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MESA, Ariz. — The exhibition season is less than a week old, but the mantra for the young Oakland Athletics pitching staff is clear: "In Kendall, We Trust."
"I've thrown to him twice," starter Joe Blanton said. "I haven't shook him off yet."
When Huston Street faced three all-stars on Monday, he calmed his nerves by focusing on the new catcher.
"Just trust the guy behind the plate and remember that he's an all-star catcher," Street said. "Just trust him."
Jason Kendall is only 30 years old, but that's ancient by A's standards. Kendall is so "old," minor-leaguer John Baker said, that when Baker was being converted to a catcher at Cal, Kendall was one of the catchers he watched closely, and he's been thrilled to learn from him this camp.
When Kendall talks, the young
A's catchers listen, too.
"He's good at explaining things and why you do things," said Kurt Suzuki, who is in his first camp. "I try to listen to everything he has to say."
For his part, Kendall is enjoying it all. After so many years in Pittsburgh, arriving in spring training knowing he had no chance to make the playoffs, he has a new lease on life with the A's and all their talented young pitchers.
"They are real fun to catch," Kendall said. "They've all got the pitches and hit my glove. It makes my job easier."
Reputations in baseball are a funny thing. Some are legit. Some are more hype than reality. Some can never be changed.
One part of Kendall's reputation that is legit is wanting to catch every game. In fact, he wants to catch every spring training game
and doesn't even like departing midway through the game.
A year ago, Damian Miller arrived in the A's camp with a reputation as great at calling games, blocking pitches and throwing out runners. Miller's former Cubs pitchers raved about him and were upset when he was traded to the A's. But by the end of last season, most A's starters were requesting Adam Melhuse catch their games, while coaches became aggravated that Miller didn't follow the game plan closer with his pitch calling. Melhuse ended the year with a better catcher's ERA (4.05) than Miller (4.24).
If the count was 2-0, Miller would often automatically put down the sign for a fastball, rather than mixing off-speed pitches in a hitter's count.
On the other hand, there was a time in Kendall's career when he was accused —
or at least had the reputation — of taking at-bats with him back behind the plate.
When Jason Schmidt arrived in San Francisco in 2001, he made subtle digs at Kendall as he raved about how great it was to have a catcher (Benito Santiago) who cared more about his pitcher's ERA than his own batting average.
But sometimes those reputations can change as a catcher becomes a veteran and learns the league better. After all, there was a time the A's didn't trust Terry Steinbach in big games, preferring the veteran Ron Hassey, before Steinbach became like a second pitching coach on the field.
If there was a knock on Kendall's defense, it's gone now. Former catcher and A's broadcaster Ray Fosse smiles wide when the topic is Kendall. After Kendall threw out a runner Tuesday, Fosse raved
about the footwork, quick release and accuracy of the throw.
The response from A's pitchers this spring has been universal praise for Kendall — and it's offered up quickly.
"His head is so into the game," starter Barry Zito said. "He's such a gamer. There's a lot of integrity when he's catching. He's really thinking about it, which is nice to see."
One of the ways general manager Billy Beane amuses himself in spring training is e-mailing former assistant Paul DePodesta, now the Los Angeles Dodgers GM, about the stupidest questions they get asked.
Beane's favorite, if you want to call it that, is why he would trade for Kendall if he was trading Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder. The answer depends on how diplomatic Beane is feeling.
The truth is, by trading Mark Redman and Arthur
Rhodes, Beane got rid of two bad contracts, from two pitchers who underperformed, complained about teammates, and in return he received an all-star catcher for about the same price.
Toughness, intensity and on-base percentage were the central themes to what Kendall would bring to the A's when the trade was made. But now that he's arrived, the bonus is how quickly the young staff is bonding with him.
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