CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) -Kyle Kendrick isn’t the same gullible guy who thought the Philadelphia Phillies traded him to a Japanese team last year.
The 24-year-old pitcher has more legitimate concerns this spring than worrying about pranks. He’s trying to earn a spot in the starting rotation. Despite winning 21 games his first two seasons in the majors, Kendrick entered camp in a four-man race for the No. 5 starter job.
So far, he’s the front-runner ahead of veteran Chan Ho Park, rookie J.A. Happ and prospect Carlos Carrasco. But that can change quickly once the exhibition schedule begins.
“For me, he’s the leading guy going in because of what he’s done for two years,” pitching coach Rich Dubee said Sunday. “That doesn’t mean my eyes are closed to the other candidates by any means. Kyle’s going to have to show he can command his slider, he’s willing to use the changeup and that he can get left-handed hitters out better.”
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“In my mind, that’s where I expect to be,” said Kendrick, who didn’t make Philadelphia’s postseason roster. “Nothing against my teammates, but that’s where I want to be. I wouldn’t say last year I had a bad year. I had a bad month and a half or so. It’s a new year. I’m ready to go. I feel good.”
Kendrick was 11-9 with a 5.49 ERA in 31 games, including one relief appearance. He had success in the first half, going 8-3 with a 4.47 ERA. After the All-Star break, Kendrick was 3-6 with a 7.59 ERA. He was downright awful the final two months, so the Phillies didn’t risk using him in the playoffs. The right-hander was 2-4 with a 8.73 ERA in his last eight starts.
In 2007, Kendrick came out of nowhere to bail out an injury-depleted rotation and help the Phillies win the NL East title. He went 10-4 with a 3.87 ERA in 20 starts after getting called up from Double-A Reading in mid-June.
If he returns to his rookie form, Kendrick shouldn’t have a problem sticking around.
“Kyle’s got some adjustments to make,” Dubee said. “He’s aware of it. He was a quick push to the major leagues and fortunately for us he’s pitched very well. I will not forget about the job he has done for us. In my mind, he’s the leading candidate. I can’t walk away from 21 wins.”
many strikeouts (117 Ks in 276 2-3 career innings). Kendrick always seems to be pitching out of jams because he allows a lot of hits (323).
The Phillies told Kendrick to improve his changeup over the winter, so he worked hard on it throughout the offseason. After a month off, Kendrick started throwing in December and arrived in Florida two weeks before pitchers and catchers were due to report.
“I threw a lot of bullpens,” he said. “I wanted to be sure I was 100 percent and ready to start.”
How’s the changeup?
“It’s gotten a lot better,” he said. “I feel comfortable throwing it. It feels real good. They told me, ‘You have to throw it,’ so I threw it every day. But it doesn’t matter until you get in a game and can get guys out with it. I can throw it for strikes and that’s good.”
Dubee watched Kendrick throw the changeup in a bullpen session, but he’s more interested in seeing if it’s effective against hitters.
“I’m really not too concerned where it is on the side,” he said. “I’m concerned on how good it is in between the lines.”
Kendrick’s up-and-down season was quite a learning experience. It didn’t start off well in his first major league camp when he was the victim of a clever clubhouse prank orchestrated by teammate Brett Myers.
anese team. The joke got national attention, and everyone wanted to interview Kendrick.
By the end of the season, Kendrick was out of sight. The Phillies sent him to Florida during the playoffs to keep his arm loose in case another pitcher was injured. He rejoined the team for the World Series and got to watch his teammates beat the Tampa Bay Rays from the dugout.
“It was very disappointing,” Kendrick said. “It hurt a lot to leave the team. Once I came down here and went through it mentally, it definitely is going to help me out in my career, going through the ups and downs.”
Notes: The Phillies signed utilityman Miguel Cairo to a minor-league contract. … RHPs Robert Mosebach and Scott Nestor impressed manager Charlie Manuel in the morning workout. The Phillies acquired Mosebach in the Rule 5 draft from the Los Angeles Angels. He was 9-12 with a 4.62 ERA in 29 starts at Double-A last year, but is competing for a job in the bullpen. … RF Jayson Werth checked into camp two days early, sporting a shorter haircut. … The first full squad practice is Tuesday.
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