Comments on: Friday Links (8 Dec 06) http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2006/12/friday-links-8-dec-06.html Blogging the San Diego Padres baseball club. Established 1997. Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:52:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Tom Waits http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2006/12/friday-links-8-dec-06.html#comment-33363 Tom Waits Mon, 11 Dec 2006 14:51:55 +0000 http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2006/12/friday-links-8-dec-06.html#comment-33363 124: For several years we've seen mass turnover in our top prospects every season. That's not a good sign unless you're promoting multiple players to the majors every year, which we haven't. It's become almost as predictable as the tides. Incoming draft class does well, pushes aside the flotsam from the previous year, then gets stranded on the beach and pushed aside by the next wave. Not every player, certainly, but a lot of them. I'm too worn out from the last decade of following Padre prospects to get overly excited at what the 2006 draftees did. I'm willing to wait on Antonelli, although I stand by my comments on his limited upside. Still, "except for the lack of power" is a mighty big "except." That's like saying someone is a sweet, beautiful girl EXCEPT when she goes bat---- crazy. I wouldn't count Crosta's half-season in the Midwest League more than his mediocre time in the Cal League, but the other players you list did have good years. None of them above low-A, though. We'll see how many hold on. Hopefully all of them. It didn't go so well with the 2005 draftees. 124: For several years we’ve seen mass turnover in our top prospects every season. That’s not a good sign unless you’re promoting multiple players to the majors every year, which we haven’t. It’s become almost as predictable as the tides. Incoming draft class does well, pushes aside the flotsam from the previous year, then gets stranded on the beach and pushed aside by the next wave. Not every player, certainly, but a lot of them. I’m too worn out from the last decade of following Padre prospects to get overly excited at what the 2006 draftees did.

I’m willing to wait on Antonelli, although I stand by my comments on his limited upside. Still, “except for the lack of power” is a mighty big “except.” That’s like saying someone is a sweet, beautiful girl EXCEPT when she goes bat—- crazy. I wouldn’t count Crosta’s half-season in the Midwest League more than his mediocre time in the Cal League, but the other players you list did have good years. None of them above low-A, though. We’ll see how many hold on. Hopefully all of them. It didn’t go so well with the 2005 draftees.

]]> By: Peter Friberg http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2006/12/friday-links-8-dec-06.html#comment-33361 Peter Friberg Mon, 11 Dec 2006 05:21:19 +0000 http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2006/12/friday-links-8-dec-06.html#comment-33361 "My point on Bush is that we’ve heard similar excuses for several underperforming Padre prospects. Actually we’ve heard similiar excuses for underperforming prospects from lots of teams, it’s what teams do." That's a completely fair and intelligent comment. But let's not paint the players who DID PERFORM WELL with that same brush. Hunter, Freese, Huffman, Crosta, Venable, Antonelli (who did well except for the lack of power), etc. “My point on Bush is that we’ve heard similar excuses for several underperforming Padre prospects. Actually we’ve heard similiar excuses for underperforming prospects from lots of teams, it’s what teams do.”

That’s a completely fair and intelligent comment. But let’s not paint the players who DID PERFORM WELL with that same brush.

Hunter, Freese, Huffman, Crosta, Venable, Antonelli (who did well except for the lack of power), etc.

]]> By: Golden http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2006/12/friday-links-8-dec-06.html#comment-33360 Golden Sun, 10 Dec 2006 20:26:54 +0000 http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2006/12/friday-links-8-dec-06.html#comment-33360 MLB.com has a story on the front page about Soria, the pitcher the royals got from us in the Rule 5 draft a few days ago, pitching a perfect game in the Mexican Pacific league. Thats pretty crazy, he also is tearing up the Mexican Pacific League 9-0, 1.77 ERA, 73 strikeouts. Apparently the Padres felt he didnt have a major league out pitch. I dont know how competitive and tough the Mexican Pacific League is, but a perfect game is tough at any level. Also waiting on the results of the "This year in baseball awards" on MLB.com, I really would love to see khallil win play of the year or Cla win setup man of the year, both are more than worthy. Results to be released thursday MLB.com has a story on the front page about Soria, the pitcher the royals got from us in the Rule 5 draft a few days ago, pitching a perfect game in the Mexican Pacific league. Thats pretty crazy, he also is tearing up the Mexican Pacific League 9-0, 1.77 ERA, 73 strikeouts. Apparently the Padres felt he didnt have a major league out pitch. I dont know how competitive and tough the Mexican Pacific League is, but a perfect game is tough at any level.

Also waiting on the results of the “This year in baseball awards” on MLB.com, I really would love to see khallil win play of the year or Cla win setup man of the year, both are more than worthy. Results to be released thursday

]]> By: Tom Waits http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2006/12/friday-links-8-dec-06.html#comment-33355 Tom Waits Sun, 10 Dec 2006 15:37:41 +0000 http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2006/12/friday-links-8-dec-06.html#comment-33355 120: Freel had numerous minor league seasons with an OBP in the high-300s or over 400 and positive walk-strikeout rates. It's hard to compare them directly because Freel signed out of HS, but I'll stand by that comp. There have always been concerns about Antonelli's power. Good athlete, good OBP skills, little pop. Tulowitzki reached the majors in his second pro season. He's a SS with on-base skills and power. Any takers on whether he's ranked higher than Hunter? CH had a great first season, no doubt. In the Arizona League. My point on Bush is that we've heard similar excuses for several underperforming Padre prospects. Actually we've heard similiar excuses for underperforming prospects from lots of teams, it's what teams do. That depth in the low minors among corner hitters is going to thin out as they advance. 120: Freel had numerous minor league seasons with an OBP in the high-300s or over 400 and positive walk-strikeout rates. It’s hard to compare them directly because Freel signed out of HS, but I’ll stand by that comp. There have always been concerns about Antonelli’s power. Good athlete, good OBP skills, little pop.

Tulowitzki reached the majors in his second pro season. He’s a SS with on-base skills and power. Any takers on whether he’s ranked higher than Hunter? CH had a great first season, no doubt. In the Arizona League.

My point on Bush is that we’ve heard similar excuses for several underperforming Padre prospects. Actually we’ve heard similiar excuses for underperforming prospects from lots of teams, it’s what teams do. That depth in the low minors among corner hitters is going to thin out as they advance.

]]> By: Ben B. http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2006/12/friday-links-8-dec-06.html#comment-33354 Ben B. Sun, 10 Dec 2006 04:53:04 +0000 http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2006/12/friday-links-8-dec-06.html#comment-33354 119: Yes! Definitely one of the best memories of the season. 119: Yes! Definitely one of the best memories of the season.

]]> By: Peter Friberg http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2006/12/friday-links-8-dec-06.html#comment-33353 Peter Friberg Sun, 10 Dec 2006 03:43:30 +0000 http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2006/12/friday-links-8-dec-06.html#comment-33353 TW, as for Matt Bush, don't forget, he was a concensus top 10. Going #1 might have been the worst thing for him. It definitely went to his head. He's young enough and talented enough to turn it around, but at this point it's highly unlikely... Antonelli was fighting a hand/arm injury (he missed a few weeks after a HBP and his batting average plummeted after) all season. Plus, his on-base skills are far superior to Freel's... A better question is whether Tolu compares to Hunter. TW, as for Matt Bush, don’t forget, he was a concensus top 10. Going #1 might have been the worst thing for him. It definitely went to his head. He’s young enough and talented enough to turn it around, but at this point it’s highly unlikely…

Antonelli was fighting a hand/arm injury (he missed a few weeks after a HBP and his batting average plummeted after) all season. Plus, his on-base skills are far superior to Freel’s…

A better question is whether Tolu compares to Hunter.

]]> By: Peter Friberg http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2006/12/friday-links-8-dec-06.html#comment-33352 Peter Friberg Sun, 10 Dec 2006 03:27:25 +0000 http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2006/12/friday-links-8-dec-06.html#comment-33352 Anthony (#115), or when they thought that frisbee was coming and they started reaching only to see Cla's inside-cutting sinker dive towards their knees (see Pujols in mid/late Sept.)... Anthony (#115), or when they thought that frisbee was coming and they started reaching only to see Cla’s inside-cutting sinker dive towards their knees (see Pujols in mid/late Sept.)…

]]> By: Tom Waits http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2006/12/friday-links-8-dec-06.html#comment-33351 Tom Waits Sun, 10 Dec 2006 03:20:28 +0000 http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2006/12/friday-links-8-dec-06.html#comment-33351 111: The 2005 and 06 drafts were better than several before them. That doesn't mean they were as good as they could have easily been. BA, BP, Keith Law, and John Sickels all agree. They agree on the relative mediocrity of those 2 drafts and the weakness of the Padre system. Whether you were trying to call me out or not, I didn't confuse the Towers/Gayton drafts with the Alderson/Fuson ones. Not only did I specifically mention 2005 as my cutoff point, I mentioned several polished college arms who we passed on in the last 2 drafts. I've never said they should take high school guys exclusively. Talk about misrepresentation. I said they missed several chances to take high upside guys, college and high school. What's worse, they often took no-upside guys in those places. Why would anyone need to caricaturize your opinions? There's no need to put forth the effort to do that, they look like caricatures without any help from me. 111: The 2005 and 06 drafts were better than several before them. That doesn’t mean they were as good as they could have easily been. BA, BP, Keith Law, and John Sickels all agree. They agree on the relative mediocrity of those 2 drafts and the weakness of the Padre system.

Whether you were trying to call me out or not, I didn’t confuse the Towers/Gayton drafts with the Alderson/Fuson ones. Not only did I specifically mention 2005 as my cutoff point, I mentioned several polished college arms who we passed on in the last 2 drafts. I’ve never said they should take high school guys exclusively. Talk about misrepresentation. I said they missed several chances to take high upside guys, college and high school. What’s worse, they often took no-upside guys in those places.

Why would anyone need to caricaturize your opinions? There’s no need to put forth the effort to do that, they look like caricatures without any help from me.

]]> By: Tom Waits http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2006/12/friday-links-8-dec-06.html#comment-33350 Tom Waits Sun, 10 Dec 2006 03:13:17 +0000 http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2006/12/friday-links-8-dec-06.html#comment-33350 110: I'll wait a year on Headley. An 823 OPS in the Cal League for a polished college hitter, with a SLG of 434, is mildly disappointing. But he's got a great work ethic and that was his first full season of pro ball, so let's see what he can do in San Antonio. If he turns into Bill Mueller that's not bad. 110: I’ll wait a year on Headley. An 823 OPS in the Cal League for a polished college hitter, with a SLG of 434, is mildly disappointing. But he’s got a great work ethic and that was his first full season of pro ball, so let’s see what he can do in San Antonio. If he turns into Bill Mueller that’s not bad.

]]> By: Tom Waits http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2006/12/friday-links-8-dec-06.html#comment-33349 Tom Waits Sun, 10 Dec 2006 03:08:16 +0000 http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2006/12/friday-links-8-dec-06.html#comment-33349 109: Antonelli's a nice player. So is Ryan Freel. Unless Antonelli starts piling on the muscle, that's his upside. Versatile athlete who can play multiple positions, good speed, good OBP, no power. I would take any of the premium pitchers in the 2006 draft over that. And I believe I was told to watch out for Matt Bush before 2006, that he was primed for a breakout. Not so much. I like Antonelli much better than Bush, he's a good player to have in your organization, but we passed on premium arms. Premium bats, too, with Conger and Sulentic. As for the depth, it's not very sick at all. Tons of corner types. If I was hijacking John Sickel's grades, I don't think anybody in our system gets an A. A few Bs and two handfuls of Cs. Before anyone accuses me of being overly cynical, bear in mind that he gave Troy Tulowitzki of the Rockies an A- and admits to wavering between that and a B+. Does anybody think we have somebody who compares to Tulowitzki? 109: Antonelli’s a nice player. So is Ryan Freel. Unless Antonelli starts piling on the muscle, that’s his upside. Versatile athlete who can play multiple positions, good speed, good OBP, no power. I would take any of the premium pitchers in the 2006 draft over that. And I believe I was told to watch out for Matt Bush before 2006, that he was primed for a breakout. Not so much. I like Antonelli much better than Bush, he’s a good player to have in your organization, but we passed on premium arms. Premium bats, too, with Conger and Sulentic.

As for the depth, it’s not very sick at all. Tons of corner types. If I was hijacking John Sickel’s grades, I don’t think anybody in our system gets an A. A few Bs and two handfuls of Cs. Before anyone accuses me of being overly cynical, bear in mind that he gave Troy Tulowitzki of the Rockies an A- and admits to wavering between that and a B+. Does anybody think we have somebody who compares to Tulowitzki?

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