Frame by Frame
Mon, May 5, 2008
by Geoff Young
One aspect of the Padres we examined in the Ducksnorts 2008 Baseball Annual was their run differential by inning in 2007. Among other things, we learned that the Padres completely dominated the ninth inning of games last year, outscoring their opponents, 81-44. Not including extra frames, the Pads had negative run differentials in just two innings (sixth, -2; seventh, -4) in ‘07.
With about 20% of the 2008 schedule in the books, I thought it might be instructive to see how the this year’s Padres are doing. I also thought it might be fun to try a different approach in looking at this question. Instead of using straight runs scored minus runs allowed, what if we use the Pythagorean theorem to determine the expected number of wins at various points during a game? For example, how would the Pads’ expected win total after three innings compare with that after six?
I used the 1.83 exponent version of the Pythagorean theorem (yeah, PythagenPat and Pythagenport are slightly more accurate, but they’re a pain to calculate and the extra precision isn’t worth the extra effort in our case — we’re checking email, not overclocking the processor) and found the following:
| Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statistics are courtesy of Baseball Reference and are through games of May 4, 2008. “End” includes extra-inning games. For 2008, totals are expressed in seasonal notation (i.e., expected wins per 162 games). | ||||||||||
| 2006 | 111 | 91 | 88 | 88 | 86 | 86 | 87 | 86 | 87 | 86 |
| 2007 | 84 | 89 | 87 | 88 | 88 | 87 | 86 | 85 | 89 | 89 |
| 2008 | 44 | 51 | 52 | 59 | 77 | 76 | 63 | 60 | 57 | 57 |
The first thing that jumps out is how awful the Padres have been in the first inning of games. They’ve been outscored, 24-14, in that inning, which translates to an expected record of 44-118. (Don’t get too hung up on the exact numbers here, we’re just trying to get a feel for how good or bad the team performs at point A relative to point B.)
You’ll also see how well the Padres are doing in the middle innings. We’ll look at this more in a moment, but for now it’s enough to know that the the Pads have outscored their opponents, 15-2, in the fifth so far this year (holding guys to a line of .099/.188/.119 always helps). That’s remarkable for a team with an overall run differential of -43.
Now for the really depressing news. The Padres are getting hammered in the late innings. The seventh has been their worst so far (outscored, 24-6), but really, it doesn’t get much better after that. From the seventh inning on, the Padres have been outscored, 65-28. How bad is that? Keep reading…
Another way to look at this is to break games into three segments: first three innings, second three innings, and everything else. Here are the Pythagorean records for the same three seasons using only runs tallied in the designated innings:
| Year | 1-3 | 4-6 | 7+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statistics are courtesy of Baseball Reference and are through games of May 4, 2008. “End” includes extra-inning games. For 2008, totals are expressed in seasonal notation (i.e., expected wins per 162 games). | |||
| 2006 | 88 | 85 | 87 |
| 2007 | 87 | 87 | 93 |
| 2008 | 52 | 104 | 29 |
Again, for this table, we’re using only runs scored in the particular innings noted. You’ll see that the Padres were very consistent in ‘06 and got stronger toward the end of games in ‘07. This year, in an admittedly small sample, the story has been quite different. The team stumbles out of the gate, scrambles to make up ground in the middle innings, and then gives it all back (and then some) at the end.
How much of the poor end game falls on the hitters, and how much on the pitchers? Good question:
| BA | OBP | SLG | sOPS+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statistics are courtesy of Baseball Reference and are through games of May 4, 2008. | ||||
| 7th inning | ||||
| Padres | .196 | .272 | .277 | 50 |
| Opponents | .276 | .361 | .415 | 110 |
| National League | .254 | .332 | .394 | – |
| 8th inning | ||||
| Padres | .209 | .282 | .296 | 63 |
| Opponents | .252 | .314 | .358 | 89 |
| National League | .250 | .336 | .389 | – |
| 9th inning | ||||
| Padres | .198 | .255 | .323 | 76 |
| Opponents | .300 | .376 | .456 | 154 |
| National League | .230 | .311 | .371 | – |
| Extra innings | ||||
| Padres | .192 | .281 | .244 | 34 |
| Opponents | .238 | .315 | .313 | 60 |
| National League | .250 | .367 | .376 | – |
The rightmost column (sOPS+) denotes how well the Padres are performing relative to MLB. As with OPS+, 100 is average, so for rows marked “Padres,” higher is better, while for rows marked “Opponents,” lower is better.
I was hoping we might identify the specific root of our problems in late innings, but it’s pretty much a systemwide failure. The eighth inning is almost tolerable, while everything else is a complete mess.
We’re dealing with extremely small samples, but I can tell you that Cla Meredith has been brilliant (.176/.211/.235) in the seventh inning, while Joe Thatcher (.379/.441/.552) has been brutal. Thatcher has faced more batters in that inning than anyone else on the Padres staff this year; I don’t know how those appearances break down in terms of leverage, but I’d be strongly inclined to move Thatcher into a less meaningful role until he and Darren Balsley can figure out what he’s doing on the mound.
As noted earlier, the eighth has been okay. Kevin Cameron, Wil Ledezma, and Glendon Rusch all get smacked around, but those guys generally come into games that are already out of hand. His early shakiness notwithstanding, Heath Bell (.208/.276/.264) has been just fine in the eighth.
In the ninth, obviously Trevor Hoffman has struggled early and he’s working the highest-leverage situations. Meredith, Bell, and Enrique Gonzalez have been terrible, while Rusch has merely been bad — all in tiny samples (only Hoffman has faced more than 10 batters in the ninth this season).
On the hitting side, I won’t break it out by each inning, but the top performers for innings 7-9 by OPS are Paul McAnulty (22 PA, .200/.273/.400), Khalil Greene (40 PA, .206/.250/.412), and Tony Clark (20 PA, .250/.400/.250). So yeah, the Padres simply stop hitting after the sixth inning, which puts extreme pressure on a bullpen that hasn’t been as sharp as it was last year.
Who is to blame for the Padres’ late-inning woes? Most everyone wearing a uniform, really.
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.
May 5, 2008 at 8:38 am
So Mr, Young, I hear you saying that your frustrated with how the Padres are playing. Have I got that right? Reading between the lines, I’d your damned pissed off.
May 5, 2008 at 8:43 am
OT … Yo … LynchMob the PimpMob here! First and foremost, let me assure you that I’ve put my money where my mouth is …
*TODAY* would be a *GREAT* day to donate $39 to Ducksnorts. If you want to trust me on that, then *just do it* and I’m sure GY will explain to you in a thank-you email
If trust is an issue for you, drop me an email at imhl58 at hotmail dot com and I will explain it to you 1-on-1.
(Note: if you just want in for a 1/10th share, then plunk down $3.90 and see what happens
)
May 5, 2008 at 8:44 am
More talk (sort of) of a Greene/Pie trade in the works, I wonder is we will start hearing rumors about a deal for wilson soon as well…
http://www.dailyherald.com/sto.....mp;src=152
May 5, 2008 at 8:51 am
#3@Steve C: Wilson?
May 5, 2008 at 8:54 am
Very interesting, GY. But systemwide failure? Come on! Anyone with eyes knows it’s all Trever Hoffman’s fault!!
It would be nice to say there’s nowhere else to go but up from here, but unfortunately for baseball fans who have been here before, we know that is not necessarily true becasue we could just end up staying this bad all season long. Twould be unfortunate and not much fun at all, but it does happen. I’ll keep hoping for regression to the mean, or maybe that someone steps up into a leadership role, gives a rousing clubhouse speech and the team chemistry builds this club into a team that just knows how to gut it out and win the tough ones.
In the meantime, hey, at least it’s baseball season, we live in a great city and we still have a major league club in town. So take heart!
May 5, 2008 at 8:55 am
#4@Tom Waits: Yeah; you remember Castaway, right? That volleyball is playing for the Marlins AA club.
May 5, 2008 at 8:59 am
#4@Tom Waits: http://www.baseball-reference......ja02.shtml
wasn’t there a ton of rumors alst year about the Pads being interested in jack wilson if greenie was traded?
May 5, 2008 at 9:06 am
#6@Pat: Can he recognize a slider?
#7@Steve C: I don’t remember those rumors, but I’d be surprised if they went that route. If Greene is traded to the Cubs, they’ll have 5 middle infielders (Greene, Theriot, Fontenot, Cedeno, DeRossa). Not hard to see Cedeno coming back in a slightly larger trade.
May 5, 2008 at 9:09 am
#2@LynchMob: I sent you an email, but then my brain engaged and I’m pretty sure I understand why THAT number and why TODAY.
May 5, 2008 at 10:09 am
#1@PM: Well, yeah, of course. I hate losing and I hate crap baseball. Right now I’m seeing way too much of both. The Padres have built a (minor) tradition of winning since moving downtown, and they’re not even close to living up to my expectations of them. This isn’t a crap franchise with crap players, this is a good team playing terrible baseball. Hopefully these guys can right the ship soon, preferably while it still matters.
#9@Tom Waits: Heh, okay, I’ll come clean. So it’s my 39th birthday. Decent of the Padres not to lose on it.
May 5, 2008 at 10:20 am
Happy Birthday, Geoff.
Everybody is drinking to you today in San Diego. Hooray!
May 5, 2008 at 10:24 am
#8@Tom Waits: I agree that the move does not maks sence from the cubs stand point but we have heard alot of talk about the cubs being interested in greenie.
I could see this deal possibly working OG/Greenie/Inman/Cash to the cubs from Cedeno/Pie
May 5, 2008 at 10:27 am
Happy Birthday GY!
May 5, 2008 at 10:28 am
This team reminds me of the 97 squad in some ways. That year’s team had a great offense but holes in the pitching, and it was like watching a lawnmower engine tearing itself apart. You could tell that there were only a couple of parts missing, but they weren’t minor parts and their absence prevented the entire team from functioning well.
It hasn’t helped that so many prospects in the high minors have struggled. Harder to get excited when players the front office deemed untouchable (with reason) are playing just as poorly as the major leaguers.
May 5, 2008 at 10:32 am
#12@Steve C: I’d like to see the Padres get involved with the Cubs. It’s the Wilson part I don’t see happening.
OG would seem to have no value to the Cubs. But he might have value to other contenders.
May 5, 2008 at 10:36 am
Jason Michaels may be DFA’d by the Indians, think the pads may have any interest even though he is scuffling this year?
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....y-des.html
May 5, 2008 at 10:39 am
#15@Tom Waits: Yeah I agree the only reason I threw wilsons name out there is because I thought there was talk about him last year and he is prob the best available every day SS (even though he is on the 15 day DL).
May 5, 2008 at 10:57 am
Back from vacation - ugh. What a horrible week. I’d love to see us win a series.
May 5, 2008 at 11:08 am
Now that the cat is officially out of the bag… Happy Birthday, Geoff!
May 5, 2008 at 11:17 am
http://www.nctimes.com/article.....01399a.txt
It sounds like KT has reached the end of the line, and will be making moves shortly.
May 5, 2008 at 11:40 am
#20@Field39: Worst part of the article…
“So veteran Shawn Estes, with a 4-2 mark and 3.67 ERA, likely will take Germano’s spot.”
May 5, 2008 at 11:49 am
#21@Steve C: I don’t have an issue with that. If he has a handful of good starts they trade him at the break, if not, they cut him loose.
May 5, 2008 at 11:53 am
#12@Steve C: I think Greenie and an arm would land Cedeno and Pie. The Cubs really arent that high on either player. I dont think it will take nearly as much as Giles/Greene/Inman and cash. I dont even think it would take Greene and Inman.
May 5, 2008 at 12:00 pm
I put Giles in there because the cubs are looking for a LH OF and the Pads will prob be looking to drop at least part of the $12 mil they owe him from this year and the $3mil buy out for next year. Also its not how high the cubs are on the two prospects that will control thier trade value its how high the rest of the league is on them, I did not know that the Cubs were down on Cedeno though.
May 5, 2008 at 12:05 pm
#23@SDSUBaseball:
#24@Steve C:
A few weeks ago the Cubs didn’t want to trade Pie for Brian Roberts. They may be down on him, but they’re not going to give him away.
Unless Soriano gets hurt, OG doesn’t fit in Chicago. FDome is LH, OG can’t play CF, and they’re not sitting Soriano. At least OG does have some trade value now, but we might have to pay part of his salary bump.
May 5, 2008 at 12:06 pm
#21@Steve C: 2 or 3 weeks ago I would have agreed with you. His last 3 starts have been terrible though, with the opposition hitting .391/.443/.750. If Estes can be brought up and flipped to a competitor at the deadline at least it brings some future value.
May 5, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Happy birthday, Geoff!
May 5, 2008 at 12:18 pm
#24@Steve C: I didnt say they are down on him, I think they just like Theriot and Fortonot better. The fans seem to as well.
May 5, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Posted this in the Farm Report comments, as well…
Geoff, you’re wedged between Chris Young and Michael Young at “The Baseball Analysts”:
http://baseballanalysts.com/ar…..near_t.php
Happy birthday. You’re again as old as I am. You’re invited to tomorrow night’s batting cage session, in honor of your elderly status.
May 5, 2008 at 1:35 pm
#20@Field39: Shouldn’t a story about the state of the Padres say they have the worst record in baseball, along with the Reds, and say it high up in the story.
May 5, 2008 at 1:36 pm
#30@Kevin: Except that Toronto has the worst record. Never mind.
May 5, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Jaque Jones was released today.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....lease.html
May 5, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Happy birthday GY
May 5, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Happy Birthday Geoff!
May 5, 2008 at 2:00 pm
#32@Steve C: Gimme some Jaque!!!
Happy B-Day GY!
May 5, 2008 at 2:29 pm
#25@Tom Waits:
#24@Steve C:
Steve looks to have been correct, Gammons reports that Lou Pinella is looking for a LH-hitting CF or RF to hit 5th. I guess they’d move FDome to CF on some days. Unfortunately OG doesn’t have the power most people associate with a 5 hole hitter, but he’d hit for more power in the NL Central.
I can’t link to the Gammons post, because it’s Insider, but MLBTradeRumors summarizes it.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/
May 5, 2008 at 2:44 pm
HAPPY BIRFDAY Goeff
May 5, 2008 at 2:51 pm
#25@Tom Waits: This was the article I was looking at that said the cubs would like to add a LH Right fielder.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....atest.html
May 5, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I think if the cubs get a RF then they will move Fukudome to CF.
May 5, 2008 at 2:59 pm
#35@Coronado Mike: Mostly any player would improve this current lineup, so when I read about Jacque Jones being released, my initial instinct was, “Go get that guy. He’s fast, he hit 27 HR’s two seasons ago. He’s a San Diego guy” but from reading that NC Times article, I get the feeling KT is set on going with the AAA guys at this point. Unless he’s planning on releasing Edmonds real soon, Jones would just block Headley in left. Plus, I’m not sure Jones is much better than Jody Gerut at this point in his career. His OBP was just .244 in 24 games. Ugh.
May 5, 2008 at 3:03 pm
If Jones can play CF in Petco he may get a look if not then I dont think the Pads will pick him up.
May 5, 2008 at 3:04 pm
#38@Steve C: I saw it and tried to give you props, but Ducksnorts ate my post.
May 5, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Not sure if anyone has seen this yet, but it’s a great read.
http://www.hardballtimes.com/m.....-franchise
May 5, 2008 at 3:19 pm
When we were in Peoria this spring, I told Geoff, “I can see this club going 72-90.”
I’d prefer I was wrong about that.
May 5, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Don’t know if this means anything but Jody Guert is #2 at all of the OF spots on the Padres Depth chart.
http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com.....sp?c_id=sd
May 5, 2008 at 3:45 pm
If the padres do make a move for an OF and pull Guret and Headley up on Friday when who gets the Axe? Edmonds, Hairston and P-Mac?
May 5, 2008 at 4:17 pm
#45@Steve C: I see Estes, Gerut, Headley, Hundley, and Hensley all getting the call in the next few weeks. Who gets the axe will be a tough call? If I had to guess, I’d say Germano, Rusch, Morton (AAA), and McAnulty (trade?) would be gone. I don’t think Edmonds is going anywhere unless there is some other center fielder coming in to replace him so I wouldn’t guess that he would be part of this. Maybe they’d go with an 11-man rotation and demote Kevin Cameron or Joe Thatcher. This is a tough call.
May 5, 2008 at 4:28 pm
#45@Steve C: I think it’s odd that mlb.com has Gerut on that depth chart web page … doesn’t make sense to me … also note he’s not listed “at all the OF spots”, just LF and CF …
#47@JMAR: I don’t see Hundley getting called up … he’s not doing well enough at AAA … he needs to play and get better … which, despite current stats, I think he is doing …
Also, I don’t see Germano getting cut … he’s no where near the same issue as Rusch, for example … we’d be raving happy with Germano if Bud PH’s for him in the 6th inning of his last start.
May 5, 2008 at 4:59 pm
#47 JMAR, I think Edmonds might be gone this week.
May 5, 2008 at 5:09 pm
#48@LynchMob: Germano is a ticking time bomb. Doesnt have the stuff to pitch to contact, doesnt strike people out. I dont think anyone would be raving happy about that.
At this point, does anyone else think it might be worthwhile to give Headley a full season at AAA and possibly try to package any of the following (Kouz, Greene, Wolf, Giles… etc) for OF prospect (particularly CF). I would rather Jody Gerut or someone be playing LF next year who isnt a defensive liability like Headley. I think Headley is more valuable to the team or as a trade as a 3B.
May 5, 2008 at 5:14 pm
#48@LynchMob: As uninspiring as it would be to call up a catcher hitting two-twenty something, I think their focus is on defense and calling a good game from the catcher spot. Why else would they keep throwing Josh Bard and his .220 average out there everyday while Colt Morton, a potential 25-homer guy, rides the pine? KT mentioned in the NC Times article that “Hundley is doing very well behind the plate blocking the ball”, so I just think they’re more comfortable with Hundley defensively than they are with Morton. At this point, I just want a backup that Bud Black is comfortable putting in the lineup. It’s obvious that isn’t currently the case.
#49@parlo: If they think Gerut is capable of taking his place, he could be gone. I’m not sure they feel that way though.
May 5, 2008 at 5:26 pm
#50@SDSUBaseball: I thought it was a mistake to have Headley playing LF in Portland, and would have much rather they kept him at third and figured out what to do with Kouzmanoff after Headley was called up. Kouz didn’t have a lot of trade value but he could have been valuable for us in a Casey Blake way - adequate 3b, backup 1b, can play in the corner OF spots in an emergency. But right now Kouz’s value is pretty low, no reason to trade him if he’s not bringing anything back.
#51@JMAR: It does seem like Black doesn’t like something about Morton. Or he doesn’t like something about Bard and is punishing him. Severely.
May 5, 2008 at 5:44 pm
#52 TomWaits: Maybe the pitchers are uncomfortable with Morton. It wouldnt be the first time a pitching staff was finicky about a particular catcher.
May 5, 2008 at 5:47 pm
#53@parlo: That’s possible, but it’s Black’s job not to let that unduly affect him or the team. If the pitchers like Bard so much, they shouldn’t want him to be treated like a rented mule. He’s not doing much to help the team when he can hardly get the bat off his shoulders. Let’s hope today’s off-day freshens him up.
May 5, 2008 at 5:57 pm
OT … second-basemen continue to be “easy to find” … it’s the one organizational strength … we all know about Antonelli … and we’re getting to know Sogard via the Farm Reports … but did you know that the AA 2B-man, Brett Dowdy, recently had a 22-game hitting streak (which started last season)?
http://tinyurl.com/5wl4oq
He hasn’t shown up on prospect lists … but his performance speaks for itself …
http://tinyurl.com/5d8yj2
… 1.038 OPS in 70+ PAs … just fyi.
May 5, 2008 at 6:20 pm
#55@LynchMob: Yeah, I’ve been noticing that Dowdy has been on fire this season. He’s definitely not a prospect because he’s already 26 years old. The guys at Mad Friars say he is one of the fastest players in the system, although his stolen base total does not reflect that (38 in 401 career games). I believe he’ll be a free agent after the season if he’s not on the 40-man roster. My guess is that he’s a future utility guy.
May 5, 2008 at 6:52 pm
The Blue Jays won. Now the Padres and Reds are tied for the worst record in the majors.
May 5, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Farm Report Preview … Ft Wayne with a solid team effort …
http://tinyurl.com/6bsb5j
The MadFriar guys say good things about Wynn Pelzer … and every once in while he flashes some lights-out numbers … I think he’s recovering from an injury.
May 5, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Inman pitching well thru 6 tonight … http://tinyurl.com/5wtw86
May 5, 2008 at 6:55 pm
update: The Reds just won, so the Padres have the worst record in the majors.
May 5, 2008 at 6:59 pm
#50@SDSUBaseball: #52@Tom Waits:
I agree that sending Headley down to play LF almost exclusively was also shortsighted. Chase’s slow start while playing a new position begs the question in hindsight: is there a faster way to destroy his value? Calling him up to play LF in Petco on this team might do it.
Still I don’t think Kouz’s defense has improved all that much this year, so you are right in that he is not going to fetch anything of great value unless he starts hitting 300/350/500 again.
I am really beginning to wonder why such a statistically minded organization with some great brains in its front office has consistently failed over the years in evaluating its own talent or failed to leverage talent that looks good on paper (Geer, McAnulty, Knott) for value before it’s exposed to the Majors.
This team needs a shakeup, but calling up Headley, Hundley, Estes, and/or Hensley won’t do it. Trading Greene and another for Felix Pie and Cedeno would be a good start, but I think the organization is too risk adverse to do it fearing the inevitable fan backlash.
I am frustrated as the rest of you, so maybe trading one of the team’s lone marketable players is not a good idea, but something has to give.
May 5, 2008 at 7:10 pm
#61@Bruce: The funny thing is… I dont understand how Greene is marketable.
I really see no reason to call up Headley. He hasnt been good this year and I dont think he should be playing in the OF. I hate to say it, but is there a chance his one good year in AA wasnt enough or maybe even a fluke?
May 5, 2008 at 7:26 pm
#62@SDSUBaseball:
Boy, that’s a bit rash, don’t you think?
Here’s something else that’s a bit rash: Colt Morton has not impressed me at all at the plate.
May 5, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Im ok with holding off on calling up Headly for a while to see if Kouz starts swinging the bat better and then try to move him and put Headley at 3B.
I’m not really sure what the plan is at this point I dont think the Pads have the players in their system to compete with the Dodgers and DBacks for the next 5 years and We know that they will not spend the money to bring in any veteran talent. Maybe this is why the continuously drafted polished college players because they new they could not sit and wait for a bunch of 18 year old kids to develop and mature…
May 5, 2008 at 7:43 pm
#62@SDSUBaseball: Headley has looked alot better as of late he has gotten his numbers up to .264/.350/.406 which is pretty good after his abysmal start.
May 5, 2008 at 8:44 pm
#63@Stephen: Rash? No. I just know everyone (including myself) got excited about him after last year. Now seeing how he is playing in Portland, I dont know if he is ready. It might be good from him to spend a year in AAA. Everyone is always talking about sample size and it looks like one year in AA wasnt a big enough sample. I am not throwing the kid out, I am just saying let him play out a season in AAA. I dont think that would hinder his development.
#65@Steve C: I agree. He has started to turn it around. I just wish they would play him at 3B here and there aswell.
May 6, 2008 at 6:02 am
#51@JMAR: Morton will never hit 25 bombs in SD…heck, he never hit 25 bombs in the minors…
He is not that good…he is big (big catchers don’t seem to age well) and presents a good target, but that is about it.
May 6, 2008 at 6:35 am
#67@Coronado Mike: I know he’ll never hit 25 homers because he’ll never be a starting catcher, mainly because he’d probably strike out way too much and isn’t good enough defensively. If he was ever given a full-time catching job, though, I think he’d hit around .215 with 25 HR’s. It doesn’t mean he’s ever going to catch full-time. The comparison was to Bard, who’s hitting around .220 with no power, and Hundley, who is hitting .220 in AAA with some power, and why the Padres would prefer those two over Morton.
May 6, 2008 at 6:57 am
#68@JMAR: Your assessment of Morton sounds about right to me. He basically has Russell Branyan’s skill set on offense. I really hope Morton connects with one before he returns to the minors because his homers are fun to watch.