Just a few links for you to chew on today.
- Padres Hot Stove: Changes (Scout.com). John Conniff gives his takes on the moves that should be made. This one showed up in the comments a few days ago but it’s still relevant and worthy of discussion. I’d really like to see Eric Young return, because he was the cause of most everything positive that happened for the Padres in the playoffs. I also think Conniff is dead on in his assessment of Josh Barfield and Clay Hensley. A lot of food for thought here.
- Padres start staff purge (Scout.com). This is a little stale, but in case you missed it, the Padres have let go first base coach Davey Lopes, third base coach Rob Picciolo, utility man Damian Jackson, and a couple others. I didn’t have a real problem with Picciolo; I don’t know that I’ve ever been happy with a third base coach, and if I have been, it’s because I never noticed him. There’s a thankless job for you. As for Lopes, I don’t know what all his responsibilities were, but it’s mighty disappointing that a team with such a great baserunner on staff couldn’t figure out a way to tap into his expertise and get a clue out there.
- Richard B. Wade at Friar Faithful did a nice job the other day of breaking down the current Padres contract situation. Cool chart, aside from the part where Ryan Klesko and Chan Ho Park are eating so much of the pie. But it’s not Richard’s fault the Pads have committed over $21 million to those guys for next season.
- Johnson, Smith starring in AFL (Padres.com). Quick rundown of how the Pads’ representatives in Arizona are doing thus far.
- D-Backs eyeing Towers; GM considering options (U-T). I’m not going to get into this until something actually happens. Right now it’s all speculation. I will say I’m glad to see that pitching coach Darren Balsley will return. For those who don’t know, he’s been working with Jake Peavy since both were at Elsinore in 2001. No need to break up that tandem.
- Ed Barnes of The Writers has started doing a podcast with Brian Wilmer. Good stuff; give ‘em a listen.
That’s all for now. More as it happens.
The Yahoo article was interesting. It starts off saying the Pads should get rid of Klesko and Loretta.
The Klesko thing is easier said than done. I certainly wouldn’t be sorry to see him go, but I’m really curious as to what SD could get for him. I mean, another $10 million contract isn’t going to work.
As for Barfield — you have to play the kid sometime. He’s a top prospect, supposedly can hit and is an adequate fielder. He has nothing left to prove in the minors.
The Klesko contract is a bargain compared to the money we could potentially pay Williams. Woody could potentially earn $7 million. That’s a lot for a guy who shouldn’t even be able to make the team.
Re: Woody
Most of that $7 million would be incentives though, right? Theorhetically, if he makes all $7 million, then he’ll have had to have earned it.
Question: If Pujols hits that ball in Petco, where does it come down? On the warning track?
On the scoreboard? Behind the scoreboard?
WHAT A *BOMB* THAT WAS!
That moment was just *magic*!
ps. Watch the video replay (at mlb.com) and notice what Brad Ausmus does
If the Padres are going to commit to a youth movement someone needs to tell Bochy. Everyone was clamoring for his contract extension back in May but it’s not looking so good now. Can he really be an effective coach of a team going with a youth movement?
I’m more excited about guys like Ben Johnson, Barfield, Nady, Carillo, Macnulty and Hensley than any of the veterans on this team. Does Bochy feel the same way or does his thinking revolve around hoping that Klesko will “get something going here pretty soon”?
Even at $10 million I bet there’s some AL team that would take a chance on Klesko. We might have to send some cash along in the deal but that’s better than cutting him outright or keeping his iron glove and nerf bat out there at the expense of Nady and Johnson.
I’m less worried about Park because in my mind his salary is Nevin’s and Nevin is gone so it’s all good. Park was effective in spots and seems to still have decent stuff but needs a mental makeover. Even if he’s taking up a roster spot he’s probably useful in the bullpen.
Anthony: Good call on Park already being sunk cost. As for the kids, I’m pretty optimistic about Carrillo and Hensley (and Stauffer) getting a shot. Bochy seems to be more willing to try out young arms (Eaton, Peavy, Ollie Perez) than position players.
I like Johnson’s chances the best because Bochy has seen what he can do and seems willing to play him. McAnulty and Barfield are less known, although at least P-Mac got some exposure up here.
What will happen with Nady is anyone’s guess. There are too many possible scenarios for me to even speculate at this point.
Two things: First, what the hell happened to the Cardinals’ defense that was able to turn 12,000 double plays in three games against San Diego but against Houston can barely pick up a ball before it stops rolling?
Second (and I mean this is the most neutral, unbiased, nonjudgmental, conversation-starting way possible), would the Padre organization suffer that much if Kevin Towers were to leave?
I have thoughts about him but I’m honestly interested to hear what others think.
PS – Lynch, I did notice Ausmus. The guy’s a pro.
I believe 5 million of Woody’s contract is guaranteed, but I could be mistaken.
We wouldn’t miss Towers if we replace him with somebody like Forst.
I recall clamoring for Bochy to be re-signed. Wait, no, that was for Bochy to be fired.
I think KT has done an above average job over the years but it’s probably realistic to think that Alderson is running the show now. I won’t be happy to see him go but a management shakeup wouldn’t be a bad thing either, the KT/Bochy team has run things for a long time. Maybe some fresh ideas are needed at this point.
I do think highly enough of Towers that I don’t like him going to Arizona. They did pretty well with Garagiola Jr running the show and KT is a far better GM.
I’m glad that most of you guys liked the Yahoo article, one point on Klesko. A big reason why Klesko should not come back, other than performance, is to finally find out what Ben Johnson and Xavier Nady can or cannot do. If the Padres made the speculated trade to the Angels for Steve Finley, in all likelihood, Finley, regardless of how well he performs will take away at bats from Johnson/Nady.
If the Padres traded Klesko for prospects, or just cut him, the replacement cost is just sticking in Johnson, at a rookie’s minimum salary for Rino in LF. If the team is going to talk about its commitment to development, this is the perfect time to prove it.
Think about it, wouldn’t the team be better off if it just admitted it made a mistake with Nevin, and released him rather than trying to find something for Chan Ho Park to do?
Hey John, thanks for stopping by! I agree that now is the time to see what Nady and Johnson can do. Hopefully they’ll get a legit shot in 2006. It will also be interesting to see what the club does with Barfield. As you note, he doesn’t have anything left to prove at Triple-A.
young + cheap + talented = valuable asset
Anytime, Geoff. Its funny when I interviewed Craig Colbert, the Beavers manager, a whole bunch of the Padres minor league guys, they were unanimous that Barfield was not only ready offensively, but had really come on with his defense at 2b.
There seems to be a little bit of tension between the minor league guys who develop talent against people like Bochy who won’t play young guys.
The concept that he needs to go down to AAA to work on some things, in my opinion, is coming from guys who don’t want to make a decsion between him and Loretta.
If Towers leaves, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Loretta moved for a starting pitcher.