Ex-Ray Joe Kennedy is pitching with confidence for the Rockies.
By MARC TOPKIN
Published June 11, 2004
ST. PETERSBURG - On the phone, he sounds just like the old Joe Kennedy, the one who walked through the Devil Rays clubhouse like he owned it.
But on the mound, he hasn't looked much at all like the old Kennedy, the one who couldn't get anyone out last season in going 3-12 for the Rays.
Kennedy, traded in a three-way December deal that netted the Rays Mark Hendrickson, found success in, of all places, Colorado.
While he won't pitch - "Unfortunately," he said - in the three-game series that starts tonight at Tropicana Field, he still figures to enjoy being back.
"It's always one of those things when you're traded, you're not wanted, you always want to prove them wrong," Kennedy said.
He didn't come right out and say the Rays gave up on him too soon - "Go ask them" - but it looked that way when Kennedy bolted to a 4-0 start, winning more games in a month than in all of 2003. He hasn't done as well lately, leaving his June 4 start with shoulder tightness, and losing at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday dropped him to 4-4, with a 4.06 ERA.
Kennedy, 25, said he isn't pitching much differently than he did with the Rays, just throwing his curveball less. "I'm getting a little wiser," he said. "It's me teaching myself and them teaching me a little bit."
The bigger differences are less tangible.
His confidence, which was never an issue until he started losing last season, is back. He has settled down since getting married - having proposed to Jami the day of the trade. And he said he is more comfortable not being the top starter on the staff and getting advice from some experienced left-handed pitchers (Shawn Estes and Jeff Fassero) and a veteran catcher (Charles Johnson).
The Rays moved Kennedy quickly to the majors and considered him a key piece of their future, rejecting trade inquiries, and naming him their 2003 opening-day starter. But their view changed given his poor record last season and the large salary he'd get through arbitration next season.
The trade was a surprise, Kennedy said, but also a bit of a wake-up call.
"Going from a guy who was untouchable and hearing about how they wanted to build around me to "See ya later, you're gone' in less than a year wasn't a good feeling," Kennedy said. "It was nice to get away, to have a fresh start, to go to the Rockies and to have some success."
