Koyie Hill Is Superior Defensive Catcher

While Koyie Hill himself will admit he has never been considered a defensive catcher, compared to Michael Barrett and Jason Kendall, Koyie Hill is a defensive wiz.

As a Cub this season Barrett allowed 0.64 stolen base attempts per game played (SBA/G). Kendall has allowed 0.88 SBA/G, even worse than Barrett.

Hill's SBA/G is .46, roughly half of Kendall's.

What about wild pithes and passed balls?

Barrett with the Cubs allowed .440 wild pitches and passed balls per game (WP+PB/G)

Kendall is .370 WP+PB/G

Hill is .230 WP+PB/G

How has Barrett done since joining the Padres?

Barrett's SBA/G has skyrocketed, as could be expected with an older pitching staff who do not even attempt to watch baserunners. Barrett's SBA/G as a Padre is 1.82! (as a Cub it was 0.64 this season, so he is allowing 3 times as many stolen base attempts per game with the Padres)

Barrett's WP+PB/G as a Padre is actually down, to .320, from .440.

You can check out all of these stats and run anything you can imagine at The Hardball Times.

A quick glance at comments from A's blog Athletics Nation about the Kendall deal brings some ominous remarks:

"Earth's Worst Hitter(TM) is gone!"

"I like Kendall, admire his work ethic, appreciate his work with our pitchers, but his batting was atrocious."

"addition by subtraction. this will automatically make our lineup a whole lot better." (the same thing we said when Barrett was traded and it turned out true, I hope Kendall doesn't sink the Cubs)

"We actually got something for Kendall? I was shocked that anyone would want him."

"Rick Sutcliffe just said, "Wow, the Cubs just got a whole lot better." Um, he's actually seen Kendall play in Oakland, hasn't he? He's not just remembering him from his Pirates days?"

"That was the best news for this season"

We'll end on a high note:

"It was a great pick up for the Cubs.

Their catchers are atrocious and Kendall has been a great second half hitter. He has great bat control and does not strike out too much. Watch what happens when he is on a team that uses the hit and run.

The Cubs just locked up the Central.

The hottest team in baseball JUST GOT BETTER."