On July 4, Pittsburgh catcher Jason Kendall suffered a fracture and dislocation of his right ankle when his cleats caught the side of first base while he was trying to beat out a bunt. Now he's faced with several months of rehabilitation to try to regain his All-Star form. At the time of his injury, Kendall, 25, was fifth in the National League in hitting and the top backstop basestealer in all of baseball. Some say Kendall was born to play the game. His father, Fred, is a veteran of 12 major league seasons with San Diego (1969-76), Cleveland (1977) and Boston (1978). Baseball Weekly freelance writer Steve Novotney recently sat down with Kendall to discuss his rehab and his passion for baseball.
Baseball Weekly: For the first time since beginning your professional baseball career, you are out of action for an extended period of time. How are you coping with it?
Jason Kendall: It's tough for me, but what can I do about it? This is the first time that I've been knocked down to stay.
BW: The television replays of the injury were played repeatedly for a few days following the incident. Did you have a chance to see what happened?
JK: I saw the replays, but I was in the hospital and not feeling real good, so I watched them, but I don't think it really hit me. But I know it was very disgusting and that's why it attracted so much attention from the media. I know it wasn't pretty, and that's been the case when other athletes have been injured. You've seen the replays of the Joe Theismann (broken leg) injury, the Robin Ventura (broken and dislocated ankle) injury.
BW: Of the many get-well cards and telephone calls that you've received since July 4, has there been one which has actually made you feel better?
JK: All of it has been great, but I think the one call I got that made the most difference was from Robin Ventura. Hearing him tell me what I'm in store for was like hearing it from the horse's mouth. He told me about the mountains that I will have to climb and I don't have any problems with that. But he also told me that I have to be very patient, and I think everyone who knows me knows that I'm not a very patient person. But he said that it's very important, so that's what I am going to do.
BW: You said a few days after suffering the injury that you would be back before the end of the season. Do you still believe that?
JK: Is it likely? Probably not. But if there's a way, I will. It crushes me right now that I can't play baseball. That's all I've known my whole life. Baseball, baseball, baseball, ever since I was a pup. But this has shown me that baseball isn't everything. It has shown me that there are so many other things out there. This really has given me a new perspective.
BW: Are you confident you will return the same player?
JK: I've never been hurt like this before. But I'm not worried about being able to come back as the same player. I'll make sure of that.
BW: How do you feel about being as a known as a throwback player?
JK: I really don't care what people think of me, but that doesn't bother me. I think when I'm done with the game of baseball, people will think that Jason Kendall was a person who played the game hard and played the game the way it's supposed to be played. Hopefully, I'll have a few rings to go with that.
BW: Do you enjoy your reputation as a California surfer dude?
JK: That doesn't bother me, either. I really don't care what people think about me -- except for my friends, my teammates and my family. I'm probably the most laid-back guy in the world. But when it's time to play, I'm probably the biggest jerk in the world because I want to go out there and beat you. I want to win the baseball game.
BW: There are a few major league players who choose not to speak with the media for whatever reason. How do you usually handle the attention your success is attracting?
JK: Everybody has a job. I like helping people get their jobs done if it involves me. I'll try to help them out when I have the free time. I don't think people realize how busy we are with all of the little things that we do, going over the hitters and going over the pitchers. But I try to make time for anyone who needs my help.
BW: Are you still flattered when fans approach you for autographs?
JK: The kids, yeah. To me, that's cool. That's what it's all about. If you can put a smile on a kid's face, that's the best. Grown-ups can get a little annoying every once in a while. There's a lot of them who are card dealers and that ruins it for a lot of people. It really does, and that's a shame. But I try to take care of the kids and the card dealers have to go through one ear and out the other.
BW: Who are your closest friends in the game?
JK: Al Martin, Keith Osik, Jason Christiansen, Mike Williams, Kevin Young and Eric Karros.
BW: How did you become friends with Karros?
JK: He lives in California during the offseason and we hang out a lot. I don't know if you'd call us best buds, but we're good friends. He's a good guy.
BW: What other sports other than baseball do you enjoy?
JK: I love professional wrestling -- but I'm a WWF guy, not a WCW guy.
BW: Do you order the pay-per-view events?
JK: Oh, yeah. I'm into it.
BW: Who is your favorite male wrestler?
JK: 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin (Steve Williams), The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) and Road Dogg (Brian James).
BW: Who is your favorite female wrestler?
JK: Debra McMichael. And Sable. You can't go wrong with Sable.
BW: Are you also a fan of hockey?
JK: I think hockey is a really cool sport. There's a lot of hitting in hockey.
BW: Is there enough contact in baseball for Jason Kendall?
JK: (laughs) You just can't let your frustration out in baseball -- very rarely can you. You can take a guy out at second or there may be a collision at home plate, but that's it. Besides that, you just have to go somewhere and hit a wall. It's not like I'm some tough guy or some fighting guy. There are just a lot of times when baseball players want to get their frustrations out, so you have to go take a bat to a wall somewhere. That lets out frustration.
BW: What philosophy have you employed at the plate?
JK: See the ball and hit it -- and then hope it falls in somewhere. That's it.
BW: Do you think you'll ever see the ball well enough to hit .400?
JK: I don't worry about that. I just want a ring. That's my only goal. I think that should be every baseball player's goal. If it's not, they shouldn't be playing.
BW: How do you want people to think of you?
JK: As a good person.
BW: I thought you didn't care about reputations.
JK: Deep down, I think everyone wants to be known as a good person. That's one (reputation) I care about.
Steve Novotney is the editor of Pirate Report, the official newsletter of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
