If you enjoy a train ride, you can leave Solana Beach just before 7 a.m. and arrive at Santa Barbara in time for lunch. If you go on a Sunday, you can eat an excellent brunch at Eladio’s, just a few blocks from the station, toward Stearns Wharf. Then you can walk around the beach, hop back on the train, and be back home in time for a late supper.
Incidentally, this train also stops in Anaheim, right at the stadium where the Fullerton Angels of Brea play. Pay a little extra for business class so you can stretch out and relax along the way.
Further south, of course, is where the Padres play. In our continuing review of the Padres’ 2005 season, we next look at left field. Surprise, it’s not as bad as you remember.
[Previous entries in this series: C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS]
| BA | OBP | SLG | BB/PA | ISO | SEC | RC/27 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Padres left fielders | .262 | .361 | .412 | .130 | .151 | .309 | 5.40 |
| MLB rank | 24 | 6 | 18 | 4 | 20 | 10 | 16 |
| Stats courtesy of ESPN. Color key: green, top 10; yellow, middle 10; red, bottom 10. |
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| FPct | RF | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Padres left fielders | .985 | 2.09 | |||||
| MLB average | .984 | 1.94 | |||||
| Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com. Color key: green, above average; red, below average. |
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Eleven players appeared in at least one inning in left field for the Padres in 2005. Ryan Klesko logged about 64% of the left field innings, with Eric Young picking up another 11%. The remaining 25% were split among Xavier Nady, Damian Jackson, Ben Johnson, Adam Hyzdu, Paul McAnulty, Miguel Ojeda (don’t get me started), Robert Fick, Mark Sweeney, and Brian Giles.
Ryan Klesko
Summary
| BA | OBP | SLG | BB/PA | ISO | XBH/H | RC/27 | OPS+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | .291 | .399 | .448 | .152 | .157 | .368 | 6.50 | 127 |
| 2005 | .248 | .358 | .418 | .144 | .170 | .345 | 5.18 | 112 |
| Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com. Color key: green, positive trend; red, negative trend. |
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| FPct | RF | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Klesko | .981 | 2.04 | ||||||
| MLB average | .984 | 1.94 | ||||||
| Stats courtesy of ESPN. Color key: green, above average; red, below average. |
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I don’t have league averages for zone rating, but Klesko checked in at .864. As measured by range factor and zone rating, there was virtually no difference between Klesko and Pittsburgh’s Jason Bay last season. To me this says more about range factor and zone rating than about Klesko or Bay, but that’s a rant for another day.
Expectations
From my season preview over at Baseball Think Factory:
If he can stay healthy (as of this writing he was experiencing some discomfort in his throwing shoulder – not the one that was hurt before), there’s no reason to believe Klesko can’t approach the goals he’s set for himself this year (.320 batting average, 15 homers, .400 on base percentage).
Positives
- Maintained solid plate discipline.
- Doubled home run output from previous season.
Negatives
- Disappeared after All-Star break (.211/.328/.323).
- Set career lows in SLG and RC/27; lowest OPS+ since he hit .261/.334/.490 for the Braves in 1997.
- Player without a position in a league that doesn’t use the DH.
- Large contract, no-trade clause.
Outlook
Klesko is transforming himself into Matt Lawton without the speed or defense. That’s not exactly what you want out of a guy making the kind of money Klesko makes but it’s more useful than, say, Phil Nevin would be.
Klesko is better suited to the AL at this point in his career but isn’t likely to be moving from San Diego any time soon. However, due to physical issues and the lack of anyone else to fill the position, he probably will be moving back to first base in 2006.
Toward the end of last season, the Padres experimented with Klesko in the #2 hole, which actually wasn’t a bad idea. If he can continue to draw walks, and if he can concentrate on hitting line drives into the gaps instead of trying to yank balls out of the park, Klesko could contribute in a Lyle Overbay/Raul Ibanez kind of way.
Eric Young
Summary
| BA | OBP | SLG | BB/PA | ISO | XBH/H | RC/27 | OPS+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | .288 | .377 | .381 | .107 | .093 | .283 | 4.80 | 91 |
| 2005 | .275 | .356 | .380 | .110 | .105 | .282 | 4.42 | 103 |
| Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com. Color key: green, positive trend; red, negative trend. |
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| FPct | RF | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Young | 1.000 | 2.52 | ||||||
| MLB average | .984 | 1.94 | ||||||
| Stats courtesy of ESPN. Color key: green, above average; red, below average. |
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Expectations
From my season preview over at Baseball Think Factory:
Geoff Blum and Eric Young are the backup infielders. Both can play anywhere; Young brings a little more to the table at the plate and could spell Roberts in centerfield against lefties.
Positives
- Maintained most of his offensive skills despite advanced age and moving from one of best hitters environments to one of worst.
- Highest OPS+ since 2000, when he hit .297/.367/.399 as the starting second baseman for the Chicago Cubs.
- Plays with tremendous enthusiasm and is a great influence on some of the younger guys.
Negatives
- Spent much of the season on the DL thanks to a dislocated shoulder incurred on a spectacular catch in center field on Opening Day at Petco Park.
- Isn’t the base stealing threat he once was.
Outlook
Young is probably the most energetic player to wear a Padres uniform since Eric Owens called San Diego home in 1999 and 2000. He is the kind of player I go to the ballpark to watch practice his craft.
Although Young’s days as a regular are well behind him, his versatility in the field, studied approach at the plate, and (uh-oh) character still make him an asset to a big-league club. Young has re-signed with the Padres for 2006 and will be asked to fill the same role he did last year, hopefully without so much time on the DL.
Hopefully, Klesko’s back will be worked on every night of the season for 1B. I just can’t see him being able to play much there. OTOH, he’s out of LF. Good. Let’s see if the Padres are going to stick Ben Johnson there.
Looks like crazy deal again:
The Mets have landed coveted closer Billy Wagner in a four-year deal worth $43 million.
I bet they could have landed a decent #4 and #5 starters with that kind of money and stick anybody with decent fastball control as the closer.
Bye-bye, Hoffy. Hello, Linebrink.
Man, I should have been a reliever. Anyone else think we have a decent shot of keeping Ramon or landing Molina? There doesn’t seem to be a lot of interest in either of them.
For the same amount of money, I’ll take Bengie over Ramon. Do we want Bengie for 3 years? Probably not, maybe 2 with option and no no-trade clause.
No, Geoff, you should be a LOOGY. Then, you get to travel and work very little. If Oropesa could pitch in the majors, so should most of us and most of us aren’t lefty.
We shouldn’t go after Bengi or Ramon – save $$$. We have Kottaras coming. Secondly, if Hoffy doesn’t go to NY, will Philly go after Hoffy?
Remember, Hoffy wants to close.
Re. Wagner’s deal: I called it! – I said 3/30 wouldn’t be enough if Ryan got 5/47…
Didi: Thanks for the Oropesa flashback; I needed that.
PF: How far away do you think Kottaras is? Have you heard anyone express concerns about his size? He looks a little on the small side by big-league catcher standards, but maybe that’s just me.
As for Hoffman, if he’s serious about keeping up with the likes of Wagner, Ryan, and Eyre, there’s no way the Padres should be throwing that kind of money at him.
I think Kottaras is too far away yet to worry about … he’s 2008 at the earliest …
Here’s yet another opinion about the Camy/Nady deal, from Joe Sheehan @ BP … http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=4624
Size isn’t a concern… In fact, there was a trend in the mid-late 90′s to go to big catchers, but bigger bodies take more time to uncurl (read: lack of quick release). Pudge is 5’10″, Ausmus isn’t that big, Hernandez isn’t monstrous, the list is long…
Kottaras in ’08?
George more than held his own in Hi-A, was promoted to AA and did hold his own… He should be back in AA to start the season. We should expect another solid (not spectacular – pitcher’s park) season… Don’t be surprised with a mid-season promotion to AAA. He could be ready in 07 easy…
PF: Good point about tall catchers. My concern actually has more to do with bulk than height. It seems (without any supporting evidence) that a smaller guy might have trouble withstanding the physical demands of the position over the long haul.
I’ve seen him in person, his frame is fine. He’s not the thickest (but then that could accelerate knee problems) but he’s not a string-bean either. He’ll continue to fill out for the next 3-4 years…
Thanks, Peter. Your eye is better than mine on such matters, so I appreciate the input.
“Your eye is better than mine on such matters…”
Hey, don’t get me wrong, I still like women (exclusively! – or, I should say, “a woman”). I just pay attention to athletes’ physicality…
LOL…
yeah, if you love women and you get married, then you just love woman. Then you get that disease: one____.
see if anyone gets that reference…