Tue, Mar 25, 2008
by Geoff Young
King Arthur: I am your king!
Woman: Well I didn’t vote for you!
King Arthur: You don’t vote for kings.
Woman: Well how’d you become king then?
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.
Filed under In-Game Discussion.
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Tags: padres, royals
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March 25, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Following up on GY’s comment #31 from previous thread … here’s TK @ UT’s view of the roster status …
http://www.signonsandiego.com/....._on_e.html
… Edmonds “doubtful” … Estes expected to go to Portland … Gernamo the “leading candidate” for #5 …
March 25, 2008 at 6:47 pm
OT … an interesting perspective on Game 162 …
http://www.signonsandiego.com/.....notes.html
… as well as some interesting comments on the “San Diego discount” … fyi.
March 25, 2008 at 6:56 pm
I like TK @ UTs comp’s for Headley in OF …
http://www.signonsandiego.com/.....notes.html
… noting that Victorino and Guzman struggled in MLB outfields in 2003 and 2004 … key quote …
“Lights, wet grass – there are a lot of things he needs to experience that he didn’t experience in spring training,” manager Bud Black said.
March 25, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Lineups are posted …
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/boxsco.....b_sdnmlb_1
… no KG … Germano vs Tomko …
March 25, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Turns out Keith Law doesn’t actually hate every prospect to ever set foot in the Padre organization. In his short chat today focusing on the ROY contenders, he had this to say about Headley:
“Headley was another RoY contender who was sent out, and I don’t get the decision to favor Kouzmanoff over him. Headley’s at least average at third base, he’s patient, and he’s added so much upper-body strength since college that he now projects to hit for power. You move other guys to make room for a player like that.”
Setting aside that we’re obviously higher on Kouz than he is, that’s a pretty glowing assessment of Headley.
March 25, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Nice start for Justin. I’d like to see him make the roster.
March 25, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Koooooz!
March 25, 2008 at 7:20 pm
7 … what’d he do?
March 25, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Opposite field triple off the wall in right center. It was a huge looping curveball that Kouz golfed really high up in the air.
March 25, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Triple off the left field fence to drive in Agon.
March 25, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Patrick Sullivan at The Baseball Analysts examines the Vegas over/under, and takes the under for the Pads:
“San Diego - Over 84 (-125) Under 84 (-105)
Prediction: Under
What is Vegas missing here?
The young and talented infield will not overcome the old and washed up outfield. The talented bullpen will not overcome the thin rotation. One of the better bets on this list if you ask me.”
I sure hope he’s wrong, but as I mentioned to Geoff during the drive to Peoria, I wouldn’t be shocked if the wheels came completely off and we went 72-90.
March 25, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Sorry, right…
March 25, 2008 at 7:26 pm
I’m trying to find Adrian’s website as quoted by Ch. 4 http://www.agonzales23.com without any luck.
March 25, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Germano with 6 up, 6 down … 2 Ks thru 2 IP … nice …
March 25, 2008 at 7:29 pm
13 … http://www.agonzalez23.com/
March 25, 2008 at 7:32 pm
15: Thanks Lynch. A ‘Z’ not an ‘S’. Gracias.
March 25, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Esteban German gives us his finest Kevin Reimer imitation.
March 25, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Well Germano sure is getting practice covering first base. Four groundouts that have gone 3-1 in 7 total outs.
March 25, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Describe KK’s error for me?
March 25, 2008 at 8:00 pm
#19 Snaked hard at him, bobbled, no way to tag the runner going to 3rd and no way to get the out at 1st.
March 25, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Lynch, are you on MLB.com or something?
March 25, 2008 at 8:04 pm
19. The kind of play that would make Keith Law stand up and say I told you so.
March 25, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Germano is nails through 4.
March 25, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Justin is looking pretty solid tonight.
March 25, 2008 at 8:10 pm
21 … I’m just following the “live box score” on mlb.com … a link to which I’ve tried to post 2 times and it’s been swallowed …
Question: do the Padre hitters look like they are not being patient at the plate? I’m getting a bit concerned at the lack of walks in recent games …
March 25, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Barrett has batted well this spring. Hopefully he can carry this over to the full season.
March 25, 2008 at 8:16 pm
#25: No, they look like they are trying to get their pitch. Funny thing just happened. Justin broke his bat which gave him two strikes. OG is on deck and threw Justin his bat knowing full well he probably wasn’t going to get up this inning. But the look on Germano’s face was priceless.
March 25, 2008 at 8:16 pm
25: I wouldn’t necessarily be concerned about the lack of walks, given that they’ve been having pretty good ABs almost across the board. They’re taking good approaches and are hitting the ball hard.
March 25, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Breaking Padres news…
Wally Joyner likes kettle corn.
March 25, 2008 at 8:19 pm
#29: Who doesn’t?
March 25, 2008 at 8:20 pm
5 pitch inning for Justin. I think he is well on his way to that #5 spot.
March 25, 2008 at 8:23 pm
31: Agreed. He’s pitched VERY well this spring. He’s only given up 1 fly ball tonite. Unbelievable.
March 25, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Cheerleaders!!!!!!!!!
March 25, 2008 at 8:41 pm
OG has left the building….
March 25, 2008 at 8:43 pm
That knock went right through the old T. Gwynn 5.5 hole.
March 25, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Bad throw from 4-5 at 2nd scores the tie run.
March 25, 2008 at 8:45 pm
26 … how did Barrett look on the SB by Gathright?
March 25, 2008 at 8:46 pm
#37: I wish he had a stronger arm.
March 25, 2008 at 8:46 pm
36 … what does that mean? i don’t understand “from 4-5″?
March 25, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Barrett just airmailed a throw to 3rd to allow another run.
March 25, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Ouch. Tough inning for Justin. Not all his fault.
March 25, 2008 at 8:48 pm
The play went 4 to 5 at 2nd. Second to SS.
March 25, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Not at all Justin’s fault. He’s done a fairly good job of keeping the ball on the ground.
March 25, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Nice catch for PMac there!
March 25, 2008 at 8:59 pm
So who is “Ellis” and how/why is he pitching in this game?
March 25, 2008 at 8:59 pm
It just dawned on me (probably because I’ve never thought about it before), the guys who haven’t made the roster yet don’t have their names on their uniforms. Makes sense but I never paid much attention to that.
March 25, 2008 at 8:59 pm
44 … tell me more!
March 25, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Ellis is probably going to end up in Portland or Lake Elsinore if I had to make a guess.
PMac’s catch in left looked like a ballet move.
March 25, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Hairston knocks a ball that goes 5 to 3 and he managed to out run it. Nice.
Barrett goes straight down the right field line to send Scotty in.
March 25, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Black is going to announce the #5 spot sometime tommorow morning. Justin being interviewed right now, Lynch.
March 25, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Hayherst from AA San Antonio.
March 25, 2008 at 9:12 pm
26 … hmm, another double … this one of Nomo … ah!
March 25, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Go Hayhurst!
March 25, 2008 at 9:14 pm
51 … Dirk is gonna pitch? Great!
He pitched at AA San Antonio last year … MadFriar’s are projecting him to pitch at AAA Portland this year … http://padres.scout.com/a.z?s=.....mp;yr=2008
March 25, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Just bought 10 bleacher tickets for my sons Birthday in July vs. Braves. Stoked. Amazing…….10 tickets for $100 total.
Go Padres.
March 25, 2008 at 9:16 pm
This guy Hayherst telegraphs his delivery. He looks like a farm club pitcher.
March 25, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Jon, son Kevin right?
March 25, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Close…….Danny. Thanks for remembering him though…….He digs KG and it’ll be KG free hat day.
March 25, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Ron Mahay to pitch in the 7th. Yikes.
March 25, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Danny, that’s right. Sorry, alzheimer moment. I remember talking to Danny last season. Nice kid. I have 4 tix for the business man’s special on the 3rd and tix for my wife and I on the 4th for the Dodger game. I’m soooooo glad baseball season is upon us once again!
March 25, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Rob Neyer lists his top 50 players over the next five years:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=3310373
Odd list since Peavy is 23rd and the 4th pitcher, behind Johan (5th), Webb (17th), and Sabathia (23rd). There are some really baffling choices for batters as well, Cano (11th), Peralta (21st), Pedroia (24th), Kinsler (25th). That’s as far down as I’m going. Since it’s kind of late, maybe we should rip on the list more tomorrow?
March 25, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Barrett the only starter left on the field.
BTW, my updates are only meant for those not able to watch Ch. 4. Sorry to bore the rest of you.
March 25, 2008 at 9:37 pm
The scrubs are playing now, so this is really a non-game at this time.
March 25, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Kazmar, with plenty of time, fields an easy grounder and throws it into the dirt and couldn’t be picked by Banks giving Kazmar an error.
Next batter smokes one down the 3rd base line and Kazmar dives, sprints, touches third, throws on the run and gets him easily.
Sweet redemption!
March 25, 2008 at 9:51 pm
62 … thanks
63 … stay tuned for ABs from Gerut, Antonelli, Huffman, Blanks and Crabbe … and don’t call them “scrubs”
March 25, 2008 at 9:54 pm
61: I am a big fan of Neyer’s, but I suspect he compiled that top 50 after some heavy drinking.
March 25, 2008 at 9:55 pm
#25: Just got in; a few comments have been swallowed, and I’m fixing that now. Sorry for the trouble.
March 25, 2008 at 9:59 pm
I missed the sixth inning in which Germano and the defense apparently had some problems, but overall it looks like a very good outing. 4 k’s but more importantly 11 groundball outs against 1 fly ball out. And, at least while I was watching, very few well hit balls.
March 25, 2008 at 10:05 pm
#45: See pp. 121 & 122 of the 2008 Annual.
#53: Love me some Hayhurst. Sure hope he makes it…
March 25, 2008 at 10:07 pm
#68: Germano didn’t have the problem in the sixth. The defense just had a really bad hiccup.
March 25, 2008 at 10:08 pm
65,66:
Did you notice all the 2B on the list? 5 of the top 28. Seriously, does anyone think that Ian Kinsler will be one of the top 25 players for the next five years? Granted 2B is harder to play then 1B but the offensive difference between AGon (38th) and Kinsler is huge. Russell Martin (33rd) seems really low considering how scarce catchers that can hit are.
March 25, 2008 at 10:11 pm
#69: Got the 2K8 Annual and am using it as a great reference. Thanks for the glossery and index. My favorite part of the book was your trip to Cooperstown. You gotta sign this one too GY!
March 25, 2008 at 10:12 pm
69 … bingo! Now I see why MattV said he’ll have a worn-out copy in the broadcast booth with him!
Also, it made me look at a few nearby entries … and the comment on Frieri is now obsolete … a recent article I read said he’s improved his fastball to 95 mph! Which reminds me, where Friberg?
March 25, 2008 at 10:14 pm
65 … looks like the game ended with Antonelli and Huffman making outs … sigh …
March 25, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Black is pretty much saying right now that Germano will be the #5 guy (unofficialy).
March 25, 2008 at 10:22 pm
I’m kind of surprised that they kept Rodriguez over Stansberry. Stansberry is two years younger and is a much better hitter. Since so many of the starters will be left-handed they’ll need right-handed bats on the bench and despite the fact that Rodriguez is a switch hitter, he has 408 PA’s hitting left-handed and 98 right-handed.
Crabbe and Rodriguez seem to be similar players but Crabbe is 3 years younger and has a better track record in the minors. Why carry two poor hitting utility players?
March 25, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Aren’t all utility players poor hitters, by definition?
March 25, 2008 at 10:51 pm
77,
I guess, otherwise they would be starters! I think Crabbe has some potential as he was above average in the PCL last season (812 OPS vs. the league OPS of 794) which is always good for a 2B.
I find it odd that for at least the 2nd season in a row they don’t have a good right-handed bat on the bench. With both Edmonds and Giles being bad against left-handers they only have Barrett on the bench that’s good against right-handed pitchers if Hairston is in the lineup (which I assume he’s going to be an everyday player) and I know most managers don’t like to pinch-hit with their backup catcher. Remember last season when Blum was the first right-handed bat off the bench? That wasn’t good.
March 26, 2008 at 12:19 am
Germano was the heavy favorite to be the fifth starter before tonight’s game. He made himself the no-doubt fifth starter. But tonight’s game was not crucial.
March 26, 2008 at 12:40 am
78: With the amount of LHP there actually are, it doesn’t really matter to me which side of the plate our bench players bat from. More than likely it will be a RHP. Rather than worrying about whether they are left handed or right handed we should be worrying about finding a bench who can actually hit, (and field).
March 26, 2008 at 1:30 am
61: Assuming for a moment that those are the top 50 players for the next five years, I think only about ten of them are more than ten spots from where I’d rank them.
Overrated by more than ten spots (imo): Markakis, Swisher, Sizemore, Granderson, B.J. Upton
Underrated by more than ten spots (imo): Jake Peavy, Russell Martin, Brian McCann, Matt Kemp, Josh Beckett
March 26, 2008 at 2:29 am
My new favorite prospect is Kyle Banks.
March 26, 2008 at 5:12 am
81: I might agree with Swisher, but the rest of the guys you list are five tool studs and guys like that can never be overrated.
Peavy, Martin, and McCann are definitedly underrated. Beckett will convince me when he goes consecutive seasons without injury. Kemp hasn’t really done anything significant yet. Although that isn’t necessarily his fault…