Before we get to the report, my preview of the Padres is up at Baseball Think Factory. Check it out when you have a moment…
Triple-A — Salt Lake 5, Portland 3
Oscar Robles (3B): 1-for-4, BB
Matt Antonelli: 1-for-4, BB
Jody Gerut: 1-for-4
Brian Myrow: 1-for-3, BB
Edgar Gonzalez (LF): 2-for-4
Will Venable (DH): 0-for-4
Chip Ambres (CF): 2-for-4, 2B
Luis Rodriguez: 1-for-3, BB
Josh Geer: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 HR, 1 BB, 4 SO
Adam Bass: 2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 HR, 1 BB, 1 SO
More coverage at the Portland Oregonian.
Double-A — San Antonio 4, Tulsa 2
Drew Macias: 2-for-5, 2B, 3B
Craig Cooper: 0-for-4, BB
Chad Huffman: 0-for-2, SF, BB
Kyle Blanks: 1-for-3, BB
Jose Lobaton: 0-for-4
Mike Ekstrom: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 BB, 7 SO
In other news, right-hander Will Inman was named Texas League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending April 13.
High-A — High Desert 7, Lake Elsinore 2
Javis Diaz (LF): 2-for-5
Cedric Hunter: 1-for-4, BB
Eric Sogard: 1-for-4, 2B
Mitch Canham: 0-for-3, BB
Corey Kluber: 5 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 1 HR, 2 BB, 3 SO, 2 HBP, 2 WP
Rolando Valdez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 HR, 0 BB, 2 SO
High Desert is a nightmare for pitchers even when the wind isn’t blowing 22 mph out to left field as it was on Monday. Of course, this didn’t seem to be a problem for the home team…
I caught the last few innings on radio. According to the Mavs play-by-play guy, Valdez was wearing Cory Luebke’s jersey for some reason. Not terribly noteworthy, just the sort of thing that happens in the minors…
Diaz was named California League Player of the Week for the week ending April 13.
Low-A — Fort Wayne 5, Wisconsin 1
Luis Durango: 2-for-4, 3B, BB
Andrew Cumberland (SS): 3-for-5, 3 SB
Kellen Kulbacki: 2-for-5
Yefri Carvajal (DH): 1-for-5
Justin Baum: 0-for-2, BB
Bradley Chalk: 2-for-4, BB, SB
Felix Carrasco: 0-for-3, BB
Robert Woodard: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 HR, 1 BB, 7 SO
Geoff Vandel: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 HR, 0 BB, 6 SO
I would think that Ambres would soon jump ahead of the 30 year old Gerut on the depth chart and be in line for the next extra outfielder big club call up —in fact, if Gerut doesn’t pick it up (still very early), then I see reason for him to be taking at bats away from any of the prospects.
I would rather see Huffman or even Macias getting 200 at bats or so at Portland then Gerut.
Don’t you demean my team, Mr. Ducksnorts!
Seriously though, that park is absolutely ridiculous. I cannot believe the balls that make it out there. What did you think of our play-by-play guy? He’s new this year. From the little that I’ve heard of him, he seems to do a pretty good job.
I noticed Headley has been replaced in LF by Edgar Gonzalez and Javis Diaz was Player of the Week in High A. Maybe you should change the poll to when will Diaz be called up.
#2: I may have told this story before, but I met a guy who played in the Cal League some years ago, and he said that High Desert was by far his favorite ballpark because he could hit a popup to shortstop and it would leave the yard. As for the announcer, he sounded fine to me.
#3: What would the options be for Diaz? 2009, 2010, 2011, never?
Good to see Geer bounce back … bad to see Bass struggle again …
Hey Geoff — great season-preview write-up at BBTF. I was too lazy to register & comment there, so did it here. Do you see the Pads targeting a FA SP this coming offseason? Maddux probably has at least one more season left after ’08, and signing someone like Sabathia (probably a dream scenario) or Garland/Burnett (all just examples) would really take an above-average or average staff to the next level.
I see Maddux is also a FA after 2008, so perhaps a big-money deal for a guy in his prime (Sabathia, Penny, etc.) isn’t that far out of the question?
Btw, I’ve linked your BBTF preview at the Oregon Live Beavers blog.
4: Yeah, you’ve told me that before. It’s pretty ridiculous. I guess the Mavs’ CF made a great play to rob Rob Perry of a bases-clearing knock. That kind of surprises me, because so far, the OF defense (from all teams) seems to be pretty bad. I’m assuming it’s probably a lot like trying to play the OF in AT&T when the wind is acting up.
Do you know who’s starting for the Storm tonite pitching wise?
@TLB #6: I really don’t see the Padres signing any pitcher to a long term deal. They may try and sign Garland or Brunett to a one or two year deal if they don’t have good season this year to try and catch lightning in a bottle.
I can see the Padres re-signing Wolf (If his arm does not fall off this year) or another cheap vet (Jason Jennings , Matt Morris ) to a one year deal with an option and having Germano, Henssley, Leblanc, and possibly Geer fighting it out for the last 2 spots in the 09 rotation in ST. They will also prob sign a few struggling vets (Carl Pavano, Brett Tomko ) to minor league deals and give them a shot in ST as well.
Thanks for that feedback, Steve. I personally wouldn’t want to do very long-term deals with Burnett/Garland/etc., but it’s seeming like 4 yrs. is the point of demarcation for SP contracts lately. If you could snag one of those two (or Jennings/Morris/etc.) on a one-yr. deal with vesting options, probably a sound move.