Spring Training Notes (21 Feb 07)
Wed, Feb 21, 2007
by Geoff Young
Have we hit all the cliches yet? Only a month till the season starts; better get cracking. We just need to give 110%, take it one day at a time, and stay within ourselves. And if that doesn’t work, we can always look at pretty pictures.
Catcher Competition
One of last year’s pleasant surprises, Josh Bard, is expected to take over as starting catcher this year, but the man who would replace future Hall of Famer Mike Piazza is taking nothing for granted. Manager Bud Black’s thoughts on Bard?
He’s a little bit more experienced service-time wise. He’s the guy that we feel he’s ready for the challenge to lead our pitching staff in a combination with Rob Bowen.
Veteran Todd Greene is only mentioned in passing and appears to be, as he was last spring, a darkhorse candidate. Greene gets a little love at the North County Times and offers this gem: “I am what I am.” It’s a nice variation on “it is what it is,” and it’s also Popeye’s catch phrase. If Greene makes the team, and with all due respect to Don Zimmer, we’re calling him Popeye.
Walker to Arbitration
Second baseman Todd Walker’s fate will be decided today. Walker submitted a figure of $3.95 million, while the Padres countered with $2.75 million. He earned $2.5 million in 2006.
As a reader pointed out to me, Jon Heyman at SI.com thinks Walker might be better off losing his case. Walker, for his part, apparently wishes to remain in San Diego:
If the (salary) number comes in too low, it’s easier to get traded. I don’t want to get traded.
I like Walker’s bat a lot, but if he wins arbitration, should the Padres pay $4 million for a left-handed pinch-hitter who can play second every now and then? Geoff Blum will be with the club, so why not have him be the backup second baseman (with recently signed Oscar Robles in reserve), deal Walker for some minor-league pitching depth, and give Paul McAnulty a job?
But that’s just me.
Greene’s Finger
Shortstop Khalil Greene’s left middle finger still hurts. Greene doesn’t seem overly concerned about it. He also got married over the winter. I know this will interest some people because I see searches for it all the time in my server logs.
Top Prospects
Lyle Spencer answers reader questions at Padres.com. Talking about Padres prospects, he mentions all the usual names — Will Venable, Cedric Hunter, Cesar Carrillo.
Incidentally, Baseball America has just released its top 10 Padres prospects. Not sure the list is available online yet, but the top five are Hunter, Carrillo, Matt Antonelli, Kevin Kouzmanoff, and Venable. I’m skeptical about Antonelli. I’ll be ecstatic if he really is better than what I think Kouzmanoff will be.
As for Hunter and Venable, they draw comparisons to some unlikely players — Hunter to the Cubs’ Jacque Jones, Venable to the Angels’ Garret Anderson. It’s worth noting that Hunter drew 41 walks in just under 300 plate appearances last year, his first as a pro. Jones didn’t crack that total in a single season until 2005, at age 30 in the major leagues. Venable walked 55 times last year; Anderson has never drawn that many in a single season at any level.
Just sayin’.
Thompson and Stauffer and Ring, Oh My!
Right-handers Mike Thompson and Tim Stauffer remain on the outside looking in for now. This piece is mostly fluff, but it’s got a couple nice quotes from Jake Peavy, including this one about his fellow ‘99 draftee Thompson:
…we’re not all going to stay healthy (and) Mike’s going to play a big part in whether this team succeeds or not. I just try to get him to know that – tell him to work like he’s going to help this team not as if he’s got to start the year at Triple-A.
That’s pretty solid advice, if sadly lacking in cliches.
Meanwhile, Padres.com talks about La Mesa native and SDSU alum Royce Ring. Acquired this past winter from the Mets, Ring is hoping to take over the lefty reliever spot occupied by Alan Embree in ‘06. Black’s impressions?
He has reinvented himself — low three-quarters [delivery], borderline sidearm. It’s a completely different arm slot. I talked to him the other day, and he said that’s his slot now. He spins the ball very well, with great movement. He keeps the ball down; there is deception to it.
Whew. Is that all? Did I give 110%? Did I stay within myself? As long as I just keep taking it one day at a time, everything will fall into place. A lot of that is beyond my control, though. This is a marathon, not a sprint. I’m in it for the long haul.
Ack, I don’t know how to end this. With a period, I guess.
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.
February 21, 2007 at 8:32 am
Great post G.Y. Im getting so excited about ST I dont know if I will be able to wait untill the 23rd!
February 21, 2007 at 8:47 am
Nice work out there, Geoff, now hit the showers.
February 21, 2007 at 9:43 am
Awesome post, Geoff! You gave 110% and took it one sentence at a time. As PM suggests, grab the soap!
February 21, 2007 at 10:24 am
How would the Padres trade Todd Walker, when a guy like Ronnie Belliard has to take a minor-league deal with the Nationals? There are just too many second baseman/utility infielders out there.
February 21, 2007 at 10:39 am
Chicago ace agrees to $12.4M deal before hearing. That would be Carlos Zambrano. Compared to Gil Meche’s contract, this is nothing.
I hope the Padres signed Chris Young to a long term soon. That Peavy’s contract is getting more affordable by the minute.
February 21, 2007 at 11:14 am
GY…you forgot the most important one…you win some, you lose some…and some days it rains!!!
February 21, 2007 at 11:45 am
Did everyone see this little diddy in the ESPN/Rob Neyer chat today?
Who is your leading Cy Young candidates preseason AL and NL?
Rob Neyer: No mystery in the AL, but the NL’s wide open. I suppose you have to like Carpenter and Webb, but I suspect we’ll get a mild surprise, like Ben Sheets or Jacob Peavy.
February 21, 2007 at 11:55 am
Expanding on the cliche theme — Baseball quotes:
http://www.quotegarden.com/baseball.html
A couple of my favorites:
When you’re in a slump, it’s almost as if you look out at the field and it’s one big glove. ~Vance Law
You know it’s summertime at Candlestick when the fog rolls in, the wind kicks up, and you see the center fielder slicing open a caribou to survive the ninth inning. ~Bob Sarlette
February 21, 2007 at 12:14 pm
8 - ya, i’ll add those to my favorites too … thanks
BP’s Top 100 Prospects by Kevin Goldstein is free today …
http://www.baseballprospectus......cleid=5892
… KK @ 52 … CC @ 89 … CH @ 95 …
February 21, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Lynch…just to clarify…CH @ 95 is Cedric Hunter, not Chase Headley…
February 21, 2007 at 1:09 pm
I’m addicted to this blog. Anyone know of a Ducksnorts Anonymous Support Group?
February 21, 2007 at 2:36 pm
re 10 … well said, thanks … but “if you have to be told, you probably don’t need to know”
re 11 … I’m the head of the Oregon Chapter … how can I help?
February 21, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Oh no, not that sore finger again!
Before we trade Walker, we should consider that we may be seeing a lot of Blum in the starting line-up at shortstop yet again.
Also, with all that is being asked of Kouzmanoff this year, should we really be lumping him in with “prospects” that won’t be contributing to the big league team for a season or two? Seems like a miscategorization for the guy you are expecting to be your starting third baseman and fill out a key spot in the order.
February 21, 2007 at 5:25 pm
I have been listening to SA on XX. Todd Greene dislocated his shoulder throwing today and is expected to be out for a while. They’ll be looking for some catching help. They might be looking at a right handed bat off the bench.
Todd Walker also won his arbitration.
Nevin’s name came up, since he is right handed, has some power and can play numerous positions, including as a 3rd catcher. Apparently Steve Finley has been contacting Towers, as well.
February 22, 2007 at 6:43 am
Saw this today…
http://www.philly.com/mld/dail.....754495.htm
I don’t know a lot of people that would call Andrew Brown a “hot prospect”.
February 22, 2007 at 6:49 am
Here is hoping that Bard can just put up the .281 average this season…the same number his resume says he had in the minor leagues…
http://www.signonsandiego.com/.....djump.html
February 22, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Frankly, I like Walker for the roster more than Blum- since Blum can’t really play short and can’t really hit, it makes more sense to have a decent efensive SS on the roster over Blum, since Kouzmanoff, Branyan and Walker can all play 3rd, and Walker and Giles can each play second. The Pads signed Oscar Robles this week, and I think he should make the roster over Blum - he’s a good shortstop (no more Manny!) and a decent/passable second baseman, plus he can hit a little bit. He’s also 3 years younger than Blum, and his recent performance is better (an 88 OPS vs. a 73 OPS for Blum).
In some ways, I think Blum is hampered by his recent history as a post-season hero of sorts, while his increasingly meager offensive numbers (293 OBP, anyone?) are ignored because he’s a “gamer.”