We need Kennedy
Jul 10, 2013, 9:35 PM | Updated: Apr 28, 2015, 2:00 pm
It’s even harder when there are no answers.
When work ethic isn’t in question, is it talent?
When talent isn’t in question, is it family or personal problems eroding performance?
When mental focus isn’t in question, what is left to question?
Ian Kennedy is pitching like a No. 5 starter. He’s not terrible but he isn’t all that good either. The reason why No. 5 starters are No. 5 starters is, usually, a lack of consistency.
The main problem with Kennedy: consistency issues. There have been some really positive outings — pre-brawl in Los Angeles and on the Fourth at Citi Field in New York.
And some disasters — 10 runs in four innings in St. Louis, a 4.1-inning outing in Atlanta, and five runs over 5.2 innings last night versus the Dodgers.
The results just aren’t good enough for what’s expected of him, which is exactly why it’s so troubling.
Last night is not entirely his fault — with the defense performing so poor — but the defense didn’t allow a two-out RBI single to the pitcher or put up a one-game WHIP of 2.11.
Kennedy has yet to record an out after the seventh inning this year.
He only pitched seven innings once in each of May, June and July.
April is the only month this year he’s thrown two seven-inning outings in the same month and it was the first and last appearances of the month.
Ian Kennedy is a high-character guy so this isn’t an Eric Byrnes situation where a player doesn’t care anymore. I can guarantee Kennedy is putting everything he has into his job. His poor performances are not affecting the way he approaches every game. He’s a role-model to the other pitchers on the staff to show them what it takes to be a professional.
Everything about the man that is Ian Kennedy is stellar. Everything about the pitcher that is Ian Kennedy is far below par right now. If something doesn’t change soon in Kennedy’s starts versus the NL West — in which the team is 1-8, the Diamondbacks’ season is just a four-month bridge between the Ken Whisenhunt era and Bruce Arians.
