No one could have predicted that Kyle Kendrick would become the pitcher he became this year.
He had made just 12 starts in double-A Reading this season when the Phillies unexpectedly promoted him to the majors to start June 13 in place of injured righthander Freddy Garcia. But a long-term solution for the Phillies' rotation? The starter today in Game 2 of the National League division series against the Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park?
No one could have predicted it.
"If we don't feel the internal solution is enough for the long term, then we're going to have to go out there and find a starter," Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said June 11. "That's pretty simple math."
"I can't think about that," Kendrick said June 12. "I'm trying to take it inning by inning, outing by outing. I'm going to be here to try to win a game, then I'll take it day by day. If I do well, we'll see what happens."
The Phils beat the Chicago White Sox, 8-4, in his debut. After 20 starts, Kendrick has a 10-4 record and a 3.87 ERA. He is a big reason the Phillies won the National League East.
"I didn't think I was going to be here, but here I am, and I'm just trying to help our team win," Kendrick said before the 4-2 loss to the Rockies in Game 1 yesterday. "I'm going to go out there [today] and just take it as another game. Obviously, it's a bigger game. I'm just going to try to do my thing."
The 23-year-old Kendrick, who led NL rookies in wins, has tried to downplay his fast rise this season.
He seems uncomfortable in the spotlight, or just uninterested. But on the mound, he rarely seems rattled. He cannot get rattled today.
If the Phillies lose today, they will be in serious trouble. They would be down by two games to none in the best-of-five series with the next two games at Coors Field this weekend.
So they will look to the rookie righthander who opened the season in double A to even the series. They will look to the pitcher who wasn't even invited to big-league camp in spring training.
Experience? Who needs postseason experience?
"People are always stepping up," manager Charlie Manuel said. "They can shine and everything."
Read his blog at http://go.philly.com/zozone.
