Adam Kennedy Fan Club

greenback44 · Post by **greenback44** » April 2 07, 4:08 pm

BW23 wrote:Hopefully Stavinoha will be ready to help by August. I still have high hopes for him.

I don't have high hopes for him, but I think there's a decent chance that by June he'll be the Cardinals best RH-hitting OF.

greenback44 · Post by **greenback44** » April 2 07, 4:19 pm

haltz wrote:Last year he wasn't all that impressive with the leather, but I am sure the Cards are counting on him rebounding there after his injury as well.

That's a bit of a gamble with a three-year deal.

It's not like I am saying that the team wouldn't be better with Ray Durham, but these moves aren't made in a vacuum. Kennedy was a good deal when we signed him, and we were still trying to get pitching after that. Think about the gnashing off teeth around Weaver-time that would have gone on if the signing of an old middle infielder had seemingly precluded us "spending th extra $2M" or whatever there.

In reality they didn't sign that pitcher though. While I agree there was no guarantee of signing Durham (and apparently they couldn't sign Soriano), saving that extra $2M pretty clearly didn't accomplish anything. It's not clear to me that spending that extra $2M accomplished anything either since thirtysomething middle infielders recovering from significant injuries aren't the safest bets in the world.

haltz · Post by **haltz** » April 2 07, 4:46 pm

greenback44 wrote:
haltz wrote:Last year he wasn't all that impressive with the leather, but I am sure the Cards are counting on him rebounding there after his injury as well.
That's a bit of a gamble with a three-year deal.

Sure, but at the money it's not ridiculously prohibitive either way. If it's a gamble, I don't mind it so much.

It's not like I am saying that the team wouldn't be better with Ray Durham, but these moves aren't made in a vacuum. Kennedy was a good deal when we signed him, and we were still trying to get pitching after that. Think about the gnashing off teeth around Weaver-time that would have gone on if the signing of an old middle infielder had seemingly precluded us "spending th extra $2M" or whatever there.
In reality they didn't sign that pitcher though. While I agree there was no guarantee of signing Durham (and apparently they couldn't sign Soriano), saving that extra $2M pretty clearly didn't accomplish anything. It's not clear to me that spending that extra $2M accomplished anything either since thirtysomething middle infielders recovering from significant injuries aren't the safest bets in the world.

Either way Kennedy should be an upgrade over what they had in-hand. And if he weren't a bit of a gamble his price tag would have been higher. Also, my point wasn't the result, it obviously wasn't the prettiest offseason, but the intent. If I remember correctly, Kennedy was signed early, and the Cards supposedly tried to spend a good deal of money after that. Which leads me back to my premise that the FA offseason isn't a static market.

clement · Post by **clement** » April 2 07, 6:52 pm

Signing Adam Kennedy to 3 years is certainly a gamble, the question is how big of a gamble?

It would also certainly have been a gamble to keep second base unsigned and waited hoping to pick up either a Ronnie Belliard late in the signing season or a Todd Walker on opening day. There would have been no way to know or assume that there would be any decent second basemen left on the scrap heap, and that the Cards would have been able to snag them.

I would also rather have someone with more pop in the lineup than Adam Kennedy (whether at 2nd base or in the outfield). I just don't see the relatively small per year amount of money being committed to Kennedy preventing Walt from signing that impact bat. At least that's what the company line is - that if the right player that they want is out there and attainable, the money will be made available.

TGantz · Post by **TGantz** » April 2 07, 9:01 pm

Signing anyone in baseball is a gamble IMO. That's what makes the game so interesting.

Kennedy, from what I gather, seems to be like Encarnacion; consistent on a yearly basis, but within each year is very streaky.

He has a good glove, and is a solid #8 hitter. It wasn't too much money, so why not? It's not like we didn't get a certain pitcher because we got him.

JL21 · Post by **JL21** » April 3 07, 7:17 am

ghostrunner wrote:I feel like we have enough hoping going on already.

But the thing with Kennedy is that even if he doesn't "hit to his hope" (i.e. restore the power from his early days), he's still an upgrade at 2B and a steady offensive performer. In other words, this isn't Wells hope, where we've seen just how bad it can get if it doesn't work out (2005-2006). This is an almost-certain adequate performer with the upside for more.