win a division or pennant with two inexperience catchers.

What are your thoughts on the deal?

Source: (MLB.com)

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7/16/07

MrNFL

0	I don't know anything about the reliever, but Bowen wasn't anything special. Kendall is a bit of a step up at catcher.

7/16/07

MrNFL

0	Wait a minute, on Baseball Tonight they said that Sean Marshall was traded to the A's. I hope that was just a mistake by the ESPN crew....

7/16/07

CriticalFanatic

0	MrNFL wrote: Wait a minute, on Baseball Tonight they said that Sean Marshall was traded to the A's. I hope that was just a mistake by the ESPN crew.... I wasn't watching my ESPN's front page still says Bowen and Blevins

7/16/07

MrNFL

0	CriticalFanatic wrote: I wasn't watching my ESPN's front page still says Bowen and Blevins They ended up saying on Baseball Tonight that they messed up, saying that Marshall was in the first report, but that it was Bowen and Blevins.

7/16/07

kantwistaye

0	Its an upgrade for the Cubs, so in that sense its definitely good for them. However, Jason Kendall still isn't that good. He won't be the difference between them catching the Brewers or not catching them, but he can't hurt.

7/16/07

fogie00

Yeah, I had heard that it was Kendall for Marshall straight up. Then I heard that it was Bowen and Blevins, and definitely don't have a problem with that. Blevins is a big lefty reliever. High ERA, high WHIP, high K's, high BB's. Worth the gamble in my opinion.

Kendall is a NL type player. Works counts and makes contact. We have been playing good baseball lately with very little production from the catcher's spot in the lineup. But Kendall has the ability to be more productive simply because he will bunt, and you can hit and run with him to stay out of double plays.

7/17/07

gearhead

(Edited by gearhead)

Players who qualify for the batting title with a lower OBP than Kendall: zero

Players who qualify for the batting title with a lower SLG than Kendall: one (Nick Punto by one point)

Players who qualify for the batting title with a lower OPS than Kendall: zero

Hitters with a lower VORP than Kendall: one (Dioner Navarro, in 72 less PA's)

Congrats Cubs fans. Your team just went from a solid hitting catcher to the worst player in the majors this year in about 3 weeks.

7/17/07

BestofChicago

0	I was going to piss myself if Cubs gave up Marshall for Kendall but I found out later It was Bowen and Blevins for him. This is an upgrade (for the cubs). Our catcher situation was pretty crappy but it is now improved. Kendall is no Mauer or V. Martinez but hes better then Bowen and Hill. It improves the team so I am satified. Good job Hendry and GO CUBS

7/17/07

BestofChicago

gearhead wrote:

Your right, he did that in the American league.

7/17/07

BestofChicago

(Edited by BestofChicago)
gearhead wrote:

By the way Kendall is hitting .297 in his last 25 games, Bowen is hitting .095.....I THINK I KNOW WHO I WANT

7/17/07

Pat

0	BestofChicago wrote: By the way Kendall is hitting .297 in his last 25 games, Bowen is hitting .095.....I THINK I KNOW WHO I WANT Ummm...Michael Barrett?

7/17/07

BestofChicago

0	(Edited by BestofChicago) Pat wrote: Ummm...Michael Barrett? Im sure If Varitek got in a fight with Beckett you would want to get rid of him. Cubs are 26-12 without Barrett. Obvious Barrett was some kind of virus in the clubhouse and Cubs management have to be doing something right.

7/17/07

Pat

BestofChicago wrote:

Im sure If Varitek got in a fight with Beckett you would want to get rid of him. Cubs are 26-12 without Barrett. Obvious Barrett was some kind of virus in the clubhouse and Cubs management have to be doing something right.

I didn't realize they had done so well since he left. But I always thought he was a pretty good catcher, at least offensively. And I thought they had patched that up.

7/17/07

BestofChicago

0	Pat wrote: I didn't realize they had done so well since he left. But I always thought he was a pretty good catcher, at least offensively. And I thought they had patched that up. Yeah I loved the guy on offense and I LOVED him even more for punching AJ but he had to go. He was making errors on defense even in the basepaths. Getting him out of here was step #1 to a successful team.

7/17/07

Pat

1	BestofChicago wrote: Yeah I loved the guy on offense and I LOVED him even more for punching AJ but he had to go. He was making errors on defense even in the basepaths. Getting him out of here was step #1 to a successful team. THAT's why I liked him...dang, I almost forgot about the AJ incident. That made him one of my favorite players.

7/17/07

BestofChicago

0	Pat wrote: THAT's why I liked him...dang, I almost forgot about the AJ incident. That made him one of my favorite players. He was God in Cub-Nation until he faught Big Z

7/17/07

ahusted

0	Kendall stinks.

7/17/07

Michael

Kendall on defense is a steady-eddie kind of guy. He'll be streaky with the bat and he'll get you a few steals which is weird for a catcher. He bunts well which is a plus in the 8 slot. No, he is not one of the 'better' catchers out there but the Cubs didn't give away the farm expecting that; they got a servicable catcher with a decent stroke at that position for what they gave away...

Not a bad deal all in all!

7/17/07

gearhead

0	BestofChicago wrote: Your right, he did that in the American league. So? In either league, that's pretty awful.

7/17/07

gearhead

BestofChicago wrote:

By the way Kendall is hitting .297 in his last 25 games, Bowen is hitting .095.....I THINK I KNOW WHO I WANT

Bowen's Cubs career was 10 games and 31 at-bats which isn't nearly enough time to make a decision on whether he's good or not. Look at Kendall's numbers the last three years. They're awful, and they're not getting better. I just don't see how the change in league and park is going to help that much when he's this bad to begin with. I don't see how adding an old, banged up catcher who can't hit anymore will help this team.

7/17/07

gearhead

BestofChicago wrote:

Since Barrett was traded, the Cubs have played the Rangers, White Sox, Rockies, Brewers, Nationals, Pirates, Astros, and Giants. A lot of that 26-12 looks like an offshoot of playing a lot of bad teams.

7/17/07

BestofChicago

(Edited by BestofChicago)
gearhead wrote:

Well what are they suspossed to do? Lose against those teams? Before Barrett was traded Cubs were losing to teams like Pittsburgh, Houston, Milwaukee, Cincinatti. The fact of the matter is, the Cubs catcher situation was horrible and it is improved. You are acting like im acting like Kendall is an All-Star and it doesnt matter who the Cubs have beaten, they just go out and play baseball how its suspossed to be played (unlike Barrett)

7/17/07

BestofChicago

0	gearhead wrote: So? In either league, that's pretty awful. Just going by the stats, thats all. He is way better in the National League than American League.

7/17/07

BestofChicago

gearhead wrote:

Thats the same thing people said to the White Sox in 05 when they won 99 games. "You guys arent going nowhere you are beating up teams like KC, TB, BAL". They went on and lost ONE game in the playoffs.

7/18/07

ahusted

Michael wrote:

Not a bad deal all in all!

steady eddie was not so steady last night.

7/18/07

Michael