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Put me in, coach Pirates' Kendall to get occasional starts in outfield
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Jason Kendall, a three-time All-Star catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, will begin making occasional starts in the outfield as early as this week to keep his bat in the lineup on days he might ordinarily rest. Kendall, who has been shagging fly balls and working on his throwing for about a week, had been expected to make an outfield start during a weekend series against Milwaukee, but Friday's scheduled game was rained out. Kendall has never played the outfield professionally, and he can't remember playing there since high school. Since joining the Pirates in 1996, he hasn't played any position except catcher. "As a catcher, you've got to have days off," Kendall said Sunday. "I know when I've played 14-15 days in a row my legs get tired and I need a day off. But they also know I can't stand to take days off." The Pirates also hope the move will help Kendall offensively. A career .314 hitter coming into this season, he is hitting .256 with three homers and 15 RBIs since signing a $60 million, six-year contract extension. Kendall is expected to play left field, but manager Lloyd McClendon said he can play center field or right field. "He's probably the best athlete we have on the team," McClendon said following a come-from-behind 8-7 victory over Milwaukee. "I don't like to take him out of the lineup, and if you play him at another position you don't have to take him out." McClendon estimates Kendall may play the outfield once or twice a week. Keith Osik probably will catch when Kendall plays the outfield. Moving him to another position, even if only occasionally, lessens the wear and tear on the 26-year-old Kendall, who caught a career-high 145 games last season. That's a pace that could soon catch up to a player who had a serious ankle injury two years ago that forced him to miss the second half of the 1999 season. Kendall has had no complications from the severe dislocation, but still ice the ankle after every game. The move also gives hope to the Pirates' top minor league hitting prospect, catcher J.R. House, that he has a future in Pittsburgh. House, a two-sport star in high school, holds numerous national high school football passing records -- he threw 10 touchdown passes in a West Virginia state championship game in his final prep game in 1998 -- and is debating whether to accept a scholarship to West Virginia University. House, who became discouraged when Kendall signed his six-year contract extension, will decide by the All-Star break if he will stay at Double-A Altoona or will report to West Virginia's fall camp. "I'm sure that may figure into somebody's thinking in the organization, but it doesn't affect me," Kendall said. "I'm just a catcher guy." General manager Cam Bonifay said it was McClendon's idea to begin using Kendall in the outfield. "Any way you can give Jason a day off from behind the plate, I think it's a day off mentally as well as physically," Bonifay said. "It's not as tough on his legs. I'm sure he'll be a very adequate player in the outfield. We talked about that in the offseason and I'm glad to see Lloyd continue that because I think he'll be a good player for us out there." Kendall could make his outfield debut as early as Tuesday or Wednesday in Philadelphia, Bonifay said. "Honestly, I don't know," Kendall said. "Nobody has said anything to me."
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