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Wednesday's Frosty Mug

As it turns out, Jason Kendall may not be all that valuable defensively either.

More photos » by Darren Hauck - AP

As it turns out, Jason Kendall may not be all that valuable defensively either.

Some things to read with the hand-washing time you've saved.

Clearly, "calling a good game" is not weighted heavily in these rankings, but Driveline Mechanics ranked Jason Kendall 105th out of 114 catchers defensively in 2009, and Mike Rivera 28th. It's further proof that Kendall has outlived nearly all of his value...and somehow, I still expect Doug Melvin to find a reason to bring him back next season, and Ken Macha to play him 120 times.

Craig Counsell and Braden Looper's offseason surgeries were completed yesterday, and both were "routine," according to Dr. William Raasch, who is now off to shop for a new house with the money he's made off the Brewers this week (FanShot).

Here's some symmetry for you: Wisconsin Sports Tap has a list of the top ten Brewer moments from the 2009 season, and Miller Park Drunk has a list of ten things he won't miss about this season.

While glancing over Baseball Digest Daily's Asian MLB Awards, I noticed this completely unrelated tidbit: The Brewers, who scored the third most runs in the NL this season, got 14.3% of those runs from Ryan Braun. That's the fourth highest percentage in all of baseball.

In what might be an unprecedented event, the Brewers had two pitchers (Braden Looper and Manny Parra) among the top three in the "Good Luck Division" of The Hardball Times Awards' season finale. The two pitchers combined for 25 wins with a 5.70 ERA.

Speaking of awards, Jon Heyman left Prince Fielder off his NL MVP ballot. Moments like this are why it's so easy to blast the BBWAA.

The Arizona Fall League's Opening Day was yesterday, but it wasn't a great start for the Javelinas, who got pummeled by Surprise, 17-4. Lorenzo Cain led off with a double for Peoria in the first and scored the game's first run, but the Rafters responded with runs in the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Omar Aguilar also pitched in the game, and allowed three runs on four hits and a walk in 1.2 innings. Beyond the Box Score has the PitchF/X data on Aguilar's outing.

There's just one note for the transaction log today:

Padres: Infielder Luis Rodriguez and catcher Eliezer Alfonzo declined outright assignments to the minors and are now free agents.

Who knows if the Brewers might be interested, but one more name could be about to enter the starting pitching rumor mill: Ken Rosenthal is reporting Tim Hudson could decline his half of his mutual option with the Braves for next season. The option would pay Hudson $12 million in 2010, and it seems unlikely many teams will want to commit more than that to a guy who made just seven starts in 2009.

Every day it looks a little more likely that Ned Yost will be back in the big leagues next season. He's already being mentioned as a managerial candidate in Cleveland and Houston, and now you can add him to the list in Washington as well.

If a last place team in a terrible stadium switches over to a TV network much of their fan base doesn't get, do they make a sound? According to SportsBusiness Journal, only 20,000 households tuned in to watch an average A's game this season, the second lowest figure in all of baseball.

Some days I'm up perusing the internet before it's light, and I come back with lots of great baseball links. Some days, I just find lunch ideas. Such is the Way of the Mug.

Happy birthday today to Tommy Harper, who led the 1970 Brewers in hits, runs, doubles, home runs, RBI, stolen bases, walks, batting average, OBP and slugging, and turns 69 today.

That's all I've got for you today, but if you're looking for something else to do, you could consider Static Electricity Fun Time.

Drink up.

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Heyman

Does he have a vote that counts? Do they still do the 2 writers from each team in the league method? If he has a vote that counts, and has a similar attitude that other voters do, its possible Fielder falls out of the top 3.

Leaving Fielder off is not smart, he’s at least 4th most valuable, and definitely 2nd most productive this year.

I’m a Tulo fan so I like him 2nd there, even though he is underserving. Wonder how much love he is actually going to get from the voters.

by backtocali on Oct 14, 2009 8:33 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Yes, Heyman has a vote that counts.

No, they’re not doing the “2 writers from each team in the league” thing anymore. Gammons, Kurkjian, Olney, Jerry Crasnick and a host of other people who write for websites — but not Rob Neyer, because he doesn’t think batting average and RsBI are the be all and end all of the MVP discussion — are all in the BBWAA now.

by Rubie Q on Oct 14, 2009 8:52 AM CDT reply actions   1 recs

Neyer got in the BBWAA last year

As well as Keith Law and a couple BP.com writers.

I think Keith Law had said in a chat that he only has a Cy Young vote this year and not an MVP vote — I’m not really sure how they decide who votes for what.

by Supertramp on Oct 14, 2009 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You're absolutely right.

I was reading an old article. Good catch.

by Rubie Q on Oct 14, 2009 9:39 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions   0 recs

RsBI?

Passersby were amazed by the unusually large amounts of blood?

by PagsBrewCrew on Oct 14, 2009 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Heyman and ken-doll

Heyman’s ballot was awesome. Of those receiving votes in the AL and NL, only two (Hanley Ramirez and Justin Verlander) was not on a playoff team. Leaving Prince and Miguel Cabrera off his ballot officially puts him in the McCarver/Morgan/Platchke/Paige category when it comes to commenting on baseball for me.

As for Kendall, KL, all I have to say is I WAS RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING!!! HYATT VICTORIOUS!!!

"That's not a weird stat. Rickie is a run-scorer," Yost said. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter," Yost told reporters. "See, you guys have no concept. He's a run-scorer. So there's nothing weird about it. That's what he does."

by Hyatt on Oct 14, 2009 9:29 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Brewers Ratings

Not bad that FSN Wisconsin has the 6th highest rating – proves there are a lot of baseball fans per capita in Wisconsin.

Unfortunately it also equates to the 22nd highest in terms of number of households @ 56,000.

Without the playoffs, we also lost 17.1% year over year

by Saberilliterate on Oct 14, 2009 9:33 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

In tv

Revenue, or overall?

by backtocali on Oct 14, 2009 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

ratings dropped 17.1% from 2008 to 2009 – but I would guess that ratings went up more than that from 2007 to 2008

by Saberilliterate on Oct 14, 2009 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Jason Kendall is utterly worthless

I’m going to go ahead and say it. If I’m pitcking Jason’s, I’d take Varitek over Kendall.

Yeah. I said it.

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Oct 14, 2009 10:37 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I'd take Whitlock over Kendall

at least he can block the plate with his gut

"That's not a weird stat. Rickie is a run-scorer," Yost said. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter," Yost told reporters. "See, you guys have no concept. He's a run-scorer. So there's nothing weird about it. That's what he does."

by Hyatt on Oct 14, 2009 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's easy to pile on Jason Kendall

But seriously — what will we do for a catcher if he isn’t on the team? Rivera isn’t going to do any better over a whole season, and the “prospects” are a couple of years away (if that), and in any event rookie catchers aren’t exactly a panacea. The free agent market is pretty thin as well. So if not Kendall, then what?

I suppose we could ask Rickie Weeks to change positions . . . .

by ktenreb on Oct 14, 2009 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Casey McGehee!

That way Gamel can be the starting 3B!

;)

"A D+ Grade? That must have been a Wittardo grade"- @73_MC

by BrewHaHeather on Oct 14, 2009 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Resign Kendall as a 3rd Baseman

maybe he’ll have better luck with a change of position. That Gamel kid is pretty worthless anyway.

Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, "That’s all they need is another home run hitter".

by tcyoung on Oct 14, 2009 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

he's just not ready for the show yet

"A D+ Grade? That must have been a Wittardo grade"- @73_MC

by BrewHaHeather on Oct 14, 2009 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's easy to pile on Jason Kendall

But it’d be hard to do worse. He’s got a .300 slugging percentage and he’s bad defensively.

Jonathan Lucroy, Angel Salome and Mike Rivera likely all project to be better than he is next season. Why not bring all three into camp and let one win the job?

That's all I've got for you today, unless you're interested in some Chris Capuano/Tom Haudricourt Fan Fiction.

by KLSnow on Oct 14, 2009 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

And they'll be cheaper, too

I’d be really, really disappointed to see Kendall on the roster again, but I likewise believe Melvin will somehow convince himself it’s a good idea. Maybe Mark A can step in on this one since it’s his money.

by ecocd on Oct 14, 2009 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I say keep them all on the MLB roster. 1 guy catchers #1 and #3, one guy catchers #2 and #4, the other catchers #5 and spot starters.

Granted, it works a hell of a lot better for american leaguers, but at least that’d avoid the inevitable burnout, like Rivera suffered when they finally started playing him slightly more consistently.

by Mykenk on Oct 14, 2009 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

How to replace Kendall?

I think the following could fill in without any loss in production:

1. Trained monkey
2. Trained monkey banging symbols
3. Bring Uecker down from the booth.
4. Brooks Kieschnick
5. Put a backstop behind the plate.
6. Give it to the PR department “One lucky fan will win the opportunity to play catcher for each Brewers home game!”
7. Admirals goalie
8. Catcher by committee with the sausages and Bernie
9. Witrado without a facemask.
10. Let the Deputy find somebody.

Steve
http://nohuddleoffense.blogspot.com

by stigmo on Oct 14, 2009 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions   2 recs

Train Stetter to catch

And then have him and Kieschnick handle the late innings together, so they can just switch off to keep the platoon advantage

Brewers Baseball and other assorted nonsense (mostly the assorted nonsense) at my blog, What's a Tararrel?

by Lefti on Oct 14, 2009 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Though the Brewers would be decent on power play defense.

by drezdn on Oct 14, 2009 7:03 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah I'm not buying that at all

Any one of the prospects or Mike Rivera could have done what Jason Kendall did this season. At $Millions less.

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Oct 14, 2009 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Why would Hudson decline $12 million?

He only made a handful of starts last year due to injury. Why would he walk away for a $12 million paycheck when he knows he can’t get any where near that amount as a free agent?

by ktenreb on Oct 14, 2009 11:10 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

He probably has a clouded view of the market.

Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, "That’s all they need is another home run hitter".

by tcyoung on Oct 14, 2009 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

check that

He probably thinks he can get a 2-3 year deal. That would leave me to believe he’s afraid of another injury.

Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, "That’s all they need is another home run hitter".

by tcyoung on Oct 14, 2009 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

MVP

I’m okay with the writers overlooking Prince from this standpoint. He is not going to win so the further he falls down the list the less expensive he’ll be when he’s offered the mythical CC money this off-season. Plus, if the slight gets him fired up for next season, even better.

Prince for the triple crown in 2010!!!!!!!!!!!

"It may sound hollow, it may sound unrealistic, it may even sound stupid to some people. We still think we are in it," - Mark Attanasio

by GoCrew on Oct 14, 2009 12:22 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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