Amazing how much one trade & one DL trip effects roster

Monday March 28, 2011

Its amazing how much one trade and one trip to the DL can effect the opening day roster. And all in the space of 18 hours.

As widely anticipated, or at least bandied about, the Padres traded for utility man Alberto Gonzalez today. When Gonzalez joins the team, Everth Cabrera was optioned to AAA Tucson where he can play every day.. I was told at the game today that the Padres still consider Cabrera a front runner to be the SS of the future and they preferred that he have an opportunity to play every day at one position instead of backing up SS and 2B.


The Padres also placed Mat Latos on the DL retroactive to 3/22, meaning he is eligible to come off the DL on 4/6.

This caused a flurry of moves. Wade Leblanc was optioned to AAA camp so he could make a start with the AAA squad in camp and a simulated start in preparation for his 4/12 start against the Cincinnati Reds.

Because they cannot count on the innings Latos would have eaten and because there are 3 days off in first 8 days of the season, the Padres made a decision to go with 4 starters and 8 relievers. Moseley will make a start or possibly more in the absence of Latos in the rotation. Corey Luebke was added to 25 roster as the LH specialist and long reliever.Ernesto Frieri was kept on the active roster and Luis Perdomo will be added to the bullpen to start the season.

Did I miss anything?

I'm sure one of you will be glad to tell me if I missed anything.

1 year and 341,700 Frequent Flyer Miles Later

March 27, 2011

It has been an interesting, fast paced and hectic year in the Web Soulsurfer household.

I have logged 341,700 frequent flyer miles and more than 200 days away from home since March 31st of 2010.

I have met many incredible people, worked with some great clients and charities and visited some wonderful places. I have seen baseball games in 7 countries (actually 6 since Puerto Rico is a territory of the US, but don't tell them that).

But, and its a big but, I am exhausted and I miss my wife and home. Obviously I have not posted near as much on this blog and on the boards I have been so active on in the past.

I am nearing 50 (AARP is on my tail to sign up by my birthday in June) and I need to slow down and enjoy my life with my devoted and loving wife instead of jetting around the country and living in hotel rooms. Towards that end I have sold my interest in the sports/charity marketing business I have been involved with and will be relocating to new digs in a new city within the next month.

While I will be attending the Padres opening series of the season in St Louis, for the first time in 26 years I will likely not be able to make the Padres home opener as I take care of the last of my duties and transfer the company over to the new teams my (ex)business partner has hired to fill my duties.

Yes they are replacing me with two teams of 2 people each. Tells you how much work I have been doing when they have to bring in two teams to take my place.

There will still be a Websoulsurfer the blog and I may even post more often as I did in years past, but it will be from afar as I will be living in a AAA city of the West.

I do hope you will continue to read the blog and maybe even enjoy it more as it starts to be a more regular part of my life.

Just for shits and grins I may just publish the many (about 40) articles I have started (and never completed) writing in airports and hotel rooms over the past year even though they are dated and sometimes just plain wrong. But then being wrong never stopped me from posting before...

Best regards,

- Web

Your 2011 San Diego Padres Opening Day Edition - (Updated 3/28)

March 27, 2011

The San Diego Padres Roster to OPEN the 2011 season

Update 3/28 - Sorry this took so long, but spent morning on plane (what, me on a plane) and then had game to attend.

In an anticipated move, the Padres traded minor league starter Erik Davis to the Washington Nationals for utility man Alberto Gonzale.

To make room for Gonzalez, Everth Cabrera was optioned to AAA Tucson.

The Padres decided they prefer to have Aaron Cunningham play every day instead of as a 5th outfielder so Cedric hunter, who had a phenomenal spring, got the call to fill that spot.

Wade LeBlanc was optioned to minor league camp and will make two starts start there in preparation for 4/12 call up to face Reds as Padres #5 starter.

Mat Latos, Eric Patterson, Jarrett Hoffpauir, Joe Thatcher and Kyle Blanks were placed on the 15 day DL.  Latos, Patterson and Hoffpauir are eligible to return 4/6. Thatcher and Blanks when healthy.

Corey Luebke will fill the left handed specialist/long reliever spot in the bullpen until Thatcher returns or LeBlanc is called up. (Whichever comes first)

Ernesto Frieri and Luis Perdomo also will make the staff, at least until Latos, Thatcher come off DL and LeBlanc is called up to make his 4/12 start.

Dustin Moseley will get the start(s) in Latos absence.

This is a preliminary roster depending on if the Padres make a last minute trade. The roster WILL change within 10 days of opening day as LeBlanc will move from being the lefty out of the pen to the starting rotation for a game against the Reds on April 12th. Likely changes will be made on the 7th or 8th of April.

Starting 8

1B – Brad Hawpe

2B – Orlando Hudson

3b – Chase Headley

SS – Jason Bartlett

LF – Ryan Ludwick

CF – Cameron Maybin

RF – Will Venable

C – Nick Hundley

Bench

OF – Chris Denorfia

OF/Util – Aaron Cunningham – (Patterson will start season on DL)

MI – Everth Cabrera  (3/28- Alberto Gonzalez)

Util – Jorge Cantu

MI - Jarrett Hoffpauir (3/28- Placed on DL)

C – Rob Johnson

Batting Order on Opening Day

Facing Chris Carpenter of the Cardinals

Leading off – Will Venable (LHB) - RF

Batting 2^nd – Jason Bartlett (RHB)– SS

Batting 3^rd – Orlando Hudson (SW) – 2B

Batting 4^th – Brad Hawpe (LHB) – 1B

Batting 5^th – Ryan Ludwick (RHB)– LF (moving back to his natural position)

Batting 6^th – Chase Headley (SW) – 3B

Batting 7^th - Nick Hundley (RHB) – C

Batting 8^th – Cameron Maybin (RHB) – CF

4^th and 5^th will swap depending on RHP or LHP

Starting Rotation

Tim Stauffer - RHP

Aaron Harang - RHP

Clayton Richard - LHP

Mat Latos - RHP (3/28 - Placed on DL retroactive to 3/22)

Wade LeBlanc - RHP (may start in bullpen as his first start will be April 12th vs Reds)
(3/28 - Leblanc optioned to minor league camp until 4/12 start)

Bullpen

Cl  - Heath Bell - RHP

SU - Mike Adams - RHP

SU - Luke Gregerson - RHP

MR - Pat Neshek - RHP

MR - Chad Qualls - RHP

LR - Dustin Moseley - RHP - (Moseley will get start(s) in Latos absence)
LR - Corey Luebke - LHP
LR - Luis Perdomo - RHP
MR - Ernesto Frieri - RHP

Joe Thatcher will start the season on the DL

Ernesto Frieri has options so he will start the season in AAA

The Padres will start the season with only 11 pitchers until LeBlanc has to prepare for his start or about April 8th. Likely Thatcher will come off the DL if he is ready and Cunningham or Hoffpauir would be sent down. If not Frieri or southpaw Luebke could be called up.