Ranking The Rockies: 39 Kyle Kendrick

We at BSN Denver are running a series where we rank how valuable each of the Rockies’ 51 players was to the team in 2015. Value was calculated by statistics, viewing, and how memorable each player’s contributions were. The rankings will be from last to first, you may view the full rankings (here).

Player: Kyle Kendrick

Stats: 27 G, 142.1 IP, 7-13, 6.32 ERA, 1.525 WHIP, 6.12 FIP, 74 ERA+, 5.1 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, WAR -1.0

Big Moment: April 6th, on Opening Day Kendrick records his seasons highest Game Score of 69. It was the only game in the 2015 season that Kendrick pitched more than an inning, and did not let up a run. He struck out six without walking a single batter, he did allow seven hits, but he was able to induce two key double plays. The Rockies won 10-0, behind Kendrick’s only superb effort of the year.

Season Recap: Kendrick signed with the Rockies prior to the 2015 season on a one year 5.5 million dollar contract. It wasn’t an overly popular move, considering Kendrick’s tenure with the Phillies. Coming into the year, the then 30 year old had a career record of 74-68 in 226 games pitched, with an ERA of 4.42. In 2014 he threw 199 innings for the Phillies, so the Rockies acquisition of him was seen as a move to get an “innings eater.” That proved to be somewhat true as Kendrick threw the second most innings on the team. However he was so bad at keeping the ball in the yard, that it led to jokes that he would be the home run derby pitcher for the NL. In fact, Kendrick allowed the most home runs in baseball, and the most runs in the National League. He ended the year with the worst WAR by any pitcher in baseball, he was nothing short of bad for the Rockies.

What’s Ahead: Kendrick is a free agent, and it’d be shocking to see him back considering how spectacularly the experiment failed in 2015. The Rockies are pretty deep at the pitching position, albeit there isn’t top talent, they have many guys who will fit into the mix for the 2016 rotation, so Kendrick won’t be needed.