Ian Kennedy: Public Enemy #1…

Despite starting off the road trip with a record of 2-5 and falling 8.5 games behind the first place Tampa Rays, a lot of the talk coming from Yankee blogs is based on the post game comments from Ian Kennedy on Friday night.  A lot of Yankee fans and members of the media are upset with his response upon being asked how he felt about lasting only 2 innings in his first start back in the majors.  Here is what Ian had to say:

“I felt like I made some good pitches,” he said. “I’m not too upset about it. … What was it, a bunch of singles and three doubles? I’m just not real upset about it. I’m just going to move on and I’ve already done that.”

Although I haven’t read anything that proves without a doubt that his teammates were upset (although I know Andy Pettitte spoke with him) with what he said, the media is speculating that his comment will not sit well with his teammates and the front office.  Girardi was asked about it prior to Saturday’s game answered simply that “player’s react in different ways.”  So is what Ian said wrong, or is what Girardi said valid in that this is just his way of handling an uncomfortable situation.

You have to keep in mind that Ian Kennedy is not used to failure.  I would venture to guess that his whole pitching career he’s been the best or second best pitcher on his team.  He was great in college, which is the reason the Yankees drafted him from USC in the first round.  He was dominate in the minor leagues, so his quick call to the majors was definitely justified.  However aside from a few nice starts in September of last season, Kennedy has been terrible so far in 2008.  And to make things worse for Ian, it seems as if the media is beginning to run with the story that Ian has an ego or sense of entitlement.  Perhaps he does, as most pitchers who have never experienced failure tend to have big egos.  However I’m not sure if I really buy into the idea that Ian thinks he is better than everyone else.  This conception that IPK is conceited started when he made some comments when he was first demoted to AAA.  He was quoted as saying he was going to shut down the opposing team because he knew he could.  Now is that confidence or cockiness?  Does it really matter, don’t we want our pitchers to feel as if they are better than the hitters?  I know nothing is more annoying than people who think they are special when they are not, but how do we know for sure than Ian isn’t really as good as he thinks? 

Personally I think Kennedy made himself an easy target with Friday’s comments.  With Joba and Hughes out and the team struggling, Kennedy pushed himself to the surface.  I was never in the company that thought Kennedy was a future ace and listed under Cashman’s heading of “untradeable”.  However I do think Kennedy can be a valuable asset to a starting rotation.  The people that are already calling Kennedy a bust are both misinformed and shortsided, as you can never call a pitcher under 25 years old a bust unless they are completely out of baseball.  Kennedy still possesses a 90 mph fastball to go along with his curveball and changeup.  Once he learns to pitch to contact an get ahead in counts, I think he’ll finally begin to reach his potential.  Keep in mind he’s adjusting to the best hitters in the world, in the hardest division in baseball.  A little cockiness will do him some good.  Getting angry over a comment Kennedy made (which he has since apologized for) is a waste of time.  Especially since if he comes back up from AAA and dominates in his next start the same fans who were calling for his head will be kissing his feet yet again. 

Also can people stop assuming that Cashman wouldn’t trade Kennedy for Johan Santana.  The first thing is Cashman never wanted to trade for Santana, regardless of who was in the deal.  Cashman I believe really wants to lower the yankee payroll, which is why he is trying build from within and avoid large contracts whenever necessary.  Plus every GM in the game now knows its not in the best interest of their team to give any pitcher a 6+ year contract, because history has shown they rarely ever work out.  Add on top of that the fact that Cashman would have had to trade 3+ young prospects, and it was easy for him to pass.  Even the trades he made during the deadline are different than trades made in the past.  Both trades are looking out for the teams best interest in the future. 

In the Pirates deal the Yankee gave up marginal prospects for an outfielder who can replace Abreu’s large contract in 2009 and a relief pitcher who can replace Farnsworth’s production.  And with the Pudge deal, the Yankees filled a position they needed in the short term, while trading a Type B free agent for a Type A free agent who will net them 2 draft picks in 2009 instead of 1.  These moves weren’t salary dumps, they were calculated risk which are meant to make the 2009 Yankees better and more effective.

So getting back to Ian Kennedy, you have to just sit back and ride the wave.  You just know he’ll go back to AAA and continue to throw up zeroes.  So the question is will he return in September and finally win a game this season, or will be fail again and be dealt in the offseason.  Either way the Yankees have nothing to lose in waiting to find out.  Whether they make the playoffs does not hinge on Ian Kennedy’s arm.  It hinges on whether all facets of the team can find consistency at once.  Can they finally get healthy?  Can the bullpen and the rotation pitch well at the same time?  Can the offense produce more than 3 runs a game?  That is what Yankee fans need to worry about now, not 23 year old Ian Kennedy.  If he succeeds, great they have another starter.  And if he fails then we just move on to the next pitching prospect, go ahead and pick one, Brackman, Cole, Betances, Garcia, etc.  Time will tell with Ian Kennedy, but I’ll worry more about his results than his ego. 

I’ll be back tomorrow with all the Yankees new and notes from the past week.  See ya then.

Thoughts and comments can be sent to jvg019@yahoo.com.

 

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