OAKLAND, Calif. — Kurt Suzuki's time in the A's clubhouse has spanned less than six weeks, but that's long enough for him to realize what Jason Kendall meant to the team's pitchers.

When Kendall was shipped to the Chicago Cubs on Monday, it signaled the end of Suzuki's internship under the veteran.

As he prepares for his fourth game as the A's starting catcher, Suzuki realizes the one thing he can't do is expect to duplicate Kendall's impact overnight.

"I feel I'm ready," said Suzuki, 23, a 2001 graduate of Maui's Baldwin High School. "I know in my heart I'm ready, and it's just a fact of getting used to becoming an everyday player in the major leagues. I've just got to go out there and relax. That's the main thing."

But he also knows that as the No. 1 catcher, he's responsible for more than his own performance. The way he handles his position has a direct effect on the success or failure of the A's pitching staff, which has fashioned the lowest ERA in the American League this season.

That's where Kendall's presence was felt the most. His experience made him an excellent pitch-caller, and his preparation provided a sound game plan for whoever stepped on the mound.

A's pitchers acknowledge Kendall's departure will take some getting used to.

They also say that the rest of this season provides an opportunity to build the same kind of rapport with Suzuki, who was picked in the second round of the 2004 draft after a decorated career at Cal State Fullerton.

"Kurt will get to that point," starting pitcher Chad Gaudin said. "You can't expect him to come in and be an All-Star catcher and handle the pitching staff (like a veteran). It takes time. ... I look at it as we're building a relationship."

Suzuki has caught every starter in a game except Dan Haren, and he'll get his first chance to work with the A's ace tomorrow against the Baltimore Orioles, who are in town for a three-game series starting tonight.

Every pitcher has his own routine for Suzuki to pick up on.

"The rhythm is the biggest thing," starter Joe Blanton said. "And rhythm involves almost knowing what (the catcher) is going to call before he calls it. I like to work quick. That's a big thing."

To accelerate the learning process, Suzuki has been a frequent visitor to the video room, watching film of how A's pitchers like to attack certain teams. His work ethic hasn't been lost on A's manager Bob Geren, himself a former catcher.

"I joked with him the day he got called up that catchers don't play cards," Geren said. "If you have an extra hour free, you're watching (video of) the other team. You're reading the reports. He took that comment very seriously and he's been doing a tremendous job."

Knowledge of the opponent is one trait that made Kendall so valuable behind the plate.

"Half the battle was won when you stepped out there because you knew you were going to be prepared," Gaudin said.

Suzuki said he soaked up as much as he could from Kendall before Monday's trade. He said the most valuable advice he gathered involved the mental side of the game.

"The guy's a bulldog, he's a fighter," Suzuki said of Kendall. "He hates losing, and that's how I am. Kendall taught me not to worry about things, leave (negative) things in the past. Because I'm a rookie, I really want to make a good impression. When something goes wrong I over-exaggerate it a little bit."

Suzuki, one of two Hawai'i natives on the A's roster along with reliever Shane Komine, is hitting just .200 (7-for-35) since his call-up but has flashed some power with two homers. He's 1-for-6 in tossing out base stealers.

He knows his effectiveness filling the void left by Kendall won't always be reflected in numbers.

"I know a lot of things are going to be magnified on me now just because of how valuable Kendall was," Suzuki said. "But I've just got to stay within myself and not try to do too much."