Ken Kendrick's shaky shakedown
D-backs owner sticks his foot in his mouth at a press conference, a move that likely will make getting public funds to fix Chase Field more difficult. Plus, were Cody Bellinger's stats misleading?
The roof needs fixing and the plumbing needs work. Who is going to pay for repairs at Chase Field? Photo 40047838 | Chase Field © Timrobertsaerial | Dreamstime.com
TOP OF THE FIRST
Was Bellinger lucky or good?
Cody Bellinger didn’t draw as much interest in the free-agent market as expected following a bounce-back season in which he slashed .307/.356/.525/ with 26 homers.
Bellinger wound up signing Feb. 25 to return to the Cubs for $80 million over three seasons. That was about half the value of what was predicted.
Why? Well, one of the theories that is being bandied about, by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and others, is Cody’s peripheral numbers show he might have just been lucky.
Bellinger posted a .370 wOBA – a weighted on-base percentage that gives more credit for doubles, triples, and homers than for walks and singles – but he had an expected wOBA of .331, according to FanGraphs. His batting average on balls he put into play was .319, a career high; the MLB average last season was .297. He put the ball in play with an exit velocity of 95 mph or faster 31.4 percent of the time, a career low.
But there were some positives in peripheral numbers as well. He struck out 15.7 percent of the time, a career low. His line drive percentage was 26.4, his best since 2020.
Striking out less and hitting more line drives will cover for a multitude of sins.
Perhaps Bellinger was unlucky in another way. In a year when some teams are uncertain about their local TV revenue, this was not the best year to be a free agent.
Bellinger stats
HEART OF THE ORDER
A threat to regret
D-backs owner Ken Kendrick did not help his cause for an upgraded ballpark and an entertainment district.
Back in the 70s, when everyone thought Steve Martin funny, he used to do this bit about a guy trying to ask a girl out and saying “Would you like to . . .” and then lapsing into jibberish.
Just about every guy has been there. And it’s not just dates or just guys. It’s difficult to say something well when you are uncomfortable saying it, be it asking for a raise, telling someone they didn’t get the job, or telling someone you supervise their hygiene needs improvement. At a time when you need linguistic skills most, your tongue ties itself up, your brain freezes, and out comes something incomprehensible, awkward, or downright offensive.
Sometimes you don’t say enough. Sometimes you say too much.
A case in point, Ken Kendrick, the D-backs’ controlling owner, decided to address the media at the opening of spring training, and he made a hash of it.
The D-backs are coming off a National League championship season and an off-season where they made some well-regarded signings — a four-year deal with pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez, and one-year deals with outfielders Joc Pederson and Randal Grichuk. The D-backs retained outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. with a three-year extension and traded for third baseman Eugenio Suarez.
But there is one problem that looms large for the franchise. The D-backs are looking for public money to either renovate Chase Field or a build new ballpark — and with either option they want to develop an entertainment district.
The Legislature has given the D-backs the right to tax their patrons to help pay for these improvements, and the team has been in talks with the City of Phoenix and Maricopa County and the state and possibly other entities. Speculation is that those other entities are the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the Gila River Indian Community, or the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Reservation. A year ago, the D-backs thought they were close to a deal that would be announced by mid-summer or earlier. But that hasn’t happened.
I am not going to say I know Kendrick well. I have observed him for a long time, and years ago, I had a sit-down interview with him, along with Derrick Hall, who is now the team’s CEO, and Jeff Moorad, who was part of the leadership team at the time.
Kendrick strikes me as someone who would be uncomfortable trying to intimidate people. Same with Hall.
Maybe they should have kept Moorad, a former agent who seemed a bit more abrasive.
D-backs ownership hadn’t discussed the stadium situation publicly since spring training last year. On Feb. 19 at a press conference, Kendrick was asked if moving to another city was something ownership was thinking about (the part that was widely reported is in bold):
"We aren't having those conversations, there are opportunities available. There are other cities that would covet having major league baseball. It's not like I'm speaking out of school to say that and those names are prominent cities that would love to have a major league team. We're not in dialogue with those communities, but we're aware of what is going on.”
And that’s probably where Kendrick wishes — and may be wishing for years to come — he’d stopped. He’d answered the question and even implied some urgency was needed in ballpark negotiations. Time to move on. But he continued:
“There is likely to be in time an expansion of our sport to a couple of additional cities. Cities are letting MLB know their interest in getting a team is specific. They would be happy with a brand new franchise, they would certainly be very happy with frankly a successful existing franchise. It's not where we are spending time or energy. We may run out of time in Phoenix, we hope that won't happen. "
After saying that, I think Kendrick realized his message was going sideways, but it was too late.
"I don't think, in the world that we live in, threats are the right way to do business. We're community people. I've raised my family here; [CEO] Derrick [Hall] has raised his family here. We're a part of the fabric. Our franchise is part of the fabric of Arizona, and that's where we want it to be for forever.”
Impact
Kendrick gave fuel to the opposition and probably angered a lot of people who were neutral or not paying attention. Some sites believe that Kendrick doesn't come across as badly with the question and the rest of the answer (the stuff I didn’t bold) included. I’m not so sure.
Although The Arizona Republic’s website compared the club owner to a mob boss, Kendrick is no Tony Soprano.
Kendrick tried to use a possible relocation as leverage. And then he tried to walk it back. He came across as threatening — and weak. It’s been a while since I read “The Prince.” However, I don’t recall Machiavelli advising Lorenzo the Magnificent to go for that combination.
Although The Arizona Republic’s website compared the club owner to a mob boss, Kendrick is no Tony Soprano.
Kendrick’s complete faceplant at the press conference might be used as a case study in Sports Business classes for years. He undid much of the goodwill the team accrued over the winter by trying to improve its roster.
Toothless
Kendrick’s threat is an empty one — for now.
Baseball wants to expand at some point in the next few years. It’s looking at some markets. We have seen markets emerge as candidates as the A’s look for a home until their new park in Las Vegas is ready. If it ever is.
Yeah, Nashville, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, and Portland, Oregon could become MLB cities at some point or lure an existing team.
Two things to keep in mind:
None of those markets is near the size of the Phoenix metropolitan area.
More importantly, none of those places has put together a package of public funds to help Ken Kendrick with a ballpark and an entertainment district.
It might not be the money
D-backs ownership says it is willing to spend an undisclosed but substantial amount of money on this project.
The media and the public are focused on the money. That’s good. Follow the money.
You are going to see an entertainment district component with just about every stadium, ballpark, and arena proposal from now on.
The entertainment district is often mentioned as an afterthought. But it is not an afterthought at all. You are going to see an entertainment district component with just about every stadium, ballpark, and arena proposal from now on.
These are mixed-use developments that include shopping, dining, some interesting public spaces, and perhaps residences and office space (although, no sane investor should want to be involved with office space right now).
The Battery in Atlanta near Braves’ Truist Park, the Hollywood District near Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles, home of the NFL Rams and Chargers, and Thrive City near the NBA Warriors’ Chase Center arena are successful examples.
Teams see entertainment districts as a revenue source. The entertainment districts also represent potential revenue generators for local governments that finance these big-time sports facilities.
They will be everywhere
In the 1960s, clean, modern multipurpose facilities with acres of parking were the desire of every baseball team. In the sports venue building boom of the 1990s and early 2000s, it was luxury suites.
Now entertainment districts are what every team wants.
Teams that don’t have entertainment districts will complain that they are falling behind and can’t compete on the field.
Creating an entertainment district is going to be a greater challenge for some teams than for others. For example, developing an entertainment district near Camden Yards in Baltimore was a sticking point in the Orioles’ negotiation to extend their lease. You see, there is stuff around the ballpark, including a stadium occupied by a pro football team that also would like an entrainment district of its own.
In the end, the Orioles re-upped for 30 years with the entertainment district plans left hanging. Here is a good summary from the Baltimore Banner.
The Diamondbacks face a similar challenge. Chase Field is in downtown Phoenix, close to the NBA Phoenix Suns’ Footprint Arena. The Suns’ and the D-backs’ presence helped spur some development in the neighborhood.
Limited power
Ah, I remember a simpler time when day laborers would line up at 4 a.m. near what is now Chase Field. South of that were a bunch of warehouses.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Jerry Colangelo was attempting to get an arena for the Suns, land an expansion MLB team, and build a ballpark. With a good purpose — like aiding a pro sports team — a little help from some powerful interests, backing from local government and the morning newspaper — The Arizona Republic was an investor in D-backs — you could move mountains. And you could certainly move businesses that didn’t want to relocate.
You still can do that elsewhere. But you can’t do that anymore in Arizona. Not easily anyway.
In the early 2000s, the City of Mesa wanted to condemn a brake shop on a prominent corner to make room for a hardware store to relocate.
The couple that owned the brake shop put up quite a fight. Mike Wallace even came here and did a piece on the subject for “60 Minutes.” The brake shop owners sued, and the state appellate court ruled that taking one business’ property to make room for another violated the state constitution.
So I am not sure if the city or county can help the D-backs with an entertainment district in downtown Phoenix. But sometimes local governments can be downright creative in getting around rules when motivated
Is this an area that the team and local officials are exploring?
SHORT HOPS
Buckeyes settle for a split — then split
ASU fans could breathe a sigh of relief when Ohio State left after eight innings to catch a plane.
Brandon Compton hit a grand slam in the sixth inning on Sunday, Feb.25 to give ASU a 10-8 lead, and the Sun Devils’ beleaguered pitching staff and American Airlines’ flight schedule made it stand up.
Ohio State managed to get the tying run on base in the seventh and eighth innings, but Cole Carlon worked his way out of both jams.
To the surprise of many of us in the stands, when the top of the eight ended, the teams shook hands. Game over. It was 3 p.m., the witching hour. The last Sunday flight from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport to Columbus, Ohio leaves at 4:45 p.m.
ASU’s home field, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, is practically next door to Sky Harbor, but I guess Buckyes coach Bill Mosiello didn’t want to take any chances. The Bucks had been playing games in the Phoenix area since Feb. 16, first in the Desert Invitational, then a single game against Grand Canyon, and four against ASU. He was assured of a split with a 4-4 record for the trip and a split of the series with ASU. So the Buckeyes decided to head for home.
Leaving early on Sunday afternoon is not an infrequent occurrence in college baseball. And I certainly understand the budgetary concerns — college baseball is a non-revenue sport and avoiding an extra night of hotel expenses for the traveling party is desirable — and the need to cut down on absences from class — these players, after all, are supposed to be students. But I think these scheduling conflicts are avoidable.
The schools moved up the game from ASU’s usual Sunday afternoon start time, 1 p.m., by 55 minutes. Why not a couple of hours? Or why not a Saturday doubleheader?
Cutting the game short worked fine for ASU. The Sun Devils improved to 5-3, a testament to ASU’s offense. ASU scored 79 runs through its first eight games, but the Devils had an 8.37 ERA, ranked 243rd in the nation.
Carlon, for his part, is one of the brighter lights on the staff, with a 4.50 ERA. And the Devils could have gone to Matt Cornelius, who hadn’t given up a run in 3 2/3 innings this season, for the ninth. Those two, Thomas Burns (2.80 ERA in his two starts) and Ben Jacobs (4.00 in 9 innings pitched) are the only ASU hurlers with an ERA under 6.00.
So if you are the Buckeyes, you’d like to take another whack at that staff.
GCU grand slam does not work out quite as well
At about the same time Compton was hitting his grand slam that lifted ASU to a victory over Ohio State, Tyler Wilson of Grand Canyon was batting on the other side of Phoenix against another Big Ten school.
Wilson hit a grand slam in the fifth inning against Nebraska. The ending wasn’t quite as happy for Wilson and the Lopes.
Wilson’s blast tied the score 8-8, and he was ejected because he flipped his bat as he ran the bases. “That's a pretty innocuous bat flip, all things considered,” Mary Clarke wrote for For The Win. “Wilson didn't even break stride or trot as he did it!”
I’m old school. And I’m old. I don’t like all this posturing and posing and trash talk and other nonsense.
But I’m afraid that ship has sailed, the bus has left the stop, the train has pulled out of the station, the horse is out of the barn, and any other trite praise you can think of that makes me seem old and crotchety and resigned to the fact these antics are here to stay.
Oh, and Nebraska came back and won the game 10-8.
Randy Johnson’s photo exhibition
One of the indelible images from Randy Johnson’s pitching career is the D-backs ace vaporizing a bird during a spring training game at Scottsdale Stadium.
Now not far from where the bird met its maker, Randy Johnson is providing other images. Johnson, who studied photography at USC, has an exhibition at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, cattycorner from the ballpark on Drinkwater Boulevard.
“Storytelling with Photographs” runs through April 28.
Batting avg. on balls in play rises with end of shift
With the end of the overshift in MLB last season, the collective batting average on balls put into play (BAbip) rose from .290 in 2022 to .297.
That is the biggest jump in one season since 1993 when the collective BAbip in play rose to .294 from .285 in 1992. And we all remember the rule change after the 1992 season, right? OK, there was none.
Even though I was happy to see the shift go away — and still am — it’s hard to argue that change put that much offense into the game, although after the 2022 season, any help is appreciated.
I do think the rule change put some athletic defense back — as opposed to just being positioned properly — into the game. The overshift made defense as exciting as watching someone adjust the settings on their GPS.
Since 1993, the BAbip has ranged from .290 to .303. The shift didn’t change that.
It turns out that 1993 was a watershed year for BAbip, which had been below .290 every season since 1937.
Teams
The Rangers saw a big uptick in team BAbip, going from .287 in 2022 to .307 and won the World Series. The D-backs improved from .272 to .294 and won the National League pennant.
Other notable changes: The Mariners jumped from .272 to .301, the Marlins from .287 to .307. The Mets dropped from .300 to .275.