Comments on: Friday Links (28 Jul 06)

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 00:36:00 +0000

Certainly the game last night was not lost by Geoff Blum. However, there should have been a bigger cushion than there was. The Padres have looked pretty mediocre defensively in the last few weeks, especially in the series in SF.

As Peter said, I don’t love the idea of getting Aaron Boone. All I was trying to say was that if there is a choice between Bellhorn and Blum or Aaron Boone…I’ll take Boone every time. I still would much rather have any number of other third basemen, but if I can’t have them, I’d rather have a third baseman than none at all.

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By: Didi

Didi — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 23:40:23 +0000

I stand corrected. Mike Cameron's error wasn't in the ninth inning.

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By: Didi

Didi — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 23:27:42 +0000

I’m not suggesting that the Padres should sit around waiting for a third baseman to fall into their laps. As Anthony mentioned, there has got to be a plan that is better than getting an Aaron Boone in the works or the Padres might as well be getting Vinny back and we all didn’t like watching Vinny’s ABs, we won’t enjoy watching Boone’s ABs either. As for the fielding, yes, the Padres are so much in need of a better glove there.

Still, last night’s game wasn’t lost by that particular play. Trevor was staked with 2 runs and the defense failed him overall. That and his fastball.

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By: LaMar

LaMar — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 22:52:33 +0000

If we don't upgrade 3b, my vote is to play Bellhorn and leave Blum on the bench as a pinch hitter. It's not a platoon situation, since both are switch hitters. Blum seems to function better off the bench as a pinch hitter, while Bellhorn needs more at bats to have a consistent swing. Plus, Bellhorn is the better fielder. But, I'm with everyone else. We need to trade for a solid third baseman.

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By: Anthony

Anthony — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 22:23:42 +0000

Something has to be in the works. The Padre braintrust is too smart to think they can win the division with no third baseman. If defense is your strong suit you can’t have a glaring hole like that, even more so if you’re not getting any offensive production.

Boone would help slightly but then we’re right back to where we were with Vinny, with a little more hope for a rebound. Recent talk of waiting til August and making a waiver deal doesn’t instill confidence, we could easily kick away a few more games like last night between now and then.

Maybe I’m being overly dramatic but I think what happens between now and Monday will decide the division.

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By: Peter Friberg

Peter Friberg — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 22:09:28 +0000

Didi, Paul suggested it. Paul is easily one of my best friends and an austute baseball thinker… He pointed out that niether Blum nor Bellhorn are hitting much and that Boone could replicate their level of “hitting” while playing a superior defensive 3B.

Let me assure you that Paul doesn’t WANT Boone in a Padre uniform but he’s smart enough to realize that too many more innings of Blum/Bellhorn manning the hot corner could lead to more innings like last night’s 4th, when Blum couldn’t reach that ball bouncing slowly through the 5.5 hole. Look at two scenarios:

G Atkins doubled to deep right.
M Holliday singled to left, G Atkins to third.
T Helton singled to center, G Atkins scored, M Holliday to second.
Y Torrealba doubled to deep right center, M Holliday scored, T Helton to third.
B Hawpe hit sacrifice fly to center, T Helton scored, Y Torrealba to third.
C Sullivan grounded into fielder’s choice to first, Y Torrealba out at home.
J Smith hit for J Fogg.
J Smith grounded out to second.

G Atkins doubled to deep right.
M Holliday gounds out to G Blum
T Helton singled to center, G Atkins scored
Y Torrealba doubled to deep right center, T Helton to third.
B Hawpe hit sacrifice fly to center, T Helton scored, Y Torrealba to third.
C Sullivan grounded into fielder’s choice to first, Y Torrealba out at home.

In the second scenario, not only do the Rockies score less runs (granted only 1, and granted who knows how it plays differently when different baserunner scenarios are in play), but maybe more importantly Williams is around longer (fewer pitches) and has more confidence in his defense.

A Boone trade would be quite underwhelming from an offensive standpoint, but for a team that prides itself on its defense, it sure is kicking the ball quite a bit.

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By: Didi

Didi — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 21:05:46 +0000

Oops, I meant the loss. But, of course, the lost too. Based on what I read and saw, that'd be Blum at the plate yesterday.

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By: Didi

Didi — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 20:55:01 +0000

I’m pissed at the lost but glad that I didn’t stay home to watch the rest of the game. I’m, however, worried that somebody here suggested that Aaron Boone should even be considered here in SD.

Yes, at this point, Bellhorn is a better batter than Blum.

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By: PM

PM — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 19:50:25 +0000

I dunno, FF, thought that pitch was up in the zone at least chest hi, and dude kinda tomohawked it. Guess my point is, the pitch wasn't a mistake, as in heart of plate, waist high, it was clearly a ball, but dude roped it anyway. Trevor has lost a little confidence maybe, because he keep throwing slowballs, er fastballs instead of the change. Dude said he was sitting dead red, waiting for the FB. Oh well. I think there are a few more games left in the season.

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By: Masticore317

Masticore317 — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 19:16:54 +0000

Personally I think we should release EY and bring up Jon Knott from Portland. The man is on fire! Knott can play some LF vs lefties and even spell Gonzalez at 1B vs. a tough lefty. Plus he's a RH power bat off the bench. Not sure he could be any worse than Young.

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