Some Kendry love from ESPN

ESPN have named Kendry as one of their potential break-out stars for 2009.

Interesting read...

11 months ago The Limey 25 comments 0 recs |

Comments

Tim Kurkjian and Peter Gammons

are both always very positive on the Angels. Perhaps it’s because they are the only two analysts at ESPN who are worth-a-shit, even if Kurkjian sounds like a pubescent 12 year-old.

I always appreciate Kurkjian’s input, although I don’t always agree, but his insight is always intelligent and well thought out.

by MidwayCityLivestock on Apr 1, 2009 4:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Because they’re positive on the Angels, they know what they’re talking about? Personally, I appreciate reading the guys over there who aren’t always so positive on the Halos, though I won’t mention their names as I don’t want to be pelted with stones. It helps keep things in perspective.

by dmhead on Apr 2, 2009 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not really what I was saying...

I’m not saying because of X, Y must be true, more like X is true because Y is true. Hmm, not sure if that makes sense either. It’s always nice to see the guys that are clearly on top of their game (Tim and Peter) giving my favorite team a little love, but that’s not why I like them.

Objectivity is the main reason I like those two, and my comment was more specifically based on their apparent grasp of journalistic integrity.

by MidwayCityLivestock on Apr 2, 2009 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gammons

Made this comment “Jed Lowrie will hot 45 doubles.”

Not sure he is “worth a shit”

Play Wood already. Willits sucks.

by hauldog on Apr 2, 2009 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Earlier this spring

Matt Welch questioned where I got the impression we’d been told Morales could be a .300, 30 homers, 30 doubles guy.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he hit .300 with 25 home runs and around 100 RBIs this season.

You happy now, Matt? :P

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Apr 1, 2009 4:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I can see him hitting for average...

…and I suspect he’s going to be a doubles machine. I think 25-30 HRs is where it gets a bit tenuous. Anything above 20 is gravy.

Having said that, we’re in the “season-about-to-start-we’re-never-going-to-lose-a-game” phase of mindless pre-season optimism, so sod it, 30 HRs, yeah why not?

I see red people

by The Limey on Apr 1, 2009 5:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, I'm just quoting the people who would know.

If Kurkjian’s scout, Clay Davenport, Mike Scioscia, and whoever this guy is all want to tell me Kendry is a 25-30 homer guy over a full season, I’m not gonna argue.

~Till the Halo burns out...

by Zu Long on Apr 1, 2009 5:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

those predictions seem a bit optimistic

id be happy with a .289/18/75 line

by ihearhowie2.0 on Apr 1, 2009 5:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm actually not happy!

I want people to have realistic hopes about the guy, and be pleasantly surprised if/when he exceeds them.

by mattwelch on Apr 1, 2009 6:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That double off the wall in Game 4

sold me on Kendry. Where the other young guys looked for the most part at the very least tentative, and in some cases (Kendrick) outright frightened, K-mo stepped to the plate steel-eyed. He looked like a veteran up there. As the ball bounced off the wall I thought to myself “even if we lose Tex, we’ll be alright.” Looking forward to this season.

by OntariGro on Apr 1, 2009 5:14 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

ditto

by Sethy on Apr 1, 2009 9:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Confident Cuban

This is going to sound really dramatic, but I’ll say it anyway since we’re all so close. I get the feeling Kendry has had much more serious things to be afraid of in his lifetime than baseball. So, when he gets in the box, it’s a safe zone for him where he is in control, full of confidence. That kind of poise is another one of those statless factors in the game that the fans and the players can sense.

Kendry the Confidant! He has gathered us under his arms, and said in broken English, “Sh, sh, sh. I know you lost Teix, but I am here for you. It’s going to be okay.” And we doze off safe and sound to the echoing crack of his bat, and the crunching of his cleats in the Georgia clay as he digs for two.

I can see October from Arizona!

by Rally Manatee on Apr 2, 2009 1:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

HRs from Angel first basemen

A look back over the years at how many HRs the Angels got cumulatively from the 1B position.

2000: 38
2001: 18
2002: 16
2003: 21
2004: 8
2005: 11
2006: 11
2007: 13
2008: 25

During this span, the only 1B who was able to tally at least 20 HRs was Mo Vaughn in 2000 when he hit 34 HRs as a first baseman.

So if he can do it, a 20+ HR season from Kendry would be a nice boost relative to what the Angels usually get from 1B.

(Position split stats from B-Ref )

Ain't no stoppin' us now. We got the groove!!

by Fan Since 1981 on Apr 1, 2009 6:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

thats sad

Go Angels!

by Four Ts on Apr 1, 2009 8:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes and no

Angels have traditionally had nimble-fielding, high-OBP first basemen who don’t hit 25 HRs. Wally Joyner, Rod Carew, Bruce Bochte…these were all very good ballplayers. Spiezio was in that mold, and contributed. Jim Spencer was a useful player, though not so much for us. J.T. Snow was a very good player, though again not so much for us. Casey Kotchman is cut precisely from the mold. It’s weird how certain organizations repeat themselves….

I think Kendry will provide a little more punch than the group, along with a little less OBP & defense. But I don’t think he’ll ever hit 30 homers.

by mattwelch on Apr 2, 2009 4:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kendry was five years in the making within the Angels organization.

That must make him the “Frankenstein” of Soth and Ninja.

Recipient of the 2008 "The Iron Man" award from scottnak of Halos Heaven!

by 44FAN on Apr 1, 2009 6:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yep

Quoting the story:

The learning has come slowly. In 2004, when Morales defected to the United States, “he was very raw,” Scioscia said. “He didn’t know how to take a secondary lead.” Reagins added, “He didn’t know how to play the game. I remember in July that first year in [Class A] Rancho Cucamonga, he would be on defense at first base, and he’d be practicing his swing; you simply do not do that. He would hit a ground ball and jog to first base. That was accepted in Cuba. But in this organization, it’s about taking ownership. This is an aggressive organization, it’s about being professional. Now he runs out every ground ball, and is a professional on both sides of the ball. He’ll be fine. He’s ready to be an everyday player.”

by George Kaplan on Apr 1, 2009 8:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remember the first time he came up to the big club (2007?)...

…he hit a weak grounder, and didn’t run to 1B.
Huddy immediately said “Uh oh, Mike Scioscia isn’t going to like that”. Sure enough, when Kendry got back to the dugout, Scioscia appeared to give him an earful.

by sothball on Apr 1, 2009 8:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

EARFUL

¡en español!

by Rev Halofan on Apr 1, 2009 9:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

muchas erejas

by Sethy on Apr 1, 2009 9:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That giant sucking sound you hear...

…no, it’s not jobs flowing south of the border due to NAFTA. It’s Acuda-san’s ego (currently expanding beyond our solar system to galactic extremes).

Anyone have a pin?

by sothball on Apr 1, 2009 9:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

ROFL

Dude, I was drinking a juice from one of those little apple juice boxs while I read your post and almost made me spit it out all over the computer screen (cus i was sucking on the straw). Dont really understand what you mean though but I like that Acuda-san thing lol.

You post made my day?!? I dont know if it made my day (4/2/09) or today (4/3/09). Oh well it made both my days :)

Put Kendry Morales at 1B, and move Sean Rodriguez to 3B......NOW LETS GO WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by acuda27 on Apr 3, 2009 2:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs