When did Jason Kendall become so awful?

Greensboro, NC – I’ve been "getting into the routine" of highlighting a particular baseball team on Wednesdays. Speaking of getting into a routine, have you seen Jason Kendall’s batting average lately? It’s a paltry 0.199 – that’s below the “Mendoza line” fella. Also, no homeruns (no surprise) and only 15 RBI's. Take a look at his batting averages and on-base percentages when he was an All Star catcher with the Bucs:

Year B.A. O.B.%
1996: 0.300, 0.372
1997: 0.294, 0.391
1998: 0.327, 0.411
1999: 0.322, 0.428
2000: 0.320, 0.412
2001: 0.266, 0.335
2002: 0.283, 0.350
2003: 0.325, 0.399
2004: 0.319, 0.399

The man was an on-base machine for the small market Pirates. He was also their representative in 3 All Star games. It should be noted that in 2001, Kendall turned 27, which is usually the age when players “peak” in their statistics. While his numbers fell after his 27th birthday, Kendall regrouped in 2003 and 2004 in preparation for his contract year. When he was traded to the A’s in the 2004-2005 offseason, his numbers took a slight dip:

2005: 0.271, 0.345
2006: 0.295, 0.367
2007: 0.199, 0.240

Kendall is lucky that he calls a good game or else he may be out of a job. He's also making $13.5M this year; that's above and beyond any player on the Oakland squad. Kendall’s play calling is a direct reflection of the starting rotation. The A’s starting rotation, led by early Cy Young favorite Dan Haren, surprise hurler Chad Gaudin, up and comer Joe Blanton, cagey veteran Joe Kennedy, and Lenny DiNardo have kept the A’s in the playoff chase. Otherwise, with their below average offense severely lacking in all power categories, the A’s would be lingering with the Texas Rangers at the bottom of the standings. The “moneyball” scheme is still in place, despite being ranked 8th in on-base percentage in the American League. However, for the past couple of years when “moneyball” strategy has been followed, the A’s have never really had a “high octane” offense. Sure, they had some thumpers in Giambi and Tejada, but the backbone of the team was a solid pitching staff and a dominant closer. There’s no real difference this year. With their team loaded with cast-offs such as Shannon Stewart, Milton Bradley, Marko Scutaro, Jack Cust, and Mike Piazza, GM Billy Beane is working his year-to-year magic. I’m sure next year at this time, the A’s will be contending with players that other teams no longer deemed adequate. After all of the blockbuster free agents have signed this November, Billy Beane will make his annual plunge of “dumpster diving” to piece together another team loaded with undervalued players who can get on base any way that they can. Go ahead and sign Barry Zito to a 9-digit contract, the A’s will beat him twice the next year. When everyone assumed Beane was over his head in giving up Mark Mulder for “prospect” Dan Haren in the 2004-2005 season, check out their stats and salaries this year. Until Beane steps down, the A’s will be perennially contenders every year. And yes, I chose the word “steps down” because in his own words, Beane will never “leave for more money.” It’s not the method how he conducts business – just ask the Red Sox in 2002.