Young, Giles, McAnulty Strong in Padres ‘07 TV Debut
Wed, Mar 7, 2007
by Geoff Young
Got to watch my first Padres game on TV last night. Thanks to the magic of TiVo, I got to watch it again this morning. 
Yes, I forgot to set up an IGD. We’ll get the first one of the year going this Saturday for the game against Colorado. While we’re waiting for that glorious occasion, here are my notes from Tuesday’s contest:
- The Diamondbacks had only three regulars in their lineup: Orlando Hudson, Conor Jackson, and Carlos Quentin.
- Not that I want to get into fashion too much, but the gold band over the ear on the Padres’ caps this spring is hideous; it looks like a giant rubber band. Also, I’ll need some time to get used to the Diamondbacks’ new red tops; I kept thinking they were the Astros.
- Chris Young looked great. He threw 41 pitches over three innings. By my count, 31 of those were fastballs, with all but one of the rest being breaking balls. Against the legit starters, he got Hudson to fly to center on a first pitch fastball in the first, fanned Jackson on a nasty slider down in the second (Mark Grant praised Young’s release point on this one), and gave up a ground ball single between short and third to Quentin in the second. Young also threw one changeup that I could see — a 1-0 pitch to Dave Krynzel in the third that had nice drop and that Krynzel swung over. The usual caveats about my untrained eye apply.
- The movement on Brandon Webb’s pitches is sick. Pads did a nice job of waiting him out in the first, forcing him to throw around 30 pitches and scoring two runs in the process. Good approaches at the plate.
- The U-T says that Brian Giles has improved his stance. I couldn’t tell a difference, but he had three terrific at-bats: two walks and a double to right on a 3-2 pitch from a lefty. I’d never heard of the pitcher (Evan MacLane) but he gave Adrian Gonzalez and Russell Branyan fits.
- Khalil Greene had a real nice at-bat in the first, grounding an RBI single to right on a 2-2 sinker on the outer half. I’d love to see him use the entire field more this year. And stay healthy, but that goes without saying.
- Jon Weisbarth interviewed Kevin Kouzmanoff (not in the lineup) after the second inning. Kouz praised Josh Barfield and acknowledged that he feels pressure but expressed confidence in his defense at third base. He hit a homer earlier in the day that smashed into the winshield of a car that belongs to a Channel 4 staffer. Quoth Kouzmanoff: “I thought it was guys from the other team, and that’s why we were aiming for those cars.” Nice save, rookie.
- Contrary to what his line indicates, Scott Linebrink looked good. He had Hudson struck out to lead off the fourth but the plate umpire called the 2-2 pitch a ball and Hudson ended up drawing a walk. Linebrink then nearly struck out Jackson. After falling behind 3-0, the right-hander got Jackson to swing at a full-count pitch that he just got a piece of but that Bard couldn’t hang onto for the out.
- Marcus Giles turned a beautiful double play to end the fourth. Took the feed from Greene and managed to turn and throw despite an onrushing Quentin. The throw was in the dirt, but Gonzalez made a nice scoop.
- Branyan was credited with a double in the fourth. Looks great in the box score but it was a routine fly ball to center that clanked off Krynzel’s glove. No clue what the official scorer was thinking. Branyan’s clean swipe of third was impressive; pitcher forgot he was there, I guess.
- Geoff Blum knocked a pinch-hit double to right. Yep, hanging slider.
- Justin Upton is huge.
- Terrmel Sledge, who didn’t play in the game, tells Weisbarth that his legs feel good. Is it me, or does Sledge look a little like Muhammad Ali?
- Who the heck are Adam Shabala, Brian Myrow, and Aaron Rakers? I have no idea, but they all got into the game for the Padres.
- Paul McAnulty, fighting Sledge for the starting left field job, looked good. He made a real nice play to cut off a ball headed to the gap in left-center, holding Alberto Callaspo to a single in the sixth. P-Mac also had terrific at-bats all night. He is ready and should be playing in the big leagues for somebody this season. I hope it’s us.
- Scott Strickland worked behind in the count during his inning. Did a nice job getting out of a jam.
- Royce Ring isn’t quite the knuckle dragger that Cla Meredith is. Ring’s delivery is more a low three-quarters.
- Second baseman Craig Stansberry is very fast.
- Shortstop Luis Cruz was completely overpowered by reliever Juan Cruz. I always forget about Juan Cruz. He’s a guy who still has big upside; I hate to see guys like that on the Diamondbacks.
- Wally Joyner sighting in the eighth. Apparently he’s working with the minor leaguers.
- Heath Bell has a herky-jerky delivery. He comes straight over the top. Grant and Matt Vasgersian compare his build to Pete Harnisch and Jason Jennings, especially the lower half; tree-trunk thighs. Bell gives up a run on three hits, but as with Linebrink, the line doesn’t do his performance justice. The first hit is a grounder up the middle that Stansberry backhands but can’t beat the runner with his throw. Then Bell had Danny Richar struck out on an 0-2 pitch that the plate umpire missed; Richar ended up knocking a single to left. The RBI single to Upton was legit. Regardless, Bell looked solid. He located his fastball and showed a nice curve.
Well, that’s what I saw anyway. Good to have games to talk about again.
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.
March 7, 2007 at 10:14 am
Adam Shabala is a 29 year old centerfielder spent the last 3 years at Fresno, could be a short-term help in the case of a Cameron injury. Bryan Myrow 30 year old career minor leaguer played at 1st, 2nd, 3rd. 950 Ops at Vegas a couple of years ago.
Aaron Rakers was out of baseball last year (must have been injured), hard throwing righty reliever with 10+Ks/9in. and improving control. He is also 30.
March 7, 2007 at 12:00 pm
I’m not familiar with Stansberry, but he covered a lot of ground to get to that ball in the 9th. Too bad he couldn’t get the throw off, but I think the runner had it beat anyway.
March 7, 2007 at 12:25 pm
I love the name Stansberry…sounds like a flavor from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!
March 7, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Hey guys
ESPN’s Rob Neyer predicts a Pads - Indians World Series this year. He also predicts the Indians will win, which is absolutely ridiculous.
March 7, 2007 at 12:47 pm
“Khalil Greene had a real nice at-bat in the first, grounding an RBI single to right on a 2-2 sinker on the outer half. I’d love to see him use the entire field more this year. And stay healthy, but that goes without saying.”
…Especially after rolling over on an outside pitch and pulling a dribler foul.
If he starts going the other way, he might finally become what people thought he would…
March 7, 2007 at 12:54 pm
#4 - okay, I’m throwing out my first LOL of the season to Nick G
March 7, 2007 at 12:57 pm
6: I’ll second that.
March 7, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Agree with the analysis, especially the part about Heath Bell. Three K’s and three ground balls (one hit well) is a good outing.
Our favorite trade bait is profiled over at BP, but alas the article requires a subscription. The basic conclusions are that KT has magic pixie dust for relievers and that Linebrink should at least maintain his level of production from last year for this year.
March 7, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Another prospect list. Gleeman has Kouz at #35:
http://www.aarongleeman.com/20.....6493197166
March 7, 2007 at 1:20 pm
You know it’s spring training when: Paul McAnulty is pinch running.
March 7, 2007 at 1:32 pm
1 - Rakers was out last year because of rotator cuff surgery (pitching arm) I think. Even though he’s a bit “old”, he dominated AAA in ‘04 and ‘05 and I think is generally regarded as a useful part as long as his arm has returned to full strength.
March 7, 2007 at 1:56 pm
I would recommend reading the David Wells article on Yahoo…pretty standard stuff about his trip to Africa and finding retirement boring…blah blah blah…
But then there is a Gem in there about his favorite food while he was there…not sure it is fit to copy and paste in here, so go ahead and read the article…about half-way through is a line that will make almost everyone laugh out loud!
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/ne.....;type=lgns
March 7, 2007 at 2:42 pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dik-dik
March 7, 2007 at 2:44 pm
re: Juan Cruz … this is going to sound preposterous, but I’ve seen him at times when he reminds me of Pedro … ie. I agree that it seems like he still has “big upside” …
March 7, 2007 at 3:11 pm
HRs by each of our middle infielders … http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/bo.....=270307103 … but a 6-4 loss nonetheless …
March 7, 2007 at 5:11 pm
12
That was great. I really used to despise Wells . . . not so much any more.
March 7, 2007 at 5:13 pm
same thing with Rickey Henderson, actually. I guess it’s just me rooting for the laundry.
Wells is a nutjob and a flake, but he’s good for the game.
March 7, 2007 at 9:50 pm
I definitely noticed the change in Brian Giles’ stance. He’s more upright, his legs are closer together, and his hands are higher. Hopefully it helps.
March 8, 2007 at 7:14 am
Hey Geoff,
“Stansberry is fast”. Interesting. He does have some decent stolen base numbers in the minors. Perhaps I need to re-think my Damian Jackson inclusion on the opening day roster (which was always a huge longshot). Maybe mgmt is also realizing the need for one speed guy on a slow club, to pinch run late in close games, score from second. He seems to be able to play third as well. Too bad he doesn’t play a bit of center field - or maybe he does…
March 8, 2007 at 8:56 am
What do you think of Hampson, GY?
It was weird seeing Roger Royce Ring throw in that arm slot, wasn’t it?
Also, the Kirk Gibson sighting in the opposite dugout was a big surprise. He doesn’t look like Kirk Gibson at all without the beard and with the haircut.
I thought I saw the change-up too. That was nasty. Almost as good as the slider. Chris Young is going to rock again this year.
#4: Ha…ha….
March 8, 2007 at 8:56 am
Oh, yeah. Free P-Mac!