Comments on: Ducksnorts at the Ballpark

By: Tom Waits

Tom Waits — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 12:37:35 +0000

We’re not the only team that hasn’t had a consistent philosophy. Doesn’t excuse us, though. You’d think an organization supposedly committed to building from within would have put together those guideslines around 1999.

I’ve never seen Hart play in person, but it’s a risk I’d take. The difference between him and Corey Smith is that Hart actually has hit. Smith’s never had an 800 OPS in the minors, Hart’s done in four times, including at AAA as a 22 year old. I’d also say that when Vinny Castilla is on the DL, or not hitting, or not with the team in 2007, he’ll have no value for the Padres.

Astacio thought he’d get a better deal elsewhere, so he declined arbitration. It seems he was wrong. Astacio’s better than Estes or Park, so there’s a reason to grab him.

I expect the team wants to see Stauffer show something at Portland. He was so bad after he was demoted, he’s going to have to show them something. Either lights out in the spring, which is hard, or a couple of good months in AAA.

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By: Didi

Didi — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 11:21:43 +0000

Agreed with Pat. How this comes to be the case with the Padres is absurd.

On Hart, no way. When he doesn’t hit, he’ll have no value for the Padres. And then, what? Plus, we got Corey Smith already.

I don’t understand the Astacio’s deal. Was he not signing because of the dollar amount or the organization? There is a chance that somebody decent is going to come out of ST to supplant the 4th/5th spot on the rotation and why would the Padres need Astacio then?

I’d rather have Stauffer for another go. Or Justin Germano. OH, wait, he’s with the Reds. Shoot!

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By: Pat

Pat — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 06:47:01 +0000

“He said that there will be a manual in place with the organization’s philosophy by ST where all the coaches throughout the organization would be teaching players the same thing so that everyone in the organization knows what is expected.”

How can you not have this in place? What does the organization tell them now? “OK, Coach, just throw a bag of balls and some bats out there and let them go play.” Didn’t Branch Rickey pioneer this sort of thing 50 or 60 years ago? Sheesh!

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By: Matthew Thompson

Matthew Thompson — Sun, 12 Feb 2006 22:41:26 +0000

I refuse to believe that Boston was the ONLY team with interest in Loretta. That’s just absurd. We needed a catcher. Unfortunately, we got Doug Mirabello.

Glad to hear that we’re addressing the pitching situation by waiting for Astacio.

Anybody explode during Friarfest?

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By: LaMar

LaMar — Sun, 12 Feb 2006 21:30:01 +0000

Went to Friarfest today and listened to Sandy Alderson in a Q&A. Four things came up.

1. Pads are still in negotiations with Astacio, with the understanding that they can’t sign him until May, since he turned down arbitration.

2. Reason for the Mirabelli/Loretta trade was because they were in need of a catcher and the only team willing to talk a Loretta trade was Boston. (Loretta was expendable, since Barfield appeared ready and, in Alderson’s experience, second base is one of the easiest positions to fill.)

3. He talked about his time frame to get the minors and the Dominican to the point he wants them to be. He said he didn’t have a specific time frame, but there were things in the works now to make improviements in those areas. He said any success in the Dominican would be better than they have now, since we have had no success to date and are taking steps to be successful in the DR. He said that there will be a manual in place with the organization’s philosophy by ST where all the coaches throughout the organization would be teaching players the same thing so that everyone in the organization knows what is expected. They are also developing a statistical matrix analysis to gauge improvement of players so that they can use definitive data to determine a player’s improvement.

4. In the future, the organization wants to make sure they don’t find themselves in the same position they were in this year when they had three of their most significant players coming up for free agency in the same year where it became necessary to prioritize who they want to try and keep.

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By: Matthew Thompson

Matthew Thompson — Sat, 11 Feb 2006 20:19:29 +0000

Every time I think I know what I'm talking about, good old Phentermine comes in with another astute post that forces me to rethink even my most basic presuppositions about the game of baseball. Sure, Geoff has fostered a good community here, but good old Phentermine is the heart and soul of Ducksnorts. Although casino online is no slouch himself.

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By: Geoff Young

Geoff Young — Sat, 11 Feb 2006 01:17:02 +0000

Have you actually seen Hart at 3B? Think Dave Kingman/Mark McGwire. I'd rather have Nevin there.

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By: Tom Waits

Tom Waits — Fri, 10 Feb 2006 20:25:12 +0000

Scouting reports on defense have a way of changing. Unnamed scouts said Chase Utley and Adam Kennedy couldn’t play 2b. Then they hit. Somehow their gloves got better.

I’d live with Hart and an 800 OPS for a couple of years if it meant not having to find another 3b after 2006 and not seeing a single start from Chan Ho Park, Shawn Estes, or Seth Etherton. But hey, why not trade a durable pitcher who’s better than his replacements for an aging 3b who Bowden couldn’t give away? In fact, why not make that trade the FIRST move of the offseason? The only thing that makes a bad decision more fun to pick apart is making that bad decision too soon.

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By: Geoff Young

Geoff Young — Fri, 10 Feb 2006 18:38:27 +0000

Nice idea, TW. Unfortunately Hart really cannot play third base. He'd be more of a roadblock for the Bozied/Knott set than anything else.

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By: Tom Waits

Tom Waits — Fri, 10 Feb 2006 15:16:21 +0000

Corey Hart’s name came up in a BP article today. With the acquisition of Koskie, and Fielder at 1b, the Brewers don’t have a place for him. He’s got good, not great, minor league numbers. Good OBP, decent power. Turns 24 next month. RH.

http://tinyurl.com/b4zqs

Nobody from TJ would come see him, but he’s the kind of player you acquire cheaply, pay cheaply, and control for years. If Chase Headley shoots through the minors, you can just dump Hart without worrying about your investment.

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