IGD: Padres @ Diamondbacks (30 Aug 06)
Wed, Aug 30, 2006
by Geoff Young
first pitch: 3:40 p.m., PT
television: none
matchup: Mike Thompson (3-5, 5.07 ERA) vs Claudio Vargas (10-8, 5.14 ERA)
previews: Padres.com
buy tickets
Who schedules these crazy start times in Arizona? The first two were at 6:40 p.m., and the finale is at 3:40 p.m. First off, what’s up with 40 minutes past the hour? Second, how does 3:40 make any sense at all? I’d blame television except that the game isn’t being broadcast on TV. Maybe they couldn’t decide whether to have a day game or a night game so the powers-that-be came up with some kind of goofy compromise.
On the bright side, with the Padres’ victory Tuesday night and the Reds’ loss in 16 innings to the Dodgers, the Friars now lead the wild card race. Don’t get too comfortable: five teams are within three games of the Pads, including the Florida Marlins, who are getting it done with less than $20M payroll.
(Quick aside: The Marlins are in their 14th season of existence and have two World Series championships under their belts. Now they’re winning despite not investing in their team. This slash and burn technique of theirs seems to be working well in terms of on-field success. The only downside is that they’ve completely alienated their fan base in the process. This has fascinating philosophical implications, first and foremost among which is that winning apparently isn’t everything.)
Sorry, we were talking about the Padres. Word is they’re talking to Boston about David Wells. I’d like to get excited about this, but I don’t think Wells has much left in the tank at this point. Seems to me the real reason for making such a move would be to point at the Dodgers and say, “look over here; we got a veteran pitcher, too.” I guess if the cost isn’t much, I’m good with bringing back Wells, but folks who think he’s going to put the Padres over the top are fooling themselves.
On a more positive note, Russell Branyan has looked terrific at third base and at the plate the past couple nights. His second homer Tuesday night was measured at 471 feet. I know they all count the same regardless of distance, but that’s pretty darned impressive in my book.
Expect more flying baseballs this afternoon. Mike Thompson has a 6.44 ERA since the All-Star break, and opponents are batting .370/.427/.480 against him away from Petco Park. On the other side, Claudio Vargas has been catching a lot of the plate since the break; he’s allowed 11 homers against just 7 walks over his past 43 1/3 innings.
Speaking of the All-Star break, the Pads are 19-25 since then. They’ve been outscored, 214-195. Here’s the weird part: they’re outhitting the opposition (.267/.339/.435 vs .270/.334/.431). Nine points of OPS isn’t much, but you have to figure that if the Padres keep doing that, eventually things will balance out for them. With any luck, it’ll happen before the season ends. 
Go Padres!
Tunes: Pinback, Interpol, Jason Falkner, Kaiser Chiefs, They Might Be Giants, Nick Drake, Delerium, This Mortal Coil, Elliott Smith, Rush, Pete Yorn.
Picking up where last year's version left off, the Ducksnorts 2008 Baseball Annual provides in-depth analysis of and commentary on the San Diego Padres. Get your copy today.
August 30, 2006 at 7:44 am
First Woohooo
August 30, 2006 at 7:51 am
But what I really wanted to say…
The discussion about KG v Everett was leaving out one VERY BIG point…this was not just about a one for one trade…we were also supposed to be getting Ensberg in the trade while giving up Linebrink.
Khalil is fun to watch, flashy, and has shown signs of 20hr potential…but, if we could get Everett, the Defensive stud, (whose power is lower than KG’s, but has speed and similar paripheral #’s) and the power hitting Ensberg for KG and the declining Linebrink, we need to do that without hesitation.
Improve the Defense, Improve the Offense…sure, KG may become a better SS, but his defense is WAY overrated and his injury history has to be considered a big red flag.
August 30, 2006 at 8:00 am
Ensberg has hit .219 with no power since the All Star Break. I would be very concerned that he has an unresolved injury. If it is to his shoulder, that would be a bigger red flag than Greene’s repeated minor injuries.
August 30, 2006 at 8:01 am
Pads well represented in SI’s Top 28 Baseball Busts of the Year. See if you can guess who they are (Pads have 2.5 guys in the top 28). Not sure I agree with the choice of our pitcher, but then again, the guy who came up with the list probably sees very few Pads’ games other than the highlights.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....index.html
August 30, 2006 at 8:02 am
I know it might be a little far fetched but what about Tejada 12 mil in 07, 13 mil in 08, 13 mil in 09, that’s not bad for an all-star SS. Maybe send Greene, Linebrink and a couple of prospects over (P Mac, Wells).
August 30, 2006 at 8:05 am
Never would have thought I would be rooting for the Dodgers to get David Wells but apparently the Red Sox want Matt Kemp in return. I would love to not have to worry about Matt Kemp in our division for the next 15 years or so that guy looked like a STUD!
http://redsox.bostonherald.com.....ormat=text
August 30, 2006 at 8:05 am
Geoff referred to Wells in today’s IGD intro., so I’ll re-post this.
After reading what the Sox are asking, my guess is our brilliant GM is driving up the price so that if the Dodgers do get him, they’ll pay dearly.
*I’d love to see the Dodgers give up Matt Kemp for David Wells (the purported asking price). That would help the Padres for years to come. From what I’ve seen of his at-bats, Kemp has superstar potential.
Dodgers trade Kemp to Sox, Wells throws out his back ( I like the guy, so his back heals up just in time for the Dodgers to miss the playoffs), and the Sox trade Kemp to the Padres for Ben Johnson and a pitcher in the offseason. Hey, a guy’s allowed to dream.
Although I like Wells a lot, KT should not give up much more than he gave up for Williamson. If the Sox are asking for the farm or even close to it, let the Dodgers have him.
August 30, 2006 at 8:09 am
I think if the Padres get wells it will be for cheap and the dodgers will decide it ain’t worth it..
also the marlins strategy, there’s a chapter in Baseball between the numbers on it… I think it’s a good strategy even if it alienates the fan base because they keep delivering good teams eventually.
August 30, 2006 at 8:09 am
I agree I like wells but I would not give up anything more than a low A prospect for him, the pads a building for the future and wells aint it.
August 30, 2006 at 8:15 am
in the Busts section, Peavy gets put in the SI column
‘8. Jake Peavy, P, Padres. On the verge of stardom, he’s been taking a step back since the postseason last year. This year he’s been no better than average (7-13, 4.51).’
this columnist obviously just looks at mainstream stats when doing this considering that Peavy normally gets little run support and his avg on balls in play is up. Though peavy also is giving up more fly balls than ever.
August 30, 2006 at 8:16 am
If you want to have a team with a lower payroll you have to have a scouting department with a larger payroll, and you have to invest in your minor leaug system. I would be fine if the pads had only a $50 mil pay roll if they took the other 20 min and invested it into player development.
But as it stands the padres lack in the scouting department (Fuson is making it much better though) and thier minor leauge system is a mess.
Look at the Marlins they are playing well right now because thier scouting department did thier homework and when they had thier fire sale they got a ton of great young talent that was ready to play for thier prooven vets, they also drafted well and developed thier own players over the years. I understand that there is a little bit of luck involved but thier is also a lot hard work done by the scouting department.
The pads are to cheap to have an advanced scout, I cant belive that their player scoouts have much of a budget to work with.
August 30, 2006 at 8:25 am
Buster Olney has a nice article on Trevor over at ESPN.com today…he also has a second article, giving some of the details that the story left out…One I found interesting was why Trevor says he lost his velocity…it was due to an injury during the strike year of 1994…he says he hurt his shoulder on the beach…that forced him to learn the change-up.
One other little story I got a kick out of:
Years ago, when Larry Lucchino was still president of the Padres, he and general manager Kevin Towers and manager Bruce Bochy pulled up to a Pittsburgh hotel in a cab, and as they pay the driver from the backseat, a silhouette charges the front of the car, and the cab shakes suddenly, the hood, the roof.
“What in the hell was that?” Bochy asked, shaken.
“That,” Towers said, glancing at a form disappearing into the night, “was our closer.”
Hoffman had sprinted over the car, like the Incredible Hulk. The Padres’ officials had to talk the cabbie out of filing a police report.
August 30, 2006 at 8:28 am
Oswalt gets a cool 73 million over 5 years and I read that The Boss is willing to break the bank for free-agent Zito. What “break the bank” in Yankeeland means is unfathomable (other than that Zito will not be in a Pads uniform next year, I mean).
Lost in the babble about overpaid starting pitchers is the job Clay Hensley has done for us. I can’t remember too many games where he hasn’t given us a chance to win. I wouldn’t mind seeing him in the rotation for a few more years.
August 30, 2006 at 8:32 am
Has anyone ever heard a bad word about Hoffy from anyone? I like him even more after reading #12.
August 30, 2006 at 8:36 am
BKTF - I’m not even going to think about Zito, it will never happen unless for some reason he takes an SD discount.
I do how ever think the pads should try to go after Eaton, He wont get the big payday we all thought he was going to it may be worth it to offer him a 1 year deal, but then again who knows what some dumb team will offer him.
August 30, 2006 at 8:39 am
We all know that if KT is the GM next year then Gil Meche will become a padre this off season, like branyan KT has been wanting this guy for years.
August 30, 2006 at 8:41 am
Steve, I would love to see the inconsistant Eaton back, but the salaries for pitching would not seem to give us much chance at a “discounted” deal…he probably will see deals with a 3 yr min committment.
Oswalt just set the bar for starters at $14.6mm per…and getting that 5th year was huge for him…expect Zito to go north of that for 5 years…
I would guess that Eaton gets 3/$23…maybe 4/$28…I would be shocked and appalled if KT/JM/SA/PD signed any pitcher to a 4 or 5 year deal right now.
August 30, 2006 at 8:44 am
Olney’s blog today is all about Hoffman. You need insider to access it though.
He wrote a 2500-word feature on Hoffy for ESPN magazine, and it comes out today.
August 30, 2006 at 8:45 am
Eaton has only made 29 starts in the past 2 seasons, with an ERA in the mid 4’s I dont see a team giving him a 3 year deal untill he proves that his finger can stay healthy, but who knows teams have made worse deals.
August 30, 2006 at 8:48 am
BKTF
I used to listen to the Dan Patrick show regularly when Rob Dibble was on there. I guess Dibble and Hoffy are pretty good friends. Over the couple of years he was on the show, Dibble dropped a handfull of Hoffman stories, most of them about the practical jokes and “dare bets” he took. He is a character.
The other night on the BP show Flannery told a story about Glen Hoffman taking a bite out of every desert on the tray and putting the rest back. He and Randy Jones both said you always have to keep an eye on both of them with the practical jokes and pranks.
August 30, 2006 at 9:27 am
Something interesting on our esteemed RF…
Giles ranks 6 out of 10 in OPS (.771) for starting RF’s (used qualification for batting title as a cutoff)…that is worse than Jacque Jones and Shawn Green…
Good news is that he ranks #2 out of those same 10 in Runs Created per 9 innings…only Abreu has a higher RC/9.
Giles ranks #7 out of 30 in Win Shares with 19…Mike Cameron ranks #3 with 21…behind only Soriano and Beltran.
August 30, 2006 at 9:37 am
You can never have too much pitching and maybe bringing in Wells would cause some of our cry babies to play more consistently so if it doesn’t cost much I say bring him in. Matt Kemp for Wells is completely ridiculous, I’d love to see the Dodgers make that move, even if it costs us the division.
August 30, 2006 at 11:18 am
Here’s a link to some Dodger’s Photoshop pics for any Dodger haters
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88409955@N00/
August 30, 2006 at 11:22 am
This worried me from Yahoo’s recap of last night’s game, until I checked the boxscore…
“[Young] struck out 11, walked nine and hit a batter. The three hits were the only balls to reach the outfield against him.”
August 30, 2006 at 11:24 am
Dibble was classic when he used to be on the Dan Patrick show.
I’ll have to pick up a copy of ESPN The Magazine to read the Trevor article.
August 30, 2006 at 12:37 pm
Geoff, Wells has looked very good in all of his post-DL starts, excepting the very first one. He’s certainly had enough rest this year for me to think he could help you down the stretch and in the playoffs. I think the real issue has more to do with what the Friars can give up for him. Theo supposedly asked Colletti for Matt Kemp, which I can’t tell is because Theo wants a lot for Wells or because Andrew Friedman said, “trust me, he’ll bite.”
August 30, 2006 at 12:39 pm
I should learn english, I hear it’s a useful language.
Theo supposedly asked Colletti for Matt Kemp. I can’t tell if this is because theo wants a lot for Wells, or because Andrew Friedman said, “trust me, he’ll bite.”
Much better.
August 30, 2006 at 1:14 pm
I should learn english [Capitalization], I hear it’s a useful language.
Theo supposedly asked Colletti for Matt Kemp. I can’t tell if this is because theo [Capitalization] wants a lot for Wells, or because Andrew Friedman said, “trust me, he’ll bite.”
Much better. [Fragment]
August 30, 2006 at 1:16 pm
Ass. [Fragment]
August 30, 2006 at 1:29 pm
ass fragment?
August 30, 2006 at 2:31 pm
That’s a great name for a punk band.
August 30, 2006 at 2:39 pm
Richard, Lance does appear to be wearing off on you a bit too much … you’ve been warned
Besides … why are you commenting here instead of working on #80???
August 30, 2006 at 2:55 pm
Marc - re: 26 … reminds of this snip, which I’ll steal from a blogger who stole it from BP …
In the 2003 Edition of the Baseball Prospectus (the book), there’s the following hypothetical conversation between Mark Shapiro and one of his assistants (unnamed) who is on the phone with the Dodgers (p. 86):
Assistant: “Hey I’ve got the Dodgers on the phone. They want Paul Shuey. Who are we asking for?”
Shapiro: “Uh, tell them we want Ricardo Rodriguez or Francisco Cruceta.”
A: “We want Ricardo Rodriguez and Francisco Cruceta.”
S: “No! No! Wait, you’ll piss them off…”
A: “They just said yes.”
LOL
August 30, 2006 at 3:06 pm
Can someone help me understand something … from this article in UT … http://www.signonsandiego.com/.....notes.html … there’s this comment at the bottom …
Towers and CEO Sandy Alderson are pleased with recent trades with the Red Sox. One brought reliever Scott Cassidy for outfielder Adam Hyzdu. Another swap, for disgruntled catcher Doug Mirabelli, gave the Padres reliever Cla Meredith, catcher Josh Bard and $100,000 in cash to go with about $900,000 in savings. Club officials also praise the much-criticized swap of second baseman Mark Loretta for Mirabelli, which saved the Padres about $2 million and freed up the second-base job for Josh Barfield.
… my question is this: Why print the bit about the Loretta trade? “Club officials” praising themselves??? I’m not anti-sports-writers … I read ‘em all the time, and I respect the work that goes into it! … but this stands out as confusing to me … seriously.
August 30, 2006 at 3:15 pm
I thought it was odd too. Did KT call Krasovic and say “Hey, I got a scoop for you! We like the trades we made with the Red Sox!”. The information on the financial aspect was nice but it was just presented strangely. Maybe next week we’ll hear how great the Texas trade was.
August 30, 2006 at 3:47 pm
Good afternoon, everyone! Is the Game Discussion here? If so…
Woo Hoo! Already up a run! I love it when Doc gets on base with a lead off single.
August 30, 2006 at 3:49 pm
Very exciting stuff, this scoring in the first inning to get out to an early lead.
August 30, 2006 at 3:49 pm
Thanks to all those fantastic front office moves, the Padres are still on pace to win a whopping 83 games.
To quote our Ducksnorts host, “Underwhelmed. Thank you.”
August 30, 2006 at 3:54 pm
Has Thompson turned back into a pumpkin?
August 30, 2006 at 3:56 pm
Yes, I think he is overripe. Perhaps we can get a couple of decent games out of Timmy until he too falls by the wayside.
August 30, 2006 at 4:01 pm
So frustrating. Thompson has been praised most of this season about how he has been consistent for being a filler. Now, I think the other shoe is dropping.
August 30, 2006 at 4:04 pm
I was watching the game on MLB Gameday and and for the most part all of Thompsons pitches were missing low…that’s usually a good thing. He still gots a no-hitter going!
August 30, 2006 at 4:06 pm
His curveball actually has looked fairly decent, but his control is pretty off, and those fastballs are catching way too much of the plate. And the way he got those outs is a bad sign: two fly balls hit reasonably well and a line drive.
August 30, 2006 at 4:12 pm
Lynch, you thief, not even sourcing the ‘blog.
August 30, 2006 at 4:12 pm
Go Doc! 2-0.
And there was much rejoicing. Yeah!
August 30, 2006 at 4:13 pm
Did hell freeze over?? Two 2-out RBI singles.
August 30, 2006 at 4:27 pm
Wow. Amazing play by Chris Young, stepping up on the wall and jumping prolly 8 feet up on the center field wall to take a double away from Gonzalez.
August 30, 2006 at 4:30 pm
Did anyone hear the Sandy Alderson interview today? He said it was 90-10 we WOULD make a move before the Aug. 31st deadline. He indicated we were looking at a 3B as well as some pitching. He SEEMED to imply that he thought the offensive deal was more likely to get done. It was an interesting interview.
August 30, 2006 at 4:30 pm
Ben, how are you watching it? Are you an out of towner?
August 30, 2006 at 4:31 pm
Yep, I’m at college in LA, so I can watch in on mlb.tv.
August 30, 2006 at 4:33 pm
From what I’ve heard, both Loretta and Lowell have cleared waivers so maybe there’s a big deal in the works with Boston. Do we have anyone that can play in the big leagues but isn’t on the 40 man roster? Boston has been decimated by injuries. Has anyone heard of any Padres clearing waivers?
August 30, 2006 at 4:37 pm
Geez, the D-bakcs get a run now, after all those balls crushed earlier in the game, on a end of the bat single to short, a sac bunt, a passed ball, and a grounder to short.
August 30, 2006 at 4:38 pm
Thru 3 full …
Pitches-strikes - M Thompson 50-24; C Vargas 56-31.
Ground balls-fly balls - M Thompson 4-5; C Vargas 0-9.
Batters faced - M Thompson 11; C Vargas 15.
… 2-1 Padres …
August 30, 2006 at 4:46 pm
For some reason, I’m getting the MLBTV feed in San Diego today. Usually, I’m blocked out.
August 30, 2006 at 4:48 pm
Man, I hate it when I’m doing 5 important things at work and all of the sudden I remember the game is on, so I drop everything and rush to open Gameday and Ducksnorts…it can always wait ’till Thursday, right?
August 30, 2006 at 4:51 pm
Thru 4 …
Pitches-strikes - M Thompson 57-29; C Vargas 69-40.
Ground balls-fly balls - M Thompson 6-6; C Vargas 2-10.
Batters faced - M Thompson 14; C Vargas 18.
… Thompson solid “on paper”!
August 30, 2006 at 4:52 pm
Check that … 29 strikes in 57 pitches doesn’t qualify as “solid”, even “on paper” … but the results (1 run in 4 IP) is what I was refering to as “solid” …
August 30, 2006 at 4:55 pm
Bonds gets plunk’d in his 1st AB this evening … old school lives … and that’s one of the parts of “old school” that I’ve never appreciated …
August 30, 2006 at 4:55 pm
LM click on your game day on “away hits” and you’ll see that even on “paper” there have been some long outs, along with pitching behind all day. But, results are what matter and Thompson’s been hanging in there, despite not having his best stuff.
August 30, 2006 at 4:58 pm
Thompson has looked a lot better the past two innings than he did in the first two. More groundballs, more strikes, but he’s still falling behind too often.
August 30, 2006 at 4:58 pm
Sorry, LM, I mean’t “Away outs.”
August 30, 2006 at 5:00 pm
YA2ORBI … Yet Another 2-Out RBI
August 30, 2006 at 5:04 pm
People are afraid to pitch to Branyan. What a pick-up!
August 30, 2006 at 5:20 pm
Thru 5 …
Pitches-strikes - M Thompson 71-37; C Vargas 99-58.
Ground balls-fly balls - M Thompson 7-8; C Vargas 2-10.
Batters faced - M Thompson 18; C Vargas 24.
… the pitches-strikes total still tells me he’s livin’ dangerously … but we should be into the D-back pen now!
August 30, 2006 at 5:33 pm
Wow … Bochy lets him hit for himself in the top of 6th, then somewhat quick trigger in the bottom … gotta admit this seems like a good use of Meredith!
August 30, 2006 at 5:35 pm
Way to go, Meredith. Good managing there, Bochy. And way to survive for as long as you did, Thompson.
August 30, 2006 at 5:36 pm
Nice job by all … thru 6 …
Pitches-strikes - M Thompson 81-43; C Meredith 6-4; C Vargas 99-58; B Medders 12-8.
Ground balls-fly balls - M Thompson 7-9; C Meredith 1-0; C Vargas 2-10; B Medders 1-2.
Batters faced - M Thompson 21; C Meredith 2; C Vargas 24; B Medders 3.
… my only quibble is (as usual) the “wasted out” letting Thompson hit in top of 6th … can’t wait to have McAnulty / Sledge / Cust / Knott available on the bench …
August 30, 2006 at 5:46 pm
Roberts steals another bag. I’m going to be sad if he’s not with us next year.
I know the numbers say let him go, but he’s doing a great job this year.
August 30, 2006 at 5:47 pm
Nick G, I’m with you. I’d hate to see him go. Leads the team in average, stolen base and average with RISP. Tough to lose a guy like that. Plus, I’m sure he’d take the SD discount to stay.
August 30, 2006 at 5:57 pm
Roberts/Johnson/Sledge/Cust/free agent
It’ll be an interesting decision…
August 30, 2006 at 6:06 pm
I’d take another Roberts/Johnson platoon.
August 30, 2006 at 6:10 pm
Whoa, quick inning for Linebrink. But, two of them were hit to the track, the other on a line to Giles.
August 30, 2006 at 6:10 pm
1-2-3 for Linebrink. Atta boy!
August 30, 2006 at 6:19 pm
Some insurance would be nice.
August 30, 2006 at 6:19 pm
Nick, there’s your INS…
August 30, 2006 at 6:20 pm
Insurance. Roberts comes through with RISP again.
August 30, 2006 at 6:20 pm
And Barfield steals another bag. The Go Go Pads!
August 30, 2006 at 6:20 pm
Yes! The ground rule double caught by a guy wearing a Greene jersey out in right field. That ball was absolutely smoked.
August 30, 2006 at 6:22 pm
I love Dave Roberts. Has to be the best leadoff guy we’ve had since Wiggins.
I can’t think of anyone better . . .
Maybe Q. Veras
Maybe R Alomar (did he bat leadoff)?
Oh, wait, that’s right we had Henderson. Well, DR has been fantastic.
August 30, 2006 at 6:26 pm
Peter F
Interesting tidbit about the Alderson interview. I’m not holding my breath for anything, but the prospect of something happening is intriguing.
I think the Pads and Red Sox should just swap back all of the guys that they’ve traded in the past 2 years. Just start all over again . .. you know, clean slate. Ha!
I also think the front office shouldn’t get all gloat-y (not a word, I know) about the trades they’ve pulled off with the Sox. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, boys!
August 30, 2006 at 6:29 pm
Byrnes was clearly overmatched there. Change comes in and Byrnes is about 2 feet over the top of it.
August 30, 2006 at 6:29 pm
Roberts give us needed speed, a lefty bat, he can play all 3 outfield positions and he’s been healthy all year. Give him a satisfactory 1-year deal with a mutual option and buyout for a second year.
Giles is going to need more rest as he ages, Cameron can use time off now and then, and Johnson could sit against righties. It’s also nice to have a legitimate leadoff hitter on your team, a pinch-runner late in games.
And with Roberts short swing, he’s more likely not to grow rusty on the bench if he sits out 3 games.
August 30, 2006 at 6:34 pm
Good win tonight. Looks like Thompson did a solid job.
August 30, 2006 at 6:35 pm
Great game. Now we wait for the Dodgers and Cincinnati, both of whom have bullpens that are gassed. Come on Cincy.
August 30, 2006 at 6:35 pm
Well, that changeup still works, even when everyone should know it’s coming. Three K’s, all on pitches in the dirt. Hoffman looked really good, hitting his spots. And it’s nice to come back home after a series win.
August 30, 2006 at 6:36 pm
From Boston.com:
At this hour the Red Sox’ best trading partner for David Wells appeared to be the San Diego Padres. The Sox were eyeing left-handed catching prospect George Kottaras, currently with the Portland Beavers.
Wells is scheduled to start tomorrow so now is the time for a trade. I would hope we can get more than this for Kottaras.
August 30, 2006 at 6:37 pm
ESPN says it’s “close”
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=2566883
August 30, 2006 at 6:42 pm
Pads have been trying to include Kottaras in a deal for a while. This could mean that they are seriously considering Piazza again next year — say what you want about his throwing, the guy has called some good games.
I say Wells is on a flight to OB this evening.
August 30, 2006 at 6:47 pm
Kottaras for Wells?
I don’t know about that one
August 30, 2006 at 7:06 pm
That would be horrid. If they wanted to do that, they should have sent him to the Cubs for Maddux.
The team has a bad enough farm system as it is, and Kottaras fits the offensive profile of guys that an Alderson would want on his team. I have a very hard time seeing him approve such a trade, and a pretty hard time seeing Kottaras pass through waivers - he is on the 40 man.
August 30, 2006 at 7:10 pm
I agree. I have a hard time seeing Alderson approving a trade this bad. One of your top 3 prospects in a weak farm system for 1 month of a 43 year old Wells who has battled injuries all year. This just screams “stupid” all over.
August 30, 2006 at 7:16 pm
I’m completely baffled by this rumor…if this trade goes down, it will be the worst trade of the Kevin Towers era. And the hilarious thing is, some Red Sox fans on SOSH seem blase about possibly getting Kemp or Kottaras…lots of “He strikes out too much and can’t play CF” about the former and “He’s too small and hasn’t hit at AAA” about the latter. I used to like Red Sox Fan, but he’s almost as bad now as Yankee Fan and Cubs Fan.
August 30, 2006 at 7:28 pm
Yeah, if getting Wells requires giving up Kottaras, or anyone important, then I am definitely against it. The Kemp for Wells rumors had similar problems because Kemp is also on the 40 man roster and (I would think) couldn’t pass through waivers.
August 30, 2006 at 7:40 pm
I sure hope there is something else coming back if we are parting with Kottaras. What more can you say than what has already been said? Our top prospect for a month long rental of a guy who may not give you 4 good starts. If we are not getting Lowell back as well with some salary relief, then I agree, fire KT…
August 30, 2006 at 7:49 pm
Espn baseball tonight says padres are hot for Wells and a deal may happen tonight for Goerge Karteros (sic). Hm