Moldy Shoes and Duct Tape
Wed, Sep 19, 2007
by Geoff Young
First off, I apologize for Xavier Nady’s performance Tuesday night (recap | box score). My wife chastised me before the game for wearing my #20 Nady Storm jersey, and sure enough, Nady went nuts. My bad; it won’t happen again.
Also, I got carded at Yard House, which was freakin’ sweet. Mmmm, chocolate porter.
Moving on…
Q: How hard is it to leave 14 runners on base over the course of eight innings?
A: Not as hard as you might imagine.
I hardly know where to begin with Michael Barrett, but I suspect it involves asking Billy Beane about Rob Bowen’s availability. The Barrett deal made sense to me at the time, and I’m still good with the thought process. The only thing keeping it from being a terrific success is the fact that Barrett has played like a moldy shoe ever since arriving in San Diego.
Whatever. The Padres won again on Tuesday. They beat the Pirates, 5-3, and remain one game back of Arizona. I’d tell you how the wild card breaks down but I don’t care because I’m still focused on the NL West.
So, how do I feel about Barrett? Sometimes you just have to wear a moldy shoe. Next question, please.
Q: Was that a huge performance by Cla Meredith or what?
A: Yes, it was.
Q: How can that guy get so many ground ball outs?
A: I dunno, it’s kinda freaky.
Q: Doug Brocail still makes you nervous, though, right?
A: Yep. Probably always will. Oh well, he’s our guy. This is our team. Remodel in the winter; right now just slap some duct tape on it.
Moldy shoes and duct tape. Anything else? Nope, that’s pretty much it. This entry will self-destruct when Barrett comes to bat. Have a nice day.
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.
September 19, 2007 at 7:08 am
Its ok G.Y. you can support your man crush as long as the Padres win.
I think we all root for Nady to go 4 for 4 as long as the Padres win the game.
September 19, 2007 at 7:16 am
Baseball in september is just the best, isn’t it? So much fun to be a part of it the last 3 years instead of just observing. Right now you’ve got 6 legit contenders in the NL (SD, AZ, CHI, MIL, NY, PHI) and only 4 spots. And there are enough games left that CO, LA and ATL aren’t dead yet. The things baseball has going for it that really no other sport does are 1) no clock, i.e. you’re never done until you make that last out; and 2) every pitch has the real potential to change the entire outcome. In the summer, when there are just sooo many games left each one seems less important, but in September when there are a handful left and you feel like you must win everyone, every pitch becomes such a big deal.
Unreal. Not looking forward to going to CO, I can tell you that. The Rockies still believe they can get to the playoffs, just ask Todd Helton. If you ignore MIL and CHI, who are really just competing for the one playoff spot no one else can compete for and are not in the WC hunt, you’ve got 4 teams and only 3 spots. At least one of the following will not make the playoffs: SD, AZ, NY and PHI. Seems impossible that one of those clubs which has fought so long and hard will be playing golf in October.
REALLY want to see a great start by CY today. I’m feeling bullish again on our pitching staff, but that feeling could disappear if tonight is a 3IP 6ER kind of night.
September 19, 2007 at 7:22 am
I was also on board with the Barrett deal but he’s just been worthless lately. With the way Kouz and Greene have been swinging the bat it killed us having Barrett hitting behind Greene. When Bard needs a day off Barrett should be batting 9th.
I love it that Kouz, Khalil and Adrian are rising to the challenge in September. It seems like they’ve become the offensive threats and guys like Giles and Cameron have become the complimentary players.
Winning the division would be nice but I hope they don’t rush Bradley back. I’d rather go in as the Wild Card with a healthy Bradley than have him aggravate the injury trying to win the division.
September 19, 2007 at 7:30 am
Random thought: is the current poll the most lopsided in DS history?
September 19, 2007 at 7:41 am
What I loved about that passed ball pitchout is after the play was over, Barrett couldn’t even catch his mask when somebody tossed it to him. He dropped that too. Apparently, some guys don’t trade well. I have not heard that Barrett is unhappy a la MaryBelly. Guess the cubs knew what they were doing.
September 19, 2007 at 8:22 am
If Barrett came up with the bases loaded and nobody out I would expect him to hit into a triple play. He seems to have a knack for that kind of thing.
September 19, 2007 at 8:25 am
Dang Cardinals. Let’s hypnotize them so they see the Phillies in Padre uniforms. And Pujols may not play tonight.
Barrett was a good decision that didn’t work out. We’ve made several low-risk acquisitions that did. The high-risk moves were Kouzmanoff and cutting Wells, so we’re at 50% there.
September 19, 2007 at 8:34 am
7: Yep, the FO did the right thing making that move. Nobody could have predicted that Barrett would turn out this badly.
GY: Nice work at the Yardhouse. I was there on Saturday nite celebrating my b-day with the parentals and I had a great time. As an FYI, for your b-day, you get a free slice of macademia nut cheesecake which is every bit as ridiculously tasty as it sounds.
I, like others, love that our young infield (Blum’s not exactly young) is stepping up and carrying this team. After last nite’s game, Khalil’s OBP is .298, which is up pretty far from where he’s been at times this year. Our kids are puting up OPSs of .829 (Adrian), .768 (Khalil), and .776 (Kouz). That’s not too shabby at all.
Loved that Cla had a lights-out performance last nite. It will be a huge asset for us if he can get his confidence back.
September 19, 2007 at 8:36 am
Since Kouz has started praying to Jobu again and he can now hit the curve ball, do the padres still give Headly a real chance to win the 3B job next season?
September 19, 2007 at 9:47 am
9: Yes, because what Jobu gave to the bat he took away from the glove.
Nick Canepa says the Padres are “all but convinced” Antonelli makes the team next year. Canepa’s analytical skills leave much to be desired, but we can probably trust him to accurately report the gist of a conversation.
September 19, 2007 at 9:49 am
9: Everything I have heard says Headley will be in AAA last year. With the way Kouz is playing I dont think they will rush him up next year.
September 19, 2007 at 10:03 am
Non-baseball post of the day:
Under the heading: “Someone actually signed off on that?”
“South Lake Union Transportation”
http://www.seattle.gov/transpo.....eunion.htm
Ride the S.L.*.*. - wait, wait, wait… what did that say?
September 19, 2007 at 10:12 am
11: They’ve usually said that about their young prospects since Burroughs. Khalil was “ticketed for AAA” before he won the job in spring training. They signed Bellhorn “with the expectation that he will start” before Barfield looked so good in spring 2006.
I wouldn’t expect them to say much about Headley’s chances now, because Kouzmanoff reads the papers. No reason to get him thinking more than one at-bat ahead.
Their big problem will be where to fit two unathletic defenders. Usually you’d hide one in LF, but Petco’s LF is no picnic.
September 19, 2007 at 10:18 am
I’m afraid his offense right now may have bought Kouz more time at 3rd. I would really like for them to give him a look at LF in the off-season but something tells me that they will be content enough with his rookie season to not move him just yet.
I love Kouz but I think it’s hard to keep him over there when he has a better defensive and probably offensive prospect on his heels. I think Kouz can be a very good player for the Padres but we can’t let his offense continue to be offset by less than average defense IMO. Not to say he’s fielding like Ryan Braun over there or anything but he’s not a lot better and he isn’t hitting well enough to just sweep it under the rug. If you can minimize his defensive shortcomings in left (he has got to be better than Klesko and Blum but that’s not saying much) then bring in a better player at the 3rd it would seem like an upgrade to me.
My opinion would raise another question though in Center Field. If you go with Kouz (and his assumed lack of ability and range) in left then you would in theory need to have an above average if not a GREAT CF. Could that mean Cameron or Jones or Bradley or fill in the blank I have no clue. At this point a decision on Kouz or Headley or CF in 2008 is all speculation and I’m sure it’s far from anyone in the FO’s mind as we are trying to take home the west title… AGAIN!!!
September 19, 2007 at 10:20 am
Re: 12 as someone who writes transportation studies for a living that is pure gold! Thanks peter im sure my office will get a kick out of this.
September 19, 2007 at 10:40 am
10. I agree with Tom on Canepa’s reporting and analytical skills. According to what the Padres have told us (1) Freese is not being switched to catcher full time, he’s going to see some time there as well as at 1b in addition to third. His main position next year in San Antonio is still going to be third base.
Maybe I didn’t read the article close enough, but I don’t think it said anywhere that Antoneli would be the starting second baseman next year. I think he’s the second baseman of the future, just not in 2008.
September 19, 2007 at 10:57 am
Re: 16 I don’t see the benefit in switching Freese to Catcher or 1B he would be the 3rd best 1B prospect in the org and prob the 4th best catching prospect where he’s the 2nd best 3B prospect.
September 19, 2007 at 11:02 am
If both Freese and Headley continue to have success at higher levels I would think Freese would have more trade value as good fielding 3B than a below average defensive catcher.
September 19, 2007 at 11:05 am
Rob Neyer has a blurb on Hoffy today…besides saying that Black was a good hire he also talks about Hoffy’s future…here is a brief excerp:
“…it’s really not so hard to see a warning sign, and that sign is Hoffman’s strikeout rate.
Five years ago, Hoffman struck out 10.5 batters per nine innings. Two years ago, he struck out 8.4 per nine innings. Last year it was 7.1. This year it’s 6.5, and that trend line isn’t likely to change direction next year.
So why does Hoffman have a 2.55 ERA this season? He’s given up only two homers all season, and he’s given up a .248 batting average on batted balls in the field of play. Eckersley and Ryan were power pitchers; Wilhelm threw knuckleballs. So they’re probably not germane to this particular discussion. Doug Jones, though, was another guy who relied on his changeup, and Jones saved 36 games when he was 40. The next year, Jones struggled and lost his job as closer but bounced back and pitched effectively when he was 42 and 43. So maybe Hoffman really can pitch forever.”
September 19, 2007 at 11:05 am
re 17: Who would be better C prospects?
I would think his bat would play there for sure and it isn’t like the organization is worried about throwing out base runners.
September 19, 2007 at 11:10 am
Re: 20 1. Hundley 2. Morton 3. Canham
September 19, 2007 at 11:10 am
#17: Versatility breeds opportunity; see Nevin, Phil.
#19: We hear this every year; one day it will be right and many people will take credit for calling it.
September 19, 2007 at 11:12 am
Re: 22 man life post Hoffy is scary
September 19, 2007 at 11:21 am
Re: 22 yeah the prob with Nev was that he never had a position, it was always where he would do the least damage defensively. From what I understand Freese is a good defensive 3B why make him a subpar (aasumption because he has never really played there on a regular basis) defensive catcher?
We have this discusion about Blum all the time, yeah he can play all of the IF spots but it does not mean he can play them well or start at any of them on a regular basis.
September 19, 2007 at 11:26 am
#24: Blum has a big-league career. Most guys in the minor leagues never will. With someone like Freese, who isn’t an elite prospect, it’s in the best interest of the player and the club to try and maximize opportunities.
September 19, 2007 at 11:27 am
I have 4 field level tickets (Good Seats) for Sunday’s baseball game…I always try to go to the last home game of the season, so I buy 4 of the best seats I can before the season starts…unfortunately, I am unable to attend this year…they are in Field Box 110…I paid $48.50 + $4.50 handling for them…If you want them or know someone who does, I would sell them for $45 a piece…
September 19, 2007 at 11:38 am
Re: 25 very true
September 19, 2007 at 11:48 am
Anyone else read that today is International talk like a Pirate day? Kind of amusing
September 19, 2007 at 11:52 am
16: Canepa wasn’t specific, just that the Padres believe Antonelli will be with the big club next year. Whether that means opening day or September is something a better writer would have asked.
September 19, 2007 at 11:58 am
Getting Freese some exposure behind the plate is fine, but there’s no problem stacking up corner IF/OF prospects. Agon blows out a knee next spring and suddenly we’ve got spots for Kouz and Headley, with a possible opening in LF.
September 19, 2007 at 12:02 pm
#28: Aaaarr. Does that mean that everyone has to go around, at least in Pittsburgh, saying, “Oh, Khalil, please don’t hit another home run!”
September 19, 2007 at 12:02 pm
re 21: Can’t really imagine Morton being a better prospect:
Morton has hit .248/.348/.473 while Freese has hit .307/.399/.514
I’d certainly want to see how well Freese adapted to C defensively, but by all accounts he is a good athlete.
September 19, 2007 at 12:27 pm
Keep in mind that scouts talked to Freese about moving to C when he was going into the draft last year.
September 19, 2007 at 12:50 pm
There’s certainly no harm in Freese getting in work behind the plate and if by chance he can hang there, his bat would play pretty damn well.
September 19, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Re: 32 thast due to a poor first 2 yeas Morton has been alot better in 06 and 07, also I put morton ahead because Catcher is his natural position.
September 19, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Callis called Antonelli the best 2B prospect in the game. Said he thinks Freese and Banks end up as good depth guys, not future big league regulars.
September 19, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Blanks is only a good depth guy…if you can make that call about someone who just dominated the Cal league at 20 years old peculiarly when the guy is that big and that athletic….I’ll eat my shirt
September 19, 2007 at 2:36 pm
re: C … I think Canham is our best prospect … then Hundley … then Morton … and I think all 3 are long-shots are being MLB starters … Canham because he’s still so far away … Hundley because he seems a bit under-talented … Morton because he’s a lot undertalented … with the obvious caveat that all 3 of them could be playing in the majors in 5 years … I’m just saying that it’s my opinion that it’s more likely that all 3 are out of pro baseball in 5-7 years … and so in the absense of a true-stud-prospect at C, it makes all the sense in the world to me to see what our 3rd best 3rd-baseman looks like behind the plate … ie. I gotta think that there’s more opportunity for ABs at C than at 3B for the next several years … as amazing at that sounds based on the franchise history (especially the recent Burroughs/Castilla-era) at 3B … also not forgetting that Antonelli has experience at 3B … it’s kinda fun having too many 3B-men, ain’t it?
September 19, 2007 at 2:43 pm
37 … I’m more on your side than this is going to seem … but … I wouldn’t say that Blanks “dominated the Cal league” … look at what Dave Staton did to see domination, followed by being even less than “a good depth guy” … OK, so perhaps he wasn’t as “athletic” as Blanks … look at what Ray McDavid did …
Are you proposing that you will put a shirt into a time capsule and if, in 10 years, Blanks isn’t a starting 1B-man in MLB, then you’ll eat it? Hmmm, I’d suggest you include some of you favorite sauce in that time capsule … and I’ll be rooting *big time* that you don’t have to munch-a-bunch … but Kyle is still a *long* way from being a cant-miss-prospect (of which, prolly more than 50% of those do “miss”) …
September 19, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Padres magic number = 11 (with 12 games remaining)
D-backs magic number = 9 (with 10 game remaining)
… these are magic numbers for making the playoffs (ie. not for winning NL West) …
… hmmm, the D-backs have a bit of an edge with 2 off-days between now and the end of the season …
September 19, 2007 at 2:54 pm
In Today’s BP Under the Knife, Will Carroll reports that Clay Hensley is undergoing shoulder surgery to determine the extent of the torn rotator cuff Hensley has been pitching with for a while. Am I the only person who didn’t know that? Certainly explains his disappointing season. If it’s serious then it probably upends any career Clay might have had, because shoulder injuries are the real career-killers for pitchers. Interesting, too, because he doesn’t have that much mileage on his arm - didn’t become a pitcher until his senior year of college.
September 19, 2007 at 2:58 pm
41: The fact that there wasnt much mileage can be a bad thing too. His arm may not have been conditioned to pitch when he started getting pushed to throw.
September 19, 2007 at 3:08 pm
I haven’t seen Blanks yet but I would be very wary of a guy who weighs that much, regardless of how great an athlete he might be. A major-league baseball season is a grind, and big and fat only generally works for pitchers (David Wells, Antonio Alfonseca, Armando Benitez) and DH-types. Unless Blanks hits like Ryan Howard, which he’s not going to, he’s going to have to get serious about conditioning to have a shot.
Freese isn’t as good as Headley, Kouzmanoff or or antonelli (who’s going to be a 2B anyway), so it makes some sense to try him out at catcher. The team is bereft of them, and Bard is a better backup catcher than a starter.
Morton is a fascinating non-prospect. I wonder if there’s any value to a catcher who hits 200 with limited power, no walks but throws out baserunners like Ivan Rodriguez. I also wonder how many catchers in history have been 6-5, 240 pounds.
September 19, 2007 at 3:11 pm
#41,
That’s an interesting theory, too - although, generally, the kind of “conditioning” young pitchers experience is simply massive overwork of undeveloped arms. See: Kerry Wood, Cesar Carillo
September 19, 2007 at 3:13 pm
44: Which is what may have happened to Clay his senior year
September 19, 2007 at 3:20 pm
#43: Regarding Morton, see Mark Parent:
http://www.baseball-reference......ma01.shtml
Similar profile in terms of body type and hitting style.
September 19, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Where did the Blanks = “good depth guy” come from? Was that Mark Ase? Whoever said it first is out of their mind. Blanks is a FREAK. He might have the highest upside of ANY Padre hitter in the system. And with his performance at High-A (.301/.380/.540) at 20 years old (he turned 21 on 9/11), he’s a solid bet to produce at the MLB level.
September 19, 2007 at 4:52 pm
also pulling hard for the Mets to continue losing because they are no lock for a playoff spot and are now, in my mind, a wild card contender. When the music stops-The Mets could find themselves on the outside. How wild would that be !! Gotta play all 162 boys !
September 19, 2007 at 5:02 pm
47 … where *did* that come from? I read Mark Ase’s comment (37) as saying the same thing as you … revolting against whomever said it … so I assumed it was Canepa that said it … but I just read the article which I thought started this thread …
http://www.signonsandiego.com/.....anepa.html
… and it says only good/glowing things about Blanks … so I dunno where it came from … Mark, what prompted your comment (37)?
Then in 39 I somewhat defended whomever did label Blanks as a “good depth guy” … because, imo, that is a more likely outcome than being someone who will “produce at the MLB level”. All I’m saying is that Blanks is still pretty far away … so the odds of him being productive in MLB seem like 10% or less … versus “good depth guy” seem like 50% … and “never gets a whif of MLB” seem like 40% …
I’d say Adrian is an example of “being productive in MLB” … (and look how long it took him to reach that level)
I’d say Nady is an example of a “good depth guy” …
And Dave Staton, Ray McDavid, McAnulty, et al, are good examples of “never gets a whif of MLB” … and, yes, I know they got a whif … but they didn’t turn out be “good depth guy”s …
September 19, 2007 at 5:07 pm
46 … Mark Parent … nice comp … I remember going to a Padre game at Candlestick … must have been ‘88 … and seeing Mark Parent for the first time … *WOW*, who is *THAT* guy????!!!!! He looked so HUGE and so good both at and behind the plate …
And then … well … he turned out to only be a “good depth guy” …
Here’s a link that has his minor league numbers …
http://www.thebaseballcube.com.....rent.shtml
… nothin’ there … wonder where he is now?
September 19, 2007 at 6:10 pm
47, 49: I believe Jim Callis made the comment and Mark reported it. And I largely agree with LM in 49. A good depth guy is a relatively good outcome for most draft picks. Not the #1 overall, but it’s still valuable. I try not to get too excited about anybody below AA. Last year Cedric Hunter was the golden boy, even with his high BABIP and low ISO. He’s still young, he had a couple of good months, he ended strong, but still, he’s gone silver.
Blanks’ upside is big, but his probable production, like most players, will be in the wide band of average.
September 19, 2007 at 6:45 pm
I brought it up: a Jim Callis chat on ESPN.com today.
September 23, 2007 at 12:48 am
From a Cubs fan here, I miss Michael Barrett a lot. San Diego hasn’t given him a chance to succeed, and he’s been hurt. There are a lot of Cubs fans that now have turned their back on him recently since the trade, but he was one of their best players over the past 3 years. He got a bad rap because Zambrano is a hot head. He is the most passionate player who cares about his team that I have ever seen. I have been watching the Padres game he’s played in since the trade and he has struggled offensively, but he’s been pretty solid behind the plate. That wild pitch on the pitch out from Maddux was not a ball that was easy to handle either(for the person who commented about that earlier). San Diego is lucky to have him, so stop your whining.