Results tagged ‘ Jason Kendall ’
Photos: Caravan visits Topeka VA and Fort Riley
The Royals Caravan recently visited Topeka, Fort Riley and Manhattan. The first stop was the Colmery-O’Neil VA Medical Center in Topeka, where the group of George Brett, Dennis Leonard, Joe Randa and Jason Kendall met with patients and staff. Stop number two was Fort Riley, where the Royals were welcomed by members of the 4th Brigade. Our group finished the day in Manhattan, where they watched K-State take on Baylor.
Royals reinstate Kendall and DeJesus from 60-day D.L.; Bannister assigned outright to Omaha and elects free agency; Anderson designated for assignment
The Royals have announced today that the club has reinstated catcher Jason Kendall and outfielder David DeJesus from the 60-day Disabled List. To make room on the Major League roster, right-handed pitcher Brian Bannister was assigned outright to Triple-A Omaha while right-handed pitcher Brian Anderson was designated for assignment. In lieu of accepting the assignment, Bannister chose to elect free agency.
Kendall, 36, batted .256 in 118 games for the Royals in 2010 before missing the final 31 contests with an extensive tear in his right rotator cuff that required surgery on September 24.
The 30-year-old DeJesus hit a career-high .318 in 91 games, missing the final two and a half months of the season after requiring surgery on his right thumb after a collision with the outfield wall at Yankee Stadium on July 22.
Bannister, 29, went 7-12 with a 6.34 ERA in 24 games, including 23 starts, for Kansas City in 2010, his fourth year in the organization after being acquired in a trade with the New York Mets on December 6, 2006.
The 28-year-old Anderson converted from an outfielder to a pitcher following Spring Training this season and combined to post a 0-0 record and 2.08 ERA (17.1 IP, 10 H, 4 ER, 5 BB, 17 SO) in 14 outings for the Surprise Royals (R), Burlington Bees (A) and Omaha Royals (AAA). Anderson was signed to a one-year contract by the Royals as a free agent on December 23, 2009.
Ned Yost media session: September 19
Catching up on Kendall
According to Yost, Jason Kendall is doing pretty well after having extensive shoulder surgery. He is currently still locked up in a sling and recently returned from a doctor’s visit in California where he performed minor rehab exercises. Yost believes the catcher is on schedule and may even be a bit ahead.
Pena’s positives and negatives
One goal of Yost’s in the past few weeks has been to look at new guys, but he also wants to achieve the main objective of winning games. Consequently, Yost has had to alter his plan of splitting playing time between Brayan Pena and Lucas May because he admits it has been difficult to take Pena’s hot bat out of the lineup. Yost added that he thinks Pena’s offensive performance has been good, but his defensive performance has been mixed. He thinks Pena needs to get in better shape and improve his agility behind the plate in order to become an everyday catcher. Yost also said his number one priority when it comes to catchers is finding someone who can catch the ball, throw guys out, block balls in the dirt, and call a good game–hitting takes a back seat.
Making progress
Chris Getz passed his first stage of tests yesterday, which included trials on the treadmill and elliptical, and he is expected to move to the second stage, which consists of running outside. If all goes well, Yost said Getz will play in the next day or so.
Unrestricted
Starting pitcher Luke Hochevar will throw without restrictions in today’s game. The manager anticipates Hoch tossing somewhere between 90-100 pitches.
Ned Yost media session: September 4
Welcome to the big show!
Lucas May will make his Major League debut tonight. Yost sees the start as necessary in order to get a good look at the catcher and see what he’s capable of doing. The manager doesn’t plan on filling May’s head with advice before the game, but does expect him to discuss strategy with tonight’s starter, Bruce Chen. Yost believes the veteran Chen will pair up well with the “newbie” and will have the patience to hang with the young catcher and help him get through his first start.
Detroit catcher Max St. Pierre is also making his big league debut in tonight’s ballgame after having spent nearly 14 years in the minors. St. Pierre spent 2007 Spring Training in Surprise with the Royals.
It’s a balancing act
Yost also discussed his “dual thinking,” meaning he first and foremost shows up everyday to win, but at the same time he is trying to figure out how to get better for next year. For example, Yost might let a player hit when he would normally would pinch hit for the player because he needs to see what the player is capable of doing in certain situations. He admitted it’s tough to balance the two, but he tries to keep it as steady as he can.
In the two-hole
With Jason Kendall out due to extensive repair to his rotator cuff, Mitch Maier is now seeing playing time at the two-hole in the batting order. According to Yost, Maier is statistically the best situational hitter on the team (Kendall had been second). Situational hitting is something the team tracks from game one until the end of the season, and is also something the club works on everyday.
Ned Yost media session: September 3
Under the knife
Jason Kendall had extensive surgery today to repair three of the four muscles that attach to the rotator cuff. When doctors got into the shoulder, it was discovered that two of the muscles were completely torn off the bone. Yost said the doctor feels good about the procedure and Kendall will just have to take things month by month. Yost added that this is not something you should rush, and he knows the ever-eager Kendall will have to be reminded daily that he needs to be patient and smart about his recovery. Kendall should return to Kansas City at some point this weekend.
Starters return
Yost also commented on Brian Bannister and Luke Hochevar’s return to active duty, saying the two will “piggyback” next Tuesday night at Minnesota. Bannister will make the start and Hochevar will follow. The moves will put Bryan Bullington back in the bullpen.
Photos: Kendall walk-off celebration
What a weekend of baseball! The Royals and White Sox played 31 innings in just over 22 hours. The Royals played three consecutive extra-inning games for the first time since June 9 to 11, 2000 vs. Pittsburgh. Jason Kendall caught two of those three games for Pittsburgh in Kansas City in 2000. Today’s hero? Jason Kendall, who again caught two of the three extra-inning games. Kendall delivered a walk-off single in the 10th, lifting Kansas City to a 3-2 win.
Photos: Kendall ceremony
Jason Kendall, who caught his 2,000th game on July 26, was honored in a pregame ceremony tonight. Kendall received several special items relating to the achievement. He shared the moment with daughter Karoline and son Kuyper (not pictured).
Ned Yost media session: August 13
Sweating bullets
With temperatures peaking in the 100s today, the heat was an unavoidable subject. Like he’s done in the past, however, Yost simply shrugged it off by saying the players will need to disregard the weather and do the best they can.
Congrats to Kendall
Catcher Jason Kendall will be recognized before tonight’s game for reaching the 2,000 games caught milestone in late July. Yost sang the catcher’s praises by describing what a hard worker and mentally tough player he is. According to Yost, Kendall comes to the stadium early every day to watch video and develop a game plan for the starting pitcher.
Goodbye Guillen
Yost also commented on the recent announcement of Jose Guillen’s trade to the Giants. The manager said Guillen was a part of the Royals, and he set a good example of what it took to be prepared and play the game the right way.
Kendall joins elite company with 2,000 games behind the plate
Jason Kendall overcame a grotesque ankle dislocation in 1999 to become just the fifth catcher in history to work 2,000 games behind the plate. The list is as follows: Ivan Rodriguez, 2,351 (and counting); Carlton Fisk, 2,226; Bob Boone, 2,225; Gary Carter, 2,056; and Jason with 2,000 and counting.
Jason and his son Kuyper had their picture taken last night with the five cakes that were presented to Jason – one featuring each of the catchers with 2,000 games caught. Kudos to Jason for persevering to reach this milestone!
Ned Yost media session: DeJesus surgery update, Gordon in the outfield, Mr. 2,000
Under the knife
According to Yost, everything went well and without complications during David DeJesus’s thumb surgery this morning. The fact that the surgery is rather common and has a high success rate leaves Yost hopeful that the outfielder will return in the expected 10 weeks. Yost said he would like to get David back before the end of the year.
Pick a side
Yost also discussed Alex Gordon’s time in the outfield, saying that he plans on rotating Gordon between left and right for the time being. The manager’s aim is to further develop Gordon as an outfielder and to eventually determine which side of the field he fits in best.
Mr. 2,000
Fans will witness Jason Kendall’s 2,000th career game behind the plate tonight, a feat just four other catchers have accomplished, none faster than the Royals’ backstop. Yost said the most remarkable aspect of Kendall is his durability, which is hard to argue with since the catcher plays nearly every day. As Yost has noted before, he also credits Kendall’s accomplishment to the catcher’s mindset, which Yost said is focused on a marathon.
20/20
Yost was also questioned about how his team will finish out its 20 games in 20 days, which began on July 16. He replied by saying “you just have to get through it…it is what it is.” Yost believes stretches like these are what makes the Major League Baseball season so tough.
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