Although Jake Kestle's career is not over (he has 3 to 5 more starts in 2013 and who knows what in 2014), I thought it would be okay to write a player spotlight, especially since he just won his 200th MBBA game and will turn 42 in the off-season, which could also be called (as I just mistyped it), the iff-season, since no one knows what's gonna happen over the next few months: will Hawai'i re-sign him, will Kestle resign, will he otherwise see his playing career come to a close. (And with that, the longest sentence I've written in these forums, I'll continue.)
Bear with me, documented GM quotes don't start till 1996, Kestle's third season.
Jake Kestle's career can be naturally sub-divided into three sections, representing the three MBBA teams he has pitched for: Baltimore, Vancouver, and Hawai'i.
He pitched in the post-season for all three teams and was for each team at one time an integral part of its staff; again, for each team he had disappointing years and became subject to his GM's criticism. Twice in his career (between teams) he was let go to the free agent market. Halfway through his career he began to battle major injuries, although he never missed a whole season. He bloomed late, having his best year in his 17th season at age 39. Jake Kestle, your average 200-win pitcher, has won an average 10 games-per-year in a 20-year career.
Aquarius - The Water Bearer
January 20 - February 18
Often simple and unassuming, the Aquarian goes about accomplishing goals in a quiet, often unorthodox ways. Although their methods may be unorthodox, the results for achievement are surprisingly effective. Aquarian's will take up any cause, and are humanitarians of the zodiac. They are honest, loyal and highly intelligent. They are also easy going and make natural friendships...They are also prone to philosophical thoughts, and are often quite artistic and poetic.
At age 0, that is, on the day of his birth, February 10, 1972, nothing much happened. However, the Winter Olympics were underway in Sapporo, Japan (less than thirty years after the end of World War II) and U.S. President Richard Nixon was finalizing plans for a surprise trip to the People's Republic of China. Also born in February of 72 were, to cover three sports: Drew Bledsoe, Michael Chang, and Jaromír Jágr (talk about a guy with longevity).
Future Baltimore teammate Javy Cordero was born the day after Kestle. Cordero last pitched five years ago and retired in 2009.
In 1972, Kestle's hometown Austin, Texas had a population of 276,000 (ah, the good old, pre-Yankee days); it is now a teaming, er teeming, mass of 845,000 (11th, USA) or 1,845,000 for the greater metro area. Nevertheless, according to Kestle, there is no greater place to live: just stay away from IH35. Baltimore county, then & now about 820,000; Vancouver, nowadays 600K city and metro 2+ million; and Honolulu, currently 950,000 metro area and back in 72: 690,000 residents.
PART 01 - The Baltimore Years (1993-2000)
Jake Kestle first pitched in the majors in 1994, one year before the MBBA restart (1995 being the start of the "modern era"). He joined an organization just starting to swing upwards; from 1989 through 1995 (Kestle's sophomore year) the Monarchs averaged 29.5 Games Behind per season. These years contrasted with the glory days of the pre-modern Monarchs. The team appeared in the playoffs each year from 1982 to 1988, including a still unmatched record four straight LMS appearances beginning in 1984. The team took home the Trophy in 1985 and 1987. Ten years later Baltimore returned to the Landis, helped by a solid year from the subject of this story.
The team reached it's nadir in 1991, finishing 57-105, 48 games back.
Triple-A
Two years later, a string bean of a 21-year-old (he was 5'11'', 160) Kestle (Cato page) began his pro career at Triple-A as a reliever. He appeared in 57 games, was 4-0 with 10 saves and a 4.76 ERA. Good enough for second-year GM Kirk Medlin to place him the next season into the Monarchs rotation. Kestle pitched the next 20 years at the major league level and never gained a pound (well, he did "fill out" to 165 pounds).
BAL Summary
In 1994 Kestle began a 7-year "spree" in the Baltimore rotation, delivering mixed results. Never higher than 3rd in the rotation, he nevertheless was an integral part of a consistent modern era staff; he made playoff appearances in 1997, 1999, and 2000 for Baltimore, after which he was released. His totals in those 7 years included a 66-78 W-L record and a 4.303 ERA.
But get this: from 1995 to his release after the 2000 campaign, Kestle started 172 games. Other southpaws in those years started 6 times.
Rookie Year (1994)
Kestle, 22, was #4 in the rotation led by the day-younger 22-y.o. Javy Cordero, who with Kestle and a couple players to be named later, would form one of the most consistent staffs of any team during those years.
As for Jake, he started 23 games, averaged 5.3 innings a start, and went 1-7. His 4.76 ERA would be his highest offering until 13 years later, with Hawai'i. Thus began a career trait of a low amount of decisions per year. And that year was truly one of Kestle and Hyde: the Austinite started 12 at home with a 6.06 ERA (1-4) and 11 on the road with a 3.38 ERA (0-3). Better things were ahead.
THE MODERN ERA
Sophomore Year (1995)
Kestle moved up to #3 man in the rotation, started 31 games, and finished 6-13, 4.61 on a team that lost 93 games. Although it moved his two-year ML record to 7-20, he won the JL Diamond Glove Award at Pitcher! It was the worst W-L% of his career until that dread 2006 season in O'ahu.
He finished first in the JL with a Groundball% of 72.
His friend Javy was 13-10 meanwhile, while rookie Larry Lasalle was 14-9. Remember that name, Lasalle? I do. I think it was on the HOF Ballot. Anyway, Lasalle pitched 13 years for Baltimore and one for Atlantic City. He finished 194-109, 3.40. Is he in the Hall? He should be.
1996 - thank goodness, we've got some text
whitebread wrote:1996 will go down as a step in the right direction for the Monarchs. They increased their win total by 15 and were much improved from 1995. Unfortunately the Monarchs are in arguably the best division in the MBBA making it tough to reach the playoffs.
As for the start of the season, third-year Kestle was named top pitcher for May/June:
Fellow Aquarian Cordero was named Disappointment of May/June.whitebread wrote:Kestle has been a nice surprise for the Monarchs in '96. Kestle has pitched both as a starter and as a reliever and has been one of the best and most consistent pitchers this season. At only 24 the Monarchs are hoping they have something good as a 4th/5th starter. However he has been better than most all starters so far this season. In May/June he appeared in 17 games (6 starts) with a 4.01 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. As the only L handed starter Kestle has been a key to Baltimore's success this season.
Kestle ended up losing his spot in the rotation (indeed, his spot on the ML roster) after a mid-July trade sent 22-y.o. Rick 'Ratbreath' Cushing to Baltimore. Cushing started 13 games and went 6-3.
Kestle started two games at Triple-A, won both, and was promoted back to Baltimore. This was the only time Jake was sent down to the minors in his career. In two later seasons, he made minor league rehabs while with Hawai'i. His combined MiL record in 8 starts comes to 4-3, 2.67. To go with those 53 relief appearances in 93.
At the end of the year Kestle, with Lasalle, was one of the team's Top Two Pitchers:
In the next 3 seasons, Kestle would start 99 games, 33 in each season as a fixture of the staff. Not until 2000 did he appear again out of the pen. As for the Monarchs, with its rotation coming together and "21 of 25 players under 30," it took the next step in...whitebread wrote:SP Jake Kestle - 12-5, 3.97 ERA, 1.32 ERA, 127 K
Kestle came into the season as a question mark for the Monarchs. He was the 5th starter at a few different points during the season and was also the long relief pitcher for part of the season. He pitched in 36 games making 23 starts for the Monarchs. He was solid in all appearances and gave the Monarchs a lot more than they had hoped for.
END, PART 01A
Edited December 21 to indicate that the Monarchs appearance in 4 straight Landis Series, 1984-87, was not just a pre-modern record but remains the All-time MBWBA record.
