Ducksnorts

Since the only thing I posted yesterday was pictures of teddy bears, I figured I’d go all out today and tackle everything else. Well, maybe not everything, but a lot.

I’m currently researching the 1998 Padres World Series team for the book. In a bit of serendipity, a couple of transactions have taken place that indirectly link back to that ‘98 team.

Brocail Remains with Padres

The Padres have re-signed right-handed reliever Doug Brocail to a 1-year, $500,000 deal. Brocail, originally drafted by the Pads in 1986, was part of a December 1994 trade with the Houston Astros that brought, among others, third baseman Ken Caminiti and Steve Finley to San Diego. Caminiti and Finley, of course, would become centerpieces of the 1996 NL West championship club (with Caminiti winning league MVP honors) as well as the 1998 World Series team. This deal was one of many engineered by former GM Randy Smith that helped lay the foundation for what remains one of the brightest periods in franchise history.

As for Brocail, blockage of the left anterior descending artery derailed his 2006 season, limiting him to just 25 appearances. Brocail, who turns 40 in May, actually pitched pretty well when healthy. His ERA was a tad high at 4.76, but he held opposing batters to a respectable .252/.302/.346 line.

Keep expectations to a minimum — commensurate with the Padres’ investment (and bearing in mind that Mike Stanton will be paid $5.5 million over the next two seasons) — and there’s virtually no chance of disappointment. Either Brocail pitches well and is a bargain, or he doesn’t and the Pads are out one-tenth of Octavio Dotel’s salary.

Klesko, Like Everyone Else, Signs with Giants

Ryan Klesko has inked a 1-year deal with San Francisco for an undisclosed amount. He’ll back up ex-Padre Rich Aurilia at first base and see some time in the outfield as well (personally I’m looking forward to the Barry Bonds/Dave Roberts/Klesko configuration — that could be fun).

Klesko turns 36 in June and, due to a shoulder injury that kept him on the DL most of the year, had only six plate appearances during the 2006 season. He reached base in five of those, and hit a screaming line drive to Albert Pujols in the other. Klesko also had two hits in three post-season at-bats. Anecdotally, the guy looked great at the plate. Klesko’s eye and bat speed appeared to be at full strength, and it’s reasonable to think that he still can contribute given the right situation.

That said, San Francisco might not be the right situation. A poor defender even when he was young and healthy, Klesko probably belongs in the American League at this stage of his career. Having him spell one of the regulars here and there should be fine, but if Klesko ends up playing more than 30 or so games in the field in 2007, the Giants could have problems. Not that I’d mind, of course.

Klesko’s role in the ‘98 World Series? It’s twofold, really. First, he was the guy the Padres supposedly were after when they shipped Fred McGriff to the Atlanta Braves as part of the 1993 Fire Sale. (Melvin Nieves; thanks for bringing that up again.) Second, when Klesko did come to San Diego, it was in a deal that sent two of the regulars from the ‘98 squad — first baseman Wally Joyner and second baseman Quilvio Veras — to the House That Ted Turner Built.

Klesko’s problem is that he hasn’t aged well at all. He went from being darned good at ages 28-31, to pretty good at ages 32-34, to seriously hurt at age 35. He gets a bad rap in San Diego for being “pretty good” when people remembered and expected him to be “darned good.”

Well, that and the Boot World commercials.

Anyway, the trade that brought Klesko to the Padres worked out extremely well for the club in terms of value. It’s unfortunate that his time here coincided with some pretty down years, and I can’t help but wonder if some of the feelings toward Klesko are better directed at the organization as a whole. Was it Klesko’s fault the Pads stunk in 2002? Seems to me Deivi Cruz, D’Angelo Jimenez, and Bobby Jones — among many others — could take exception to that.

Point is, Klesko is one of the best players in franchise history. We don’t have to like that, anymore than we have to like gravity. It just is. Klesko ranks second all time in walks; fourth in runs scored, doubles, and RBI; fifth in home runs; and seventh in hits. He’s a lot more deserving of a retired number than certain Steve Garveys ever will be.

Now the last link to guys like Andy Benes, Greg Keagle, and Gene Harris is gone. It was a great ride, and I’m sorry the Padres as a team couldn’t enjoy more success during Klesko’s stay here. He deserved better.

Then again, didn’t we all…