first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Tim Stauffer (1-2, 4.55 ERA) vs Mark Buehrle (7-1, 3.15 ERA)
previews: ESPN | CBS | Padres.com
Same old story Friday night: Padres had chances but couldn’t take advantage of them. When you’re playing a good team like the White Sox, that’s not a recipe for success. On the bright side, we did come home with some sweet Aki T-shirts. They look great, but don’t change the fact that the Dodgers and Diamondbacks both have crept back to within 2 1/2 games of first place in the NL West.
Again, with the interleague contest, it’s tough to break down the matchups so I won’t. Instead, with the draft still on my mind, and with former Padre first-rounder Dustin Hermanson getting the save Friday against his old uniform, I thought I’d take a quick look back at the 1995 draft.
In the latest issue of Baseball America, they re-examine some drafts from the past and try to figure out how things would have played out if we knew then what we know now. You may recall that in 1995, the Friars tabbed Pennsylvania high school catcher Ben Davis with their first pick (second overall). Unfortunately, aside from a few brief stretches here and there, Davis hasn’t had much big-league success and has managed to work his way back down the minor leagues.
Baseball America suggests that if they had it do over again, the Padres would take Kerry Wood (who went #4 to the Cubs) with that pick but I’m not so sure. BA has the Angels taking Todd Helton first overall. This would have left San Diego to choose from – in addition to Wood – the likes of Roy Halladay, Matt Morris, and Sean Casey. But there was another player out there I’m pretty sure I would have taken (with the benefit of knowledge nobody had at the time, of course), the guy Kansas City ended up grabbing in the second round, Carlos Beltran.
No disrespect to Wood, who when healthy has been a pretty good (and occassionally brilliant) pitcher, but I’m not convinced he would even be the second pitcher taken in that draft, let alone the second player. Still, he would have been a fair shake better than Davis. And of course, Beltran has been better than both. Ah, the wisdom of hindsight.
Speaking of the draft, the U-T is reporting that the Padres have agreed to terms with LHP Cesar Ramos. The 35th pick overall, taken as compensation for the Red Sox signing David Wells (thank you!) will receive a bonus of $950k. Word is, Ramos may end up at Elsinore later this summer.
Speaking of Cesars, Peter has posted an interview with this year’s first-round pick, RHP Cesar Carrillo. Check it out.
And in other Padre blog news, regular Ducksnorts reader and commenter Lance (DONG!!! DONG!!! DONG!!! DONG!!! DONG!!!) has joined up with Richard over at Friar Faithful. Go over and say hey when you have a chance.
Finally, to those of you who may have discovered Ducksnorts via Channel 4′s Outta Left Field, welcome aboard! Good to see you joining us during the games (as well as before and after!). Despite the recent struggles, this remains a very good Padre team. And if you look around MLB at what some other ballclubs are putting out on the field, I think you’ll agree that we can be pretty proud of the guys who call Petco home. They’re not perfect, but they’re pretty darned good, and they will turn things around again. And when they do, we can welcome even more folks who suddenly become interested in talking about the Padres. 
I have no problem with people jumping on the bandwagon, dig? I just want to make sure that once they’re on, they stick around awhile. A win tonight against the White Sox couldn’t hurt. Let’s do it.
As much as I would like to see Bochy go, I really have no idea on who’s out there to replace him. I certainly don’t want to pull a KC and name someone like Bell. I’m afraid that if they let Bochy go, that they would be lazy and simply promote Davy Lopes or something.
Stauffer was dominant. Dominant.
You know how they do that promotion where they let a little kid announce a player?
yeah I’ve seen the kids.
In fairness to Bochy, he’s not the one stranding runners in scoring position. At some point these guys have to execute.
That’s how I’d replace him.
I think if Bochy is dumped, I would trust Alderson to make a better decision than Lopes.
How do you even walk Juan Uribe?
That’s true, Geoff. However, Bochy does decide where to bat the guys and he likes to put crappy hitters in between his good hitters.
I’d certainly hope so Kevin.
Leadoff walk, not good. Can we put Stauffer back in?
Good call on that, Kevin. I hope Alderson has been watching. “Change is good.”
Aki’s just looking to get into trouble. Bring Hammond in before it’s too late.
So did Stauffer have to come out? I guess he came out because we were trying to score. But I’m at work, and not coming up closely.
Shoot, that was a good pitch by Aki. Just a better piece of hitting by Crede.
What happened to the 8th being Linebrink’s inning?
The guy is trying to give you an out and you can’t throw a strike? C’mon, Aki!
Kevin: We weren’t trying to score. Ojeda pinch-hit instead.
Honestly. Miguel Ojeda is not a guy you pinch-hit with. He’s a guy you pinch-hit for.
Thank goodness Buehrle has no clue up there.
That’s an important out. Sets up the double play. One problem: Podsednik is fast.
Aki tried to make it 2-0 on that pitch.
Woody would have gotten the run home!
Great stop by Ramon.
Right, he should relieve Ramon and hit eighth when he does it.
He needs to work for a strikeout. You don’t want the ball in play.
Ramon can’t let a ball get by him here and Aki can’t put one in the strike zone.
How’s that for executing? That was not a strike. We’ll take it.
Huge strikeout by Aki.
Nice K for the second out.
This is a huge at-bat.
Ojeda presents a problem in that he’s really an offense-first catcher. If he’s not good enough to use as a pinch-hitter, he probably doesn’t belong on a big-league roster. I think the fact that he backs up one of the most durable catchers in baseball doesn’t allow him to get enough reps at the plate.
Hell, they’re all huge at this point. 1-2 count.
I agree that he doesn’t belong on a big league roster, Geoff.
Suraida!
Strikes out the side in the eighth. Yossha!
YOSHA! (or whatever)
That called third strike was just as much of a strike as some of Buerhle’s calls.
“Slider!” That’s an interesting exclamation, Geoff.
Actually, that’s not what I meant. I think Ojeda is a good enough hitter to be in the big leagues. Backing up a guy like Ramon is very tough, though, as there isn’t enough opportunity to get into and stay in a rhythm at the plate.
Bruce, that’s true. He’s been calling the corners all night. It’s been consistent.
I knew it wasn’t what you meant, Geoff. I just don’t think he’s a good enough hitter. When EY comes back, I’d rather have have everybody else over Ojeda.
There are guys in AAA I’d rather have than Ojeda. (Bobby Scales for instance)
It would be an interesting use of the roster to keep Fick as the lone backup catcher.
DJ fought well but that last swing was disappointing.
Scales can’t play catcher.
Nice stroke by Khalil.
Greene is 2 for 4. A return to his 2004 form would be great.
Come on Giles, park it! I don’t want to be shut out again.
How many guys do you need who can play catcher? Fick catches. Nevin can catch in an emergency. What’s the issue?
It’s that backup catcher brotherhood that apparently has bonded Ojeda to Bochy for life.
I bring in Sweeney or Fick right now for Nevin.
He’s finally gone. Great performance by Buerhle.