Things just keep getting worse around here:
| Year | W | L | Pct | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statistics are courtesy of Baseball-Reference. | ||||
| 1999 | 55 | 68 | .447 | 16.0 |
| 2000 | 60 | 65 | .480 | 12.0 |
| 2001 | 62 | 62 | .500 | 10.0 |
| 2002 | 53 | 73 | .421 | 27.0 |
| 2003 | 49 | 79 | .383 | 28.0 |
| 2004 | 65 | 57 | .533 | 7.0 |
| 2005 | 61 | 62 | .496 | - |
| 2006 | 63 | 62 | .504 | 3.0 |
| 2007 | 66 | 57 | .537 | 3.5 |
I dunno; that’s what I hear, anyway…
AAA
Brady Clark: 4 AB, 2 R, 2 H, 0 RBI; 2B (#1), BB, SO – USD represent!
Craig Stansberry: 4 AB, 2 R, 2 H, 3 RBI; HR (#13), 2 SO
AA
Matt Antonelli: 3 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 0 RBI; 2B (#9), 2 BB, SO
Tim Brown: 3 AB, 1 R, 2 H, 1 RBI; BB, SO
Cesar Ramos: 7 IP, 10 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO (11-9, 3.60)
High-A
No game scheduled.
Low-A
No game scheduled.
Short Season-A
Mitch Canham: 4 AB, 1 R, 2 H, 0 RBI
Kellen Kulbacki: 2 AB, 0 R, 1 H, 0 RBI; 2 BB, SO
Jeremy Hefner: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO
Rookie
Shane Buschini: 3 AB, 0 R, 1 H, 2 RBI; BB, SO – another USD guy
Edgar Garzon: 3 AB, 0 R, 2 H, 2 RBI; SO
Jose Mayi: 4 AB, 2 R, 2 H, 0 RBI
Edinson Rincon: 3 AB, 2 R, 2 H, 0 RBI; BB – born 8/11/90
Commentary:
Antonelli is profiled in a piece by Chris Constancio over at Hardball Times.
The Padres begin a three-game series against the NL East leading Mets at Shea Stadium Monday evening. We’ll have the IGD up and running by 3 p.m. PT or thereabouts. Go Padres!
Numbers don’t lie. We have more wins in 2007 at this point than any other year in the Petco “competitive” era. Let’s bring it to the Mets tonight. Bradley back. Go Padres.
Thanks for the PPR, GY
G.Y. I think your taking peoples critiques of the team a little to hard. I see more people getting involved and putting in their two cents on how the team can improve as a good thing, it shows that once again people care. Back in 99 -03 no one cared enough to even follow the padres let alone talk about them so they fell into an irrelevant state. The Padres success over the past 3 years has woken up San Diegans and reminded us that we have a baseball team, and once again the Padres are relevant.
In 99-03 a Padres loss did not affect people because they were already 23 games out a Padre loss now kills us (fans) because we know that we are one more game back from where we want to be. Fans will never stop critiquing we know our trade ideas and FA signing suggestions will never happen but its still fun to talk about.
The Padres are doing well but they could be doing better, yes its nice to have a relevant baseball team in San Diego but part of being a relevant team is that you will once again have fans who want to see the team win it all and are not just satisfied with being competitive.
#2: Not a problem.
#3: I get where you’re coming from, Steve, but I respectfully disagree. The folks critiquing the club are not the problem; the folks calling for management’s head because they won’t field a competitive team are. This has nothing to do with anyone here, it’s just what I hear on talk radio, and it drives me crazy.
BRe: 4 Well most XX callers are idiots but it still adds to my point of how many Padres calls did XX get in 2001? I think alot of problems would be fixed if SA banned all comunication between anyone in the FO (including Moores and KT) and the media.
Re: 5 XX was not around in 01 so 690
Geoff, you certainly can go crazy from listening to what spews from sports talk radio. However, you, like most of the rest of us, probably have a different understanding of competitive than the loons who call in to talk shows.
For them, competitive means being favored to win the division on a regular basis and getting to and winning the World Series at least semi-regularly, while signing recognizable big name free agents on a regular basis, keeping all of the team’s good young talent for the duration of their careers, all the while ignoring the business side of baseball, and, if anyone dares explain it to them, they claim that it is all lies and management is “cheap”.
4: Which is why it’s more of a reason to not play into their hands. Talk radio are crazy bunch generally and they drive me nuts, too. Get off the ledge, Geoff. We are here for precisely this kind of perspective to show how the team has improved over the years under the current management.
See, as your chart shows the team is more competitive than ever and we just need more people to realize that. Shoot, somebody show this to Peavy, stat. Wow, I can’t believe the Padres were 7 games back with a similar record in 2004.
But isn’t the NL West more competitive this year? But I’m statisically disabled, so I don’t know.
Speaking of management, KT commented in the paper this morning that MB will play, but then added that he could have played last weekend. Obviously a jab at MB. KT, please don’t do that. MB is sensitive that kind of thing. If you don’t like MBs work ethic, let him know after the season. Sending messages now will blow up in your face. I understand that there is no crying in baseball, but MB is different. Once slighted, he holds a deep grudge. Best to ignore the guy and let him help us if he can. He certainly won’t help us if he thinks management is busting his balls, even if he deserves it.
#7: Right, so they can go follow the Red Sox or Yankees.
Re: 8 the Dodgers and Giants were stacked in 04.
3: Agree. I don’t see how “They could do some things better” gets turned into “Things are terrible.” Or how being 1 game better than we were at this point three seasons ago represents such fantastic improvement as to render any critiques invalid.
I say if they are complaining and pissing and moaning on radio, they care.
Re: 10 Have you read the Post or the Globe? Yankee’s and Redsox fans are 10x worse than padres fans.
GY and the Fathers: I totally agree. I typically listen to the post-game show when I drive home on the weekends (I didn’t make it to the game on Sunday but still left about when the game ended so I had the whole show on the way home). My fiance always asks me why I listen to it as I end up getting so pissed at the loons they put on the radio.
Things actually weren’t too bad on Sunday until some guy called in saying that he loved how Jake gave Sandy the finger with that article. He continued to go on about how SA engages in double-speak and that he knows nothing about baseball (to which I looked at Rebecca and said, “Yeah, ‘cuz it’s not like he worked for MLB or anything…”.
I’m with you though about people complaining that this team isn’t competitive enough. Hell, ask Dodger fans if they think they have a better FO than we do? The few Dodger fans that were willing to talk to me the last time I was in Chavez Ravine (without inserting slurs) were lamenting the contracts to Pierre and Schmidt. The Dodgers clearly spend more money, but that obviously doesn’t mean they do it wisely.
4: Well, now I feel like crap re:12.
#14: We are closing the gap.
9: I didn’t read KT’s comments as a thinly veiled critique of Bradley. I more interpreted them as KT saying, “really, he’s gonna play. We promise.”
Also, if it’s a critique of anyone, it’s a critique of the team’s inability to get it done without Bradley against a team like the ‘Stros. I could be wrong, but I definitely didn’t see it as an indictment of Bradley.
Re: 15 they put on the Idiots because its not good radio if they let all the people on that say “every thing is great keep up the good work” controversy sells.
Re: 17 comes with being relevant again
#20: True, but that isn’t much consolation.
Re: 21 I would rather have a relevant team with a few Idiot fans than a team thats 27 games out at this point in the season.
18: Me either. I saw it as “If this was early September, he’d have played,” but that they were still confident they can reel in Arizona without putting him at risk.
Did we really blow it by not getting Iguchi? Sounds like Philly got him for cheap, and we really could have used a second baseman…
24: That trade went down very quickly within a few days after the Phillies lost Utley. I’m not sure the Padres even had a chance.
What we need is for the hitters to be more confident hitting with two strikes. I’m not sure that’s something Joyner can teach.
From CBS on the Rockies, here’s an excerpt:
————–
Padres general manager Kevin Towers says the Rockies without question own the division’s best lineup, and Colorado’s .351 team on-base percentage — second in the NL — is another reason why Hurdle’s club finally remains relevant as the stretch run approaches.
“It’s been a focus point the past three seasons,” Hurdle says of the high on-base rate. “We need to be aggressive. You’ve heard all about the Athletics and Twins and their success. It’s just old-school baseball. The more times you’re on base, the more opportunities you have to score. We had to understand that.
“Some of these guys know now they can hit with two strikes. That’s an area we struggled in in the past — they didn’t want to hit with two strikes. But people needed to get over that because, you know what? Pitchers make mistakes, too. You’ve got to have confidence you can hit with two strikes.”
————–
Don’t I wish the Padres lineup can be that patient. Having Jenga back will help a lot, I think. OG, Jenga, El Hombre, Shakespeare, Cameron, Greene, Kouz, Silent L/NOG. I think that can work.
I’ve always wished the folks you like to constantly complain would at least be more constructive. Instead of saying the Padres don’t spend enough and they’ll never win, give me some evidence as to why teams who don’t spend a certain amount can’t win in the playoffs.
Instead of saying the Padres are cheap in the draft, give me some evidence as to why going cheap and/or the down the college route is not the best idea.
Instead of saying this team is doomed because of the offense, give me some evidence as to why teams with below average offenses (and great fielding and pitching staffs) struggle in the playoffs.
While I don’t really expect people to go through all that work, it’d be nice if it looked like they actually wanted the team to win, rather than just complaining because it’s easy to complain. I don’t think this really apllies to people here, but it does to others for sure.
That was supposed to read “who like to constantly complain”
Sorry!
My perspective as a much more casual fan than most people here: The Padres don’t seem like a winning team.
Without looking at the standings, I would guess the Padres were at best a .500 ballclub. I’d guess they win when Peavy or Young starts, maybe half the time Maddux starts, and lose most of the rest.
I would look at the talent level of the players on the field compared to opponents’ line-ups and assume the Padres’ front office has not done enough to build a strong team – other than the bullpen that is overworked and constantly asked to be perfect because the offense can’t score runs.
Those things may or may not be true, but I imagine the perception is common.
That sounds a lot like a guy who called XX yesterday saying he wished the Padres were more like the Orioles(who haven’t had a winning season in over 10 years) because at least the Orioles have Tejada who he has heard of…..he hasn’t heard of anyone on the Padres. I guess 1st ballot hall of famers in Maddux and Hoffman don’t count.
Back to the same thing we’ve talked about over the past 2 years-this general perception is going to continue until the Padres have a legitament all star position player, I hope Adrian becomes that guy quickly.
28: Wouldn’t you have to give credit to the front office for putting together a winning ball club — even if they aren’t perceived as one?
Their record is above .500. Their run differential suggusts a record of above .500. Many preseason projections had them at over .500. By golly, they are probably better than .500, even if they don’t look like it. I guess it comes down to what you want — flash or results?
30: A club over .500 isnt really enough anymore to most people
Should a club over .500 be enough? I mean should we be satisfied with that? I know I’m not, I wont be satisfied until they win the World Series. I will continue to fallow and support the team if they don’t but I don’t think I will ever be satisfied with a season unless the win 4 big games in Oct/Nov.
Re: 32 follow not fallow sorry
You do realize that the team is actually 9 games over, right? I mean you guys are talking like the team is walking the .500 tight rope when they are the 3rd best team in NL right now.
32: I think I’m satisfied by the process the FO takes overall.
Heck, you could assemble a near perfect team — let’s say a 115 win team, and they coud go down in the playoffs. If the process is correct, year after year, the results we want (a WS) may very well come. But I can’t say I’m dissatisfied because of a 5 game series in October. Then again, I want a world series title too.
It is kind of funny that the average fan is complaining about 2 main things right now:
-Lack of playoff success
-Peavy possibly leaving in 2.5 years
Last I checked Peavy has been terrible in the playoffs, we’re talking about 13ER in 9IP bad. Not that either one isn’t valid, but I do find it kind of humorous.
I just think people need to separate the management team (KT, DePodesta, Fuson, Gayton, Alderson) with ownership (Moores).
Yes, Alderson has a minor stake in the club, but he’s not setting the budget. And yes, Alderson/KT are the PR guys, and they are AWFUL at Public Relations. But in the end, management has done very well with the budget they have.
I do think it is ridiculous that we are not spending to $70MM or more this year. With the Dbacks much younger than us, I feel like our window is strongest this year. Although we can and will contend in the future, you need to go for it when you have the chance. We aren’t, and that’s on Moores.
Re: 35 I never said I was not satisfied with the front office (im not but thats another thing all together) I said I would not be satisfied with the season as a whole.
I’m not pointing blame I’m just saying every year I want to see the Padres win the world series, last time I checked that was the ultimate goal for all MLB teams right (I know its not but is should be)? So if the ultimate goal is not met then how can you be completely satisfied with the season?
I know its unrealistic for them to win the World Series every year but what’s the point of being a fan if you don’t want to see your team be on top ever year?
37: Awful meaning he doesn’t always say what you want to hear?
Geoff, good chart. Just curious – what would the 98 team look like on that list? I’m guessing they were in 1st on 8/21/98 and had a *lot* more wins than any other Padre squad since then.
38: I think some of us just get annoyed that these irate XX callers and U-T letter writers always harp on spending $$ on big names, always harp on supposed Petco campaign promises, always demand that Moores sink money from his other biz ventures into the payroll (and when he says he does, they don’t believe him). They just become anti- cliches. I can pretty much predict what they are going to say every time. Their perspectives seem distorted (see Geoff’s graph). Oh, and darnit we already had a good proven second basemen (who happens to have a .596 OPS this season.)
36: I would actually say that’s encouraging, that fans know Peavy gives them the best chance to reach and succeed in the playoffs even though he’s had two bad games. It would be worse if they wanted to trade him for Jeff Weaver.
40: AZ is getting stronger. It bothers me that we didn’t try for more talent last winter, but I can understand where they were coming from. They probably didn’t expect AZ to be this competitive this soon, our farm system still wasn’t strong enough to make big deals, etc. It will bother me a lot more if they go with that route next year. I mean, our payroll is up from where it was on opening day, but it’s a lot better to have the players on opening day instead of halfway through the season.
#40
The ’98 club was 82-46 on 8/21/98 (according to http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SDP/1998_sched.shtml)
There are quite a few good opinions here, and MB it is nice to see you over here, but most of your arguments come down to this.
The people that were calling in the other day on the Mighty XX, write letters to the UT and pollute message boards tend to be the more casual fan. They won’t read anything more complex than a batting average or a pitcher’s won loss record, repeat such tired mantra’s as “minor league players aren’t major league players” and believe in signing players more on what they once were compared to what they are and could become.
In reality you can’t blame the Mighty XX, its what talk radio is for – long on knee jerk reactions, short on thinking. In essence, the guys who called in are part of a demographic that prefers to have opinions before they know the facts.
Sadly, as in many other facets of life, the idiot that makes the most noise tends to get the most attention.
42: Instead of 40, meant 37.
43: I don’t know how many current Padre fans became Padre fans in 98, but that was such a dominant team it could really imprint a high standard on your brain.
30: I’m not talking about the reality, I’m talking about a general fan’s perception of the team. Regardless of the team’s record or the front office’s acumen, the Padres don’t feel like a good team.
I know it doesn’t make any sense, but think of it this way: Which player can the average fan look forward to seeing come to the plate with runners on base? Nobody. That’s why the average joe wants the Padres to sign a big name. Without a Gwynn, Vaughn, Finley, Caminiti-type guy in the line-up, there is little to keep fans excited.
Who gets excited when Channel 4 goes to commercial and the due-up graphic features a heart of the order of Greene, Mackowiak and Sledge?! Does that sound like a winning team?
#45
The most amazing to me about that club was that the only time they were swept all season was the World Series.
BTW, the Giants and the Dodgers both have the highest payrolls in the division, and right now they are in 4th and 5th place.
The D-Backs are in first, and last in the NL West in salary.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/teams/salaries?team=sdg
So many of their signings parrot what talk show host tend to blather on about, the need for a big prove bat (Luis Gonzalez) a pitcher that knows how to win (Zito). Take a look at the Giants payroll, its all about players whose best years are behind them.
Alan made a great point over at the Fanstop board, the Padres have been getting below replacement level production from both 2B and 3B….magically enough for KT the teams 2 most major league ready prospects play those same positions.
Sometimes lucky is better then good, especially when it saves you enough cash to have 30M to spend on FA’s.
46: The average fan wouldn’t get excited over a lot of players. I’ll bet if you throw out Hanley Ramirez to the average fan, they’d shrug. That’s because the average fan only know the SUPERSTARS as defined by ESPN.
I don’t care if our lineup inspires confidence in the fan base as long as the team keeps winning. If my reading our the schedule is correct, we’ve been 9-7 since Bradley has gone down. That’s pretty inspiring to me since he brings A LOT to this team, both offensively and defensively. As long as Bradley can stay healthy and Blum continues to hit, this team should be fine.