Weekend Notes

by Geoff Young on Feb 20, 2005

  • Prospect Pulse – Having The No. 1 Pick Is A Mixed Bag (BA, via Hank at Fanstop). Some good insights from Padres scouting director Bill Gayton, who sees the top of the draft as “overvalued” and likes the greater flexibility afforded by picking later in the first round. What direction might the Pads be headed with their first pick? “Gayton admits the parameters are different for him this year, when the Padres draft 18th overall. He can scout college relievers hard.”
  • Padres open camp hoping stand-pat approach is springboard to success (NC Times). Article notes that the Dodgers, Giants, and Diamondbacks spent over $267M on 10 players. Quoth Kevin Towers: “…just because other people want to spend crazily doesn’t mean that we have to follow suit.” Amen, brother.
  • Padres open camp with few questions to answer and plenty of potential to realize (U-T). Most of the roster is set. There are no rookies trying to stave off the likes of Rey Ordonez this spring. Sean Burroughs’ right knee is fine. Ryan Klesko and Brian Lawrence also are cited as being in good shape. Dave Roberts and his hamstrings will be under the watchful eye of trainers Jim Daniel and Todd Hutcheson. Adam Eaton is working to tighten up his breaking ball and Blaine Neal hopes to add a splitter or forkball.
  • May could take fifth for Padres (NC Times). The Padres are optimistic about Darrell May, apparently thinking that Petco Park’s big outfield will help him. Bruce Bochy compares May’s style of pitching to that of Tom Glavine and Kirk Rueter. I assume that means he nibbles at the outside part of the plate. Bochy also mentions Justin Germano, Tim Stauffer, and (gulp) Steve Sparks as contenders for the rotation.
  • Padres thinking big in 2005 (Padres.com). Woody Williams opens the season opener in Denver; Jake Peavy opens at home against the Pirates. Some are trying to make this into an issue, but it’s not. Germano, Stauffer, and Andy Ashby are mentioned as possibilities for the fifth spot in the rotation if May doesn’t win the job. Xavier Nady will get “a lot of work” at third base, but isn’t considered a threat to unseat Burroughs at the position. Among prospects, Stauffer, Josh Barfield, and Tagg Bozied have gotten Bochy’s attention.
  • Otsuka warms to language, culture of America (U-T). Aki likes In’N'Out Burgers. Can you blame him? He’s also working on a changeup. On a team that features Trevor Hoffman and Chris Hammond, you have to like his chances of learning one.
  • Peavy wants pact done before April, or it’s arbitration (U-T). Let’s get this done. Key passage from the article: “Because of the many large pay raises obtained by pitchers this offseason, Peavy’s salary potential already has soared since the Padres decided last March against tying him up with a long-term deal.” Thank you, Kris Benson.
  • Fifth-starter battle begins (Padres.com). May is the favorite, but Stauffer and Germano are also mentioned: “Stauffer enters camp with a slight edge over Germano, but given the No. 5 slot is undecided and also is a key decision this spring, both are under consideration.”
  • Peavy’s challenge: Repeat success (Padres.com). One thing Peavy is working on is getting more first-pitch outs and reducing his pitch counts.

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