The Kyle Kendrick Conundrum: Phillies Say They Have "Not Many Options" to Replace Him

Have the Phillies reached the end of the line of Kyle Kendrick as a starting pitcher?  It sounds as if Phillies manager Charlie Manuel is growing tired of the unpredictable Kendrick.  Kendrick has provided some value for the Phillies, but yet there seems to always be the chance for a massive blow-up such as tonight's 6-run, 3 1/3 inning performance.  Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer spelled our his impression of Manuel after the game:

Of course, many point to one obvious option we've talked about before on this blog: Tyler Cloyd.  Iron Pigs beat reporter Jeff Schuler had an astute reply for Gelb:

Of course, he's speaking of Tyler Cloyd, 11-1 with a 2.12 ERA for AAA Lehigh Valley.  Yeah, that's a pretty obvious option.  Ironically, Cloyd also started tonight, which would put him right on schedule should the Phillies wish to swap Kendrick for Cloyd next time this spot comes up in the rotation.  

Kendrick's postgame comments once again caust the ire of fans.  He said to the Inquirer's Matt Gelb:

"I guess that's how it is with me. It's, 'What have you done for me lately?'

Sigh.  Kendrick just does not get it.  For every three solid performances from Kendrick there is one absolute disaster.  If Kendrick does not have the confidence of his fans and his manager, then why continue to demoralize the fans and the team every time he starts?

Ironically, Kendrick was impressive during his most recent bullpen stint, helping stabilize a shaky contingent of relievers.   And that's where his value lies.  Kendrick should be a bullpen pitcher, and if you need a starter with two hours' notice because you traded away Joe Blanton?  Perfect guy to throw in there. Of course, Sam Donnellon quotes Kendrick as saying,

“I don’t want them to think I want to be in the bullpen."

Well,  I don't think Charlie Manuel wants Ruben Amaro Jr. to think that he wants Kyle Kendrick in the rotation anymore.   I have defended Kyle Kendrick before, but I am at the point where I can no more.  The fans and Charlie Manuel deserve a change.

Please, Ruben, swap B.J. Rosenberg for Tyler Cloyd before Tuesday's start in Miami.  

 

Comments

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[William Allen]

I believe the Phillies management has dealt away key players from the 2008 championship team(Werth, Ibanez, and now Blanton). You can't keep making unnecessary changes to the line-up and expect for bad acquisitions to replace proven talent. Also, the players on the DL this season have shown little to be competive and productive. I would get some real hitters on the team and completely replace the relievers. I think it's too late to make a run as a wild card because of the division and home record but there is always hope. Halladay and Lee has to step up to the plate as well as Howard and Utley in order to make a run for the wild card spot. As I watch the Phillies play, it hurts at times to witness no fight in them after an oppponent score a few runs. The team must show to come back form defeat and win these games instead of dying. Make every player on the team realize that giving up is not an option if you want to be a champion again.

[colin]

William Allen, While I think Amaro is a bad GM, who does not understand you need both offense and pitching, and not just starting pitching, to win, what are you smoking? We did not "deal away key players from teh 08 championship team". True, Blanton is gone, but looking at that season's SPs, Hamels, Myers, Blanton, wouldn't you say that Halladay, Lee and Hamels is a bit of a step up? And your inclusion of Ibanez??? He was a Mariner that year. He is 40 now, batting 240 (after 245 last year), and the guy he replaced (Burrell) is retired. And Werth? While he is a good player, he is not a guy that can carry a team....he is a supporting player, and he is being paid like he is a stud that you build your team around. Simply put, the Phillies could not afford to pay him that kind of money. What you should be crying about is the fact that he resigned an aging,fading (offensively) Rollins, and not having a plan in the event that Utley could not go (which should have been foreseen) and Howard would not be Howard this season (also easily foreseen). You should be crying about spending your entire budget for the bullpen on 1 pitcher, and then throwing a bunch of mutts out there to fill out the rest of the staff.

Unfortunately, the key players from that team, the old, broken down players from that team, are mostly still here. Rollins and Utley are fading fast (either thru age or injuries...yes, Utley is hitting well now, but where were you for the first 100 games this season, 80 games last season?), and Howard is damaged goods. The other "key players", like Lidge and Burrell and Feliz are gone, out of baseball. Victorino was going to leave via free agency, as the Phillies were not going to overpay him, and Werth did get overpaid via free agency. Those were sound baseball decisions (and, by the way, Victorino sucked for us this year, and Werth sucked last year and has been injured this season).

[joycedaffodil]

There a few of us die hards who just don't want to give up and keep looking for clarification as to how or why. I fear Amaro is a figurehead, not a good one, but some decisions he/the group has made would baffle Einstein. Liberthal is in town for his ceremony this weekend, we all remember him here last after his expiration date, and thus goes the Phillies, too many expired players on the field. Can't understand the Rollins situation: lead of hitter that is the delight of the opposing team as he is a one-three pitch out. Gets a hit in one game and one would think he is now the mvp, yet he remains lead off hitter and gets a contract for three more years. Colin speaks of Lidge trade, he has spent the season on the dl, so would probably have happened here. It seems when things go wrong instead of looking deep for in house solutions, we start selling off people to make the situation more unstable. Next year, it will all be ok. Where is Valdez? Loved that guy on the field.

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