Padres/Phillies Preview
Fri, Aug 24, 2007
by Geoff Young
Was that an insane series in New York or what? Thank goodness the Padres hung on to win on Thursday night (box score). Taking two out of three against the Mets in their home park is a pretty slick trick, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
We’ll postpone the weekly link roundup because today, with the Padres headed to Philadelphia for the weekend, I’ve got something much cooler. Tom Goyne, of the most excellent Balls, Sticks, & Stuff, asked me some questions the last time our two teams met and now the tables have been turned…
- As someone who follows a team that continually struggles to score runs, I find Philadelphia’s relationship with Pat Burrell fascinating. What’s the deal there?
First and foremost, the stereotypical Philadelphia sports fan wants a championship. Any championship. Outside of that, they want their players to appear as if they are giving it their all every second they are on the field. So, when Pat Burrell strikes out looking without ever taking the bat off of his shoulder, as he did over and over last year, they get peeved because it appears as if he is indifferent in the batter’s box. From everything I have seen and heard, that is definitely not the case with him, he’s trying his hardest, and recently in the last two months, he’s really stepped it up with Chase Utley out with a broken hand. It’s softened the blow.
- Why did the Phillies spend so much money on Adam Eaton?
Obviously it’s because they thought he would be better than this (league’s worst ERA), so really the question becomes, what did they see in him that other teams didn’t? Not only did they give him a lot of money, but he was one of the first pitchers to sign with a team in the offseason. Perhaps the quote of the year was when Eaton said after a bad start, “Maybe I need to pitch with more conviction. I’m not sure.” You can’t make this stuff up.
- Another ex-Padre, Shane Victorino, appears to have made a terrific recovery from rotting on a big-league bench for a year as a Rule V pick. Is he legit?
He certainly seems to be legit. He has a decent amount of power for a little guy, but his real asset is his speed. For a time, he didn’t have much confidence in stealing bases, but first base coach Davey Lopes got his ear this year and he has stolen 32 so far this year, despite missing the last few weeks with a calf strain. His second best asset is his right arm, it’s an absolute cannon. As if all of that weren’t enough, he seems to be a high-energy, joker type in the clubhouse. He’s a good fit on the club.
- I hate to keep focusing on players with San Diego ties, but what’s the latest on Cole Hamels and how far can the Phillies go if he ends up missing more than just a start or two?
Not far at all. With an ERA at 3.50, he’s been the best Phillies starter by far, one of the few that can consistently get strikeouts, a must at Citizens Bank Park. Reading the quotes in the papers, it seems as if Hamels is just being cautious with the discomfort, taking the “discretion is the better part of valor” school of thought.
- When last we spoke, the Phillies were looking up at a lot of teams for the wild card; now they’re right in the thick of things. What has changed since the middle of July?
The only thing that’s changed is better pitching from both the starters and in particular the relievers. The one constant is winning in spite of one injury after another. Chase Utley has lost time, and of the six starting pitchers the Phillies started the year with, only Jamie Moyer is still in the rotation. Thankfully he is immune to the effects of time.
- Who is badder, Clubber Lang or Ivan Drago?
Since Clubber was played by Mr. T, he had more of a cartoonish nature to him. Drago on the other hand was a weapon created by the communists to topple America. And, don’t forget, Drago was regularly injected with steroids from Balcosky.
Good point ‘about the ‘roids; still, I’d pity the fool that didn’t fear Clubber Lang. Thanks again to Tom for stopping by and chatting with us!
Padres Prospect Report
AAA
Brady Clark: 4 AB, 0 R, 1 H, 0 RBI; 2B (#5), 2 SO - .379/.438/.552 in 7 G
Craig Stansberry: 3 AB, 2 R, 1 H, 0 RBI; 1 BB - .274/.372/.448
Brian Myrow: 4 AB, 1 R, 2 H, 1 RBI; 2B (#29), 2 SO - .353/.434/.591
Will Startup: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
AA
Matt Antonelli: 2 AB, 1 R, 0 H, 0 RBI; 2 BB, SB (#9) - .315/.418/.542
Will Venable: 3 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 2 RBI; HR (#7), SB (#21), BB - .283/.346/.376
Chad Huffman: 4 AB, 1 R, 2 H, 2 RBI; HR (#6), SO - .285/.362/.469
Will Inman: 5 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO - 3 HR, ouch!
High-A
Bakersfield 2, Lake Elsinore 1
Mike Baxter: 4 AB, 0 R, 2 H, 0 RBI; SB (#12) - .280/.347/.411
Low-A
All 10 runs came in the first five innings, which means the bullpen did a fine job. I guess if you’re into tracking Low-A relievers, that’s good news.
Short Season-A
Luis Durango: 5 AB, 1 R, 3 H, 0 RBI - .367/.413/.475
Rookie
Jeudy Valdez: 5 AB, 1 R, 2 H, 1 RBI; 2B (#7), SO - .293/.358/.437
Shane Buschini: 5 AB, 1 R, 2 H, 2 RBI; 2B (#9), SO - .250/.348/.427
Jose Mayi: 5 AB, 1 R, 4 H, 5 RBI; 2B (#4), 3B (#2), HR (#3) - finally, a cycle for the Padres!
Edinson Rincon: 4 AB, 0 R, 2 H, 0 RBI; 2B (#1), BB, SO
Stiven Osuna: 7 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO (4-6, 3.65)
Commentary:
Take the Arizona League stats with a giant vat of salt; the conditions there are barely gamelike. Don’t know much about the Dominican Summer League, but we probably ought to start tracking it as well.
Myrow turns 31 in a couple weeks, but he is just annihilating the PCL and probably deserves a look. Since May, dude is hitting .382/.454/.622 (OBP is (H+BB)/PA — couldn’t find HBP, SH, SF data). Not sure what more he can do.
Happy Friday, folks! Go Padres…
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.
August 24, 2007 at 8:14 am
Great read on the Phillies. I really wish we could have Victorino back.
So, in the interest of spurring discussion for the day, what do people envision next year’s OF is going to look like? OG is a lock on RF, but what about CF and LF? I’m definitely in favor of resigning Bradley to maybe a 1 year 4 mil deal with a club-option for 09 at 5 mil.
I’m really not sure how I feel about Cameron. His defense has gotten better since the beginning of the year, but you wonder how long he can keep it up. He’s definitely gonna have somewhat stupid money thrown at him this offseason, so I’m not sure if the Padres will compete for that length of time.
Any thoughts? Do our prospects fit into this discussion anywhere?
And, yeah, phenomenal series of baseball. Probably the most exciting series of baseball all year (although the recent Tigers/Indians series is probably a close second).
August 24, 2007 at 8:23 am
I agree Cameron will get over paid for too many years this offseason, but the Padres do not have any CF prospects that are close to being ready for an every day big League gig. I have a feeling that the Pads will trade for a AAA CF prospect that is on the verge of being ready (like Kouz last year).
August 24, 2007 at 8:29 am
2: I’d be surprised if they went to a prospect CF, because there’s a good chance they’ll be starting two rookies at 2b and 3b already.
If Hensley rebuilds any of his trade value, maybe we move him for Baldelli. Bradley looks like Plan A now, but they need a very good backup.
August 24, 2007 at 8:49 am
As interesting as an outfield of Bradley/Baldelli/OG would be, they would probably need a 4th outfielder capable of playing every day because of the amount of time likely to be missed by the starters.
Hairston is a start to that I guess.
August 24, 2007 at 8:53 am
OT: Does anyone know why the runs against Cla in last night’s game are considered “earned”? By my count, if Kouz doesn’t make an error, the inning ends before Anderson ever steps to the plate. What am I missing?
August 24, 2007 at 8:55 am
I wouldn’t see Baldelli and Bradley as starters in the same OF, unless they’ve given up on Kouz’s bat. Either/or. They’re both huge injury risks, but we may not be able to tie up all those resources (money and trade chips) in a single position.
My guess now is that they’ll try to resign Bradley and then hope a CF slips through the FA cracks. Kouz turns into a part-timer at LF, 3b, and 1b. If they don’t get a non-Bradley CF, then he gets the job and they hire a full-time physical therapist just for him.
August 24, 2007 at 9:02 am
Judging by last year’s market, I think it is just as plausible that some team will overpay for Bradley as they would for Cameron. It is likely that we will lose both.
August 24, 2007 at 9:05 am
TW you think Headly and Antonelli will both be ready by next April?
August 24, 2007 at 9:07 am
7: Bradley’s been hurt a lot, doesn’t have eye-popping counting stats, and still has the reputation. Other teams may bid, but it’s a strong CF class this winter.
I’d like to see them be aggressive with him in the exclusive negotiating period or even before. Would 2/9 get it done?
August 24, 2007 at 9:10 am
8: I think there’s a very good chance the team will use them, much as they used Kouz this year despite a paucity of AAA experience. The front office has said that once a player masters AA, he’s ready. It’s not a big cost savings because they’re not spending much on 2b and 3b now, but Antonelli at 350K versus Mark Loretta or NOG at 3+ million?
They’re not drafting polished college players to keep them in the minors a long time.
August 24, 2007 at 9:13 am
I don’t see the Padres going young next year because Peavy, Maddux, Hoffman and Giles will all be on the last years of their contracts. I see the Pads re-signing Bradley and Ensburg to one year deals, exercising Mackowiakz option, Signing a veteran 2B to a 1 year deal (Loretta or Kent) and roll the dice one more time.
August 24, 2007 at 9:17 am
#8: Headley will be ready for sure; Antonelli might need a consolidation year, although TW correctly notes that he may not get one.
August 24, 2007 at 9:20 am
I think that if Antonelli isn’t starting out of spring training, he’s certainly starting by the All-Star break. I’d imagine that an OF of Giles, Headley/Kouz and either Bradley or Baldelli would be realistic. Bradley will take more than 4M/year though.. I’d guess closer to 7. And with the passion and energy that he plays with, I woudn’t be upset with a 2/14 deal or a deal with a club option for the second year. I’ve been impressed with him.
August 24, 2007 at 9:22 am
So if Headley is ready to go, do we push KK to LF? With Bradley in CF, would Hairston become the 4th OF? I know that Yordanny Ramirez could fill in as a defensive CF if necessary.
August 24, 2007 at 9:23 am
13: Totally agree. Bradley has been a huge boost to this club and I wouldn’t mind resigning him.
August 24, 2007 at 9:23 am
Re: 13 I don’t see there being much of a market for Bradley this year. With all of the big name guys on the market I think Bradley will need to go a year without controversy before any team will give him a big money long term deal but then again who knows I though the same thing about Eaton last year.
August 24, 2007 at 9:25 am
11: Peavy’s not on the last year of his contract, we have an option for 2009.
I don’t like Alderson’s communication skills, nor his Father Knows Best approach to a fan base that was asked for blind, irrational hope between 98 and 2004, but I do largely like his baseball decision-making process. If the front office thinks Antonelli and Headley are better than what they’d get on the FA market, they start.
I wouldn’t mind Ensberg, as long as he remembers that his best years were fueled by swinging hard AND walking, but Headley is more ready than Antonelli.
August 24, 2007 at 9:27 am
Wow Law really hates the Pads, he kills Black on his BP managment.
http://insider.espn.go.com/esp.....=law_keith
August 24, 2007 at 9:30 am
As much as people complain about the Padres front office, could you imagine being a Dodger fan right now. They’ve just picked up two players (Hillenbrand, Wells) that were cast off by the team they are chasing in the division. They supposedly have one of the best farm systems in baseball yet give ABs to retreads and over the hill players like Hillenbrand, Luis Gonzalez, Brett Tomko, Mark Hendrickson, Ramon Martinez, etc. Just awful. I guess as critical as we can be towards the FO, there is still hope because Towers is there making the decisions.
Peavy’s deal runs out in 2009 (he has a club option for $8m that season). Giles has a $9m option for 2009 with a $3m buyout although I’m not sure if that’s a club or player option.
August 24, 2007 at 9:30 am
Re: 17 I’m thinking that they will exercise Peavy’s option and then trade him for top prospects and have a huge rebuilding year in 09 and be competitive again in 2010
August 24, 2007 at 9:31 am
I really think Headley or KK gets traded for an OF, I dont see them moving either of them to LF.
August 24, 2007 at 9:32 am
Re: 19 there is no way the pads exercise Giles 09 option, I could see them moving him to the NL central this offseason.
August 24, 2007 at 9:33 am
Re: 21 Kouz has very little trade value at the moment and I think he would need to ahve a solid year at 3B before they move Headley.
August 24, 2007 at 9:37 am
23: Except if they plan on keeping Ensberg they may move Headley or KK anyway. Headley is no more of a sure thing than Kouz is and I can just see one of them being traded for an OK every day OF in the offseason.
August 24, 2007 at 9:40 am
It is still mist-shrouded, but the prospects for next year’s outfield are much brighter than they were a month ago.
August 24, 2007 at 9:43 am
Re: 24 Ensburg is a 1 year fix whats the point of having him there for just next year? They would be in the same spot they were last year before they got Kouz.
August 24, 2007 at 9:56 am
5 … see Rule 10.16(i) … http://www.mlb.com/mlb/officia.....rer_10.jsp
(i) When pitchers are changed during an inning, the relief pitcher shall not have the benefit of previous chances for outs not accepted in determining earned runs.
Rule 10.16(i) Comment: It is the intent of Rule 10.16(i) to charge a relief pitcher with earned runs for which such relief pitcher is solely responsible. In some instances, runs charged as earned against the relief pitcher can be charged as unearned against the team. For example:
(1) With two out and Peter pitching, Abel reaches first base on a base on balls. Baker reaches first base on an error. Roger relieves Peter. Charlie hits a home run, scoring three runs. The official scorer shall charge two unearned runs to Peter, one earned run to Roger and three unearned runs to the team (because the inning should have ended with the third out when Baker batted and an error was committed).
(2) With two out, and Peter pitching, Abel and Baker each reach first base on a base on balls. Roger relieves Peter. Charlie reaches first base on an error. Daniel hits a home run, scoring four runs. The official scorer shall charge two unearned runs to Peter and two unearned runs to Roger (because the inning should have ended with the third out when Charlie batted and an error was committed).
(3) With none out and Peter pitching, Abel reaches first base on a base on balls. Baker reaches first base on an error. Roger relieves Peter. Charlie hits a home run, scoring three runs. Daniel and Edward strike out. Frank reaches first base on an error. George hits a home run, scoring two runs. The official scorer shall charge two runs, one of them earned, to Peter, three runs, one of them earned, to Roger and five runs, two of them earned, to the team (because only Abel and Charlie would have scored in an inning reconstructed without the errors).
August 24, 2007 at 10:00 am
24: They’d trade Kouz two times before Headley, but Kouz has very little trade value. If they still think he’s a 25 HR bat, they may as well see if it happens in LF, because they’re not going to get much in trade.
Now if Andruw Jones falls into their laps because everyone else is afraid of his batting average, then Kouz goes to the bench, Portland, or out for a reliever.
August 24, 2007 at 10:02 am
Re: 28 Jones will want at least a 5 year deal and some team will give it to him.
August 24, 2007 at 10:03 am
20: They may do that, but the rest of the “core” isn’t all that “core.” I don’t see why they’d sign short-term stopgaps to compete just because several other short-term players who aren’t all that good are still around.
August 24, 2007 at 10:08 am
29: Maybe. But Jones has a 219 BA this year, a 741 OPS. Most GMs look at last year more than the career when it comes to handing out long-term contracts.
He’s the best CF with the greatest chance of missing out on a big deal. Hunter and Rowand are going to get paid. Jones picked a bad time to have a bad year.
August 24, 2007 at 10:11 am
Re: 30 the NL west still wont be great next year so they will still have a shot at it. Maddux has a player option which im sure he will exercise, Giles will be in RF in 08 unless they can get him to approve a trade, and why not get the cheap CY Young quality pitching from Jake for one more year.
Also it will be Hoffys last year in baseball, I really dont think the Pads will make that a rebuilding year.
August 24, 2007 at 10:11 am
A good centerfielder is still a much coveted thing. Yes there is a glut of quality CFs on the market and yes they are all going to get paid.
August 24, 2007 at 10:12 am
Stauffer in Philly on Sunday. That doesn’t sound good.
August 24, 2007 at 10:13 am
Re: 31 im sure the rangers will give him what ever he wants.
August 24, 2007 at 10:14 am
Re: 34 better Stauffer than Ledezma
August 24, 2007 at 10:15 am
32: If they see Antonelli and Headley as ready, then it’s not rebuilding. They had an NL West crown to defend this year and went with Kouzmanoff, Sledge, and Bard as everyday players, at least to start the season.
August 24, 2007 at 10:15 am
#27: Thanks, LM; I didn’t realize that the stat was so individual-centric. By virtue of the fact that a pitching change was made, Kouzmanoff’s error cost the team three earned runs. Seems a little weird to me, but I suppose I can see the logic…
August 24, 2007 at 10:17 am
33: Every year some very good player falls through the cracks. A 200IP starting pitcher who can give you a 4 ERA is still a coveted thing, but Maddux signed a two-year deal.
It may not be Jones. But of the FA centerfielders, he’s the player most likely to lose 40 million dollars because of his 2007.
August 24, 2007 at 10:20 am
Re: 37 Bard and Sledge were hardly rookies, and what other options did they have at 3B? Branyan? Blum?
August 24, 2007 at 10:21 am
Sorry, TW, we can’t spend on Jones. We’re saving all our money up to sign Johan after next year and Miguel Cabrera the year after that. Apparently we’ll have to give them $200 million for a four year contract though, since we don’t do 5 year deals.
August 24, 2007 at 10:23 am
Re: 39 I agree that he will loose money but not years, instead of a 5 year $100 mil deal he will get a 5 year $75 mil deal.
August 24, 2007 at 10:24 am
Re: 41 I dont think Alderson likes to go over a 3 year deals with a team option.
August 24, 2007 at 10:24 am
40: They weren’t rookies, but they were unproven in everyday roles.
Branyan was a big reason the 2006 Padres won the NL West. So yeah, he was an option. They went with the rookie even in a winnable year. They’ve already called Headley up once.
41: Oh, that’s right. It would be absolutely crazy to give Cabrera a 5 year deal. He’ll be 30 by the time it’s over!
August 24, 2007 at 10:26 am
Where would the Padres play Cabrera?
August 24, 2007 at 10:30 am
Re: 44 I think Bard helped to prove himself in 06 and Sledge in 04 with the expos
August 24, 2007 at 10:30 am
44: Age isn’t the sole factor. There are very real concerns about Cabrera’s longevity.
I think we should put Headley at 3B next year and see how Kouz fares in the OF. If we could trade OG to the Central, where should we trade him? I’d love to send him back to Pittsburgh for Nady (and possibly Duffy).
August 24, 2007 at 10:33 am
44: Over 30 and over 300 pounds hahaha
August 24, 2007 at 10:33 am
45: WHO CARES?! He’s the second or third best hitter in baseball. Worry about position later. If he wants to be fat and hit like this, let him be fat.
Miguel Cabrera on the Padres is a beautiful, beautiful fantasy. But no, the front office can’t sign him through his age 30 season, because that would be excessively risky. I guess they don’t really have the truckloads of money necessary to sign him either, so their aversion to long term contracts becomes an annoying irrelevance in this case.
August 24, 2007 at 10:36 am
I have a feeling Cabrera will be the Yankees DH in a few years.
Re: 47 I dont think Pitsburg would want to take on his contract, I would look at the Reds, Cards or Cubs.
August 24, 2007 at 10:52 am
45: He broke in at LF. His bat would play there or at 1b.
46: They had short stints of success, but they weren’t regulars. There’s not a big jump between starting a rookie that you drafted and starting a catcher who had a fluke 2006.
47: Cabrera has two years to show he won’t eat himself out of baseball. But like Ben says, if he hits like this at a soft 260, then take the scale out of the clubhouse.
49: Yes, in that case it won’t be the 5 year length holding us up. If we want him, we have to trade for him, get 2 years, and wave good-bye.
August 24, 2007 at 10:55 am
Cabrera could not play LF in Petco, He played LF for the marlins 100lbs ago
August 24, 2007 at 10:58 am
Re: 51 (Re: 46) the major differeance is 744 ML AB’s
August 24, 2007 at 11:02 am
What about an OF of Hairtson in LF, Bradley in CF and Giles in right to start next season? Haiston seems to be getting left out of the conversation. They could pich up the option on Mackowiak (would they? I think it’s worth over 3 million) and bring back Sledge.
I suspect that Kouz has more value than we are giving him credit for. I believe his numbers are quite good on the road.
August 24, 2007 at 11:12 am
#18: Law’s argument would be much more compelling if he had a clue. Brocail has better numbers against LHP but scares the bejeezus out of everyone, Cameron and Hampson have trouble finding the plate, and Bell is your best reliever. I suppose you could argue for Bell; makes more sense than Wil Ledezma anyway…
August 24, 2007 at 11:14 am
I think Law just takes every oportunity he can to take a shot at the Pads (justified or not). I swear KT must have slept with his wife or something.
August 24, 2007 at 11:15 am
I think the most likely scenario is Kouz in LF, Headley at 3B, Antonelli at 2B (maybe not to begin the season but certainly by May 15th or so). Barrett is owed $4.6m next season which is a lot for a part-time players so either he’ll be gone or the starter full-time. The main question is CF obviously. I’m not sure that Bradley can handle the position, plus he is injury prone and seems to wear out his welcome after about a season. Remember that no matter who we play out there his hitting stats are going to look terrible (which will affect our ability to get good hitting free agents, no one will play here unless the Padres are the NL West dynasty). So the key is to get a good defender for that spot and hope that their offense is tolerable. I have no idea who that player is but I’m sure that Towers can find him.
August 24, 2007 at 11:16 am
Re: 57 Barrett is a FA at the end of the year
August 24, 2007 at 11:21 am
52: Of course he could play LF in Petco. He wasn’t 160 pounds when he was a rookie.
53: If the Padres had put very much weight on Bard’s major league at-bats, he wouldn’t have been here.
54: Who’s leaving him out? He’s my LF next year by default. But his road numbers are still bad, a 742 OPS with a miserable, just miserable, 284 OBP.
57: I think that’s the most likely to, maybe 55/45. Barrett’s a free agent, he’s not owed anything for 2007.
August 24, 2007 at 11:24 am
Re: 59 (Re: 52) I was kidding about the 100lbs but if Cabrera is 260 now then the Camera must add 30lbs not 10
August 24, 2007 at 11:27 am
Is Barrett a free agent? According to this http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.c.....adres.html he has a contract for next season.
August 24, 2007 at 11:28 am
the 4.6 mil is his 07 salary, he is a FA in 08 (next year)
August 24, 2007 at 11:30 am
Schlom, this is 2007. Have you passed by a quantum singularity recently?
August 24, 2007 at 11:36 am
D’oh….it’s this lousy Smarch weather that’s throwing me off.
August 24, 2007 at 11:44 am
Nice fun read:
http://tinyurl.com/35eaxm
August 24, 2007 at 11:44 am
64: …on the thirteenth hour of the thirteenth day of the thirteen month…
August 24, 2007 at 12:22 pm
51: 260 seems gererous
August 24, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Dude I agree with all you guys that Cabrera is one Tubby SOB but I don’t buy that he’s 260 at all. I would say 230 to 240 tops. 260 is huge you guys.
August 24, 2007 at 12:41 pm
61 … what a *GREAT* link … I sent it to a friend of mine … who was already well aware of “Cot’s Baseball Contracts” and said that the most impressive part is that the guy usually updates his site within minutes of a new contract getting announced. It’s not a perfect site, however, as it still shows Billy Killian on the Padres (he was sent to Texas in the Young/Adrian deal) … I sent an update email to the owner of the site …
August 24, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Is it too late to answer #1?
My pick for left field is Trevor Hoffman. He’s going the Rick Ankiel route, and will become the power-hitting outfielder the Padres have been looking for since they moved into Petco.
August 24, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Re: 70 Trevor is a SS
August 24, 2007 at 12:51 pm
65 … wow, that’s a *GREAT* link too! It increases my appreciation for Biggio … and Granderson … and our very own Kevin Cameron!
August 24, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Why do people want to trade Giles? He’s been our best hitter outside of Milton Bradley this year.
August 24, 2007 at 1:13 pm
68: 260’s really not that huge. Hell, he probably weighs over 260.
August 24, 2007 at 1:17 pm
73: I think you trade him if you get something of value for him. Also, trading Giles gives you payroll flexibility.
That said, OG has been a beast in RF this year (at least defensively). He’s been a big key to our success this year.
August 24, 2007 at 1:24 pm
73: Our best hitter is a low mark. I love his OBP, but it would be good to have OF power. Still, I don’t see how he gets traded. If his agent pays attention his 8 team no-trade list will cover almost anybody who might want him.
74: 260 is NFL linebacker. Prince Fielder was listed at 262 to start the season. It’s pretty huge. But I don’t care what he weighs.
August 24, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Re: 73 I was talking about trading Giles if the Pads do a full Re-Build next year but if you see comment #11 I think they will make one more run next yaer with Giles in RF.
August 24, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Re: 76 I would imagine OG would approve a trade to the NL central if the PAds decide to re-build, smaller ball parks to pad his career stats.
August 24, 2007 at 1:36 pm
OT, but a nice article on turning two from MLB.com that features our own SS genius in the opening lines: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl.....;c_id=mlbb
I haven’t got all the way through it yet, but I thought I would put it here. Also, anyone else notice the love Khalil got from Milton in the paper. I love seeing stuff like that from his team mates.
August 24, 2007 at 1:52 pm
WC @ BP says this today …
Chris Young will get a cortisone shot in his back, but he’s still expected to make his next start.
August 24, 2007 at 2:57 pm
OT: I just heard that Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely, without pay, telling Atlanta they can take whatever steps they want to consistent with the player’s contract and the union agreement. Goodell cited the gambling admission that Vick made, even though Vick tried to hedge it to call it “providing” money for gambling, or something like that. Nice call by the late John Butler who traded the rights to Vick for LT.