IGD: Padres @ Rockies (25 Jul 07)
Wed, Jul 25, 2007
by Geoff Young
| time: | 12:05 p.m. PT |
| tv: | none |
| sp: | Justin Germano vs Aaron Cook |
You really do not see a lot of guys with Aaron Cook’s abysmal strikeout rates stick around in the big leagues these days. It’s a credit to Cook that he’s able to make it work, but kids, don’t try this at home. Unless your name is Justin Germano, and even then…
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July 25, 2007 at 12:21 pm
2-1 bottom 1st. I think this is gonna be one of those Coors Field classics.
July 25, 2007 at 12:27 pm
Crap at-bat by Greene in the first inning, otherwise we might be sitting on 3 or 4 runs. That’s said only from GameDay, maybe it was the world’s greatest DP on a smoked ball, but with a man on third you’ve got to elevate the ball, especially when you’re swinging first pitch.
Cruz over Sledge. Huh.
July 25, 2007 at 12:35 pm
wow. as Ted just said on the radio, Germano has the highest batting average in today’s lineup. um, wow.
July 25, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Um scary stat on Germano.
First game I’ll be watching live in at least 2 weeks.
July 25, 2007 at 12:37 pm
And the first thing I see is Giles getting tagged out at 3rd.
Ugh.
July 25, 2007 at 12:46 pm
3 DP between the teams in the first 3 innings.
July 25, 2007 at 12:58 pm
2: At least we got a run in there. He could have K’ed and then Branyan could have K’ed as well. It’s not pretty, but I’ll take it.
July 25, 2007 at 1:02 pm
So do now have 13 pitchers on the roster?
July 25, 2007 at 1:05 pm
NO WANT PADRE GIDP!
NO WANT!
July 25, 2007 at 1:10 pm
What’s with the low pitch count on Cook? Can’t the Padres’ hitters be a little patient? Take a couple of pitches?
July 25, 2007 at 1:11 pm
7: And then we’d still have an out to work with, but since Cook doesn’t strike anybody out, it’s a chance worth taking. You swing first pitch in a scoring situation when the pitcher hasn’t got anybody out yet, you need to do something with it besides give him 2 outs.
July 25, 2007 at 1:11 pm
There goes the Rockies…deep. Solo HR.
July 25, 2007 at 1:12 pm
2: KT was on the radio this morning and said that Sledge was being sent down to AAA for Clay Hensley, who will work out of the ‘pen. That’s right, we will be carrying 13 pitchers, even if one of them is hurt (or two if you want to believe that Hensley is not right, which I do).
July 25, 2007 at 1:16 pm
13: Unacceptable.
July 25, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Damnit Padres, stop swining first pitch!
July 25, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Branyan is 8 for his last 52 at bats with 28 strikeouts. Nice.
July 25, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Branyon is not a LF’er. Come on Buddy quit experimenting.
July 25, 2007 at 1:22 pm
There’s the danger of having Branyan in LF-Double that was a line drive that he misjudged and let go over his head.
July 25, 2007 at 1:23 pm
13: That’s pretty desperate. Why not Bradley in CF?
Merv sure did fix this offense. A 2 run deficit in Coors still looks too big.
July 25, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Ted’s saying that both the single and the double this inning had to be caught. Shoot…
July 25, 2007 at 1:23 pm
The wheels are coming off.
July 25, 2007 at 1:28 pm
HOLY SHIT!!! 3 TIMES THIS INNING… ARE YOU F-ING SERIOUS!!!
Oh well, BARRETT’S FAULT!!!!!!!!!!!
July 25, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Branyan just let another 2 runs in this inning by letting a single turn into a triple. Good grief. Branyan gave up three runs this inning, pretty much on his own. Turned two fly balls and a single into a single, a double, and a triple. Yikes.
July 25, 2007 at 1:29 pm
I wish that Barrett would get his act together and stop playing Branyan in LF.
July 25, 2007 at 1:33 pm
2 outs… NICE
July 25, 2007 at 1:34 pm
I not going to miss the weak hitting T.Sledge one bit - touted by the Padres brass as a possible, everyday lead off guy (can you imagine ?) the has been a bigtime disappointment –he is 30+ years old and may never see the majors for any length of time again. The Pads may be bringing up Hensley to showcase him for a trade –he will get some mop up work and lets hope he does well so that we can trade him for some decent bench/pitching help.
July 25, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Cook gets a hit?
Oh well… BARRETT’S FAULT!!!
July 25, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Yikes! Cut Barrett now. He’s ruining the team.
Versus Aaron Cook, 52 pitches in 6 IP. You’ve gotta be kidding me.
July 25, 2007 at 1:37 pm
26: Sledge isn’t a weak hitter against RHP. Whatever he was or wasn’t touted as, his value is as a reserve outfielder who can hit righties.
Hensley’s trade value is not going to be greatly affected by a few days in the BP.
July 25, 2007 at 1:39 pm
Can some body work the count.
July 25, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Definition of insanity: Continuing to do the same thing in hopes of getting different results. Let’s keep swinging early!
July 25, 2007 at 1:40 pm
30.
Dear Pat,
NO!!!
Sincerely,
The Padres
July 25, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Seriously. Screw this. I’m going to go hit my finger tips with a hammer.
July 25, 2007 at 1:46 pm
I’m tuning out now. I hope Cook gets the CG and then, perhaps, the Padres would try to work the count next time. I doubt it. Darn that Barrett dude. Off the team, man. Just go!
July 25, 2007 at 1:49 pm
#29 - I understand the point you are making -but Sledge is an amazing 0 for 20 versus lefthanders and in a pinch hitting role, with opposing managers having a left handed pitching option when he is announced, don’t you think that makes the Pads vulnerable without decent righthanded hitters ? Also, I am encouraged with Branyan’s last at bat (8 for his last 53) —he hit it so high in the air, Gosh, Branyan’s really strong.
July 25, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Well, I’m done. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon.
Remember: You can’t get too high or too low, its a marathon, it’s only July, we are only a game out and all those other cliches.
Go ASTROS
July 25, 2007 at 1:59 pm
yet another day game B squad game that Bud really could care less if he won… great.
July 25, 2007 at 1:59 pm
The more I think about it the more I have no f-ing clue what I would do at this point if I was KT. Who or what can we even get. Bradley, Cameron and Giles are the only ones really doing anything lately. Do you get rid of Merv? He can’t be telling these hitters to act like this and do the things they are doing at the plate right? It’s like groundhog day with these bums. Even if you are Buddy Bell how the hell do you sit there and air out a bunch of mostly vetrans day after day after day for looking like rookies? Man this is frustrating!!!
July 25, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Maybe it would be a good idea to bring Buddy Bell in and have him stir it up.
July 25, 2007 at 2:03 pm
The Colorado announcers are wondering aloud if the Pads are trying to get out of town (they compared it to what you may see in a spring training game) and get this game over with because they are swinging at the first pitch in every at bat. Cook has thrown 62 piches in 8 innings. Unbelievable.
July 25, 2007 at 2:04 pm
through 8 innings, Cooke hasnt even thrown 70 pitches. 66 pitches through 8 innings???
July 25, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Oopps I gues I’ll change my name back haha!
July 25, 2007 at 2:05 pm
hahaha Wrong “Buddy” whoops!!!
July 25, 2007 at 2:05 pm
UNCLE!!!!!!!!
July 25, 2007 at 2:07 pm
The padres want to see if its possible for a guy to throw a complete game in 70 pitches or less…
July 25, 2007 at 2:18 pm
It’s possible.
July 25, 2007 at 2:19 pm
they really made him work in the 9th… 8 pitches
July 25, 2007 at 2:27 pm
wow 70 pitch complete game way to go Padres! Maybe the Padres are trying to trade for Cook and they did not want to wear him out.
July 25, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Padres trade Linebrink to the Brewers for three minor league pitchers!
July 25, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Holy shit we just traded LINEBRINK!!!
July 25, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Ha, KRS1 gotcha!
July 25, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Wow, we really suck at the plate. Problem with hitting is none of these guys do it very well or with any consistancy save Bradley and you can’t make a guy a better hitter. I would fire Merv right now, bring back Mags. That seemed to work in 2002(?). The lack of hitting has finally caught up with the good pitching and the standings. Agree with above, Go Astros.
July 25, 2007 at 3:00 pm
I think the Padres are just trying to make it easy for me to miss watching/reading about the next month’s worth of games while I’m on a two week vacation and moving across the Atlantic.
Hey Padres, really it’s okay - you can play well and I’ll get over missing the fun.
July 25, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Well according to BA Will Inman was the 3rd rated prospect in the Brewers system but with Yovanni Gallardo and Ryan Braun with the big club I guess that would make him their #1 prospect. Hmmm, kinda weird that we would take 3 pitchers for Linebrink when we have a few arms to use but maybe that’s all that was out there. BA seems to like Inman and he looks like he has solid potential for whatever that’s worth.
July 25, 2007 at 3:09 pm
54: Where are you seeing this?
July 25, 2007 at 3:12 pm
KT on XX right now
July 25, 2007 at 3:45 pm
wire article on Linebrink trade:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn.....id=2949167
July 25, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Well, the Padres didn’t get help in this pennant race, unless you count not having Linebrink pitch for them any longer.
July 25, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Basically replaced a reliever with a reliever and 2 guys who may be in the running to start next year. Not a terrible trade, but its not a huge help right *now*
July 25, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Wow. CG on 74 pitches. One better than the Ashby’s gem.
He must have had great stuff.
Linebrink no more. I supposed trading him for a 4/5 starter seems about right given Scotty’s poor performance lately and his declining peripheral numbers.
July 25, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Inman’s no 4 or 5 starter. 3rd best prospect in a pretty stacked Brewers system and he was leading the minor leagues in strikeouts for big chunks of this year. Plus, he’s only 20 and in AA striking out more than a guy per inning. I wouldn’t expect to see him before 2009 though.
I think that this is a pretty good return for Linebrink. The AAA reliever that we got (Thatcher) is putting up great strikeout numbers (Peter points out that his numbers look like Heath Bell’s before we acquired him) and he’ll join the Padres in Houston according to the U-T. http://www.signonsandiego.com/.....brink.html
July 25, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Minor league career totals for Thatcher (2 seasons) 103 IP 133 K’s. Just what the Padres are looking for. And he’s a left hander…interesting
July 25, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Could this be setting up another trade?
July 25, 2007 at 4:37 pm
I really like the Linebrink trade. I’m not sure how we got a prospect like Inman for a reliever with a HR rate like Liney’s.
July 25, 2007 at 4:44 pm
61: Thanks. So, this is a better trade than I thought.
Interesting that the Brewers didn’t just bring Thatcher up.
Baseball Musing take on the trade:
http://www.baseballmusings.com/archives/022030.php
July 25, 2007 at 4:59 pm
74 pitches?????????
Even if they had hit 2 solo home runs on the first 2 pitches of the game and followed with 27 consecutive 3 pitch strikeouts, he would have had to throw 83 pitches.
July 25, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Nice haul for Linebrink even if we didn’t get any help for the offense. I’ll be posting some info about the new Padres later tonight at Friar Watch.
Apparently the Padres have offered Shea Hillenbrand a minor league contract. Are we trying to corner the market on a-holes? I imagine Bud Black knows him from their Angel days and is ok with it. Who would leave to make room for him? Branyan?
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/bl.....=mlb,40306
July 25, 2007 at 5:02 pm
63: I think you might be onto something there.
July 25, 2007 at 5:09 pm
I just heard a caller on XEXX praise Russell Branyan saying that we have the bat on our roster and his name is Russell Branyan and that all he needs is more at bats. Coach K almost choked. Coach K said that Branyan may not even be on this team in a week. On this blog, I get blasted for critiquing Branyan—how unsophisticated is San Diego as far as being a baseball town ? I guarantee that Branyan will not get another 150 at bats total in the majors..he is absolutely brutal……
July 25, 2007 at 5:14 pm
67: Shea Hillenbrand…yuck.
69: Oh, well if Coach K doesn’t like him…
Branyan had a terrible game today-just brutal. He’s still a better bench option than most anybody who will be available. And, I’ll take the over on your guarantee of 150 AB’s for Branyan…
July 25, 2007 at 5:16 pm
A good point on the Musings site is that in giving up Linebrink, the Padres likely parted with a sandwich pick and a first rounder next year, thus the relative bounty as far as farmhands that we received.
July 25, 2007 at 5:18 pm
70: Damn, Paul, you beat me to it. I’ll take that bet and give terrific odds.
Branyan is what he is. TTO. Not good defensively anywhere. Can hit the ball out of anywhere, won’t give away at-bats.
July 25, 2007 at 5:20 pm
71: I’ll take Inman and Thatcher over any draft picks we’d have gotten for Linebrink.
July 25, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Inman’s been hit a little in AA so far (not surprising for a 20 year old) but in his last 5 starts he’s thrown 29 innings and given up 8 runs (Around a 3 ERA) and he’s struck out 30. It seems like he’s getting the hang of the level. Depending on how he finishes the year, he may battle Headley for the #1 prospect in the system. He’ll certainly be in our top-3.
July 25, 2007 at 5:23 pm
71: Me too. I just think that’s why his cost was more than may have been perceived by some.
July 25, 2007 at 5:27 pm
So long Linebrink. I know we all criticized him a lot this season, but he got a lot of outs for this team over the last two seasons. And not a bad haul for a pitcher picked up from the junkheap (Linebrink was DFA’d by the Astros several seasons ago) - Three minor leaguers with some upside. Towers ahs had pretty great luc in identifying bullpen arms, and Thatcher looks like he could help right away, with Inman possibly useful eventually. Plus - three arms for a guy who had probably lost his manager’s trust? Nice job, Padres.
Also, now by my count we have an 8-man bullpen. (Hoffman, Thatcher, Hensley, Cameron, Ring, Hampson, Meredith, Bell) Yikes!
We also sent out Sledge today, no big deal.
I would guess that the next move is that the Pads figure out whether they’re going to keep K. Cameron or not, then figure out some kind of upgrade for the bench. I’d much rather have Grudzielanek or Loretta than Shea Hillenbrand. I freakin’ hate Hillenbrand, and not just because he’s a jerk - he’s an unproductive jerk. We’ve already got plenty of unproductive nice guys.
Ironically enough, in preseason threads on this blog I was arguing vehemently in favor of Loretta and Grudz - either of whom could have been had for nothing or almost nothing - and was laughed out of the room. Now we’re probably going to have to deal somebody good for one of those guys (I guess Inman or Freese)
July 25, 2007 at 5:33 pm
I totally disagree re: Branyan but I guess that’s what makes this fun. I will bet you an dinner at a nice restaurant in the Gaslamp that Branyan will not have 150 total at bats at the mlb level in his career. I don’t understand the patience with a guy who actually DOES give away at bats…a guy who swings for the downs every single at bat and more importantly is 8 for his last 53 at bats with 28 strikeouts with three solo blasts.
July 25, 2007 at 5:37 pm
You mean 150 more not 150 total right?
July 25, 2007 at 5:43 pm
77: At bats or plate appearances? That’s worth clarifying with a guy who walks a lot.
July 25, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Over Branyan’s last 53 AB, he has a .663 OPS which would be “good” for like 81st in the NL among those currently qualifying for the batting title. Just ahead of Juan Pierre and just behind Craig Biggio. Just thought I’d point that out.
July 25, 2007 at 5:55 pm
OPS is one of the most meaningless stats there is. Truth is, Branyan has done absolutely nothing for well over a month and a half.
150 Total official at bats at the major league level - we can check the boxscores daily (he won’t be a Padre much longer) for his cups of coffee (with 2 to 3 clubs ) that will employ him in the next few years all of whom will give him a few at bats here and there. We can go see h
July 25, 2007 at 5:57 pm
sorry. we can see him get some at bats for the Mexican League Tijuana Poteros. he’ll bat 4th in that lineup behind former Padre George Arias.
July 25, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Anyway, I am wasting your time , really , blowing off steam after this Padre 8-13 stretch and blaming it all on a fringe player.
July 25, 2007 at 6:05 pm
80 last 53 AB’s pr PA’s. If its AB’s i dong get how it can be that high because your not including walks. Just wondering.
July 25, 2007 at 6:10 pm
83 … re: blowing off steam … I know the feeling … I’ve been doing some of that at work today … it feels potentially career-limiting … need to do it here rather than at work, me thinks
July 25, 2007 at 6:12 pm
84 … my guess is that he’s saying is that during the games during which RB has amassed his most recent 53 ABs his OPS = .663 … doesn’t that make more sense than than thinking that Richard is saying that Branyan’s SLG = .663 over his past 53 ABs?
July 25, 2007 at 6:13 pm
84# Official at bats - I think he has walked 8 or 9 times.
150 PA’S on the bet.
July 25, 2007 at 6:19 pm
One guy I wouldn’t mind returning to the Padre’s as a bench guy down stretch is Chris Gomez (.301).
July 25, 2007 at 6:30 pm
I had enough of Gomez back in the late 90’s.
What about bringing up this Myrow character from Portland - he a lefty who plays 1B/3B and is hitting pretty solidly at the AAA level. Let him take Branyan’s place…
I also think it’s time to give Stauffer a try instead of Germano. Unless Jennings is on the way.
July 25, 2007 at 6:44 pm
I like Myrow as well. He is 30 years old but he is tearing the cover off the ball. We need guys who put the bat on the ball when coming off the bench.
BTW, Gomez is not the player you saw 10 years ago. He rarely strikes out now and hits for a much better average.
July 25, 2007 at 7:35 pm
81: OPS is meaningless? Which part? The percentage of plate appearances where a batter reaches base? Or is it the average number of total bases per at bat? Among easily calculated statistics, OPS is the most meaningful.
July 25, 2007 at 7:37 pm
81: Are you honestly claiming that batting average tells us more about the overall quality of a hitter than OPS? Because if that’s what you’re saying it’ll save me time in the future.
July 25, 2007 at 7:42 pm
I spoke to Peter this afternoon, and there’s no guarantee Liney would have left via FA. To get the compensation picks, you have to offer the player Arbitration. Since Liney had been struggling of late (and who knows how he would have finished the season), there’s a high chance he would have accepted arbitration. So, no. Linebrink does not automatically cost us two picks.
July 25, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Hillenbrand and Gomez are definitely not an upgrade over anyone on our bench. Replacing Branyan with either would be an ugly downgrade.
Scouts have said Inman will struggle at the upper levels because his stuff isn’t very good. Still, he’s a good back of the rotation candidate for the next couple of years at the minimum, and he’ll help a lot sooner than any draft pick would. Where Inman is now would be a best case scenario development for the Linebrink draft pick.
93: Good point. Though if Linebrink’s ERA stays at around 3.5 I bet a team would sign him to a longer term deal, horrible peripheral stats be damned.
July 25, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Nate Silver of BP loves the deal for the Padres, mostly because of his really low opinion of Linebrink. He says, “relief pitchers have short life spans, and the general rule is that declines in their peripheral performances are fairly sticky.”
http://www.baseballprospectus......red/?p=459
July 25, 2007 at 8:33 pm
#89 and 90
The thing about guys like Myrow is that Portland is a ridiculous hitting environment. The numbers are inflated to an absurd extent, and are really not much of an indication of real talent (vice versa for the pitching, BTW.) Check out last year’s Portland team - there was a similar guy on that team named Justin Leone. His numbers were off the charts, but, like Myrow, he was an old-for-AAA player having a career year, and got a single at-bat with the Pads, who were struggling through Vinny Castilla half the year. I trust that Gms and scouts understand what they have in guys like this - a 30-year old minor-leaguer who’s never been in the majors is almost never going to become anything more than bench filler. The number of usefu major leaguers who made their debut after age 30, I’m going to wager, is miniscule.
Starngely enough, Gomez wouldn’t bother me as much as Blum. And I HATED Gomez 10 years ago - such a mediocre all-around player. But if he can still field short and second and hit lefties a bit, I’d probably take him, as long as San Diego didn’t give up anybody within sniffing distance of being useful.
I still say there’s another deal coming. Will Carroll hinted today at BP that it involved bats - plural. I can only see one obvious hole in the lineup currently (i.e., in need of an immediate upgrade) and that’s M. Giles. Since supposedly SD can’t take on any salary, any other bat they would have to add would be in the final year of a fairly small contract. Grudzielanek fits the bill pretty well, and he was a gold-glover last season, and he can play short a little bit. He’s not going to put up a lot of runs, not with a sub-par OBP, but he’s going to an easier league and he hits line drives, rather than swing for the fences, and line drives are good in Petco.
July 25, 2007 at 8:48 pm
96: And then someone like Jack Cust goes off and has a career three months. So sometimes GMs make mistakes. But yeah, I really, really doubt Myrow can help this team.
July 25, 2007 at 8:57 pm
It’s hard for me to understand why so many people dislike Branyan so much. I also don’t understand why people find the need to break down Branyan’s season into segments…when he already isn’t getting many PA’s to begin with. For a bench guy with like the second highest OPS on the club, he sure does catch a lot of flak…
July 25, 2007 at 9:05 pm
98: Some people just detest TTO players.
July 25, 2007 at 9:24 pm