Friday July 31, 2009
The Padres mounted one of the biggest comebacks of the year overcoming a 7-1 deficit to post their 2nd double digit run total and defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 11-7 at Petco Park tonight.
Kyle Blanks went 2 for 3 including his 5th home run of the season walked twice and scored 2 runs, Tony Gwynn went 3 for 5 and scored 3 runs, and Will Venable hit a 3 run shot to pace the Padres offensive attack.
Starting pitcher Chad Guadin got pounded in the 2nd inning, surrendering 6 hits 2 walks and all 7 runs in 1.2 innings pitched. Poor defense from Chase Headley and Tony Gwynn contributed to the run total as only 3 runs were earned. After loading the bases Gaudin on a leadoff walk and 2 singles. Gaudin got 2 outs on strike outs before a pair of singles drove in 3 runs. Gaudin then walked the next batter to reload the bases and a pair of errors by Headley and Gwynn on the next two plays allowed three more runs to score.
The Padres, now on a 4 game winning streak, have been one of the streakiest teams this season having had one of the longest winning streaks (10 games) and several 6 game losing streaks so far this year.
In unrelated Padres news - The Padres fired hitting coach Jim Lefebvre and replaced him with AAA manager Randy Ready. Ready is the 4th hitting coach in 4 seasons for the Padres.
Friday, July 31, 2009
A Look Ahead at the Padres Roster for 2010
Friday July 31, 2009
Potential 2010 Roster by ages on opening day
Starters
Adrian Gonzalez - 27
David Eckstein (or ??) - 37
Everth Cabrera - 23
Kevin Kouzmanoff - 28
Chase Headley - 25
Tony Gwynn Jr. - 27
Will Venable/????? - 27
Nick Hundley - 26
Bench
C
IF
IF
OF
OF
Pitching Staff
Chris Young - 30
Mat Latos - 22
Tim Stauffer - 27
Kevin Correia - 29
Clayton Richard - 26
Sean Gallagher - 24
Heath Bell - 32
Aaron Poreda - 23
Edward Mujica - 25
Luke Gregerson - 25
Greg Burke - 27
Luis Perdomo - 25
Joe Thatcher???? - 28
Mike Adams - 31
Possibly Will Inman - 22, Wade LeBlanc - 25, Eulogio De La Cruz - 26, and Mike Ekstron - 25.
There are also a few guys at AA that could get a shot like Ernesto Frieri - 24 and Evan Scribner - 24.
Depending on who is signed to fill 2B and the bench slots, the Padres could be the younget team in baseball by a large margin.
Potential 2010 Roster by ages on opening day
Starters
Adrian Gonzalez - 27
David Eckstein (or ??) - 37
Everth Cabrera - 23
Kevin Kouzmanoff - 28
Chase Headley - 25
Tony Gwynn Jr. - 27
Will Venable/????? - 27
Nick Hundley - 26
Bench
C
IF
IF
OF
OF
Pitching Staff
Chris Young - 30
Mat Latos - 22
Tim Stauffer - 27
Kevin Correia - 29
Clayton Richard - 26
Sean Gallagher - 24
Heath Bell - 32
Aaron Poreda - 23
Edward Mujica - 25
Luke Gregerson - 25
Greg Burke - 27
Luis Perdomo - 25
Joe Thatcher???? - 28
Mike Adams - 31
Possibly Will Inman - 22, Wade LeBlanc - 25, Eulogio De La Cruz - 26, and Mike Ekstron - 25.
There are also a few guys at AA that could get a shot like Ernesto Frieri - 24 and Evan Scribner - 24.
Depending on who is signed to fill 2B and the bench slots, the Padres could be the younget team in baseball by a large margin.
Peavy Accepts Trade to White Sox
Friday July 31, 2009
Moments before the trading deadline today, Jake Peavy finally accepted a trade to the Chicago White Sox.
So what changed between May and now?
Regardless of the payroll limitations the team may have, with Peavy gone and Giles coming off the books at the end of 2009, the Padres can now:
Overall the Padres got what Baseball America ranked as the White Sox 2, 3 and 12th best prospects for 2009 and a hard throwing 6'8", 26 year old reliever that has 22 appearances in his rookie season this year.
Would I have liked to have seen more coming back the Padres way in this trade? Of course. But the Padres did not get a bad haul considering the no win situation they were in.
This trade also frees up alot of payroll.
In 2010 the Padres have salary committed to just Young and Gonzalez. Of the players likely to be coming back, only Bell, Kouzmanoff, Correia, Baek and Adams are arbitration eligible players. The rest of the players are either on one year deals or are not eligible for arbitration.
The way I see it that leaves the Padres with a Payroll of about $25 - 26 million.
Bring on 2010.
Moments before the trading deadline today, Jake Peavy finally accepted a trade to the Chicago White Sox.
So what changed between May and now?
- Is it the fact that the White Sox now have a winning record?
- Is it the fact that including Peavy's injury, the Padres were on pace to absolutely smash the MLB record they set for injuries in 2008?
- Was it the good young pitchers the Padres have had traded for and brought up like Mat Latos, Tim Stauffer and Sean Gallagher? Did Peavy feel the Padres could make due without him now?
Regardless of the payroll limitations the team may have, with Peavy gone and Giles coming off the books at the end of 2009, the Padres can now:
- Keep players like Gonzalez, Bell, Young and Eckstein for 2010.
- Go after some mid level free agents to compliment the good young players like Headley, Gwynn, Hundley, Blanks, and Cabrera that they have now.
- Prepare for a bright future.
Overall the Padres got what Baseball America ranked as the White Sox 2, 3 and 12th best prospects for 2009 and a hard throwing 6'8", 26 year old reliever that has 22 appearances in his rookie season this year.
Would I have liked to have seen more coming back the Padres way in this trade? Of course. But the Padres did not get a bad haul considering the no win situation they were in.
This trade also frees up alot of payroll.
In 2010 the Padres have salary committed to just Young and Gonzalez. Of the players likely to be coming back, only Bell, Kouzmanoff, Correia, Baek and Adams are arbitration eligible players. The rest of the players are either on one year deals or are not eligible for arbitration.
The way I see it that leaves the Padres with a Payroll of about $25 - 26 million.
- $11 million for Chris Young and Adrian Gonzalez.
- About $6.5 million for Bell, Kouzmanoff and the other arbitrration eligibles.
- About $2 - $2.5 million to bring back Eckstein and Gaudin.
- and $7.2 million for 16 guys at or about the major league minimum like:
Headley, Hundley, Cabrera, Gwynn, Blanks, Venable, Latos, Stuaffer, Burke, Gregerson, Mujica, Perdomo, Gallagher, and now Richard and Poreda.
Bring on 2010.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Should the Padres trade Adrian Gonzalez
Thursday July 30, 2009
Yes, I know this has been hashed over ad nauseum.
With tomorrow being the deadline for players without exposing them to the waiver process, I thought I would take one last stab at the question and the offers that have been reported for him.
Lets start with the offers I have read today.
According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Red Sox are reportedly offering pitchers Clay Buchholz, Junichi Tazawa and young slugger Lars Anderson as part a 5 for 1 trade.
For me this makes little sense for either team.
1st Tazawa signed with the Red Sox for less money because he wanted to ework win their program designed for Japanese pitchers. There is little chance the Red Sox would want to foment ill will with the Japanese players and teams over one trade.
2nd, the Padres have a good prospect ready to take over at 1B which is why they are considering trading Gonzalez in the first place. Why would they take Anderson? IT would just mean another prospect has to change positions or languish in the minors.
Well in reality that is the only trade offer I read today so I guess the answer is no.
Yes, I know this has been hashed over ad nauseum.
With tomorrow being the deadline for players without exposing them to the waiver process, I thought I would take one last stab at the question and the offers that have been reported for him.
Lets start with the offers I have read today.
According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Red Sox are reportedly offering pitchers Clay Buchholz, Junichi Tazawa and young slugger Lars Anderson as part a 5 for 1 trade.
For me this makes little sense for either team.
1st Tazawa signed with the Red Sox for less money because he wanted to ework win their program designed for Japanese pitchers. There is little chance the Red Sox would want to foment ill will with the Japanese players and teams over one trade.
2nd, the Padres have a good prospect ready to take over at 1B which is why they are considering trading Gonzalez in the first place. Why would they take Anderson? IT would just mean another prospect has to change positions or languish in the minors.
Well in reality that is the only trade offer I read today so I guess the answer is no.
Dont Look Now, but the Padres are on a Win Streak
Thursday July 30, 2009
After today's 7-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds at the Great American Ballpark, the San Diego Padres have won 3 straight games.
Its the first winning streak of 3 games or more since the end of their 9 game winning streak that ended on May 25th.
Today Tim Stauffer went 7 strong innings allowing 7 hits, 2 walks and just 1 run for his first win since 2006.
With Stauffer pitching well in his 4 starts this season, Mat Latos showing that he may be a front line type pitcher and the addition of the promising 23 year old Sean Gallagher, the 2010 rotation is really shaping up to be both a young and a good one with Peavy and Young leading the way.
After today's 7-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds at the Great American Ballpark, the San Diego Padres have won 3 straight games.
Its the first winning streak of 3 games or more since the end of their 9 game winning streak that ended on May 25th.
Today Tim Stauffer went 7 strong innings allowing 7 hits, 2 walks and just 1 run for his first win since 2006.
With Stauffer pitching well in his 4 starts this season, Mat Latos showing that he may be a front line type pitcher and the addition of the promising 23 year old Sean Gallagher, the 2010 rotation is really shaping up to be both a young and a good one with Peavy and Young leading the way.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Latos looking like the real deal after 3 starts
Wednesday July 29, 2009
After 3 major league starts, Mat Latos has 2 wins and a 2.70 ERA after throwing an absolute gem today against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Band Box, er..I mean Ballpark.
Latos gave up only one hit in 7 innings tonight, it just happened to be a solo home run by Jerry Hairston. One bad pitch in 86 is a pretty damn good day on the mound.
It was his longest appearance of the season and brought his total innings to 16 2/3 for the Padres and 89 for the season.
The Padres front office has said they would like to limit him to about 100 innings this year, about double his 55 innings in 2008, so we may only see 2 more starts from him before he is shut down for the rest of the season.
Watching Latos dominate so far this year and the official announcement that Sean Gallagher is the PTBNL in the Scott Hairston trade, gives me hope for the 2010 Padres pitching staff.
After 3 major league starts, Mat Latos has 2 wins and a 2.70 ERA after throwing an absolute gem today against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Band Box, er..I mean Ballpark.
Latos gave up only one hit in 7 innings tonight, it just happened to be a solo home run by Jerry Hairston. One bad pitch in 86 is a pretty damn good day on the mound.
It was his longest appearance of the season and brought his total innings to 16 2/3 for the Padres and 89 for the season.
The Padres front office has said they would like to limit him to about 100 innings this year, about double his 55 innings in 2008, so we may only see 2 more starts from him before he is shut down for the rest of the season.
Watching Latos dominate so far this year and the official announcement that Sean Gallagher is the PTBNL in the Scott Hairston trade, gives me hope for the 2010 Padres pitching staff.
Looking ahead to the 2010 MLB June draft.
Wednesday July 29, 2009
Chances are the Padres will draft in the 2nd to 5th position in the 2010 draft.
So who may be available then?
16 year old Uber-prospect Bryce Harper will more than likely be gone at that point to the Washington Nationals.
So who are the top dozen or so other prospects?
Let’s start with the College Bats
Christian Colon – SS – Call State Fullerton – A slick fielder with a good eye, but not much power at the plate.
Blake Forsythe – C – Tennessee – If you are wondering, yes they are brothers. Blake may be the better hitter.
Yasmani Grandal – C – Miami – A power hitting catcher with patience at the plate and a really strong arm. He didn’t hit for high average(.299), but took a lot of walks.
Now the College Pitchers
Justin Grimm – RHP – Georgia – Grimm brings a mid 90’s fastball, but needs work on his breaking stuff.
Anthony Renaudo – RHP – LSU – Renaudo has a low 90’s fastball with good control and movement and 2 plus breaking pitches. In the past I would have said he was a Padres type pitcher.
Kyle Blair – RHP - USD - A top 50 prospect coming out of high school, he was chosen in the 5th round by the Dodgers, but chose to go to USD instead. Brings a mid 90’s fastball & a nice change.
Nick Tepesch – RHP – Missouri - The soft tossing pitcher features a 89-92 mph fastball as part of his 4 pitch repertoire. While he has exceptional "stuff" he struggled with control this past season for the Tigers.
How about the High School Bats
Bryce Harper – C – Left high school at 16 so he could go pro. Enough said
Austin Wilson – OF – Harvard-Westlake HS, CA – POWER, POWER and MORE POWER!! A True 5 tool player, this kid has hit 500 foot home runs, has the best high school arm I have ever seen and has 6.4 speed in the 60. He could be a monster.
Trey Griffin – OF/SS – MLK HS, GA – Extremely athletic, Griffin may end up being a SS as a pro. He hits for average and power to all fields and has good speed in the field and on the base paths.
And finally the High School Arms
Yordy Cabrera – RHP/SS – Lakelan HS, FL – Born in the Dominican, Cabrera is one of a number of players that could go either way. His 96 mph fastball and good control for a HS player makes me think that teams will be drafting him as a pitcher.
A.J. Cole – RHP – Oviedo HS, FL – A 6’4” power pitcher who throws 95-96 now with room to grow. Cole is at the top of the list of prep pitching prospects.
Rudy Acosta – RHP – Mount Miguel HS, CA – A 6’ 5” local boy who throws 90-93 mph now and has 2 plus breaking pitches. At only 180 lbs he has a lot of filling in to do and his velocity should improve over time.
Justin O’ Connor – RHP/SS - Cowan HS, IN – Another of the 2 way players that should go high in the draft, O’Connor has a 96 mph fastball but needs work on his breaking pitches.
Cam Bedrosian - RHP - East Coweta HS, GA – Bloodlines are the reason I have included Bedrosian here. His father, Steve Bedrosian, was a MLB reliever for years so Cam will know better than most what it takes to succeed as a pro and Cam may have more talent than his dad did at his age.
I included 5 prep pitchers because they seem to be the players that we see the most change in during their senior years, for good and bad.
The 2010 June Amateur Draft is much too far away to predict either who will go 2nd to 5th or who the Padres will take, but I hope this has given you some players to watch during the 2009/2010 College and High School season.
Chances are the Padres will draft in the 2nd to 5th position in the 2010 draft.
So who may be available then?
16 year old Uber-prospect Bryce Harper will more than likely be gone at that point to the Washington Nationals.
So who are the top dozen or so other prospects?
Let’s start with the College Bats
Christian Colon – SS – Call State Fullerton – A slick fielder with a good eye, but not much power at the plate.
Blake Forsythe – C – Tennessee – If you are wondering, yes they are brothers. Blake may be the better hitter.
Yasmani Grandal – C – Miami – A power hitting catcher with patience at the plate and a really strong arm. He didn’t hit for high average(.299), but took a lot of walks.
Now the College Pitchers
Justin Grimm – RHP – Georgia – Grimm brings a mid 90’s fastball, but needs work on his breaking stuff.
Anthony Renaudo – RHP – LSU – Renaudo has a low 90’s fastball with good control and movement and 2 plus breaking pitches. In the past I would have said he was a Padres type pitcher.
Kyle Blair – RHP - USD - A top 50 prospect coming out of high school, he was chosen in the 5th round by the Dodgers, but chose to go to USD instead. Brings a mid 90’s fastball & a nice change.
Nick Tepesch – RHP – Missouri - The soft tossing pitcher features a 89-92 mph fastball as part of his 4 pitch repertoire. While he has exceptional "stuff" he struggled with control this past season for the Tigers.
How about the High School Bats
Bryce Harper – C – Left high school at 16 so he could go pro. Enough said
Austin Wilson – OF – Harvard-Westlake HS, CA – POWER, POWER and MORE POWER!! A True 5 tool player, this kid has hit 500 foot home runs, has the best high school arm I have ever seen and has 6.4 speed in the 60. He could be a monster.
Trey Griffin – OF/SS – MLK HS, GA – Extremely athletic, Griffin may end up being a SS as a pro. He hits for average and power to all fields and has good speed in the field and on the base paths.
And finally the High School Arms
Yordy Cabrera – RHP/SS – Lakelan HS, FL – Born in the Dominican, Cabrera is one of a number of players that could go either way. His 96 mph fastball and good control for a HS player makes me think that teams will be drafting him as a pitcher.
A.J. Cole – RHP – Oviedo HS, FL – A 6’4” power pitcher who throws 95-96 now with room to grow. Cole is at the top of the list of prep pitching prospects.
Rudy Acosta – RHP – Mount Miguel HS, CA – A 6’ 5” local boy who throws 90-93 mph now and has 2 plus breaking pitches. At only 180 lbs he has a lot of filling in to do and his velocity should improve over time.
Justin O’ Connor – RHP/SS - Cowan HS, IN – Another of the 2 way players that should go high in the draft, O’Connor has a 96 mph fastball but needs work on his breaking pitches.
Cam Bedrosian - RHP - East Coweta HS, GA – Bloodlines are the reason I have included Bedrosian here. His father, Steve Bedrosian, was a MLB reliever for years so Cam will know better than most what it takes to succeed as a pro and Cam may have more talent than his dad did at his age.
I included 5 prep pitchers because they seem to be the players that we see the most change in during their senior years, for good and bad.
The 2010 June Amateur Draft is much too far away to predict either who will go 2nd to 5th or who the Padres will take, but I hope this has given you some players to watch during the 2009/2010 College and High School season.
Padres are leading the league in a dubious stat.
Wednesday July 29, 2009
No, I am not talking about player days on the DL or lowest batting average or runs scored. They do lead the league in all those categories.
The disgusting stat the Padres are leading the league in is, drum roll please –
Strike outs looking with men on base.
Can you say I really don’t care any clearer?
No, I am not talking about player days on the DL or lowest batting average or runs scored. They do lead the league in all those categories.
The disgusting stat the Padres are leading the league in is, drum roll please –
Strike outs looking with men on base.
Can you say I really don’t care any clearer?
Why was Correia batting with a man on base & 2 outs in the 6th inning of a tie game?
Wednesday July 29, 2009
The pitcher batting in a crucial situation in a tie game with the fastest man on the team on base? When a single scores a run?
Do the Padres have that little faith in their pinch hitters?
Do they have that much faith in Correia, a guy with a 5 ERA, to shut down the Reds until the Padres get another base runner?
Are the Padres really trying to win games?
Or is Black just trying to get the pitcher 6 innings again?
Result - Correia strikes out looking and now the Padres go into the bottom half of the inning having blown an opportunity to score a go ahead run.
The pitcher batting in a crucial situation in a tie game with the fastest man on the team on base? When a single scores a run?
Do the Padres have that little faith in their pinch hitters?
Do they have that much faith in Correia, a guy with a 5 ERA, to shut down the Reds until the Padres get another base runner?
Are the Padres really trying to win games?
Or is Black just trying to get the pitcher 6 innings again?
Result - Correia strikes out looking and now the Padres go into the bottom half of the inning having blown an opportunity to score a go ahead run.
Josh Geer he has proved he is a minor league pitcher.
Wednesday July 29, 2009
In 17 starts and 102.2 IP, Josh Geer has given up 116 hits, 27 home runs, a .288 BAA and is sporting a 5.96 era.
When:
You have given up more than 10% more hits than IP
More than 23% of the hits against you go for home runs
You are giving up 1.6 home runs per game you start
You are no longer major league material.
EDIT - Today it was announced that Josh Geer will be going to the pen and Edward Mujica will be taking his place in the rotation.
In 17 starts and 102.2 IP, Josh Geer has given up 116 hits, 27 home runs, a .288 BAA and is sporting a 5.96 era.
When:
You have given up more than 10% more hits than IP
More than 23% of the hits against you go for home runs
You are giving up 1.6 home runs per game you start
You are no longer major league material.
EDIT - Today it was announced that Josh Geer will be going to the pen and Edward Mujica will be taking his place in the rotation.
Everth Cabrera bounces back.
Wednesday July 29, 2009
Everth Cabrera has rebounded from a prolonged slump at the plate (after he returned from the DL on June 19th his BA dropped from .333 on June 20 to .220 on July 24th), to go 12 for 24 with 7 stolen bases over the past 7 games and improve his BA to .267.
Cabrera's defense has been one of the bright spots in an otherwise dismal stretch for the Padres, while his bat was beginning to look like he belonged in A ball.
Now he is looking like he could be the Padres SS of the future.
We could be looking at one of the only good things to come out of having a bad season. Cabrera would not have played if the Padres were in contention. He would be riding the bench. So setting a major league record for injuries and having the season go down the drain early has allowed the Padres to see what Cabrera can do playing on a daily basis.
Everth Cabrera has rebounded from a prolonged slump at the plate (after he returned from the DL on June 19th his BA dropped from .333 on June 20 to .220 on July 24th), to go 12 for 24 with 7 stolen bases over the past 7 games and improve his BA to .267.
Cabrera's defense has been one of the bright spots in an otherwise dismal stretch for the Padres, while his bat was beginning to look like he belonged in A ball.
Now he is looking like he could be the Padres SS of the future.
We could be looking at one of the only good things to come out of having a bad season. Cabrera would not have played if the Padres were in contention. He would be riding the bench. So setting a major league record for injuries and having the season go down the drain early has allowed the Padres to see what Cabrera can do playing on a daily basis.
Henry Blanco was supposed to give the Padres a boost?
Wednesday July 29, 2009
Henry Blanco was supposed to give the Padres a boost?
WTF? The guy is hitting .218. How can he give any team a lift? How bad do you have to be to have a guy hitting .218 be an improvement?
Well maybe you have to be 39-62 like the Padres are right now. Alfonzo will still play half the games even with Blanco back from the DL and hes hitting about .190.
All I can say is ouch!
Henry Blanco was supposed to give the Padres a boost?
WTF? The guy is hitting .218. How can he give any team a lift? How bad do you have to be to have a guy hitting .218 be an improvement?
Well maybe you have to be 39-62 like the Padres are right now. Alfonzo will still play half the games even with Blanco back from the DL and hes hitting about .190.
All I can say is ouch!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Baek hurt again
Friday July 24, 2009
Cha Seung Baek left last night's Portland Beavers game against Reno after 1 batter.
He injured his elbow/forearm again and is done for the season.
If you are keeping track that means of the projected starting pitching staff coming out of spring training, the Padres Ace Peavy, #2 Young . #3 Baek and #4 Hill all may be on the DL for the rest of the season.
Add to that the starting and backup 2nd baseman, the starting and backup catcher and the starting RF are also on the DL.
Throw in a reliever and and a big bat off the bench and you have a pretty good team on the DL and a AAA team left in San Diego.
Cha Seung Baek left last night's Portland Beavers game against Reno after 1 batter.
He injured his elbow/forearm again and is done for the season.
If you are keeping track that means of the projected starting pitching staff coming out of spring training, the Padres Ace Peavy, #2 Young . #3 Baek and #4 Hill all may be on the DL for the rest of the season.
Add to that the starting and backup 2nd baseman, the starting and backup catcher and the starting RF are also on the DL.
Throw in a reliever and and a big bat off the bench and you have a pretty good team on the DL and a AAA team left in San Diego.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Cabrera is starting to look like a Low A hitter
Monday July 20, 2009
Everth Cabrera played last year for the Low A Asheville Tourists and its starting to show.
Major league pitchers have started making adjustments to him and he has not been able to make any adjustments of his own. His batting average has plummeted from .325 on June 25th to .237 after tonight's game.
Normally that would not be a problem, but with Edgar Gonzalez on the DL after being beaned, the Padres have no one as a backup in the infield, for EITHER SS and 2B. They did pick up Oscar Salazar in the trade for Cla Meredith, but he is mainly a 1B and 3B, not a SS or 2B.
So what happens when Cabrera is hitting under the Mendoza line in a couple of weeks? He keeps starting is what happens. Because of bad personnel decisions in letting both Travis Denker and Chris Burke go and a rash of injuries, the Padres simply have no other options.
The best hitting SS in the minors is in AA. Craig Stansberry, the AAA SS/2B, has proven that at 27 years old he is a pretty much a Quad A player. The slick fielding Sean Kazmar simply cannot hit. Not at AAA and certainly not at the ML level.
So no options and no immediate help in the future at SS for the Padres.
What a sad state of affairs.
Everth Cabrera played last year for the Low A Asheville Tourists and its starting to show.
Major league pitchers have started making adjustments to him and he has not been able to make any adjustments of his own. His batting average has plummeted from .325 on June 25th to .237 after tonight's game.
Normally that would not be a problem, but with Edgar Gonzalez on the DL after being beaned, the Padres have no one as a backup in the infield, for EITHER SS and 2B. They did pick up Oscar Salazar in the trade for Cla Meredith, but he is mainly a 1B and 3B, not a SS or 2B.
So what happens when Cabrera is hitting under the Mendoza line in a couple of weeks? He keeps starting is what happens. Because of bad personnel decisions in letting both Travis Denker and Chris Burke go and a rash of injuries, the Padres simply have no other options.
The best hitting SS in the minors is in AA. Craig Stansberry, the AAA SS/2B, has proven that at 27 years old he is a pretty much a Quad A player. The slick fielding Sean Kazmar simply cannot hit. Not at AAA and certainly not at the ML level.
So no options and no immediate help in the future at SS for the Padres.
What a sad state of affairs.
Why isn't Blanks playing more?
Monday July 20, 2009
So tell me, why isn't Kyle Blanks playing more?
Didn't Bud Black and Kevin Towers say he wasn't being brought up to sit on the bench?
Isn't he supposed to be the Padres next great hitting prospect? So why is he shining the pine?
Its obvious that Adrian Gonzalez has either:
A - Given up
or
B - Hit the wall
Gonzalez is hitting under .200 since June 1st. He has hit .140 for the month of July and tonight he hit his first home run since June 23rd. Trying to say its because he has no one hitting behind him is an excuse and a bad one. He simply looks like hes going through the motions at the plate.
So why isn't Blanks getting an occasional start at 1B?
Headley is not exactly setting the world on fire with his .237 BA, so why isn't Blanks getting a few starts in LF?
Venable is hitting just .218, so why isn't Blanks getting a few starts in RF.
This guy COULD be getting at bats every day at AAA and instead he is picking splinters out of his behind in San Diego.
Why?
So tell me, why isn't Kyle Blanks playing more?
Didn't Bud Black and Kevin Towers say he wasn't being brought up to sit on the bench?
Isn't he supposed to be the Padres next great hitting prospect? So why is he shining the pine?
Its obvious that Adrian Gonzalez has either:
A - Given up
or
B - Hit the wall
Gonzalez is hitting under .200 since June 1st. He has hit .140 for the month of July and tonight he hit his first home run since June 23rd. Trying to say its because he has no one hitting behind him is an excuse and a bad one. He simply looks like hes going through the motions at the plate.
So why isn't Blanks getting an occasional start at 1B?
Headley is not exactly setting the world on fire with his .237 BA, so why isn't Blanks getting a few starts in LF?
Venable is hitting just .218, so why isn't Blanks getting a few starts in RF.
This guy COULD be getting at bats every day at AAA and instead he is picking splinters out of his behind in San Diego.
Why?
Padres trade Meredith for Salazar
Monday July 20, 2009
I have no problem with the Padres in essence dumping Cla Meredith for a utility infielder. In fact I am pretty happy with the Padres getting so much for a highly ineffective reliever.
Meredith has a decent ERA, but among relievers with at least 30 ip this season, he is among the bottom 30 (of 131) in LOB%. More than half of the guys who have done a poorer job of stranding base runners have spent significant time in the minors this season or are rookies.
He has also allowed 45% of inherited runners to score this season and 50% to score last year. As a starter you would cringe if you knew Meredith was coming in to try to clean up your mess. Chances are he is going to allow a runner to score if you left 2 on the bases.
By comparison for Padres pitchers,
Bell has allowed only 13% of inherited runners to score this season.
Greg Burke - 9%
Luke Gregerson - 20%
Edward Mujica - 27%
Even Joe "Becky" Thatcher has only allowed 30% to score.
League average is 32%. So 45% to 50% is not what you are looking for in a 7th or 8th inning reliever. In fact it is simply not acceptable performance for any major league reliever.
Meredith has also blown all 6 of the save opportunities he has had over the past 2 seasons. 100%. You just cannot get any worse than that in clutch situations.
And he was allowing a ludicrous Batting Average Against of .324!!
.324 is the stuff of Hall of Famers...HOF Batters that is.
So to get Salazar, a utility guy that has hit .321 in 112 abs coming off the bench for the Orioles to take the place of Edgar Gonzalez in the Padres lineup, for Meredith is a bonus. I would have been happy if the Padres got 10 bats or a A ball schlub for him.
So I will not shed tear one for Cla Meredith.
If the Orioles are lucky he will learn how not to choke in pressure situations in the AL East. I highly doubt it, but anything is possible.
I have no problem with the Padres in essence dumping Cla Meredith for a utility infielder. In fact I am pretty happy with the Padres getting so much for a highly ineffective reliever.
Meredith has a decent ERA, but among relievers with at least 30 ip this season, he is among the bottom 30 (of 131) in LOB%. More than half of the guys who have done a poorer job of stranding base runners have spent significant time in the minors this season or are rookies.
He has also allowed 45% of inherited runners to score this season and 50% to score last year. As a starter you would cringe if you knew Meredith was coming in to try to clean up your mess. Chances are he is going to allow a runner to score if you left 2 on the bases.
By comparison for Padres pitchers,
Bell has allowed only 13% of inherited runners to score this season.
Greg Burke - 9%
Luke Gregerson - 20%
Edward Mujica - 27%
Even Joe "Becky" Thatcher has only allowed 30% to score.
League average is 32%. So 45% to 50% is not what you are looking for in a 7th or 8th inning reliever. In fact it is simply not acceptable performance for any major league reliever.
Meredith has also blown all 6 of the save opportunities he has had over the past 2 seasons. 100%. You just cannot get any worse than that in clutch situations.
And he was allowing a ludicrous Batting Average Against of .324!!
.324 is the stuff of Hall of Famers...HOF Batters that is.
So to get Salazar, a utility guy that has hit .321 in 112 abs coming off the bench for the Orioles to take the place of Edgar Gonzalez in the Padres lineup, for Meredith is a bonus. I would have been happy if the Padres got 10 bats or a A ball schlub for him.
So I will not shed tear one for Cla Meredith.
If the Orioles are lucky he will learn how not to choke in pressure situations in the AL East. I highly doubt it, but anything is possible.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
And the Joke is on you!
Sunday July 19, 2009
Have you ever wondered how a AAA team would hit at the major league level?
Wonder no more. You got to see it tonight at Petco.
Here is what it looks like:
Folks, that is a joke. A bad joke, but a joke nonetheless. And the joke is on you.
Have you ever wondered how a AAA team would hit at the major league level?
Wonder no more. You got to see it tonight at Petco.
Here is what it looks like:
- .234
- .295
- .248 - and this is the best hitter on the team? Too bad he is hitting under .130 in July. He has plain given up.
- .239 - with 9 home runs = the cleanup hitter.
- .227
- .238
- .205
- .111
Folks, that is a joke. A bad joke, but a joke nonetheless. And the joke is on you.
Latos has lots of Minor League company for Big League debut
Sunday July 19, 2009
Mat Latos takes the mound today with many minor league players around him to help him feel comfortable, including his AA catcher .
In fact only the slumping Adrian Gonzalez (.235 in June and .132 in July - can you say, "I have given up on this season" any clearer?) and Chase Headley, who has been consistent in his mediocrity this season, were Padres starters to begin the season.
Going around the diamond you find the AA Latos throwing to the AA Lobaton then Gonzalez at 1B, AAA Rodriguez at 2B, Low A Cabrera, Headley at 3B, AAA Macias in LF, AAA Gwynn in CF and AAA Venable in RF.
Today at Petco Park we have the San Diego Mission Beavers facing the Colorado Rockies.
I guess it makes sense that a minor league type crowd of about 10,000 will watch Latos make his debut. After all a minor league type team is on the field.
I guess I am one of those to blame for attendance like that at today's game. I had tickets and decided not to go.
I tried to GIVE the tickets away all week and found no takers. Found absolutely no interested parties in two front row tickets. I guess that is as good of an indication of how the rest of the season is going to go attendance wise as anything a marketing survey might find.
So Moorad, Moores and Garfinkel - Give me a reason to renew my season tickets. Shoot, give me a reason to actually attend any more games this season.
Keep me in the loop on your plans. Help me to be excited about Padres baseball again. Or look forward to many more crowds like todays.
Mat Latos takes the mound today with many minor league players around him to help him feel comfortable, including his AA catcher .
In fact only the slumping Adrian Gonzalez (.235 in June and .132 in July - can you say, "I have given up on this season" any clearer?) and Chase Headley, who has been consistent in his mediocrity this season, were Padres starters to begin the season.
Going around the diamond you find the AA Latos throwing to the AA Lobaton then Gonzalez at 1B, AAA Rodriguez at 2B, Low A Cabrera, Headley at 3B, AAA Macias in LF, AAA Gwynn in CF and AAA Venable in RF.
Today at Petco Park we have the San Diego Mission Beavers facing the Colorado Rockies.
I guess it makes sense that a minor league type crowd of about 10,000 will watch Latos make his debut. After all a minor league type team is on the field.
I guess I am one of those to blame for attendance like that at today's game. I had tickets and decided not to go.
I tried to GIVE the tickets away all week and found no takers. Found absolutely no interested parties in two front row tickets. I guess that is as good of an indication of how the rest of the season is going to go attendance wise as anything a marketing survey might find.
So Moorad, Moores and Garfinkel - Give me a reason to renew my season tickets. Shoot, give me a reason to actually attend any more games this season.
Keep me in the loop on your plans. Help me to be excited about Padres baseball again. Or look forward to many more crowds like todays.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Kouzmanoff has more hits than Gonzalez?
July 15, 2009
I just lost a bar bet. Cost me an Arrogant Bastard and a shot of Makers Mark.
I was arguing that there was no way that Kevin Kouzmanoff has more hits than Adrian Gonzalez.
After all Gonzalez is an All Star. The best Padres player by far.
And Kouzmanoff? Well, he has been so bad that the Padres can't even trade him.
Guess what? Kouzmanoff has 80 hits and Gonzalez has 77.
Yes, I know that Adrian has 24 home runs and Kouzmanoff only has 12. But with 12 more home runs, Adrian only has 5 more RBI and he has had 16 more people on base in front of him than Kouzmanoff.
In other words, Kouzmanoff has done a better job of driving in runs. Kouzmanoff is hitting 40 points better with runners in scoring position.
Now the rest of the story.
Lets hope the rest of the season for Kouzmanoff is more like the past 10 games where he has hit .310 with 2 home runs, 7 rbi and 8 runs scored than the first 78 games when he hit .232.
If he can do that we can pretty much be assured that Adrian Gonzalez is going to have a better 2nd half than his All Star 1st half
I just lost a bar bet. Cost me an Arrogant Bastard and a shot of Makers Mark.
I was arguing that there was no way that Kevin Kouzmanoff has more hits than Adrian Gonzalez.
After all Gonzalez is an All Star. The best Padres player by far.
And Kouzmanoff? Well, he has been so bad that the Padres can't even trade him.
Guess what? Kouzmanoff has 80 hits and Gonzalez has 77.
Yes, I know that Adrian has 24 home runs and Kouzmanoff only has 12. But with 12 more home runs, Adrian only has 5 more RBI and he has had 16 more people on base in front of him than Kouzmanoff.
In other words, Kouzmanoff has done a better job of driving in runs. Kouzmanoff is hitting 40 points better with runners in scoring position.
Now the rest of the story.
- Kouzmanoff has hit behind Gonzalez (4-6) in all but 10 of his 328 at bats.
- While Adrian is hitting .209 with runners in scoring position, his obp is .480.
- The sad fact is that other teams are just walking Gonzalez to get to Kouzmanoff (or whomever the Padres bat directly behind him) who is still hitting under .250 with RISP.
Lets hope the rest of the season for Kouzmanoff is more like the past 10 games where he has hit .310 with 2 home runs, 7 rbi and 8 runs scored than the first 78 games when he hit .232.
If he can do that we can pretty much be assured that Adrian Gonzalez is going to have a better 2nd half than his All Star 1st half
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Does the All Star Game have ANY meaning today?
Tuesday July 14, 2009
Is it apropos that Heath Bell took the loss in the All Star Game, while Trevor Hoffman, whose team is still in the running for a playoff spot, pitched well?
Is it a sign of things to come for the Padres and the National League?
Or does the All Star Game really not matter at all?
I am putting my money on number 3. The All Star game really is not important.
It isn't a chance to showcase the best talent in the league, because frankly many of the top players are not in the game. The fans pick most of the players and the managers are handcuffed by a rule that says every team has to have representationso they often have to take a player that is marginal or that really doesn't belong just because the rest of his team sucks. There are players that are popular but not having particularly good seasons in the All Star game nearly every year.
And the game is more like a Little League game where everybody has to play. To heck with that. If the game means something you are out there to win, not to make sure al the little boys get a chance to play.
Trying artificially to make it mean something by having it determine home field advantage in the World Series is a crock because the pitchers go a maximum of 3 innings (most a single inning) and the starting 8 go maybe 2 at bats.
If we want the All Star Game to mean something:
I have had my say. Now what do you think?
Come on now, Don't be shy. Step right up and tell us all what you think!
Is it apropos that Heath Bell took the loss in the All Star Game, while Trevor Hoffman, whose team is still in the running for a playoff spot, pitched well?
Is it a sign of things to come for the Padres and the National League?
Or does the All Star Game really not matter at all?
I am putting my money on number 3. The All Star game really is not important.
It isn't a chance to showcase the best talent in the league, because frankly many of the top players are not in the game. The fans pick most of the players and the managers are handcuffed by a rule that says every team has to have representationso they often have to take a player that is marginal or that really doesn't belong just because the rest of his team sucks. There are players that are popular but not having particularly good seasons in the All Star game nearly every year.
And the game is more like a Little League game where everybody has to play. To heck with that. If the game means something you are out there to win, not to make sure al the little boys get a chance to play.
Trying artificially to make it mean something by having it determine home field advantage in the World Series is a crock because the pitchers go a maximum of 3 innings (most a single inning) and the starting 8 go maybe 2 at bats.
If we want the All Star Game to mean something:
- Take the best players period. Not one from each team. Just the best. If a team like Washington or Oakland or San Diego does not have a player who is among the 25 or so best players in the league then they don't get a representative on the All Star team.
Winning isn't about equal representation, it is about putting the best players on the field. And the game mwans nothing if you are not doing all you can to win the game. - If you want the fan vote to mean something then 1 vote per fan.
Not which teams fans can stuff the ballot box better. I know a guy that got a full case of ballots, and then punched the tabs for the Dodgers players with an industrial drill press. That one man must have turned it at least 5,000 ballots.
On a Red Sox message board one fan admitted to creating more than 100 email addresses on Gmail so he could vote for Red Sox players 2500+ times. How does it make it fan favorites when you can do that? Fact is it ruins the whole process. - Have your starting pitcher go as deep into the game as he is effective just like a regular game that actually DOES mean something
- Have your entire starting 8 go an absolute minimum of 3 at bats. If they are the best 8 players in the league, don't you think they should get the lions share of the chances to win the game with their bats?
I have had my say. Now what do you think?
Come on now, Don't be shy. Step right up and tell us all what you think!
Sean Gallagher as the PTBNL
Tuesday July 14, 2009
Yesterday mlbtraderumors.com reported that Sean Gallagher would be the player to be named later in the trade that sent fan favorite Scott Hairston from the Padres to the Oakland A's.
John Sickels of minorleagueball.com had a great article on Gallagher in March of this year. He said Gallagher's potential has been compared by Pecota to Brad Penny, Jeff Suppan and Jake Peavy among others. Sickels sees Gallagher as being an inning eating #3 starter.
Gallagher, a 12th round pick out of high school by the Cubs in 2004, throws a 90-93 mph sinking fastball with a plus curve, slider, and change up. He was the centerpiece of the trade that sent Rich Harden to the Cubs during the 2008 season.
This season the 23 year old Gallagher has a 8.16 in 2 starts and 6 appearances for the A's and 1.74 era in 5 starts with the A's triple A farm team in Sacramento. He is currently on the DL with a strained knee.
So we may be looking at Peavy and Young followed by some combination of Gallagher/Latos/Correia/Baek/Stauffer as the 2010 Padres starting rotation?
Not too bad.
Now will the Padres have any hitters?
Yesterday mlbtraderumors.com reported that Sean Gallagher would be the player to be named later in the trade that sent fan favorite Scott Hairston from the Padres to the Oakland A's.
John Sickels of minorleagueball.com had a great article on Gallagher in March of this year. He said Gallagher's potential has been compared by Pecota to Brad Penny, Jeff Suppan and Jake Peavy among others. Sickels sees Gallagher as being an inning eating #3 starter.
Gallagher, a 12th round pick out of high school by the Cubs in 2004, throws a 90-93 mph sinking fastball with a plus curve, slider, and change up. He was the centerpiece of the trade that sent Rich Harden to the Cubs during the 2008 season.
This season the 23 year old Gallagher has a 8.16 in 2 starts and 6 appearances for the A's and 1.74 era in 5 starts with the A's triple A farm team in Sacramento. He is currently on the DL with a strained knee.
So we may be looking at Peavy and Young followed by some combination of Gallagher/Latos/Correia/Baek/Stauffer as the 2010 Padres starting rotation?
Not too bad.
Now will the Padres have any hitters?
Monday, July 13, 2009
Whiney Krasovic resurfaces as a blogger.
Monday July 13, 2009
The guy who so often complained from his bully pulpit about the bloggers of the world is now one.
Tom Krasovic, recently canned by the new owners of the San Diego Union Tribune, has resurfaced with a blog on Voice of San Diego. (BTW Guys, respectable companies do not take .org domains if they are not a non profit organization)
Krasovic, who has long dissed the San Diego Padres organization even while they were winning 4 straight, has posted a blog blasting the team saying, "There may not be a less-talented team in the major leagues today".
Hey Tom, wake up.
I also have a bone to pick with you saying that it was under the orders of John Moores that the payroll was slashed. It was under the orders of a divorce proceeding that the payroll was cut. Ask around and you will find that Moores no more wanted to cut payroll than cut off his own nose. He did it because he had to. During a divorce proceeding of this type you cannot purposely lose money.
In 2008 the Padres lost about $15 million on a $73 million payroll. With expected drops in MLB wide revenue (and the revenue sharing check that keeps the Padres close to solvent) and the expected 25% drop in Padres ticket sales, the most the Padres could spend and stay profitable with a ticket sales (and concessions, parking, etc...) of 1.8 million is about $43 million.
And what was the Padres payroll cut to in 2009? About $43 million.
So set aside the BS about the Padres continuing to have teh lowest payroll in baseball. They have middle of road for MLB in Payroll in all but two seasons while Moores has been in charge, and Moorad has said they will grow the payroll back to the $70 million range. That is middle of the pack money and you know it.
So please. Stuff a sock in it.
You were a bad writer who didn't do your home work when you were paid to do it and now you sound like a bitter ex-writer who is lashing out at the very people who made your paycheck possible.
The guy who so often complained from his bully pulpit about the bloggers of the world is now one.
Tom Krasovic, recently canned by the new owners of the San Diego Union Tribune, has resurfaced with a blog on Voice of San Diego. (BTW Guys, respectable companies do not take .org domains if they are not a non profit organization)
Krasovic, who has long dissed the San Diego Padres organization even while they were winning 4 straight, has posted a blog blasting the team saying, "There may not be a less-talented team in the major leagues today".
Hey Tom, wake up.
- There are two teams with worse records and the Padres are 10 games in front of the Nationals. Obviously they are not the least talented team in the league.
- The Padres are injured, not talent less. There is a difference and if you did not allow your unbridled hatred for everything San Diego to cloud your judgement, you would see that and would have written about it.
- The farm team has provided enough players in Moores run with the team to allow for trades that brought the fans of San Diego the most wins and playoff appearances of any stretch in franchise history. While they may not have played for the Padres, the players developed in the Padres farm system were the reason the Padres could trade for the players that won all those games.
- The Padres have drafted in the top 10 just 3 times in the 15 years while you were "on the beat" in San Diego. VERY few high upside amateur pitchers are picked outside of the top 10. In fact I can count those in the last 15 years that were drafted in the 1st round outside of the top 10 that made a big impact at the major league level as a front of the rotation type starter on one hand. Roy Halladay in 1995, CC Sabathia in 1998, Matt Cain in 2002. There were actually more taken after the 10th ROUND that made an impact than outside the top 10 in the 1st round.
What I am saying is that the players you are talking about simply were not available when the Padres drafted. So your lack of research makes you look bad once again. - Loading your swing is pulling your hands back and UP. Burroughs DID load his swing. He did it naturally by KEEPING his hands up and back. And his problem wasn't hitting for average, it was hitting for power. Once again your hatred of all things Padres shines through as does your lack of knowledge of the game of baseball.
- What successful team concentrates just on local kids when it comes to filling their roster? What a crock of garbage. And the Padres PASSED on Zito? Zito went with the 9th pick in 1999, a year when the Padres first pick was # 20. Don't you even bother to CHECK what really happened?
And you are complaining that the Padres didn't take local kids like Zumaya and Giles that went in rounds 11 to 17 and even later. WTF are you talking about? NO ONE took those kids until the late rounds for a reason. They were not EXPECTED to be any good.- The Athletics passed on Adam Jones FIVE TIMES in 2002. The Cubs 3 times. 36 picks passed on Jones before he was taken 37th for a reason. He was not expected to be as good as the other players taken higher. And you wanted the Padres to take him 13th? Wouldn't that have worse than taking Bush with the #1 when he was expected to go around the 10th pick in 2004?
- Carlos Quentin went 29th and you wanted the Padres to take him with the #4 pick?
- Jacque Jones went #2 in the 2nd round and you wanted the Padres to take him with the 15th pick in the FIRST round?
- Masterson was taken 27th in the 2nd round and still is only projected as a 4-5 starter. So the Padres were supposed to take him instead of Huffman in the 2nd round? Or in your mind because he was a SDSU product he should have been taken instead of Matt Anonelli with the 15th pick in the 1st round, a kid that was the top 2B prospect in all of baseball going into the 2008 season?
- The hatred you display for the San Diego Padres maybe why you were fired from a San Diego newspaper. Or maybe it was just that you did such poor research and were wrong so often. After all you were not supposed to be writing an op-ed piece, you were supposedly REPORTING on the San Diego Padres.
I also have a bone to pick with you saying that it was under the orders of John Moores that the payroll was slashed. It was under the orders of a divorce proceeding that the payroll was cut. Ask around and you will find that Moores no more wanted to cut payroll than cut off his own nose. He did it because he had to. During a divorce proceeding of this type you cannot purposely lose money.
In 2008 the Padres lost about $15 million on a $73 million payroll. With expected drops in MLB wide revenue (and the revenue sharing check that keeps the Padres close to solvent) and the expected 25% drop in Padres ticket sales, the most the Padres could spend and stay profitable with a ticket sales (and concessions, parking, etc...) of 1.8 million is about $43 million.
And what was the Padres payroll cut to in 2009? About $43 million.
So set aside the BS about the Padres continuing to have teh lowest payroll in baseball. They have middle of road for MLB in Payroll in all but two seasons while Moores has been in charge, and Moorad has said they will grow the payroll back to the $70 million range. That is middle of the pack money and you know it.
So please. Stuff a sock in it.
You were a bad writer who didn't do your home work when you were paid to do it and now you sound like a bitter ex-writer who is lashing out at the very people who made your paycheck possible.
At Least One Padre Won a Home Run Derby
Monday July 13, 2009
While San Diego Padres All Star 1st Baseman Adrian Gonzalez bowed out early with a measly 2 home runs in the first round of the Major League All Star Game Home Run Derby at Busch Stadium II in St Louis today, Chad Huffman of the Padres Portland Beavers farm team won the AAA All Stars Home Run Derby.
Huffman is tied for the Beavers lead with current Padres Kyle Blanks and Will Venable at 12 home runs.
While San Diego Padres All Star 1st Baseman Adrian Gonzalez bowed out early with a measly 2 home runs in the first round of the Major League All Star Game Home Run Derby at Busch Stadium II in St Louis today, Chad Huffman of the Padres Portland Beavers farm team won the AAA All Stars Home Run Derby.
Huffman is tied for the Beavers lead with current Padres Kyle Blanks and Will Venable at 12 home runs.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Can the PTBNL help the Padres win?
Thursday June 9, 2009
Sitting here watching tonight's game and after the third showing of the Bikini Burger commercial from Carl's Jr. my mind is wandering again.
So I find myself wondering, do the A's have a PTBNL that can help the Padres win more games right now?
Would Sean Gallagher or Gio Gonzalez or Dana Eveland or any of their other pitching prospects make one bit of difference in how this season turns out?
Yes, I know that the Hairston trade was supposed to be about the future and building up pitching depth in the system, but will any of the players make any positive impact on the win column this season?
The eternal optimist, I still believe the Padres can win 75 games this season. So is it possible for this trade to somehow makes the Padres better now?
Obviously Italiano won't. Single A is a long way away. Ryan Webb won't make much impact as a middle reliever. That leaves the PTBNL.
So my question to you is, which of the possible PTBNL available from the A's in the Hairston trade will make the biggest (or any) impact on the Padres win-loss record in 2009?
Sitting here watching tonight's game and after the third showing of the Bikini Burger commercial from Carl's Jr. my mind is wandering again.
So I find myself wondering, do the A's have a PTBNL that can help the Padres win more games right now?
Would Sean Gallagher or Gio Gonzalez or Dana Eveland or any of their other pitching prospects make one bit of difference in how this season turns out?
Yes, I know that the Hairston trade was supposed to be about the future and building up pitching depth in the system, but will any of the players make any positive impact on the win column this season?
The eternal optimist, I still believe the Padres can win 75 games this season. So is it possible for this trade to somehow makes the Padres better now?
Obviously Italiano won't. Single A is a long way away. Ryan Webb won't make much impact as a middle reliever. That leaves the PTBNL.
So my question to you is, which of the possible PTBNL available from the A's in the Hairston trade will make the biggest (or any) impact on the Padres win-loss record in 2009?
7 of 9 should be in the minors tonight!
Thursday July 9, 2009
Ouch! Have you looked at the Padres lineup for tonight's game at the Giants?
On most teams, 7 of the nine guys penciled into the lineup for the Padres tonight would be in the minors. Maybe a 5th outfielder or a utility guy in the majors at best. An 8th, Kouzmanoff, is borderline. 6 of the 9 spent half the season or more in the minors last year.
Folks, this is ugly.
Having 10 players on the DL has killed the Padres season.
So who do you hold accountable for this teams injury plague?
Ouch! Have you looked at the Padres lineup for tonight's game at the Giants?
- SS - Cabrera (Asheville Tourists - Low A),
- CF - Gwynn (Nashville Sounds - AAA)
- 1B - Gonzalez
- 3B - Kouzmanoff
- LF - Headley (Portland Beavers)
- RF - Venable (Portland Beavers)
- C - Alfonzo (Fresno Grizzlies - AAA, Connecticut Defenders - AA)
- 2B - Rodriguez (Portland Beavers- 31 games)
- SP - Geer (Portland Beavers)
(In parenthesis - minor league teams played for in 2008, not including rehab assignments.)
On most teams, 7 of the nine guys penciled into the lineup for the Padres tonight would be in the minors. Maybe a 5th outfielder or a utility guy in the majors at best. An 8th, Kouzmanoff, is borderline. 6 of the 9 spent half the season or more in the minors last year.
Folks, this is ugly.
Having 10 players on the DL has killed the Padres season.
So who do you hold accountable for this teams injury plague?
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Eckstein to the DL and the Padres to last place
Wednesday July 8, 2009
Well another Padre is headed to the DL and the Padres lost 3 straight games they should have won against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
Eckstein, the gutsy one, is headed to the DL with a Hamstring Strain. I know that they are saying it will only be 15 days, but that type of injury seems to linger. OUCH!
The Padres have 10 guys on the DL again (they brought up Gregerson) and that is simply unacceptable. The guys responsible for this need to go.
Some people try to say that they can't prevent injuries, and I say THAT is precisely their jobs. To Train and Condition athletes to be in peak physical shape so that they perform better AND get hurt less often is what they get paid to do. Considering the record level of injuries on the team apparently they are failing miserably at it, so off with their heads.
Ok that is my rant for the day. Now what do you think?
Well another Padre is headed to the DL and the Padres lost 3 straight games they should have won against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
Eckstein, the gutsy one, is headed to the DL with a Hamstring Strain. I know that they are saying it will only be 15 days, but that type of injury seems to linger. OUCH!
The Padres have 10 guys on the DL again (they brought up Gregerson) and that is simply unacceptable. The guys responsible for this need to go.
- 1st off, its impossible for any team to win with 10 guys on the major league roster that should be in the minors.
- 2nd, no other team has even half as many injuries as the Padres over this season and last season combined.
- 3rd, the injuries include:
- 3 pitchers expected to be 1-3 in the starting rotation (60%) plus a pitcher signed to replace one of them in the rotation.
- 3 starting position players including the starting catcher (37.5%) and the backup catcher.
- At least 3 players who are gone for the season.
Some people try to say that they can't prevent injuries, and I say THAT is precisely their jobs. To Train and Condition athletes to be in peak physical shape so that they perform better AND get hurt less often is what they get paid to do. Considering the record level of injuries on the team apparently they are failing miserably at it, so off with their heads.
Ok that is my rant for the day. Now what do you think?
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Hairston Traded to the A's
Sunday July 5, 2009
I get home from what was an exciting game for the last 4 of the 13 innings to find out Scott Hairston was traded to the Oakland A's for 2 minor league pitchers and a PTBNL.
The Padres came back from a 6/1 deficit in the bottom of the 9th inning against All Star closer Broxton to send the game into extra innings. The Padres lost the game on a Ethier home run in the 13th.
In exchange for the only Padres who is really hitting well for two maybe's and a we don't know. Hairston and his $1.25 million salary were very marketable, but even so the Padres only got two nobodies and a ptbnl for him. I mean neither of these guys are top 30 prospects in the A's sytem and Hairston is an everyday starter in the majors.
Ryan Webb is a 6'6" 23 year old reliever in AAA who gives up more hits than innings and half as many SO than innings. His .313 BAA at Sacramento isn't exactly encouraging. And he is the better of the two prospects.
The other, Craig Italiano, has a great fastball that hits 95-96, but no secondary pitches or control. He may eventually be a decent reliever, but at 22 years old, the 6'4" 219 lb starter has fallen on his face performance wise at 22 in High A ball.
I get home from what was an exciting game for the last 4 of the 13 innings to find out Scott Hairston was traded to the Oakland A's for 2 minor league pitchers and a PTBNL.
The Padres came back from a 6/1 deficit in the bottom of the 9th inning against All Star closer Broxton to send the game into extra innings. The Padres lost the game on a Ethier home run in the 13th.
In exchange for the only Padres who is really hitting well for two maybe's and a we don't know. Hairston and his $1.25 million salary were very marketable, but even so the Padres only got two nobodies and a ptbnl for him. I mean neither of these guys are top 30 prospects in the A's sytem and Hairston is an everyday starter in the majors.
Ryan Webb is a 6'6" 23 year old reliever in AAA who gives up more hits than innings and half as many SO than innings. His .313 BAA at Sacramento isn't exactly encouraging. And he is the better of the two prospects.
The other, Craig Italiano, has a great fastball that hits 95-96, but no secondary pitches or control. He may eventually be a decent reliever, but at 22 years old, the 6'4" 219 lb starter has fallen on his face performance wise at 22 in High A ball.
A Win, a Loss and other Padres News
Sunday July 5, 2009
Let me start out by saying I hope you and yours had a happy and a safe 4th. I enjoyed by watching some good Padres baseball and some bad Dodgers baseball and baking in the sun.
It has been an interesting weekend at the Padres Dodgers games so far. I am still debating keeping my aching and well baked bones at home for the Sunday game.
The Padres won today at Petco 7-4 over the hated Dodgers despite Wo-manny Ramirez's solo shot in the 1st inning.
That was what one Padres heckler was calling Ramirez. He explained to us and to the rest of the fans and to Ramirez himself in a very loud voice that Ramirez took female hormones so he was going to call him Girly. But that because he was so f'ing old that he was going to call him Old Wo-manny.
We heard alot more cat calls and saw lots of signs in this series. Some funny, some not so funny. All directed at Ramirez.
"At least you don't have to worry about paternity tests anymore Ramirez. You are shooting blanks."
"Wood-less Manny." (A Sign)
"Hey Tranny! Isn't that what they call men with shriveled huevos, a tranny?"
"Hey Manny. Your Doctor Called. He said you are supposed to stop the steroids, when your huevos are the size of BB's"
"Its funny, you don't look pregnant Manny"
" Hey Manny I will buy you a ticket to the Hall of Fame. Its the only way you are getting in now.
Josh Geer threw his 4th consective Quality Start today, giving up just 2 earned runs on 7 hits and no walks in 6 1/3 inings while striking out just 1 but did not get the win. Greg Burke pitched 2/3 of an inning in the 7th to take the win. Heath Bell pitched 1 2/3 for his National League leading 23rd save.
Former Padre Randy Wolf went 6 innings for the Dodgers giving up just 1 earned run on 4 hits, striking out 8. The Dodgers defense and their bullpen came unglued and gave up 3 runs in the 7th AND the 8th innings. Ronald Belisario took the loss for the Dodgers.
Yesterday it was the Padres defense taking a siesta along with the bats until late in a 6-3 loss to the Dodgers at Petco.
The wheels fell off early with the Cabrera and Gaudin each committing an errors on single play with 2 outs in the first inning. To set it up for you, Rafael Furcal singled to start the game. O Dog grounded out, but moved Furcal over to 2nd. The Padres promplty walked Ramirez. Ethier then grounded into a tailor made double play ball to first base. Manny was out at 2B and Furcal moved over to third, but it all went wrong at that point. Cabrera airmailed the throw to first and what should have been out #3. Then as Furcal moved towards home plate, Gaudin airmailed the ball home. Run scores and ethier makes it to 2B. A walk to Blake, 3 singles later and the top of the 1st is over with the score 5-0 before the Padres get to take a swing.
The Dodgers scored 1 run on that play and an additional 4 in the inning and the Padres never recovered.
I must say they did fight back and score 3 runs, but it was not enough.
Gaudin took the loss and Kuroda got the win for the Dodgers.
In Other Padres News:
Take heart Padres fans, Silva will only have to make a few more starts.
Cha Seung Baek is coming back soon. His simulated game went well Friday and Black expects him to start a rehab assignment at Portland on Wednesday and make 4 rehab starts.
That puts his return at August 1st or before.
Gregerson may be back this week and Young should be back right after the All Star break.
Let me start out by saying I hope you and yours had a happy and a safe 4th. I enjoyed by watching some good Padres baseball and some bad Dodgers baseball and baking in the sun.
It has been an interesting weekend at the Padres Dodgers games so far. I am still debating keeping my aching and well baked bones at home for the Sunday game.
The Padres won today at Petco 7-4 over the hated Dodgers despite Wo-manny Ramirez's solo shot in the 1st inning.
That was what one Padres heckler was calling Ramirez. He explained to us and to the rest of the fans and to Ramirez himself in a very loud voice that Ramirez took female hormones so he was going to call him Girly. But that because he was so f'ing old that he was going to call him Old Wo-manny.
We heard alot more cat calls and saw lots of signs in this series. Some funny, some not so funny. All directed at Ramirez.
"At least you don't have to worry about paternity tests anymore Ramirez. You are shooting blanks."
"Wood-less Manny." (A Sign)
"Hey Tranny! Isn't that what they call men with shriveled huevos, a tranny?"
"Hey Manny. Your Doctor Called. He said you are supposed to stop the steroids, when your huevos are the size of BB's"
"Its funny, you don't look pregnant Manny"
" Hey Manny I will buy you a ticket to the Hall of Fame. Its the only way you are getting in now.
Josh Geer threw his 4th consective Quality Start today, giving up just 2 earned runs on 7 hits and no walks in 6 1/3 inings while striking out just 1 but did not get the win. Greg Burke pitched 2/3 of an inning in the 7th to take the win. Heath Bell pitched 1 2/3 for his National League leading 23rd save.
Former Padre Randy Wolf went 6 innings for the Dodgers giving up just 1 earned run on 4 hits, striking out 8. The Dodgers defense and their bullpen came unglued and gave up 3 runs in the 7th AND the 8th innings. Ronald Belisario took the loss for the Dodgers.
Yesterday it was the Padres defense taking a siesta along with the bats until late in a 6-3 loss to the Dodgers at Petco.
The wheels fell off early with the Cabrera and Gaudin each committing an errors on single play with 2 outs in the first inning. To set it up for you, Rafael Furcal singled to start the game. O Dog grounded out, but moved Furcal over to 2nd. The Padres promplty walked Ramirez. Ethier then grounded into a tailor made double play ball to first base. Manny was out at 2B and Furcal moved over to third, but it all went wrong at that point. Cabrera airmailed the throw to first and what should have been out #3. Then as Furcal moved towards home plate, Gaudin airmailed the ball home. Run scores and ethier makes it to 2B. A walk to Blake, 3 singles later and the top of the 1st is over with the score 5-0 before the Padres get to take a swing.
The Dodgers scored 1 run on that play and an additional 4 in the inning and the Padres never recovered.
I must say they did fight back and score 3 runs, but it was not enough.
Gaudin took the loss and Kuroda got the win for the Dodgers.
In Other Padres News:
Take heart Padres fans, Silva will only have to make a few more starts.
Cha Seung Baek is coming back soon. His simulated game went well Friday and Black expects him to start a rehab assignment at Portland on Wednesday and make 4 rehab starts.
That puts his return at August 1st or before.
Gregerson may be back this week and Young should be back right after the All Star break.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Un-BEE-lievable!
Thursday July 2, 2009
After Padres starting pitcher Kevin Correia's pitches were stung by Houston Astros bats for 8 hits and 6 runs in 5 innings, today's game at Petco Park was delayed for 52 minutes in the top of the 9th because of a swarm of bees.
The swarm of several thousand bees completely covered the jacket of the Padres ballgirl after the Queen apparently nested under the jacket. Eventually a beekeeper was called in to remove the queen and break up the swarm. The game continued after the delay and the Astros took the victory 7-2.
Once again the Padres offense looked anemic against a left handed starter. Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez held the Padres to 7 hits and 1 run in 7 innings. To date the Padres are hitting just .230 against LHP.
Former Padre Geoff Blum went 2-4 today including a 3 run homer and 4 rbi.
Scott Hairston provided the only real Padres highlights going 2-4 with a booming double to right center in the 5th inning to drive in Everth Cabrera.
Next up is the Los Angeles Dodgers and the freak show that will undoubtedly follow steroid abuser Manny Ramirez.
Tomorrow's game at 7:05 is sold out as Angelenos are undoubtedly streaming down at this very moment to spend their 4th of July holiday watching the joke that is Manny return from the 50 day suspension he recieved from MLB for being caught using not only steroids, but also a women's fertility drug that is also banned by baseball.
So folks if you don't have a ticket, that may be a good thing for you, as a visit from the Dodgers always brings with it the type of fans that the Raiders attract. In other words, way too many beligerent drunks and gang bangers.
While I will be in my seat all 3 games, I sometimes I wonder why I go to every game when the Dodgers come to town. I avoid the Raiders games even if it means eating my tickets, but I force myself to come to these games and even enjoy baiting Da Bums fans.
Oh well. See you at the park this weekend. Go Padres.
Beat LA! Beat LA! Beat LA!
After Padres starting pitcher Kevin Correia's pitches were stung by Houston Astros bats for 8 hits and 6 runs in 5 innings, today's game at Petco Park was delayed for 52 minutes in the top of the 9th because of a swarm of bees.
The swarm of several thousand bees completely covered the jacket of the Padres ballgirl after the Queen apparently nested under the jacket. Eventually a beekeeper was called in to remove the queen and break up the swarm. The game continued after the delay and the Astros took the victory 7-2.
Once again the Padres offense looked anemic against a left handed starter. Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez held the Padres to 7 hits and 1 run in 7 innings. To date the Padres are hitting just .230 against LHP.
Former Padre Geoff Blum went 2-4 today including a 3 run homer and 4 rbi.
Scott Hairston provided the only real Padres highlights going 2-4 with a booming double to right center in the 5th inning to drive in Everth Cabrera.
Next up is the Los Angeles Dodgers and the freak show that will undoubtedly follow steroid abuser Manny Ramirez.
Tomorrow's game at 7:05 is sold out as Angelenos are undoubtedly streaming down at this very moment to spend their 4th of July holiday watching the joke that is Manny return from the 50 day suspension he recieved from MLB for being caught using not only steroids, but also a women's fertility drug that is also banned by baseball.
So folks if you don't have a ticket, that may be a good thing for you, as a visit from the Dodgers always brings with it the type of fans that the Raiders attract. In other words, way too many beligerent drunks and gang bangers.
While I will be in my seat all 3 games, I sometimes I wonder why I go to every game when the Dodgers come to town. I avoid the Raiders games even if it means eating my tickets, but I force myself to come to these games and even enjoy baiting Da Bums fans.
Oh well. See you at the park this weekend. Go Padres.
Beat LA! Beat LA! Beat LA!
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Headley gets a shot at 3rd and blows it
Wednesday July 1, 2009
Chase Headley, the Padres current LF and a former 3B in the minors, got a shot to play 3B against RH pitcher Brian Moehler of the Houston Astros tonight.
He responded by playing extremely poor defense and going o for 3 at the plate. He misplayed a ball that was scored a hit and then threw the ball away with 2 outs in the 4th on a play that resulted in 3 unearned runs scoring.
I would guess Kevin Kouzmanoff will get the starts at 3B from now on unless he is traded.
Walter Silva took the loss while giving up 3 earned runs on 4 hits and 1 walk in 4 innings pitched. Silva has proven to be totally ineffective in his 1st two starts since returning from the disabled list. Lets hope its his last start of the season.
In other Padres news:
Kevin Towers says Peavy will likely not return until September if at all this season.
Nick Hundley's wrist is fractured and he will not return for at least 3 more weeks.
Brian Giles knee is not responding to treatment and he will not return before the All Star break.
We all wish Venable was hurt or sent down because he stinks.
Chase Headley, the Padres current LF and a former 3B in the minors, got a shot to play 3B against RH pitcher Brian Moehler of the Houston Astros tonight.
He responded by playing extremely poor defense and going o for 3 at the plate. He misplayed a ball that was scored a hit and then threw the ball away with 2 outs in the 4th on a play that resulted in 3 unearned runs scoring.
I would guess Kevin Kouzmanoff will get the starts at 3B from now on unless he is traded.
Walter Silva took the loss while giving up 3 earned runs on 4 hits and 1 walk in 4 innings pitched. Silva has proven to be totally ineffective in his 1st two starts since returning from the disabled list. Lets hope its his last start of the season.
In other Padres news:
Kevin Towers says Peavy will likely not return until September if at all this season.
Nick Hundley's wrist is fractured and he will not return for at least 3 more weeks.
Brian Giles knee is not responding to treatment and he will not return before the All Star break.
We all wish Venable was hurt or sent down because he stinks.
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