| time: | 7:05 p.m. PT |
| tv: | 4SD |
| sp: | Jake Peavy (8-1, 1.82) vs Steve Trachsel (5-4, 3.94) |
| pre: | Padres.com, SI.com |
You can find stats anywhere. Describing and analyzing those stats adds value. Presenting them in a graphical format that gives a quick overview of key indicators potentially provides further value. The concept of a “dashboard” is stolen from the world of web analytics.
Jake Peavy Dashboard (click image for larger version)
I’m developing this for possible use in next year’s book. I don’t know if it’s worth pursuing, but it might be. What do you think? It’s still in early alpha, so any feedback is appreciated. Be as brutal as you need to be.
Go Padres!
247 Comments
I’ve honestly gone back and forth trying to decide if these graphs represent Peavy’s performance as a pitcher or a hitter … I guess I’m more into the data than the graphs, in general …
Let’s go JAKE!
Leblanc stays on the BA PHS … http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/hotsheet/264317.html
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/06/19/sports/professional/padres/22_49_366_18_07.txt
Padres sign picks … Kulbacki & Payne … and …
The team also announced the signing of its fifth-round selection, right-handed pitcher Jeremy Hefner whom they thought slipped in the draft because of “signability issues.” The 6-foot-4 pitcher from Oral Roberts University has a 93-94 mph fastball and could be a steal.
… which sounds like some spin, if you ask me, but I’m hoping he’ll be ready to pitch on Sunday (in Eugene, with me present
).
2: I hope that’s a wrong sentence:
“his walks-to-strikeout ratio has been impressive: 33-to-1 over his last 27 innings” because that’s not very good at all.
I like the graphs. I use stuff like that at work every day to plot and trend data. If you choose to go with it, color would be great. Maybe add a section to the next book with some of the nicknames and other blogisms we create in here and their background. And above all, a GLOSSARY! Thanks Geoff. Go Padres.
Hey, this is a good-lookin’ lineup …
M. Giles 2b 0.263
J. Cruz Jr. rf 0.264
A. Gonzalez 1b 0.297
M. Cameron cf 0.250
J. Bard c 0.252
R. Branyan lf 0.230
K. Greene ss 0.229
C. Headley 3b 0.100
J. Peavy p 0.226
3: Have fun at the game on Sunday. We want reports back.
#6: I meant INDEX. Sorry, I’m very tired.
Geoff, I love the stats and the graphics. I cant be brutal. It’s not in me.
PS. I have 2 tickets for Friday Nights Game. If anyone is looking to buy tickets. I can’t go.
Field Reserved Section 115, Row 37
6: And that lineup by wOBA
1: .329
2: .331
3: .388
4: .324
5: .305
6: .372
7: .307
8: .147
9: .262
.332 is league average and the stat is not park adjusted.
#9: You are very nice to offer those tix in here. The Sox games will more than likely sell out. What are you asking for them?
10: And because I’m bored that lineup by runs above replacement (PA):
1: 18.13 (290)
2: 13.35 (208)
3: 38.12 (305)
4: 16.15 (286)
5: 6.44 (183)
6: 10.04 (93)
7: 9.98 (264)
8: -1.50 (11)
9: -0.38 (34)
11: I believe they have already sold out.
Josh Phelps was DFA’d by the Yankees. He’s a solid right handed hitter and would be a good righty bat on the bench. As the roster is presently constructed, there’s not really a spot for him, but if we got rid of that extra 12th pitcher he’d be worth the bench spot.
#13: You are correct, Richard.
#14: Get rid of Silent L.
Turbine Dude,
I have no idea what the asking price is. You can see where the seats are. Normally they are $45 each. I would rather have a Ducksnorts fan go enjoy than someone else.
#17: Send me an email at rickschroder@sbcglobal.net (which will probably be rickschroder@cox.net by tommorow night, but send anyway.).
#1, 5: Thanks for the feedback, guys. I may throw more versions of these out there in the future.
#9: You are way too kind, SDG.
#14: Phelps is sort of a poor-man’s Craig Wilson. Interesting idea, but I suspect it won’t happen…
So, who is the probable starter for CY on Friday?
Alright NOG! Nice double to start the game.
This is the first time I’ve seen Trachsel pitch, and through three pitchess he has worked quite rapidly.
Bunting?!!?!? Against a horrible pitcher, when Cruz can advance the runner with just a pulled ground ball?
Hey Geoff – I think the graphs are a great start. I generally prefer not to use pie-charts, as my thinking is that there are other charts (e.g. bar charts) that can be more useful in relating “relative significance” among multiple fields.
TD, Just sent you an email.
How poorly did the left fielder play that ball that NOG hit?
That was low and inside for that last strike call.
A G-Slam from Cammy would be nice right now.
I think the ump feels sorry for Trachsel.
#25: OK, thanks.
#26: Everybody was fooled and really thought it was gone.
I think that I would also suggest using normal 2-D line charts instead of 3d. It’s just my opinion, but 3d is a bit distracting and also someone limits the usefulness of the graph by making it a bit more complex to display actual data (for instance, you can actually list the column total on the top of each bar, which helps if you might want to multiple variables against two different y-axis(s))
Anyway, I think the stats are good and I’m just being a bit picky stylistically.
crap, that was supposed to read “might want to PLOT mutliple variables…”
no…
Yuck. What is the opposite of clutch?
35: Unlucky?
Yuck… A double play. Rally killer!
#24, 32: Thanks, Marsh. This is very useful.
36: In Bard’s case, I would say, since I thought that ball was going through. In Cameron’s case, I have no idea.
That was pretty bad…Cameron got caught looking at 2 fastballs right down the middle. We just needed something in the air from either one of them.
oof. anyone know the probability of loading the bases with no outs then *not* scoring?
#36: LOL. Okay, I’ll accept that answer.
Wow. That was awful. How does Cameron strike out looking with the bases loaded?
GY, The opposite of clutch is obviously anyone who bats for the Padres with less than two outs and a runner on third.
38: you’re definitely welcome.
SDG: “Youv’e Got Mail.”
Jake Peavy’s wOBA allowed is basically Geoff Blum.
Geoff – *love* the charts. Here’s how I might do the “events” chart for multiple pitchers; make it a stacked bar chart where all the columns total to 100%. That way, you can compare guys and how they get their outs (Ks, flies and grounders if the data is available) and who gives up a lot of walks / HRs. I’d play with the vertical scale (maybe have the X-axis cross at 40%, assuming all the pitchers on the chart get outs more than 40% of the time) so the smaller categories get more space.
This is easy for me to say, of course – I’m not the one doing the data gathering and chartsmanship!
Peavy looks really, really good. His control was a little off in the first, but his fastball is moving like crazy, and it looks like the ump is going to give him a generous outside corner.
#41: This chart puts it at ~12%:
http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/users/brooks/public_html/feda/datasets/expectedruns.html
32: Hmm, that must have been what’s buggin me about the right side of the dashboard, the 3D chart. Geoff, I agree with Marsh that the 2D would be better.
The Padres didn’t score? What the heck? Urgh.
50: That sounds about right. I’d be willing to bet the % is lower with a team’s cleanup hitter the next up to bat.
48: in my opinion, that’s a great suggestion.
TD, Thanks, just let me know.
Ooh, nice job by Khalil staying on the ball and driving it up the middle.
#48: Awesome! Anything goes at this point; we’ll figure out what’s practical later. I definitely would like to get fly outs and ground outs in there as well. Unfortunately most places that provide GB/FB data include all balls put in play and not just outs. No worries, we’ve got time on our side.
SDG, will do.
41 – dang, Geoff, you are good.
53 – gracias. I’ve spent too much time with PowerPoint in recent years, so this sort of idea comes far too easily.
56: I want to say ESPN gave a GB/FB out ratio, but I’m not sure.
As long as we’re talking Boston Tix, I have a pair in the upper boxes on the third base side for Sunday that are extras… I have them on StubHub at $70 each, I’d take $40 from a DS hookup…
So if you’re Joe Girardi…do you take this job or sit out the year and wait to see what else is open in the offseason?
Jake gets it done (Gitter done).
58: what do you do?
63 – I work for a bank now, but used to work for a consulting firm, which was all PowerPoint, all the time. honestly, you were evaluated on how many charts you could produce.
Oh yeah NOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YESSSSSSSSSSSS NOG
NOG visits the porch. Very nice!
Leave the stinkin’ fences where they be!
There we go! That eases the pain of the first inning!
63: ironic. I just started up with a consulting firm this week for my summer internship during business school.
excuse me: go NOG!
okay, back: which consulting firm??
NOG!
3 Runs = Padre win
Trachsel won’t make it to the fifth…
Sorry, my math is off…
Jake pitching + 3 Padre-runs = Padre win
70 – that’s awesome. Best of luck w/ the internship. Work smart and be friendly and your chances of getting an offer should be quite good. I used to work for Mercer Management Consulting, before they changed the name to Oliver Wyman. Good firm, but it was not what I wanted to do with my life. I got tired of being on the road 25 days a month.
Headley scored his first career run on the NOG homer.
72: The Padres are 7-6 in games where they score exactly 3 runs.
76: Speaking of Headley, it’s nice to see him having quality PAs.
77: Guess, the Padres must score more runs, even with Jake on the mound.
79: We’re 4-6 when we score exactly 4, though.
75: Very interesting. I just heard about that merger this week (I guess I’ve been out of the loop). I’m working with Bain Consulting this summer. Ironically, my brother Clayton, who also spends a pretty good amount of time on this site, took a position with Mercer Mgmt Consulting after graduating from business school in 2000. Unfortunately, though, they closed his entire office during the downturn in 2001.
Is anyone watching the Az St vs. UC Irvine game?!?! I know, most are watching the pads (I’m watching it on my computer), but the CWS is on ESPN2 and it’s an amazing game. Bases loaded, 1 out, bottom 11…. Irvine at the plate….
sorry, bottom 10.
Irvine Wins!!!
#58: No, I just know where to look for stuff.
#61: Sit and wait.
More chart thoughts. I think you guys are right about 2d vs 3d. I got cute with that, and I should know better. Simple is good. Regarding use of color, my one concern is printing cost, but I’ll look into it.
UC Irvine just won.
Woo-hoo Irvine!
Is the Human Rain Delay looking to make a liar out of me with that fifth inning crack now?
It’s really impressive that our lineup can strike out 3 times in 3 innings against a guy that came in striking out 2.67 per 9 IP.
Record by Runs Scored:
0: 0-1 (.000)
1: 3-5 (.375)
2: 3-6 (.333)
3: 7-6 (.538)
4: 4-6 (.400)
5: 3-4 (.429)
6: 2-0 (1.000)
7: 9-0 (1.000)
8: 2-0 (1.000)
9: 2-0 (1.000)
10: 1-0 (1.000)
11: 4-0 (1.000)
89: As an addendum to that: there is nothing wrong with strikeouts as long as they are accompanied by power and patience. And the Padres have a homer and three walks in three innings, so todo as bueno.
90: Exactly half of our wins have come in games where we scored six or more runs.
We’re 20-28 when scoring five or fewer runs.
#89-93: You guys are hurting my brain after a very long day at work.
OT: Got my Tony brick yesterday. Very nice.
Richard, see #74, what happens when Jake’s pitching
(I was just being silly, but I bet adding Jake to the equasion changes things.)
4 now… Nice.
Right on Khalil !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You da man!
Very nice Khalil….
96: I know, but I thought it was interesting.
I thought Chase was gonna go also. Damn.
Three Major League teams are undefeated when scoring six or more runs (Padres, Red Sox & Dodgers).
I love that commercial with Mud and Matty V…
That was a fun inning.
Jake is dealin tonight…
Isn’t it nice that we are able to have fond memories of guys like Ramon Hernandez and Dave Roberts instead of resenting them for tying up valuable resources?
Jake’s stuff looks so incredible tonight. That last pitch looked like it dropped 80 deg. Sheesh.
Yep….was thinking the same thing…what a good choice not to bring Ramon back. Great guy and he was fun to watch, but he just can’t seem to stay healthy
#105: I miss those guys. But then again, hell I miss Ricky Henderson (entertainment value).
Chances that Peavy is the All-Star game starter?
I hated Rickey Henderson before he became a Padre and now he’d probably be in my top 5 all time favorite Padres players
109: got to be pretty good at this point…
I have to agree about Ramon and Dave, and I was a huge advocate of bringing Ramon back and I freely admit it…
109: Way too high. Hopefully he starts right before the All-Star break and so can’t actually pitch in the game.
#110: It was always fun to listen to him talk about himself in the 3rd person. Kinda like listening to Yogi. Made me feel like the Aflac duck. LOL
Man, even Adrian’s outs are loud.
Cammy is just not seeing the ball well tonight… I hope he snaps out of it but he just looks off to me.
110: I’ll never forget opening day 1997 when Rickey got arguably the biggest ovation from the sell out crowd at Qualcomm…came up as a pinch hitter and hit a HR and then took his sweet time getting around the bases.
Nice blooper over the 5.5
#116: He made a nice adjustment there, and some great hustle to get into second base.
116: I was just about to type that I agreed with you and Cameron had looked pretty bad. Glad for Cameron to prove us wrong.
#73: You were close, Rich.
119-120. Sometimes it’s all about realizing it and making the adjustment. I’d like to think that was what Cammy did… but it never upsets me to be wrong on something like that!
I love Rickey. Got to see him a couple times when he played for the Surf Dawgs:
http://www.geoffreynyoung.com/gfx/rickey03.jpg
Nice.
Trachsel bugs me… I hate that super slo-mo approach. I’m always glad when he leaves the game. That might be memories of my knees hurting while I wish a guy would get on the mound and just throw the %$&#@ rock, too…
#123: He had character. And, if he got on base…OMG it was a circus act meant to drive pitchers crazy trying to keep track of him.
A bit late to the game…
Re 35: hctulc, but I have no idea how to pronounce it.
Re Rickey, He was a great time, and loved his attitude about setting the runs scored record. Not a flashy stat, but for a hitter, particularly a lead-off hitter, what is more important? And he was always good for an entertaining quote. One of my favorites had to do with practicing “landing softly” when sliding so he wouldn’t hurt himself stealing bases…
Nice grab by Cheo. That was a little scary.
Well, that could have been much worse with Tejada and Huff there… but they are in slam range now. I think Jakes emotions hurt him again on the 3-2 pitch to Markakis. One out from getting off easy here…
#127: When asked was he does best, he said ‘Ricky gets on.’
by the way, anyone know what our record is pre-/post-OG’s departure from the active lineup?
Jeez….i stop focusing on the game and all hell breaks loose….
Oh no. That was not good.
Ouch…spoke a little too soon there. That was a nasty turn of events.
There wasn’t a single ball hit decently that inning.
Way more difficult than it needed to be.
I’d feel a little more comfortable if we could get another run or two.
Some Keystone Cop plays that cost 3 runs.
Well, it is what it is.
#131: We were 23-20 after OG’s last game 5/19. We are 17-8 since then.
#140: Things that make you go…Hmmm?
I don’t think Matty and Tony realize how good the Baltimore rotation has been. I’d say Mazzone has done a great job with them. Now, the bullpen, not so much.
Glen H. a little greedy? Dunno.
Hard to blame Chase on that… it took a fantastic throw to get him. Of course, we follow that with a bloop single. *shrug*
Re Graphs:
Geoff, I agree with the 2d vs 3d statements. How did you choose these particular stats? One I think might be interesting to track is “swing-and-miss per pitch” or something like that.
140: Thanks…. While there might not be a real correlation, the difference in record is definitely interesting…..looks like we were 5-3 in the 8 games leading up to and including OG’s last game (not including the 4 previous games when we lost 3 of 4 from the Braves)
Girlie Mouth with a steal. Nice.
Nice bit of hitting there by Cruz…
In Brian Giles’ absence, our rightfielders are hitting .219/.292/.323, so it’s Giles being out is not helping us.
That’s a big run there… could be crucial.
Snaked that 3.5 hole for one. And a pitching change.
#149: However, look at the W-Ls, not the position %.
81: well done there, Marsh. what office are you in?
love Rickey. one of the funniest Sports Illustrated artciles I ever read was about him, by Tom Verducci back in 2003. Verducci basically collected Rickey quotes and stories and I couldn’t stop laughing. the John Olerud story might be the best. I looked for the article, but it’s not readily available online.
149: .292 OBP out of a corner outfield position is rough.
152: That’s in spite of our missing Giles as you can tell by the lack of production we’ve gotten from his vacated position.
A-Gone just gave me a warm fuzzy feeling.
What exactly is low for Tony? He has described everything above the kneecaps as up.
And an error to help us along.
We’re 9-0 when scoring 8 or more runs…
Cammy is soooooooo happy to see someone besides HRD… he was all over that.
157: Presumably, low would be the kneecaps and below.
158: Yahoo has that down as a hit? The scorer trying to help Cammy’s average a bit?
161: Touche.
162: It was a tough play.
A meat run. Wow.
Didn’t they just show the Orioles bullpen being horrific lately?
Get the HVC up.
nice wedge Khalil
wow. save some for tomorrow night, fellas.
Ok, I consider this appropriate payback for our poor luck in the top of the inning.
The Orioles are starting to look like the Bad News Bears.
171: Hopefully they can keep it up through the rest of the series.
167: You beat me to it, but he should pitch in this game. Hampson is up again.
Is it just me, or does Mud look like Uncle Fester in that Valley View Casino commercial?
Geoff, why am I being moderated?
Freddie Bynum must look a little like Alfonso Soriano if you’re squinting at him from 60′6″
That’s an impressive piece of hitting by Markakis. Man, there’s a young player to build around! What an arm on that throw to get Headley…
I guess it’s too late to trade Hampson while he had an ERA under 1. I wonder if they’ve got interest in Kevin Cameron…
Even though it goes against us, it’s nice to see an ump make the right call.
Not a laugher anymore.
If Hampson is the Human Victory Cigar, there’s a joke involving gasoline waiting to be made.
#181: As long as it doesn’t involve Monica Lewinsky.
#175: Sorry, bud; it happens sometimes.
What’s up with all the runs? This is weird.
HVC = Kevin Cameron
Nice for Cla… gets us out of the inning and is a real confidence boost as well…
184: My bad, I thought Hampson was our Darko. Kevin Cameron may make an appearance yet…
Bocachica gets my vote for unluckiest hitter on the team. He has crushed some pitches lately and had very little to show for it.
Dang, Patterson looked like he almost took the wall out when he hit it.
186: He would taking that title away from Kouzmanoff. Can Kouz lose his title while he’s injured? Isn’t that the ultimate example of bad luck?
#145: BZ, I was trying to give one representation of power and one of plate discipline. Other metrics I’ve considered include XBH%, PA/HR, BB/K, P/PA, OBP/BA. Maybe something involving GB/FB/LD data.
Hey, a Chris Gomez sighting!
wow…a Chris Gomez sighting…
OK, I gotta try and watch the rest of this in the bedroom. See you all tommorow. Go Padres.
beat me to it GY
I think Matty V summed it up well…the members of that 98 team will be heroes forever in the minds of Padres fans…
194: Except for Kevin Brown.
Amazing that Chris Gomez has had a 14 year ML career…Wow! I thought that he was on his last legs when he left the Friars…
#195: A beautiful piece of irony in itself.
Wow C. Gomez is THAT C. Gomez? Hopefully he got a nice ovation…
Where does Gomez rank all-time among Padres shortstops? I’ve got Khalil, Tempy, Fernandez, and Ozzie ahead of him. Damian Jackson is close. Who am I missing?
If Damian Jackson is close…he might be down far enough that it’s not worth counting
I remember when we acquired DJ from Cleveland. Man, I was excited. He was such a good athlete.
Rob Bell? Paul Shuey? What, no Rob Beck?
I really really hope that Black brings in HVC for the 9th.
Did ya’all see that Jason Schmidt is having shoulder surgery. You’ve got to think that he won’t be back this year.
I’m not sure how much that weakens the Dodgers. I guess that it takes some depth away…nice call Peter on fighting against our signing Schmidt all off season long.
I’m waiting for Roger Salkeld…
199 – Geoff, that’s about it. Ricky Gutierrez is the only guy I can think of, without going back to the 60s and 70s. None of the Vazquez-Cruz-Jimenez trifecta deserve mention.
199, again – I’ll cheat this time: http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SDP/pos.shtml
Yeah, our history is kinda depressing sometimes. All-time leader in games at second base is Tim Flannery, all-time leader at third is Luis Salazar.
HVC!
205: Yikes, I am certain during my time in SD I saw at least one game of each of those live. And a good dose of Damian Jackson, who could go from electric to frustrating in one swing of the bat. One of the only Padres who caused a sense of dread by hitting a home run. He usually went in the tank for at least a week after a dinger, swinging for the fences and popping out. I remember thinking Bochy should fine him for hitting one out. Then he would go and steal five bases in a game…
206-
Looking at that list also reminds me of the high hopes that I had for Andujar Cedeno…ahh the early/mid 90’s
#205: Speaking of Mendez, he just signed to play for the Newark Bears:
http://oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3490657
One more thing he has in common with Rickey…
Do you guys remember Damian Jackson’s broken bat grand slam? (I think it was him.)
208: I remember the sense of dread after Quilvio Veras hit a HR also…it was terrible. He would overswing for a month.
#204: Salkeld? There’s a name I haven’t heard in a while. Nice one…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_human_victory_cigar
Quilvio hit one on Opening Day one year and my grandpa turned to me and said, “It’s going to be a long year…”
personally, I can’t help but smile whenever I see Enzo Hernandez name pop up, as it does at #2 in all time games played at short.
Wow, that chart is a scary trip down memory lane. Talk about depressing history. Jeez. Wally Whitehurst…Scott Coolbaugh…Kevin Higgins. Who the hell was Kevin Higgins?
Geoff-You have any interest in Corey Patterson for CF next year. One of the lesser known options. In the spirit of Andujar and Damian, it would be cool to have another incredible athlete. Maybe he could fulfill some of his early promise.
I remember fierce arguments with baseball fans about why Burroughs was a better prospect than Patterson…I guess that we were both wrong
#211: I think it was this game:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU200107140.shtml
Jeez, both those hits were sharp liners, eh??? sad….
C’mon HVC, let’s get this one over with.
Two more baserunners and it’s a save situation.
Okay, that’s better. Great play by Khalil to snag the high feed from NOG.
Nice DP-
I thought for a minute that NOG had thrown that ball over Khalil’s head.
222. Shut your mouth!
arrrrgh…. AZ tied it up. Tony Clark.
Great inning by Cameron. 4 easy groundballs.
#225: It’s all good now.
Go D-Rays…
212: Good call on Quilvio, same sense of dread. Damian stuck out a bit more because those post 98 teams were so hard to watch…
Jake Now has the triple crown in NL.
Padres are 1-0 when scoring 12 runs.
227:
Good call-it looked scarier than it was. He did have a good inning.
Khalil looks miserable on the postgame show. Poor guy, those are pretty bad questions. If you avoid the baseball cliches, you’re sort of out of luck.
One of these days “the cigar” is gonna get “lit up” … perhaps not the best analogy … what a hilarious nick-name …
Stauffer and Stansberry with nice outings tonight …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_06_19_poraaa_freaaa_1
Rough estimate puts Peavy pitching in the All-star game on close to normal rest
Great game by the boys in white with blue stripes. How about the error hung on the Orioles Left Fielder? He never touched it. If mental errors were a stat, wouldn’t Jose Canseco lead the majors?
236: I think he has a fair bit of competition. For example, Ruben Rivera stealing a teammate’s (Jeter I think?) glove to sell on e-bay was approximately a 50,000-base mental error in one move.
Olney just reported we got Mike Barrett from the Cubbies!!!
Me likey!
Looks like we gave up Bowen and Kyler Burke according to Rosenthal:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6941994?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=49
FOX says we gave up Rob Bowen, Kyler Burke, and cash:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6941994
Why am I not getting that warm and fuzzy feeling about this move?
Re: 240 its an odd move but the padres did not give up much for it so it cant hurt.
I’m just wary of guys coming in that have a “bad clubhouse guy” reputation with a bunch of guys who really seem like they get along and like each other, who, by coincidence, play well together.
Re: 243 True but its not like the cubs club house was all the great to start with maybe if he comes in to a functioning club house on a winning team he will fall in-line (see Cory Dillon in New England).
I like bard behind the plate and that’s why I’m not enamored with this deal, I was also hoping that they would be working on the bigger problem in LF. But to give up a struggling A ball prospect and a backup catcher for a power hitting right handed bat I have to say it looks like a good deal.
I think it’s a good trade in one respect – The Pads have had terrible luck this season throwing out base-stealers, and Barrett throws out 40 % of them. I doubt Barret will be the starter – I think he and Bard will split time just like the situation now. I liked Bowen, but he’s not a tremendously useful player, defensively or offensively. I’m not terribly worried about the whole “clubhouse chemistry” thing either. Peavy is a hothead but nobody seems to mind. Overall a decent deal for SD – strengthening their catching corps without giving up much value.
The Eugene bullpen did an outstanding imitation of the Padres bullpen last night. Between Allen Harrington, Brandon Gomes and Jackson Quezada, the went 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB and 4 K’s. John Hussey starts tonight.
The Barrett deal is fine with me, so long as he doesn’t start whining about playing time when he doesn’t start five days a week. Might there be another trade in the works involving Josh Bard? Seems odd to have two starting catchers on the same team.
I like the trade as long as Barrett is fine with platooning.