I guess my headlines need as much work as my weather-controlling skills, eh? After years of thinking about it, I finally get off my lazy arse and schedule a Ducksnorts meetup and it promptly rains out.
Welcome to San Diego.
I don’t have anything planned yet, but I’m thinking we should descend upon Petco Park sometime this summer. If we can get 25 or more people we’ll get a small discount on tickets and they’ll stick our name on the auxiliary scoreboard in right field.
Cool.
Anyway, about the catchers. Mike Piazza made his Padres debut on Sunday and launched a grand slam against Armando Benitez in support of the Friars’ 10-6 victory over the Giants. I love Piazza’s explanation of hitting: “Keep it simple. See the pitch, let it unfold, trust your hands.” Of course, it helps if you have really strong hands. But even if you don’t, like many things in life, it’s best not to overthink the process.
Meanwhile, back at the backup backstop battle (ugh, sorry!), Ducksnorts reader Nick G. notes that the Red Sox may be interested in reacquiring backup catcher Doug Mirabelli. No word on who Boston might send in return.
And moving further down the food chain, Padres.com has a nice profile on prospect George Kottaras. He talks about studying and trying to emulate John Olerud’s swing. Also, here’s an encouraging quote about learning how to play his position: “Nobody masters it… You’re always learning new things, trying to get better.” If Kottaras continues to approach his craft with that attitude, then he will learn and get better.
You might even say, if you were prone to saying such things, that he could catch on.
Re: the Pads sucky farm system…. this from another BP author (Kevin Goldstein), who at least finds some things to be positive about…
“What’s Working: The Padres are trying to recover from miserable drafts in 2003 and 2004, and their 2005 selections immediately brought up the talent level considerably. First-round pick Cesar Carillo instantly became the team’s top prospect, while second round picks Chase Headley and Nick Hundley both look like solid selections. The Padres have yet to develop a home-grown Dominican player, but that didn’t stop the club from spending $350,000 on outfielder Yefri Carvajal when they were outbid by the Mets for Fernando Martinez.
What’s Not Working: The 2004 draft has been mostly a nightmare so far. No. 1 overall selection Matt Bush has hit .216/.282/.272 as a pro. Even if he can rebound, he’s still a colossal mistake with the top pick, though Padres ownership (who did not allow the team to take Stephen Drew) is more to blame than team management for the pick. Third-round pick Billy Killian was slow to develop and was used as a throw-in as part of the Adam Eaton deal, and fourth-round pick Daryl Jones has been even rawer than expected. Draft-and-follow giant (6-6, 290) Kyle Blanks has an outside chance to be the draft’s saving grace. The system is especially weak on the mound, where Carillo is the only pitcher who projects as more than a back-of-the-rotation starter.
2006 Rookies: Second baseman Josh Barfield is ready, and should be productive, so it was curious to see the team bring in Mark Bellhorn to camp. Outfielder Ben Johnson was in line for a starting job before the surprising re-signing of Brian Giles, but could end up being the fourth outfielder. Rule 5 pickup and stathead favorite Steven Andrade should be an effective middle reliever, but no more.
I Like Him Better Than Most: Don’t give up yet on Bush. The California League could be just what the doctor ordered for him. He has Gold Glove potential defensively, and the offensive tools to develop into an everyday shortstop that hits in the bottom-half of the lineup.
Don’t Believe The Hype: Paul McAnulty is a career .304/.400/.485 hitter in the minors, but he’s a classic tweener who doesn’t have the power to be an everyday first baseman or left fielder, the only positions his limited athleticism allows him to play.”
I have to admit that I was wrong. I wasn’t excited at all about the WBC. Well..I decided to go check out the USA/Japan game yesterday at Anaheim stadium and it was the most intense atmosphere I’ve seen at a baseball game in my life. Almost more exciting than the 98 playoffs at the Q. Nothing quite like being in a stadium chanting “USA..USA” over and over again.
Something worse than being rained out at Tony Gwynn Stadium was traveling to Peoria to have the Pads/ChiSox rained out. I did manage to catch yesterday’s game against SF, though. Regulars looked good. Woody looked sharp. Cameron looked ready. Piazza surprised after the offensive showing he had for Italy in the WBC. Barfield made a nice play on a short outfield fly. Sitting on the first base side I can verify Walter Young is HUGE. Watching the Pads again made the two hour wait on I-8 due to snow in the mountains almost worth it.
Too many puns? Never! Keep ‘em comin’ … and if you can do Haiku too, that’d be great!
The article on Piazza’s hand strength was very interesting … I’d always heard that Aaron and Mays had incredible hand/wrist strength … you’d think that’d be more common …
re: Kottaras … I saw him play last year … and again last week in Peoria … he sure is a small guy …
And as LaMar says, Walter is HUGE!
Can someone explain to me why ESPN is showing Venezuala and Peurto Rico live, but they aren’t showing the USA/Korea game until 10pm on tape delay? They want people interested in this deal and then they make it impossible to watch the home team play.
I’m watching the USA/Korea game on Cox. It came on at 7pm.
Miarbelli for Wells – I still don’t believe Wells’ “I wanna stay in Boston now,” comments…
Wells is a moron. He can pitch, but he’s a moron.
How about this . . . Mirabelli (and something else, I imagine) for Clement? I would welcome Clement back.
I don’t have cox cable…I live in orange county and the USA games aren’t being shown live on Directv. Not that last nights game was much to see. I think A-Rod left 135 guys on base just last night alone.
Interesting contradiction in the post – you talk about Piazza wanting to keep it simple, and Kottaras wanting to “learn new things” about the process. Maybe they should get together. I”m with Piazza – just let the hands go, see and react. But, he’s been hitting for a long time. He SHOULD be at that point.
Thanks for the comment, Mike. I think the idea is that you want to reach the level of ability and confidence where you can just let it go without thinking about too much about the process. As you say, Piazza has been hitting (very well) for a long time so he can do that.
Also, Kottaras’ comments had as much to do with learning how to do his job behind the plate as at the plate. I may have confused the issue by juxtaposing that thought next to the bit about his swing being reminiscent of Olerud’s.
Thanks again.