Padres Win! Padres Win! Padres Win!

Tuesday April 6, 2010

The San Diego Padres evened up their season record with 6-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field tonight.

Chris Young, in his first start since June 14 of last season, was in complete control allowing just 1 hit and 3 walks in 6 shutout innings

Everth Cabrera provided all the offense Young would need going 3-4 with a single, double and triple and driving in a career high 4 runs. Cabrera also added a stolen base to the Padres total of 3 SB in the game.

Chase Headley added his 2nd error in two games, but also had his 2nd straight 2 for 4 night at the plate, scoring a run on Cabrera's double in the 2nd inning.

Will Venable and Adrian Gonzalez added solo shots to the Padres 10 hit attack. It was Gonzalez 2nd home run in two games. A 162 home run pace? LOL

This was a much more satisfying result than last nights game. I drove the rental car 6 hours back to Phoenix in time to catch the game and found out that even though I had shown up, 2,000 or so Diamondbacks fans and the San Diego Padres bats had neglected to show up. In fairness the Padres  bats did show up in the 7th inning, but by that time it was too late. Padres lost by an identical, but reversed, score to tonight's game.

It is really sad how bad the baseball fans are in Phoenix. Its opening day folks. There isn't that much going on in Phoenix on a Monday night. You bought the tickets, you may as well show up at the game.

Well the Padres are .500 right now. If they can continue to play .500 ball into July, we may just get to see Adrian Gonzalez in a Padres uniform in August.

We can always hope.

Tomorrow Kevin Correia takes the mound versus Ian Kennedy at 6:40 PDT.

In related news:
The Colorado Rockies lost 7-5 at the Milwaukee Braves Brewers
The San Francisco Giants shutout the Houston Astros 3-0 for their 2nd win and the NL West lead.
The Los Angeles Dodgers had the night off after getting blown out by the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-5 yesterday.

Latos K's 7k in 4th win as a Padre

Saturday August 8, 2009

Mat Latos continued to impress in his 5th start as a Padre, striking out 7 while only allowing 4 hits and 1 run in 6 full innings to earn his 4th win as the Padres defeated the Mets 3-1 at Petco Park tonight.

Latos only mistake was a fastball to the light hitting Alex Cora in the 1st inning, who connected for a solo shot to right center. After that Latos settled down and recorded five scoreless innings.

The Padres were once again in double digits for hits. This is the 2nd time in the past 3 games and 8th time in the past 13 games that the Padres have had 10 or more hits. That is a very encouraging stat for a team that plays in the hardest park in baseball to hit in and has the lowest batting average and runs scored in baseball.

Tonights game was not without controversy as Everth Cabrera was called out on a play that he was obviously safe at home plate.

The Padres bullpen was once again outstanding as 4 pitchers combined for 3 scoreless innings and Heath Bell earned his 28th save of the season.

Was Barksdale the Umpire In Colorado in 2007?

Saturday August 8, 2009

In the worst blown call by an umpire since game 163 in 2007 when Holliday never touched home plate, home plate umpire Lance Barksdale called Everth Cabrera out on a play in which he was clearly safe in the bottom of the 5th inning.

Manager Bud Black was thrown out of the game for arguing the call.

Now Black will be fined for being thrown out of the game. A MINIMUM of $25,000.

Will Barksdale be fined or be suspended because he missed such an obvious play that he was in the perfect position to see?

If the Padres lose the game by a single run will the commissioners office make the Mets come back and play it over from that point on?

Of course not. Umpires get to act with complete impunity. No matter how bad they are or the result of their mistakes, they cannot be punished in any way.

Its a joke.

There needs to be instant replay for plays like that. They did it for home runs, its time to add plays at the plate. Its also time to give managers a red flag so they can challenge any call.

I also think that in this case, Barksdale should pay Black's fine. It won't give the run back or the game back if it results in a Padres loss, but it would take some of the sting out of a horrid call by the umpire.

(note: If I mispelled anything sorry. No spell check on my Crackberry.)

Cabrera giveth and Cabrera taketh away

Friday August 7, 2009

In the 1st inning an error by Everth Cabrera led to the New York Mets only two runs of game.

Known for his speed on the base paths not his power, Cabrera atoned for his early miscue by hitting hitting a walk off grand slam off Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez in the bottom of the 9th to give the Padres a 6-2 win. It was KRod's 5th blown save of the year and the slumping Mets 7th loss in the last 10 games.

Kevin Correia looked snake bit after that error allowing 6 hits, 2 walks and 2 unearned runs on 67 pitches through 3 innings. He then settled down allowing only just one Met to reach base over the next 3 innings. His line 6 IP, 7 Hits, 2 Runs, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 HR to lower his ERA to 4.51 on the season.

After 2 scoreless innings from Joe Thatcher and Mike Adams, Heath Bell came in and pitched a scoreless 9th to earn the win, his 4th of the season.

Former Padre Oliver Perez pitched 6 1/3 innings of 2 hit ball striking out 7 and giving up just a single run before giving way to Brian Stokes in the 7th. Perez has literally had an up and down year after signing a 3 year $36 million contract in the off season, being sent down to AAA on several occasions and throwing just 48.2 innings with a 7.03 ERA coming into tonight's game.

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.

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.

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.

Two Straight Wins in Interleague!

Sunday June 28, 2009

The San Diego Padres got the 2nd straight outstanding start from a beleaguered pitching staff tonight in Arlington against the Texas Rangers to win their first series in interleague play this season.

Padres starter Chad Gaudin got his 4th win of the season with a masterful 1 hit performance. Gaudin who has been plagued by walks this year gave up only 2 walks and 1 hit in 8 full innings.

Gaudin combined with Heath Bell to shut out the American League's best hitting team for 2-0 a victory.

Top prospects Kyle Blanks and Everth Cabrera continued to impress with Cabrera going 1 for 4 with a triple and a run scored and Blanks getting multiple hits for the 2nd straight game.

Scott Hairston broke out of a 2 for 22 slump going 3 for 4 with a solo home run and 2 rbi.

One of the most interesting things in the game for me was seeing Chase Headley swipe his team leading 7th stolen base. For a guy that often looks so slow getting to balls in left field to have 7 stolen bases is just amazing to me.

Interleague is over for the season and the 5-10 record is actually pretty good for the Padres. Now they come back home for 3 series against NL opponents starting with 4 games against the Houston Astros, 3 each against NL West rivals Los Angeles Dodgers (with Manny Ramirez returning from a 50 game suspension for steroid use) and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Kyle Blanks Called Up. Floyd to DL?

Friday June 19, 2009

This morning the San Diego Padres announced that they have called up their top hitting prospect, Kyle Blanks, from AAA Portland.

Blanks was hitting .283/.393/.485/.893 with 12 home runs in 223 ab so far this season while playing mostly at 1B. He has also had 15 starts in LF for the Beavers in preparation for a possible move to LF for the big league club. Blanks has been on fire recently, batting a ridiculous .424 over his last 10 games with a .500 obp. In June he is hitting .370/.478/.630/1.108

Blanks, a right handed batter, is expected to start in LF against left handed pitching and at DH during interleague games in Seattle and Texas. The Padres face 3 straight lefties against the series with the Oakland Athletics at Petco this weekend.

The left hand batting Floyd who was expected to provide a power hitting DH during interleague play and a big bat off the bench will likely be placed on the DL today.

The oft injured Floyd had spent most of the season so far on the DL already with shoulder and knee issues, having been recalled just 2 weeks ago. He has struggled in a pinch hitting role at the plate since his return hitting just .125 in 16 at bats over 10 games with 7 K's and just one BB.

If Blanks does well and Floyd hits the DL again, I don't expect to see Floyd back in a Padres uniform this season.

Although with just 39 players on the 40 man roster since Jose Lobaton was outrighted, there may be a trade coming. I certainly would not be averse to seeing the Padres make a trade that brings in a good starting pitcher or a big bat to protect Gonzalez in the batting order.

In other Padres news:

With the return of Everth Cabrera, Josh Wilson will likely be designated for assignment or released today.

Another one bites the dust

Wednesday June4, 2009

Another one bites the dust.

With Scott Hairston's bicep injury, yet another Padre went on the DL today.

That makes it seven players on the DL currently and nine players who have spent time there so far this season.

Will Venable was called up to take Hairston's place in the lineup. Drew Macias would have been called up, but a contusion on his left hand may send him to the DL as well.

Last time I checked the Padres were on pace for 1100 player days on the DL in 2009 or just a few under their MLB record of 1200+ player days on the DL last season.

The record amount of injuries that plagued the Padres in 2009 is what doomed their season. Could they be on the way to another injury and loss filled season?

I sure hope not. It is hard watching your AAA players in a Padres uniform every day.

The good news is that Everth Cabrera has started his minor league rehab assignment and has to join the Padres by June 23rd and Mike Adams is also on a rehab assignment and could join the Padres as soon as Friday.

Luis Rodriguez headed to DL

Thursday May 14, 2009

San Diego Padres shortstop Luis Rodriguez is headed to the disabled list with an ankle injury he sustained rounding first base on Wednesday.

This injury continues a pattern of highly elevated level of injuries that stretches back to 2001. The Padres were on pace for nearly 1100 player days on the DL before Rodriguez came up lame with an ankle injury that could sideline him for a month.

The Padres have almost a complete dearth of major league ready middle infield depth after allowing Travis Denker to be claimed on waivers in April, one of the biggest bone head moves management has made this season.

The shortstop that is closest to major league ready, the slick fielding Sean Kazmar, is currently hitting .162 in his first season at AAA Portland. The only other option is Brett Dowdy, a lead glove with a decent bat but no power.

So what options does that leave the Padres?

The Padres could play Chris Burke daily, but Burke has hit just .226 against RHP.

They could move David Eckstein to short until Luis Rodriguez returns and play Edgar Gonzalez at 2b, but Eckstein is 34 with rapidly fading range and Edgar Gonzalez is a butcher in the field.

Everth Cabrera is still at least a month away from returning from his own stint on the disabled list and while a promising prospect, he has only had 13 abs above low A.

If Kouzmanoff was hitting they could make a trade to bring in at least a good SS prospect or some help for the pitching staff, but he is currently hitting .216.

So what will the Padres do?

Probably nothing. There is not much they can do other than start Burke daily and bring up a temporary fill in from the farm.

Padres Fill Backup SS Slot

Monday April 20, 2009

It looks like the Padres were not satisfied with the SS options in their farm system to fill the hole left by the injury to Everth Cabrera.

Today San Diego made a trade with the Seattle Mariners to bring back Chris Burke.

Burke was traded to the Mariners shortly before the season started for cash considerations when the Padres determined he would not make the 25 man roster.

Burke has been playing for to Seattle's AAA team in Tacoma where he hit .237 with 1 HR in 10 games played.

Cabrera injures hand. Out two months.

Sunday April 19, 2009

Everth Cabrera injured his hand in an at bat in the to of the 6th inning today and is lost for at least 2 months according to the San Diego Union Tribune.

The Padres recently waived Travis Denker and Matt Antonelli is still on the DL so the Padres options at middle infield are extremely limited.

Will they call up Sean Kazmar or Craig Stansberry from AAA or Jesus Lopez or Eric Sogard from AA to fill Cabrera's slot on the bench?

Update Monday April 20, 2009
Everth Cabrera returned to San Diego for surgery on the broken hamate bone in his hand and was placed on the 60 day DL. Don't expect to see him back in a Padres uniform before Late July or early August.

Cabrera is eligible to return to the active roster on June 20th, but will probably not be activated from the DL until after the All Star break given that he can spend a maximum of 20 days on a rehab assignment in the minor leagues.

Padres get Two A Ball Players in Rule V Draft

December 12, 2008

The Padres two draft picks in the Major League portion of the Rule V draft has left me wondering what the heck the guys in the Padres Front Office were thinking?

They drafted a Sally League 2B (low A) with a mediocre arm (his arm strength is why he normally starts at 2B and only a few games a year at SS) and a Florida State League pitcher (high A)?

TWO A ball players? WHY? HOW are they supposed to help at the MAJOR league level?

NEITHER of them were even mentioned on any of the pre-draft discussions on Baseball America or Baseball Analysts or Baseball Prospectus or even ESPN. We have seen a rumor posted after the draft that the Blue Jays wanted Cabrera, but its just that, an unsubstantiated rumor. AFTER the draft Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus commented about Cabrera, but NOT in his pre-draft RULE V Draft article.

The Padres certainly should have better scouting than I do, but WHY would they even scout players at that level who have little to no chance of producing immediately at the major league level?

Obviously a Rule V draftee HAS to produce immediately at the major league level since they have to be kept on the major league roster all season.

Padres personnel, please explain what were you thinking, because for the life of me I can't figure it out.

It just makes no sense whatsoever.

And Mr. DePodesta, while we appreciate that you actually HAVE a blog, your blog post about this draft does not clear the confusion at all.

Despite your assertion, Everth's stats don't bear out that he will be a Furcal type player. At the same age and at HIGH A and AA, Furcal hit 40 points higher, his obp was 30 points higher, he stole 25% more bases and his slugging was only 10 points lower(that is just two extra base hits over a season).

That is a huge difference in production.

As for Nova, where exactly can we see him listed as a top prospect for the Yankees as DePodesta claims in his blog post? I can't even find a mention of him on the prospect lists on Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus or John Sickel's Minor League Ball. None of them considered him a Top Yankees prospect.

Even Kevin T. Czerwinski & Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com, the Yankees Beat Writers, didn't consider him a Top PITCHING Prospect in their system.

The only place I can even find him mentioned was in the Baseball America 2008 Prospects Handbook where he was initially ranked 18th among Yankees prospects, but that was revised with him out of the top 20 in February 2008.

Nova is not a strike out pitcher and he has not shown he has good control and he just gave up a .294 baa in High A Ball with no appreciable improvement over the 2007 season in Low A Ball. Just what did the Padres see in him that no one else saw?

It seems to me that the Padres drafted these guys just to send them BACK in a couple of months like they did with their Rule V draftees last year. Will these two even make through spring training as Padres? What good does that do the team? All they are doing is wasting 25 man roster slots.

I could see drafting a high potential player, but I don't see where anyone but the Padres front office thinks they actually HAVE potential.

I can certainly HOPE that I will eat my words when Cabrera morphs from a marginal 2B with speed into a Furcal type SS.

I can certainly HOPE that Nova suddenly starts allowing LESS than a .294 BAA in the major leagues.

But I am not going to hold my breath.

I've had my say. Now what do you think?