TheBigStory CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

After 10 years in the Majors, reinvents himself BY JON WEISMAN

he man on the microphone says put your ego and your pride on the back- “It’s time for Dodger ,” burner and just go and play,” Kendrick the crowd cheers, the game is said. “Because all that matters is, is your christened, and the second base- team going to win the game? What can manT jogs out to left field. you do to help your team win that day? Howie Kendrick isn’t lost. He’s never lost “I think that’s the biggest thing you on a , where he’s gone to work have to focus on: Is there a reason they’re every spring and summer and fall since he asking me to do it, and can I do it? Yes. was an 18-year-old draftee in 2002. And then just go out and play.” But in his first 14 professional seasons, from the minors to the Majors, Kendrick OFFSEASON OF CHANGE played 1,442 games at second base, and Kendrick had little time to prepare. Cer- 127 games at every other position com- tainly, he didn’t end the 2015 season think- bined. He never played an of out- ing he would be leaving the . After field in the minors, and only in 2011 had .295 with a .336 on-base percentage he ever started a game out on that wide in the regular season for the Dodgers, Ken- expanse of grass. drick played every inning of the National In 2016, that would change. This year, League Division at second base. the salesman who sold washing machines As the Dodgers and Mets split the first at the department store year after year, four games, Kendrick went 6 for 17 (.353) who had mastered the whole from with a and a home — a .941 soak to spin, would be asked to go out and OPS. He came up to bat as the leadoff - peddle vacuum cleaners door to door. ter in the first inning of the winner-take-all And so Kendrick grabbed his kit and Game 5, and as is so often his way, drilled headed into the great unknown. a shot to the opposite field — but right into “I learned a long time ago you have to the glove of .

PHOTO: JILL WEISLEDER 2016 DODGER INSIDER 27 TheBigStory

In his 10 MLB seasons before 2016, Howie Kendrick had started one game at third base and 20 in left field. This year by the All-Star Break, he had made 41 starts at the two positions combined.

The Dodgers went on to score two runs They needed Kendrick, but they needed off Mets wunderkind Jacob deGrom in him as a hybrid of his former self. that inning, but that was all they would “They said, ‘Would you be open to tally that night, and Kendrick’s line drive moving around a little bit?’” Kendrick ex- remains one of 2015’s “What might have plained. “And I said ‘yeah,’ I agreed to that. been” moments. … I played other positions before this year, “Once the season’s over with, you have a lot of first base when I first came up as a to either live or die by what happened,” rookie, some left field, one game at third.” Kendrick said. “It can either make you bet- Going mobile wasn’t Kendrick’s first ter or worse, and I look at it as just trying choice. But it was his best choice, and he to get better from it.” would make the best of it. That might have taken place with any of MLB’s 30 teams. Kendrick was a free FINDING THE COMFORT ZONE agent, and his uncertain path back to the It wasn’t easy. Kendrick signed in Febru- Dodgers was further clouded by the team’s ary, three weeks before offseason re-signing of began. And instead of allowing him to , who was originally acquired ease into the transition, the preseason only in August 2015, 10 days after Kendrick complicated matters for Kendrick. went on the disabled list for a month with He battled a left calf strain most of a strained left hamstring. March, managing to play in only eight But free agency is a slight misnomer. games: four at second base, two at third Because any team signing Kendrick was re- base, two as a . None in quired to forfeit a precious draft pick, Dodg- the . er rivals shied away from him. The Dodgers, While he was recovering, meanwhile, never felt as if they could — projected to start in left field — frac- on the 37-year-old Utley playing 162 games. tured his right tibia. That meant as soon

28 DODGER INSIDER 2016 PHOTO: JON SOOHOO TheBigStory

as Kendrick was ready, he would be need- know how much it translates into his of- ed in the outfield. fense as far as production or lack thereof. … Kendrick was activated from the dis- It definitely has to take a toll on you men- abled list April 12. In the ninth inning that tally, learning a new position. evening, he played his first inning of left “But Howie’s a pro, and he’s going to field since June 4, 2013. (The first out, of play wherever we ask him or hit wherever course, went to him.) we ask him in the lineup, and be as produc- The next night, Kendrick started in left. tive as he can.” The next night, at third. The next night, After that first month, it’s almost as if at second. Kendrick did begin to relax and begin At the plate, he went exactly 1 for 4 for to find that comfort zone. From May 1 each of the first four games. For the rest of through the All-Star Break, Kendrick’s the month, cycling around the three posi- OBP was .342 with a .414 slugging percent- tions and coming off the bench, he went age — both surpassing his 2015 levels. 4 for 37. He finished April with two walks “I’ve been feeling good at the plate, es- and no extra-base hits. pecially as of late,” he said. “Just seeing “I got off to a little slower start,” Ken- the ball really well. I just think the big- drick said. “I don’t try to make excuses gest thing is trying to put together good about anything, but I did miss some time, at-bats. If I can have quality at-bats, every- didn’t really get the reps in spring. Things thing else will just happen.” happen. You just have to move forward He also acclimated himself to left field. and continue to get better.” According to Fangraphs’ defensive rankings, Kendrick is the last person to call atten- admittedly based on a small sample size, tion to himself, on the field or in the club- Kendrick was of 18 NL left fielders house, but Dodger manager Dave Roberts with at least 200 at the position this didn’t confuse Kendrick’s stoicism for ease. year. In UZR/150 (the number of runs above “I think it’s definitely been more difficult or below average a fielder is per 150 defen- than he’s let on,” Roberts said. “And, I don’t sive games), Kendrick’s 23.1 was the best.

PHOTO: JON SOOHOO 2016 DODGER INSIDER 31 TheBigStory

Kendrick, here turning a during the 2015 National League Division Series, still considers himself a second baseman at heart.

“I think it’s just getting reps out there, Kendrick was back on track by the second getting in the game, playing and continu- half of the season, looming was the possibil- ally having opportunities to make plays,” ity that the track could shift direction again. Kendrick said. “Even some of the plays Heading into the final two months of that I can’t make, I’m going to do my best the 2016 campaign, Ethier’s return from to try to make ’em.” his broken leg was imminent. At the same time, Utley will likely need more rest, and WHAT LIES AHEAD spot starts at third base for By the All-Star Break, Kendrick had played or first base for Adrián González might be more left field than anyone on the Dodgers required. And that’s all without knowing this year. From June 7 through the season’s how the trade winds might be blowing. intermission, he appeared 28 times in left, “I remember when I first came up in compared with six times at second base 2006 (with the Angels),” Kendrick said. “I and twice at third. had a little bit of a rough go in my first As tumultuous as the year has been, as callup, and they sent me down and I came much as he has adapted and reinvented back and I was fine, but it was an adjust- himself, Kendrick hadn’t forgotten his ment. You’ve got to constantly make ad- core identity. justments over the years, from at-bat to “For me, I still view myself as an in- at-bat or team to team. That’s just how the fielder,” he said. “I came up as an infielder, game is.” I’ve been 10 years (in the Majors) as an You might sum Kendrick’s approach as infielder. But learning to play other posi- glass half-full. Roberts put a different twist tions, it’s fun. You’ve got to look at it as on that cliché. another challenge, and hopefully you can “I think he’s more, if there’s water in go out and, no matter where you’re play- there, he’s gonna drink it,” Roberts said. ing, make good decisions and just try to fit “I don’t think that he overthinks things, in and look normal.” whether half-full, half-empty — it’s kind of But normal is always changing. Though it is what it is. He shows up to play.”

32 DODGER INSIDER 2016 PHOTO: JON SOOHOO