Twelve Things I Hate
Mon, Sep 10, 2007
by Geoff Young
- Eggplant
- Sewage spills
- Gratuitous guitar solos
- Weak coffee
- Insomnia
- Apathy
- Steve Urkel
- Getting hit by a truck
- Indecision
- Patchouli
- Mowing the lawn
- The way the Padres are playing right now
by Peter Friberg
You will not see the Frisco Roughriders or the Inland Empire 66ers play again in 2007.
Friday, September 7, 2007
AA
San Antonio 5, Frisco 0 (San Antonio wins series, 3-0)
Matt Antonelli: 4 AB, 3 R, 2 H, 0 RBI; 2B, BB, SO
Will Venable: 4 AB, 0 R, 2 H, 2 RBI; SO
Chase Headley: 4 AB, 0 R, 2 H, 2 RBI; 2 SO
Wade LeBlanc: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 SO, 0 HR
High-A
Lake Elsinore 8, Inland Empire 2 (Lake Elsinore wins series, 2-1)
Kyle Blanks: 2 AB, 2 R, 0 H, 0 RBI; 2 BB
Steve Garrison: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO, 0 HR
Commentary:
Both San Diego affiliates advance!
Saturday, September 8, 2007
No games…
Sunday, September 9, 2007
AA
No game…
High-A
Sean Kazmar: 5 AB, 2 R, 3 H, 1 RBI; 2 2B, BB
Kyle Blanks: 4 AB, 2 R, 2 H, 3 RBI; HR, BB, SO
Commentary:
Down 6-0 after four innings, the Storm did not give up. They scored four in the fifth, then gave one back to make it 7-4 after five innings. Then, in the top of the sixth, the Storm struck for nine runs (both of Blanks’ hits came in the sixth).
[Ed note: Sounds like a fun game -- even some ejections...]
Thanks, Peter. Remember that the Storm play host to Lancaster Monday night. First pitch is at 7:07 p.m. PT. With the Padres idle, this might be a good opportunity to cruise up I-15 and catch a game at Elsinore. In fact, I do believe I will. 
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 10, 2007 at 7:45 am
Wow Eggplant G.Y. your missing out!
September 10, 2007 at 7:47 am
At least the Padres were nice enough to let us focus on the MNF double header tonight, im kind excited about both games.
September 10, 2007 at 8:15 am
I can only imagine what Kyle Blanks looks like in person…that man is just gigantic.
September 10, 2007 at 8:22 am
Frustrating loss yesterday. CY got it together after the first and setteld down pretty nicely.
This team does seem to be really lethargic without Bradley. Can one guy really make this much of a difference? You know that if Bradley was involved in one of those plays at home, they would still be picking up pieces of Ianetta from the stands.
We’ve got to stop this little skid we’re in and start winning series after series. AZ is not helping out, so we’re gonna have to take care of ourselves.
September 10, 2007 at 8:25 am
Three base running mistakes and the Kouze “run down” error indicate a lot of fatigue in the team and is hugely frustrating. The Cards absolutelty bend over for Az so no help there. The Dogs didn’t play well against the giants and that helps a bit. The Pads seem to be hanging on to that WC spot, so maybe we shouldn’t complain. I detest eggplant too.
September 10, 2007 at 8:38 am
Having the #6 on the Petco outfield wall needs to be on any list of hated things … I’m way overdue to discuss this further with you, GY … so I’m posting this as a way to motivate me to take the next step …
September 10, 2007 at 9:26 am
Former Padre Jorge Velandia seems to have 9 lives as well
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/pl.....24IEOFCLcF
September 10, 2007 at 9:38 am
Can you believe the collection of talent the Storm has had this year?
3B Freese
1B/DH Blanks
SS/2B Kazmir
RF/1B Cooper
2B Antonelli
Wade Leblanc
Manny Ayala
…plus many other solid contributers who aren’t as big prospects…
September 10, 2007 at 9:40 am
Re: 8 Huffman is not a top prospect?
September 10, 2007 at 10:01 am
I dont think CY is ready to be pitching again yet. He is still walking way too many people.
September 10, 2007 at 10:02 am
9: I’m positive that was an oversight.
September 10, 2007 at 10:08 am
10: What are the choices? As long as he’s not hurting himself more by pitching, he’s still one of our top 3 pitchers. His control isn’t going to get better not pitching.
September 10, 2007 at 10:34 am
#9 - Huffman is at San Antonio, and has been at S.A (AA) for quite some time. How about San Antonio’s starting rotation ? Things look bright for the future !
September 10, 2007 at 10:35 am
I wonder if they will have Cooper play RF all year next year in SA, it would make since because i dont think he will beat out A-Gon or blanks at the 1B spot.
September 10, 2007 at 10:36 am
Re: 13 he was at SA for the same amount of time as Antonelli (less than half of the season)
September 10, 2007 at 10:45 am
13: Don’t want to be a downer, esp since SA is winning in the playoffs and the major league team is playing so badly, but LeBlanc and Inman are the only starters there who excite me.
14: Huffman would seem like a better RF candidate, but maybe he hurt his arm or showed less athleticism this year. Venable’s a LF, Kouzmanoff would be a LF if he’s moved off 3b.
15: That’s right.
September 10, 2007 at 10:48 am
Re: 16 you dont like Geer or Carrillo?
September 10, 2007 at 10:56 am
17: I’m concerned about Geer’s low K/9 rate. Consistently in the 5s below AAA doesn’t give me much confidence.
Carrillo isn’t in the SA rotation (subject of 13). He’s never been a Mission. I like him a lot, but TJ isn’t a magic bullet.
September 10, 2007 at 10:58 am
Re: 18 ah I thought you meant out of all the Padres prospects.
Do you know how hard Geer throws? I’ve never seen him pitch or even seen a decent scounting report on him.
September 10, 2007 at 11:21 am
I know this is a far comparison but Maddux had a k/9 og under 5 in both AA and AAA.
http://www.thebaseballcube.com.....ddux.shtml
Not saying that Geer is Maddux but its shows that you can have success.
September 10, 2007 at 12:09 pm
I discovered yesterday that I’m far more emotionally attached to the Pads than the Chargers. I’m at the Charger game, we’re trailing 3 - 0, and I keep checking my phone for an update on the Padre game. I was more distressed about the Padre score than the 3-0 in the Charger game.
Sure I assumed that the Chargers would come back, but I realized that I’m far more objective when it comes to the Chargers than I am the Padres. My bigger concern is whether this is a rational thinking adult analyzing the facts and current teams or whether I’m doomed to emotionally relate to the Padres.
September 10, 2007 at 12:37 pm
20: The most important part of Maddux’s line in the minors is the age. He was 20 in AA and AAA, with a year and a half of pro experience. When he went back to AAA after his first exposure to the big leagues, his K rate jumped to 7. Geer’s 24. I hope he’s an exception, but he’s bucking heavy, heavy odds with those strikeout numbers.
September 10, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Yeah… Hoffman was an oversite. I knew as I posted it, that I forgotten someone…
Geer’s alright w/ me. Solid college numbers, solid pro numbers…
September 10, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Re: yeah but thats only a 4 game sample its hard to make a judgement off of that. You could also make the argument that being around pro pitchers for a month helped him as well.
September 10, 2007 at 12:58 pm
#20 Your perspective on Geer is sobering and probably realistic but having seen him live and in person pitch his heart out, I can’t help but think that he could be a decent starter in the majors someday. He is a soft tosser, who spots his fastball - he is very cerebral in his approach –he doesn’t have outstanding stuff but knows how to pitch.
Is your assessment the same on Ramos as well ? Long odds despite a good season at AA ?http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/R/Cesar-Ramos.shtml
September 10, 2007 at 1:15 pm
23, 25: Geer’s not doomed, but it just doesn’t happen often enough for it to be likely. He’s not a heavy groundball pitcher. Some guys will increase their K rates, but that’s a small group.
25: Exactly the same worries about Ramos. It’s what red-flagged Jared Wells. The K rate isn’t all-telling, because an experienced pitcher like Roger Deago can have stronger minor league strikeout numbers but almost no chance of succeeding as a major leaguer. Lefties may have a lower threshold than RHP, but he’s got to be on the brink of acceptable.
24: It’s not a big enough sample to do much of anything, but at least he was old enough to buy beer that season. He was so good, so young, that he’s not very useful for extrapolating.
September 10, 2007 at 1:16 pm
I think the upside for both Geer and Ramos is basically Brian Lawrence. Slotting someone like that at the back end of your rotation certainly won’t hurt you…but there isn’t any question that Inman and LeBlanc are much better prospects.
September 10, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Re: 27 I dont think anyone disagrees that LeBlanc and Inman are our top guys I just think that Geer is in the group as well (at this point).
I dont see Ramos as a starer in the majors, I would love to see his splits against lefties because I have a feeling he may turn into a LOOGY type guy in a few years.
September 10, 2007 at 1:43 pm
27: BLaw was striking out half-again as many hitters as those two. I’d be thrilled if they turned out to be Brian Lawrence, a solid major leaguer for 4 years. Thrilled.
28: Geer may be one of the top 5 pitchers in the SD minor league system, but that’s not the same thing as being a good prospect. No disrespect to Mr. Geer intended, it’d be great for him to be an exception.
28: See Ramos’ splits here:
http://www.minorleaguesplits.c.....59987.html
Nothing shouts loogy to me, in terms of being a lot more effective against them, but that might change if getting LH out becomes his sole job.
September 10, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Re: 29 Ah thanks for the link TW, your right it looks like Ramos is a little better against lefites but there is not a major dif.
I take it Geer would not be in your top 10 of padres prospects?
September 10, 2007 at 2:03 pm
30: Not top 10, but he’s easily top 30. There are some organizations where he wouldn’t crack that.
September 10, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Padres losing, DSers talking about prospects again. It’s great to have people out there who think like me.
September 10, 2007 at 2:19 pm
32: Any happy port in a Lake Elsinore Storm. I don’t wanna think about the big league club today.
September 10, 2007 at 2:26 pm
33: amen
btw, I don’t understand your first sentence.
September 10, 2007 at 2:28 pm
34: The phrase “any port in a storm,” tortured into unrecognizability.
September 10, 2007 at 2:29 pm
35: lol
us talking about Lake Elsinore Storm reminds me of Dumb n Dumber when Jim Carrey is about to get his ass whooped and he closes his eyes and squeals “think of a happy place….”
September 10, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Do you think the Pads will make a run at Kent in the off season? His D is very limited but he can still swing the bat and they may be able to get him to commit to a one year deal keeping the seat warm for Antonelli.
September 10, 2007 at 3:13 pm
21. Completely understand, watching both Charges and Padres (and some US Open) found myself screaming at the TV and raging on DS through various pathetic Padre innings, while feeling very calm when the line judge completely missed a defensive offiside (leading to a fumble) or when the bolts hadn’t scored in the first half. As a Padre fan I feel we are desperately hanging on even to the WC, but we expected the Div. When playing well, we could easily take the Div, but since the ASB it we have been in a funk and its frustrating. I blame Barrett because there is no other reason we are playing below our potential. If we could just
September 10, 2007 at 3:38 pm
#26, #27 What about an upside being someone like former Padres farmhand Rodrigo Lopez & what were his K numbers at the milb level ?
September 10, 2007 at 4:43 pm
39: Lopez threw/throws a lot harder than Geer or Ramos. His minor league k/9 was 8.04. As with almost everybody, that went down in the majors, to a tick under 6.
Germano, who is a slightly below average major leaguer this season (95 ERA+) struck out 7 per 9 in the minors. He’s just over 5 and a half in the majors in a small sample.
September 10, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Germano may be a below average pitcher, but probably not a below average starter in the NL this year. As of yesterday, NL relievers collectively had an ERA 0.58 than starters. It would be nice if they could do ERA+ breakdowns for starters versus relievers.
September 10, 2007 at 6:07 pm
41: You’d have to parse it out quite a bit. Most relievers are failed starters, so if Germano is typical he’d be better in the bullpen because almost everybody is, after they adjust to the different routine. An average reliever is less valuable than a barely-below average starter, though.
September 10, 2007 at 9:38 pm
Storm boyz are takin’ it to the JetHawks …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....p;did=milb
… 8-0 thru 7 with HRs by K. Blanks (3), D. Freese (2), M. Baxter (1), J. Ciriaco (1).
September 10, 2007 at 9:53 pm
You prolly already know this by now … but just in case … Gi’nts bully blows a save vs D-backs …
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=270910126