Jason Kendall is like a rock

With Jason Kendall’s 110^th game behind the plate, the Brewers are now contractually obligated to pick up his $4.25 million option for 2009.  While the Brewers signed Kendall for his experience and solid game calling, he also has proven to be unyielding behind the plate.  In 2007, when with the Athletics and Cubs, Kendall threw out only 20 or 131 base stealers.  This season he has thrown out 30 wimpy base stealers and only allowed 42 stolen bases, throwing out 42 percent of runners attempting to steal.  Granted the season isn’t over, but that 42% is a higher percentage than in any of his three All-Star seasons, 1996 – 23%; 1998 – 27%; 2000 – 30%.  On top of that, he has only allowed four passed balls this season, tied for second fewest in his 12 year career.

        One of the main concerns involving Kendall was ground ball hitting.  Kendall is regarded as a contact hitter, meaning that he doesn’t swing and miss very often.  But, in Kendall’s case, it has also meant the possibility of a ground ball double play.  At the start of the 2009 season the Brewers decided to let Kendall bat ninth and the pitcher bat eighth.  The thinking was that the nine hitter would leadoff the inning more than the eight hitter, keeping the Brewers out of a possible double play (the pitcher would bunt the runner).  Then, later in the season, the Brewers moved Kendall to eighth in the batting order and moved the pitcher to ninth.  This move might make you think that Kendall would ground into several double plays, but Kendall has only grounded into one double play so far this season.