Ian Kennedy facing high expectations after breakout year

For Ian Kennedy, high expectations abound following his breakout season with the Diamondbacks in 2011.

Kennedy, who finished fourth in the National League Cy Young balloting after going 21-4 with a 2.88 ERA in 2011, wouldn’t have it any other way.

“You always get those questions like, ‘well, are you going to try to do it again’,” Kennedy told Arizona Sports 620’s Doug and Wolf Wednesday. “A lot of it has to do with how your team is and how the team dynamic works and everybody stays healthy — that’s one of the main things.”

Kennedy’s ascent to ace status with the D-backs naturally has critics wondering whether he can in fact match the season and success he had last year.

“There’s always going to be people that are doubting or there’s always going to be people who are going to be praising you,” Kennedy explained. “Let them argue about that.”

While the constant questions could become a distraction for some hurlers, Kennedy’s tough mindset is unwavering and he’s as confident as ever that he’ll be performing at an elite level.

“I am just going to believe in myself and my God given ability just to go out there and do my thing,” Kennedy stated. “That’s trying to go out there and pitch every single pitch with all my conviction.”

Undoubtedly Kennedy’s excellent record also reflects the exceptional work from the D-backs’ relievers all year long, who secured wins for the right-hander with relative ease. Although Kennedy’s bulldog mentality doesn’t enjoy letting anyone else decide his fate, he is grateful to have a stable bullpen to fall back on.

“I don’t want to ever come out when we’re tied or losing because that’s just who I am,” Kennedy said about turning the ball over to his relievers. “But I feel like when you have no one behind you, it’s just a lot of stress watching the rest of the game in the dugout — you put a lot of stress on every single pitch and how you think and it gets to your thoughts and how you’re pitching out there.”

The D-backs’ bullpen is arguably deeper and stronger than last year’s group, which will allow Kennedy to be “a little freer” on the mound.

This spring, Kennedy doesn’t plan to add any new pitches to his repertoire for the 2012 season; he is just looking to fine tune his mechanics for the long and grueling season ahead.

“For a starter pitcher, you have to deal with the long grind of going out [to pitch],” Kennedy said. “I feel like you’re going to fail every once in a while. You’re not going to be perfect every single time.”

If his 2011 season was any indication, the odds are in Kennedy’s favor.

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