So, it says here that we’ve got a meetup Sunday, August 20, at Petco Park. I know that’s almost three weeks away but I thought I’d better start rounding up the troops now before I forget.
Who’s up for it? If we have enough people, we might be able to get a group discount. Leave a note in the comments or drop me a line if you can make it.
We’ll rule the world. It’ll be sweet.
Boy, we have not seen a punchless Padre offense in a while. Brings back bad memories of the Petco curse and other curses. We need another heat wave to change the air at petco. Jake, OTOH, seems back. I hope, I hope, I hope.
It seemed to me that Jake got ahead on a lot of batters then struggled to put them away; 8-10 pitch at bats when he started off 0-2. Is there anything to that?
Ben Johnson was KILLING me last night.
Unfortunately, Jake’s been doing that all year.
Farquaad –
Peavy’s player page on ESPN has him at 4.18 P/PA this year, up from 3.89 P/PA last season. Geoff has mentioned it on this site a few times this year that Peavy just hasn’t had the same ability to finish people off on a consistent basis that he did last year. There have been a ton of long at bats due to several foul balls.
ESPN hasn’t updated their league leaders yet but unless someone else had a start like Jake’s last night, Peavy has the highest P/PA number of any qualified starter in the major leagues.
well this might be small but…
vs. Peavy (from Yahoo: linked on my name)
2006
after 0-1 .281 BAA 76H 12HR
after 0-2 .202 BAA 23H 2HR
after 1-0 .228 BAA 41H 5HR
career
after 0-1 .219 BAA 336H 44HR
after 0-2 .158 BAA 97H 7HR
after 1-0 .236 BAA 262H 36HR
Re: Aurilia – he’s having his best season since 2001, but probably wouldn’t be available unless Cincinnati falls quickly out of the wildcard race. That despite the fact that the Reds have a younger, better offensive 3B with huge upside rotting on their bench (tho’ with admittedly dicier defense) in Edwin Encarnacion. Veteran presence, don’cha’know. (Can you tell I’m bitter? Man, this fantasy stuff will make ya’ bitter.)
Kevin…in regards to last night’s post about the “Hometown Hero’s”…
If I read it correctly, the Hometown Hero’s was about more than just playing ability…it had to do with service in the organization and the community along with the general character of the person. I know that there were some glaring holes, but the sting of Cammi’s revelations might have dq’d him from the character portion.
Just a thought.
GY, I’ll be up for the Ducksnorts Meetup that Sunday.
I can’t believe that the Padres’ bats are quiet again.
I was hoping that Ensberg would still get traded to the Padres. Probably won’t happen now that he’s healthy again.
Hey, we have a taker! Awesome, Didi; I’m looking forward to it. Anyone else joining us?
So we release EY and send down Sledge, but the only OF we bring back is Johnson. I realize I may be nit-picking, but having Piazza is killing us in that regard, as we’re forced to carry 3 catchers rather than the extra OF (or whatever).
Not that Piazza isn’t having a GREAT year batting, far better than most expected. Just a sucky side effect.
It’ll be nice once September comes and we can get some ample reserves.
Here’s an idea.
Since the Padres are collecting middle infielders to play 3B, can we pry Chris Burke from the Astros and make him into a 3Bman?
The Astros seem to be playing him only part time and with Biggio at 2B, Chris been in the CF a lot. It doesn’t look like Ensberg is going to be leaving the Astros either.
Of course, the Astros would want somebody to replace Biggio eventually, and I don’t know if either the Padres or the Astros has anybody in the farms for that. The Padres got Barfield to man 2B for years.
BP STAT OF THE DAY
Top 5 NL Bullpens, by WXRL
Team, WXRL
New York Mets, 10.709
St. Louis Cardinals, 7.951
San Diego Padres, 7.670
Philadelphia Phillies, 5.966
Arizona Diamondbacks, 5.902
… that’s a hefty gap ‘tween Padres and Phils …
I’ll be there for the game as well.
Doesn’t Chris Young lead in P/PA? At any rate we have two of the top guys in that stat. It seems like Peavy hasn’t been getting as many called 3rd strikes as in the past. That one last night was clearly a ball but he got a break from the ump. This year it seems like those are usually called balls so he has to come back with a fastball when the hitter expects it. I don’t think he’s getting squeezed though, he just hasn’t been as sharp.
With Young I think it’s just a result of throwing so many high fastballs. He was mixing it up a lot more in his last start, did anyone ever hear an explanation for that?
M317 … ah, the talk starts about Sept call-ups! Yes, that’ll be good to get McAnulty up for Sept … and Cust & Knott & Sledge, I’d presume … and a few more bully arms … I think that the Padres are in good position to be help’d by roster expansion (a concept I’ve never really understood … “let’s change the rules for the stretch drive”???
I don’t see the problem with carrying 3 catchers who are performing and can come off the bench to hit. I believe that Bard and Bowen have been pretty good in that regards.
It’ll only be a sucky side effect if they cannot come off the bench and hit or pinch run. Yes, they are limited to catching position but is having an extra OF that can’t hit be any better? The Padres might be missing a utility player that can play both OF and IF, though, since EY is gone.
I hope Ben Johnson will start hitting tonight.
That’s the thing, we have 3 guys who are strictly catchers. Not like a Fick, who could play 1B/LF or whatever in a pinch and not be horrible.
I just think we need 5 guys who can play OF in order to provide guys enough rest time that we don’t burn them out along the way. Roberts gets plenty of time off vs. lefties, but what about Cameron and Giles? Also, it limits our use of Johnson, because if he PH’s and an OF goes down, what happens? I think Blum has played a few games out there other years, but…
Ideally I’d like to have another righty OF on the bench who could spell Giles vs tough lefties.
Unless he’s hurt you won’t see Giles “spelled” very often. I think Walker has a little outfield experience this year also. I don’t see the out field as an issue at all right now. Ben Johnson can play every position in the outfield, DR is compitent in center if we need him and as long as Giles isn’t dead he’s probably going to play. If something comes up I’m sure it would only take a couple of hours to call up and get Sledge or PMac down here. I have always felt a little weird about keeping Bowen when it’s obvious Piazze and Bard are the main guys but he’s been decent and is a switch hitter coming off the bench so it doesn’t really give a whole lot to gripe about.
Hi, Ducksnorts! Josh Barfield was just named the NL Rookie of the Month for July. Go Josh!
You must really want to have his baby now huh?
KRS1 – I guess you’re right…I just feel that the 3rd catcher is only necessary because of Piazza, where the roster spot could be better utilized elsewhere.
Best part about having Bowen is it allowes us to use Bard as a pinch hitter.
LOL, KRS1! Yes. With those beautiful eyes and a great smile, who wouldn’t want to try some gene roulette with Barfield?
He seems like a pretty cool dude but I’m not sure if I’m down for a “gene roulette” session just yet… But a trip to the World Series behind a 30HR 100+ RBI season might change my mind.
I don’t have a problem with carrying three catchers for precisely the reason Masticore317 mentions in #21. The roster spot that seems redundant to me right now is the one occupied by Geoff Blum. I don’t want to see him in the outfield again.
SDPG: Thanks for the 411 on Barfield. That’s awesome!
Just because this is true and funny:
http://www.thebrushback.com/contenders_full.htm
GY,
I’m up for Aug 20, probably for 2 tix.
Brian at pdxbeavers.com reported this yesterday …
The Beavers have traded Jim Brower to the Florida Marlins organization for AAA pitcher Matt Blank.
From the Beavers press release:
Blank, 30, was a combined 3-2 with a 4.27 ERA in 21 appearances (7 starts) between Class AA Carolina and Triple-A Albuquerque in the Marlins system this season. Blank started the year with Carolina, going 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA (2er, 12.0ip) in seven relief appearances. With the Isotopes, Blank was 2-2 with a 4.98 ERA (26er, 47.0ip) in 14 appearances (7 starts).
Originally an 11th-round pick of the Montreal Expos in the 1997 draft, Blank has a 64-42 record and a 3.67 ERA in 202 appearances (155 starts) during his 10-year minor league career. In parts of two major league seasons with the Expos (2000-01), he is 2-3 with a 5.15 ERA in 18 games (4 starts).
Just had a great idea! Since we’re big on getting 2B who haven’t played 3B in ages, how about this for a deal? Josh Bard to Boston (perfect since Varitek is banged up) for….Mark Loretta!
Perfect!
friarfan … we should start by offering bowen, donchathink?