Comments on: IGD: Padres @ Cardinals (6 Aug 07) http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2007/08/igd-padres-cardinals-6-aug-07.html Blogging the San Diego Padres baseball club. Established 1997. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:23:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Geoff Young http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2007/08/igd-padres-cardinals-6-aug-07.html#comment-67676 Geoff Young Tue, 07 Aug 2007 23:17:40 +0000 http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2007/08/igd-padres-cardinals-6-aug-07.html#comment-67676 #55: Thanks, Marsh. Much appreciated!<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-67676">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> #55: Thanks, Marsh. Much appreciated!

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]]> By: Didi http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2007/08/igd-padres-cardinals-6-aug-07.html#comment-67592 Didi Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:06:41 +0000 http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2007/08/igd-padres-cardinals-6-aug-07.html#comment-67592 Wells looks done to me. He doesn't have any zip in his fastballs, his curveball is no longer being called strike and if he can't spot his pitches (walking more batters than his career rate), he is competely toast. All hitters had to do were wait on their pitches to hit and swing away. Pepe Negro has been terrible in handling Wells since the ASB. He left him in the game too long and unwilling to pull him with the first sign of trouble. Even his comment from yesterday's game was terrible. Pepe thinks that Wells was mostly unlucky other than two hits. I think one can only be unlucky for so long. Granted, Silent L wasn't helping the cause with his lack of range but when a pitcher gave up hits in a row, it's time to pull the plug, unlucky or not. Yesteday's game was a typical Pepe's slow pull in Wells' start. Up 3-0 after 4 IP, Wells went back and couldn't get any out, gave up the lead and Thompson had to come in to get the rest of the 12 outs anyway. Pepe could have put Thompson in before the game went out of hand but he didn't. Thompson, btw, did an good job in relief while giving the rest of the bullpen some rest. In previous Wells' start, Pepe let him go back to start the 6th inning after a 5 IP 2 ER work and Wells proceeded to gave up 3 more runs to put the team further in the hole while getting only an out. The bullpen had to come in early anyway (again) and hold the score. The Padres went on to tie the game to go on and lose in extra innings. The Houston game was a terrible start for Wells from the beginning and he got pulled after 3 IP. He wasn't pulled after 3 IP 6 ER in the Phillies game. He, in fact, singled at the bottom of the 3rd and went back out in the 4th inning and was pulled after getting one out and giving up another run. I was at the Phillies game and didn't see any bullpen activity in the 3rd inning. I'm guessing that Pepe was hoping that Wells would be able to get 6 more outs. I understand that the bullpen has been used a lot over the last two weeks or so. Part of that was the bad starts by Wells. David Wells, as we know, has diabetes now and he is 44 years old. His health and stamina has been needing even closer monitoring than before. For a manager to fail to do a better job with David Wells is detrimental to the team's success, and the player's health and ego. As a manager, Pepe should change his handling of David Wells when the cost of that consistent handling are the diminishing chance for the team to win games and the depletion of the bullpen. When Clay Hensley returns to the rotation, I'm all for pairing David Wells and Justin Germano in the same game. Have Wells start the game with a strict pitch count and no more than 5 IP maximum, preferable only 4 IP. Relieve Wells with Germano to pitch from the opposite side and go as far as he can. Perhaps, this will give both players the best chance to succeed and the team a better chance to win those game while still preserving one player's health and ego, and keeping the bullpen fresh for other games.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-67592">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Wells looks done to me. He doesn’t have any zip in his fastballs, his curveball is no longer being called strike and if he can’t spot his pitches (walking more batters than his career rate), he is competely toast. All hitters had to do were wait on their pitches to hit and swing away.

Pepe Negro has been terrible in handling Wells since the ASB. He left him in the game too long and unwilling to pull him with the first sign of trouble. Even his comment from yesterday’s game was terrible. Pepe thinks that Wells was mostly unlucky other than two hits. I think one can only be unlucky for so long. Granted, Silent L wasn’t helping the cause with his lack of range but when a pitcher gave up hits in a row, it’s time to pull the plug, unlucky or not.

Yesteday’s game was a typical Pepe’s slow pull in Wells’ start. Up 3-0 after 4 IP, Wells went back and couldn’t get any out, gave up the lead and Thompson had to come in to get the rest of the 12 outs anyway. Pepe could have put Thompson in before the game went out of hand but he didn’t. Thompson, btw, did an good job in relief while giving the rest of the bullpen some rest.

In previous Wells’ start, Pepe let him go back to start the 6th inning after a 5 IP 2 ER work and Wells proceeded to gave up 3 more runs to put the team further in the hole while getting only an out. The bullpen had to come in early anyway (again) and hold the score. The Padres went on to tie the game to go on and lose in extra innings.

The Houston game was a terrible start for Wells from the beginning and he got pulled after 3 IP. He wasn’t pulled after 3 IP 6 ER in the Phillies game. He, in fact, singled at the bottom of the 3rd and went back out in the 4th inning and was pulled after getting one out and giving up another run. I was at the Phillies game and didn’t see any bullpen activity in the 3rd inning. I’m guessing that Pepe was hoping that Wells would be able to get 6 more outs.

I understand that the bullpen has been used a lot over the last two weeks or so. Part of that was the bad starts by Wells. David Wells, as we know, has diabetes now and he is 44 years old. His health and stamina has been needing even closer monitoring than before. For a manager to fail to do a better job with David Wells is detrimental to the team’s success, and the player’s health and ego. As a manager, Pepe should change his handling of David Wells when the cost of that consistent handling are the diminishing chance for the team to win games and the depletion of the bullpen.

When Clay Hensley returns to the rotation, I’m all for pairing David Wells and Justin Germano in the same game. Have Wells start the game with a strict pitch count and no more than 5 IP maximum, preferable only 4 IP. Relieve Wells with Germano to pitch from the opposite side and go as far as he can. Perhaps, this will give both players the best chance to succeed and the team a better chance to win those game while still preserving one player’s health and ego, and keeping the bullpen fresh for other games.

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]]> By: Pat http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2007/08/igd-padres-cardinals-6-aug-07.html#comment-67573 Pat Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:07:19 +0000 http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2007/08/igd-padres-cardinals-6-aug-07.html#comment-67573 And even though he has low walks, he has been walking guys at a higher rate than ever before, or at least at a higher rate than when he was a young pitcher learning how to perform at the ML level.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-67573">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> And even though he has low walks, he has been walking guys at a higher rate than ever before, or at least at a higher rate than when he was a young pitcher learning how to perform at the ML level.

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]]> By: Stephen http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2007/08/igd-padres-cardinals-6-aug-07.html#comment-67569 Stephen Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:35:30 +0000 http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2007/08/igd-padres-cardinals-6-aug-07.html#comment-67569 74: He has so few walks partly because guys have no reason to work the count. What's his oBA? Something like .320, I think. Dude is finished.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-67569">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> 74: He has so few walks partly because guys have no reason to work the count. What’s his oBA? Something like .320, I think. Dude is finished.

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]]> By: JP http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2007/08/igd-padres-cardinals-6-aug-07.html#comment-67515 JP Tue, 07 Aug 2007 07:35:32 +0000 http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2007/08/igd-padres-cardinals-6-aug-07.html#comment-67515 Well's actually has a lower WHIP than guys like Livon Hernandez or even Dontrelle Willis but he has been so incredibly bad over the last four or five starts that you have to wonder, at 44 years old, this is the end. How many more starts does he get is the big question ? I personally think he is done but we shall see.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-67515">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Well’s actually has a lower WHIP than guys like Livon Hernandez or even Dontrelle Willis but he has been so incredibly bad over the last four or five starts that you have to wonder, at 44 years old, this is the end. How many more starts does he get is the big question ? I personally think he is done but we shall see.

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]]> By: Richard http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2007/08/igd-padres-cardinals-6-aug-07.html#comment-67513 Richard Tue, 07 Aug 2007 07:28:39 +0000 http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2007/08/igd-padres-cardinals-6-aug-07.html#comment-67513 Wells still has a low walk rate, but his low strikeout rate combined with low ground ball rate are leading to a lot of hits. His peripherals are still better than Hensley's or Thompson's, so I'm not sure what our alternatives are. A guy like Trachsel probably isn't the answer since he's actually striking out fewer batters than Wells while issuing more free passes and inducing roughly the same amount of grounders.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-67513">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Wells still has a low walk rate, but his low strikeout rate combined with low ground ball rate are leading to a lot of hits. His peripherals are still better than Hensley’s or Thompson’s, so I’m not sure what our alternatives are. A guy like Trachsel probably isn’t the answer since he’s actually striking out fewer batters than Wells while issuing more free passes and inducing roughly the same amount of grounders.

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]]> By: JP http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2007/08/igd-padres-cardinals-6-aug-07.html#comment-67507 JP Tue, 07 Aug 2007 06:07:28 +0000 http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2007/08/igd-padres-cardinals-6-aug-07.html#comment-67507 It's obvious that Wells is done. Maybe the Pads could pickup a vet that clears waivers like a Steve Trachsel. If they can get one decent arm in this rotation to take Well's spot in the last 2 months and if he has 4 or 5 decent starts than they win the West. The Padres will hit better in the last 2 months so the usual marginal quality start will do. Let's keep our fingers crossed for a decent starter to surface.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-67507">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> It’s obvious that Wells is done. Maybe the Pads could pickup a vet that clears waivers like a Steve Trachsel. If they can get one decent arm in this rotation to take Well’s spot in the last 2 months and if he has 4 or 5 decent starts than they win the West. The Padres will hit better in the last 2 months so the usual marginal quality start will do. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for a decent starter to surface.

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]]> By: SDSUBASEBALL http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2007/08/igd-padres-cardinals-6-aug-07.html#comment-67502 SDSUBASEBALL Tue, 07 Aug 2007 05:56:40 +0000 http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2007/08/igd-padres-cardinals-6-aug-07.html#comment-67502 Garrisson has been pretty impressive with the Storm! I am liking the Linebrink trade. I really think Thatcher should be on the big league club. He had some fielding jitters, but Thompson proved he wasnt any better fielding the position.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-67502">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Garrisson has been pretty impressive with the Storm! I am liking the Linebrink trade. I really think Thatcher should be on the big league club. He had some fielding jitters, but Thompson proved he wasnt any better fielding the position.

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]]> By: Pat http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2007/08/igd-padres-cardinals-6-aug-07.html#comment-67497 Pat Tue, 07 Aug 2007 05:26:29 +0000 http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2007/08/igd-padres-cardinals-6-aug-07.html#comment-67497 Sad to see Wells continue to perform so poorly. I hope once CY is back in the rotation Wells is let go and Hensley is ready to pitch like he did during the second half last season. Germano is not great, but he is fine as a 5th starter, decidedly a better option than Wells. The most disturbing thing about how Wells is pitching, to me, is the way Black handles him. As so many have pointed out so many times, Black stays with Wells, and Maddux, too, for too long. I think his background as a pitcher may lead him to be too slow to pull a guy. Still, it's his rookie season and he may learn and develop. Go Padres!<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-67497">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Sad to see Wells continue to perform so poorly. I hope once CY is back in the rotation Wells is let go and Hensley is ready to pitch like he did during the second half last season. Germano is not great, but he is fine as a 5th starter, decidedly a better option than Wells.

The most disturbing thing about how Wells is pitching, to me, is the way Black handles him. As so many have pointed out so many times, Black stays with Wells, and Maddux, too, for too long. I think his background as a pitcher may lead him to be too slow to pull a guy. Still, it’s his rookie season and he may learn and develop.

Go Padres!

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]]> By: JP http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2007/08/igd-padres-cardinals-6-aug-07.html#comment-67493 JP Tue, 07 Aug 2007 04:46:26 +0000 http://ducksnorts.com/blog/2007/08/igd-padres-cardinals-6-aug-07.html#comment-67493 Also, I guess to have to trade talent to get talent (Bradley) but it still hurts to lose Andrew Brown. He has incredible stuff. He has struck out five of the six batters he faced tonight against the Rangers and has been lights out since he was called up a month or so ago.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-67493">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Also, I guess to have to trade talent to get talent (Bradley) but it still hurts to lose Andrew Brown. He has incredible stuff. He has struck out five of the six batters he faced tonight against the Rangers and has been lights out since he was called up a month or so ago.

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