Skagit County Kid Is Key to Philly Happiness
Four years ago, Kyle Kendrick was helping Mt. Vernon High advance in the Northwest 4A district playoffs.
Today, having just turned 23 in August, Kendrick is the key to the Phillies' playoff fate--and, by extension, the happiness of the entire, championship-starved city of Philadelphia.
He's the Phils' starter in a must-win game two against the Rockies today at noon PST.
Kendrick hasn't had as smooth a road to the majors as you might think, according to this 2006 piece by the P-I's Casey McNerthney.
In '05, his third year in pro-ball, Kendrick went 0-3 with a 9.13 ERA in A-ball and got demoted. He even called Wazzu to see if the football scholarship they'd offered him was available.
But once Phils coaches taught him a slider, his career took off. He was 9-7, 3.53 in High A ball last year, and got the call from AA for a spot start this June. He hasn't left.
Kendrick's 10-4, 3.87 in 20 starts, including a 6-4 win over Atlanta last Thursday that pulled the Phillies even with the Mets. Kendrick beat future Hall-of-Famer John Smoltz in that game.
Kendrick doesn't have tremendous stuff, he throws a high 80s fastball and a low 80s slider. He needs control to win. '95 M's fans: Think Bob Wolcott.
Of note: Kendrick isn't the only Mt. Vernon Bulldog pitching in the majors, there's also Washington State High School Hall of Famer Mark Hendrickson, who spent his season shuffling in and out of the Dodgers rotation.
