You see, Mr. Kennedy has all the makings of a AAAA pitcher; better than the best minor leaguers, but worse than the worst Major Leaguers. While he looks good in Pennsylvania, under the bright lights of the Big Time he is a lost little boy.
In the minors, Ian has posted a lovely career ERA of 2.01 and an even lovelier WHIP 0.95. He has struck out 214 men in just under 204 innings, given up only 9 homeruns, and yielded only 127 hits.
In the Majors, the same sad clown has pitched to the tune of a 5.56 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. In just under 60 innings he has surrendered 6 homeruns and struck out 41 men. Mind you, this does not even take into account his "triumphant return" against the Angels of 2+ innings, 9 hits, and 5 ER.
To make matters worse? Kennedy is a bonafied bullpen assassin, as he has averaged a whopping 4 innings in 10 Major League starts this year.
It would be logical to cry "sample size" and reason that the kid just needs time and warrants patience. All true; however, aside from the stats, it's the body language that scares me.
Is this the kind of look that sends chills down the spine of opponents? And, consider, it is a look repeated inning after inning, hanging-changeup after hanging-changeup.
Good luck, Ian. You're gonna need it.
UPDATE (8/9): A day after his disastrous turn, Kennedy is catching heat for remarking after the game that he was "not too upset" about getting shelled. This particular comment doesn't bother me; however, it's another (less publicized) reflection that makes me chuckle. After the game Kennedy also commented: "It's my first bad outing in a long time, since the All-Star Break." Son, in case you didn't notice, your ass was in Wilkes-Barre during the All-Star Break, and those great starts you remember so fondly? All in the minors.
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