IGD: Padres @ Reds (22 Jul 08)
Tue, Jul 22, 2008
by Geoff Young
Padres @ Reds
4:10 p.m. PT
Channel 4SD, DIRECTV 724
AM 1090, FM 105.7, XM 183
MLB, B-R
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.
July 22, 2008 at 9:24 am
What are the odds that by game time, Wolf is an Astro?
July 22, 2008 at 10:17 am
Buster Olney says Wolf could be traded today, and the return would be a B-ish prospect (so someone in the Astros system other than Bud Norris).
July 22, 2008 at 10:26 am
I still don’t understand what the Astros are thinking here. They probably have less of a chance than the Padres do this season, especially with Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Louis in front of them in the division. And they want to trade for a pitcher with a 6.00+ ERA on the road. He’s gonna get rocked at Minute Maid.
But I’m not gonna stop them from taking on Wolf’s remaining salary and giving us a B-prospect in return. Maybe they think they can re-sign him or get a draft pick if he leaves for free agency.
July 22, 2008 at 10:33 am
I wonder if we could get Koby Clemens. I went through the players in their farm system and they are pretty barron in terms of prospects. If we can’t have Bud Norris then I assume Jason Castro is off limits too haha. SO that leaves……. Yeah their system sucks pretty bad but Clemens is still really young and his numbers are pretty decent at catcher. I know they have that whole family connection with the Rockets personal services contract going on but I wonder if that would axe a potential deal. Without digging really deep I can’t see anyone of any real interest. I wonder if we could get Yordany Ramirez back? JOKING!!!
July 22, 2008 at 10:48 am
Who’s to say Norris ISN’T a B level prospect? Goldstein at Baseball Prospectus lists him as only a 3 Star prospect. Just because he’s the best the Astros may have, doesn’t mean that the label isn’t accurate. Norris is a solid prospect, but is not the greatest in the world.
July 22, 2008 at 11:00 am
You guys are right, Norris is one of the only people of interest in the system.
Einertson’s a local kid; an OF who hit pretty well in high-A last year as a 21 year old. He might be possibility.
Sickels lists Towles, Norris, Einerston, and Paulino as “B” prospects for the Astros
http://www.minorleagueball.com...../142630/56
July 22, 2008 at 11:09 am
Sorry guys, Olney actually said B- -ish prospect. Which probably brings it down to the level of Goldstein’s 2 star guys and (I’m guessing) rules out Norris.
From the Padres’ perspective, if they’re planning on re-signing him in the offseason basically any fringe minor league prospect helps the team more than hanging on to him for the rest of the season. That way they got some salary relief, gain a prospect, and don’t worry about losing a draft pick since they were planning on re-signing him anyway.
I’m kind of surprised that a contending team like the Yankees, Tigers, or Phillies (before they got Blanton) didn’t offer a slightly better prospect than the Astros are, because Wolf would have value for his contribution this year and a possible draft pick.
July 22, 2008 at 11:37 am
One possibility (about why Houston wants Wolf) is that perhaps he helps them make a multi-player trade …
July 22, 2008 at 11:38 am
Wolf’s really hurt his trade value this month…
July: 4 GS, 21IP, 20 R, 10BB, 16K’s.
I do think it’s odd that Houston continues to fall for the flyball pitcher moving from Petco to Enron )or whatever it’s called now). Did they learn nothing from Woody Williams?
July 22, 2008 at 11:39 am
8: That’s true. I was actually trying to see if Kouz fit in the deal as well (After all, the Astros are currently starting Geoff Blum at 3B). I just don’t think that they’ve got any pieces (that they’d deal) that are worth Kouz and Wolf–even Hunter Pence has had a really disappointing season.
July 22, 2008 at 11:50 am
#10@Paul R: Hunter Pence is worth *a lot* … and I’d be 99.9% sure he’s not available … if he is, and the Padres get him, I’d be very happy …
Update from UT on Dykstra …
First-round draft pick Allan Dykstra obtained a second medical opinion on his surgical hip and might get a third, said Grady Fuson, vice president of scouting and development. After one of their doctors examined Dykstra last month, the Padres held off on issuing Dykstra a signing bonus of about $1.4 million. Fuson said the Padres are still being “very aggressive” but “talks are kind of stuck.”
http://www3.signonsandiego.com.....er-room-c/
… article also gives some good background on Giles’ recent health issues (hamy) …
July 22, 2008 at 12:12 pm
11: I figured that Pence would be worth a lot as well but look at his numbers this year. 265/304/426 in a huge hitters park. I know that he had a great rookie year, but those #’s are a little scary.
Before I looked into his numbers this year, I thought I’d be thrilled, but now…I guess I’d take him. But is hea better player than Hairston?
What about a Kouz, Wolf, Kyle Blanks deal for Carlos Lee and cash? Padres start gearing up for next year like they did with the Giles trade.
July 22, 2008 at 12:16 pm
#12@Paul R: Getting Carlos Lee would make me very happy also …
Reminder … BP is free this week … here’s a 2nd Half Preview of the NL …
http://www.baseballprospectus......cleid=7836
July 22, 2008 at 12:38 pm
#12@Paul R: Lee has a full No Trade Clause….
July 22, 2008 at 12:39 pm
No on Lee for me. He’s paid like a superstar, but he gives away most of his offensive value on defense. When you account for defense, Scott Hairston was more valuable during the first half than Lee.
Now, Lance Berkman …
Ok, even Ed Wade isn’t that stupid.
July 22, 2008 at 12:41 pm
For whatever its worth, the Astros organization is saying “we don’t know what your talking about” regarding this trade. I also just don’t see anything of value in the Astros system that we could plausibly get.
RE #12 Paul R: I think you touched on something rather interesting; Kyle Blanks. Some teams are going to be losing their first basemen over this upcoming off-season. Having a young talented 1B blocked by an all-star could make for good trade bait.
And to be honest re Kouz, as of now I’m happy to have BOTH Headley and Kouz in the line up with AGon, I think that’s some legitimate power and Headley’s playing pretty decently in the outfield
July 22, 2008 at 12:44 pm
#13@LynchMob: Thanks for the heads up on the free week of BP.
July 22, 2008 at 12:49 pm
#15@Ben B.: That sounds extreme …
http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/leeca01.shtml
Lee’s OPS+ = 136 … that’s a lot of offense to give away with defense … his defensive numbers are 4 assists and 1 error … B-R has these terms …
RFg - Range Factor by games played (A + PO) / G
lgRFg - Major League Average Range Factor at that position that year by games.
RF9 - Range Factor per nine innings 9 * (A + PO)/ Inn
lgRF9 - Major League Average Range Factor at that position that year per nine innings.
… for which Lee currently is at …
RFg = 1.68
lgRGg = 1.47
RF9 = 1.81
lgRF9 = 1.91
… which don’t look to me like they could possibly counterbalance an OPS+ of 136.
He is paid like a superstar … but that’s because he has a superstar bat … seems to me he’d have been a good-sign going into 2007 …
July 22, 2008 at 12:53 pm
As for possible Stroh’s prospects, I’ve seen the majority of them play in the minors.
Paulino is the best of the pitchers mentioned earlier, but he’s hurt. Could be starter, but he’s lights out in the bullpen. Norris didn’t impress me at Tri-City, but his numbers have improved somewhat as he’s moved up the chain. RHP Chad Reinecke is solid (4.41 ERA 100K/35BB in 112.1 IP). I think he’s better than Norris at this stage, but Norris probably has more upside. Einertson (221/259/374) can rip, but has poor plate discipline. Best thing Clemens (273/350/440) has going for him is his last name. If you want an Astros catching prospect not named Castro (nice swing, doubles gap power with wood bats), Lou Santangelo (200/282/457) is your guy. Excellent arm behind the plate. Has some pop, but big hole in his swing. Got pegged for PEDs last year, so that could be a concern. If you want an OF prospect, Joran Paraz (301/401/437) is a decent bet at A+ Salem, but he’s a few years off (As are most of Houston’s best prospects).
Not sure why the Strohs would give up what few prospects they have left after the Tejeda/Jennings trades for Wolf seeing as though they have very little chance to contend in ‘08. I pretty sure SD can get better present value shopping the lefty elsewhere.
July 22, 2008 at 12:53 pm
xx1090 says the deal is done for a AAA arm
Chad Rineke or something like that.
July 22, 2008 at 12:55 pm
I *love* that the AZL Padres play day games … Jaff Decker has 2 walks in 2 PAs so far today …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....k_angrok_2
… if he weren’t hitting .397, I’d say he’s taking too many walks
July 22, 2008 at 12:56 pm
#20@KRS1: about what I expect they could get for wolf…
http://www.thebaseballcube.com.....neke.shtml
July 22, 2008 at 12:57 pm
#18@LynchMob: UZR had Lee at -18 runs in left field last year. Baseball reference had Lee as 24.3 runs above overall league average hitting last year. Toss in a positional adjustment to the offensive numbers, and you’re looking at a player right around league average.
July 22, 2008 at 12:58 pm
FJ has today’s lineup posted …
Scott Hairston, CF
Edgar Gonzalez, 2B
Brian Giles, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B
Chase Headley, LF
Khalil Greene, SS
Luke Carlin, C
Jake Peavy, P
July 22, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Can someone explain why Hundley is getting so little playing time when he’s supposed to be the primary catcher????
July 22, 2008 at 1:07 pm
#20
oh gee whiz, that’s something ‘worthwhile’, another worthless arm
July 22, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Well I’ll miss Wolf, and I think a contender with pitching needs should have offered more for him. But this saves the Padres money, and I bet they re-sign him next year. Plus Baek and Banks get more time to try out for a job next year.
July 22, 2008 at 1:10 pm
#23@Ben B.: Thanks for the UZR number … question about it … since you seem to be comparing to a “runs above overall league average” number, is the UZR runs relative to league average also? If not, perhaps there’s a bit of apples-and-oranges going on …
In #15 you were talking about 1st Half … now you’re talking about last year … OK …
According to the B-R link in #18, here’s some fielding numbers …
8 assists, 4 errors, 2 double-plays
RFg = 1.71
lgRGg = 1.55
RF9 = 1.77
lgRF9 = 2.00
I don’t know UZR … I do know OPS+ … it doesn’t seem to me like his defense cancels out his offense … and he seems more like an All-Star to me than “right around league average” … and his strengths (BA and SLG) seem to align well with the Padres’ weaknesses.
July 22, 2008 at 1:11 pm
#25@Loren: He’s not that good and he’s not “ready” yet and Carlin’s defense is better right now … those are the first 3 things that pop into my head …
July 22, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Rob Neyer writes about how the Astros’ pursuit of Wolf is baffling:
http://insider.espn.go.com/esp.....=neyer_rob
July 22, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Chad Reinecke is the guy they got in the Wolf deal.
His numbers were pretty good coming up through the minors (3.11 ERA, 283.1 IP, 226 H, 292 K from ‘04-06, mostly A-ball) but he’s been pretty average since reaching AAA in ‘07-08 (4.54 ERA, 212.1 IP, 211 H, 195 K, 22 HR’s allowed).
I wonder if he replaces Wolf in the rotation. He’s 26 years old. They might as well give him a shot.
July 22, 2008 at 1:13 pm
#20@KRS1: Moves like this really make me question the organization’s commitment to making the playoffs this year. Once again the John Moores shows he isn’t willing to spend the money to keep good veteran players.
July 22, 2008 at 1:14 pm
This is just great. Tomko/Estes to replace Wolf in the rotation? Yuck.
Might as well get the newly traded guy up here. Or Josh Greer.
July 22, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Top 5 Unluckiest AL Starters, by LUCK
Player, Team, W, L, E(W), E(L), LUCK
Joe Blanton, OAK, 5, 12, 6.7, 8.3, -5.4
Gregory Smith, OAK, 5, 8, 7.8, 5.5, -5.3
Carlos Silva, SEA, 4, 12, 5.9, 9.4, -4.5
Jarrod Washburn, SEA, 4, 8, 6.5, 6.2, -4.3
C.C. Sabathia, CLE, 6, 8, 8.3, 6.0, -4.3
July 22, 2008 at 1:17 pm
32: How are the Padres 08 going to make the playoff? You are crazy.
July 22, 2008 at 1:17 pm
#32@anthony: Um I dint think the Pads are gonna make the playoffs this year, with or without wolf on the roster…
July 22, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Next time the pads want to make a trade why bother then even trying to get a decent player? Just ask for a ptbnl everytime - seems to be the equivalnt of what we are getting. What a joke!
Ps put hensley in that rotation spot
July 22, 2008 at 1:20 pm
#33@Didi: I have a feeling that Hensley will take Wolf’s place in the rotation and Reineke will go to the pen.
July 22, 2008 at 1:21 pm
35: The Padres are 11.5 games back with 62 games to go. Even if both the Dodgers and the Snakes are playing .500 ball for the rest of the season, this team isn’t going to catch up with or without Randy Wolf.
July 22, 2008 at 1:22 pm
#37@Loren: What else could the pads get for a pitcher with an ERA+ of 82…
July 22, 2008 at 1:24 pm
38: That would make sense as I really can’t see why Estes/Tomko should be getting anymore playing time. Their values aren’t going to shoot up in trade by starting more games. Let’s hope the pitching staff goes back to 11 men.
Does this mean that Cla Meredith is also on his way out?
July 22, 2008 at 1:25 pm
#41@Didi: would not suprise me at all if Cla was traded.
July 22, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Looking at the NL Central standing, I’m really confused why the Astros made the trade. They are 12 games back with 63 games to go. I thought the Padres might get a chance to get Anthony Reyes from the Cardinals if the package is Wolf plus a prospect.
July 22, 2008 at 1:36 pm
1090 reporting that Hensley will take Wolf’s spot in the rotation
July 22, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Well, Reinecke was the best, healthy pitching prospect with a realistic chance of making the majors this year in the Stroh’s system. Hope he does well for SD.
July 22, 2008 at 1:39 pm
It’s a done deal, if it wasn’t already:
HOUSTON (AP) – The Houston Astros acquired pitcher Randy Wolf from San Diego on Tuesday in exchange for minor leaguer Chad Reineke.
July 22, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Anyone remember another 26 year-old right-hander that the Padres got from the Astros a few years ago?
Scott Linebrink
I say that turned out pretty good.
July 22, 2008 at 1:48 pm
#46@Kevin: I like this move. Reineke could help the Padres now and in the very near future. He is 6′6 and he has good strikeout numbers. Future pen guy ?
July 22, 2008 at 1:50 pm
47: There was also a Tim Redding from the same farm system. Good stuff and finally he’s pitching decently for the Nats. For the Padres, yuck, he was no good whatsoever.
July 22, 2008 at 1:53 pm
45: Thanks for the info on the Astros’ prospects. And, it looks like he’ll be able to help quite soon if he can get his WHIP under control.
July 22, 2008 at 1:59 pm
#49@Didi: Good call. If they would’ve waited just three more years before acquiring Redding …
Anyways, I hope Reineke does some good stuff out of the ‘pen. And if not, then I guess we can just be thankful that the Astros saved the Padres a few million bucks.
July 22, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Arizona just got Jon Rauch from the Nats. Great pickup. You heard it here first.
July 22, 2008 at 2:12 pm
#36@Steve C: I think that was a joke.
#44@Steve C: I figured that Tomko or Estes would take his spot. If Hensley does good it could jeopardize their chances of getting the first pick overall next year which is really the only thing they have to play for the rest of the season (along with sorting out the bullpen and if Hairston can be the everyday CF next season).
July 22, 2008 at 2:37 pm
#28@LynchMob: Sorry, I picked last year because I don’t think UZR is available from this half year, and it’s also a larger sample size. UZR is runs relative to the average left fielder. The runs above average I cited from baseball-reference are runs above an average offensive player, at any position. That’s why you also have to throw in the approximately -5 positional adjustment (I think) to take the offensive runs above average for all positions into runs above average for a left fielder. Combine those three values, and you get a player that’s was worth about 5 runs above the average left fielder last year.
Taking a step back, it’s clear Carlos Lee isn’t an offensive superstar on the level of someone like Pujols or Berkman. He’s worth somewhere around 25-30 runs per year above the average hitter. That’s 20-25 runs above the average left fielder offensively (if I remember my positional adjustments correctly). Lee definitely has a bad reputation for his left field play. From the advanced defensive stats I’ve seen, combined with his defensive reputation, I would guess he’s 10-20 runs below average in left. So if you take the most optimistic view of his offense and defense, he’s 20 runs above average, which makes him around the 15-20th most valuable player in the NL. Going forward he’s likely to get worse on offense and defense.
July 22, 2008 at 2:44 pm
54: Not to mention very expensive.
July 22, 2008 at 3:02 pm
#54@Ben B.: The most amazing thing I noticed after looking at a lot of BP’s Pecota cards is that most good players are “likely to get worse on offense” … and defense too, presumably
Here’s my bottom line … what I heard DePo say at the BP event @ Petco is that he (and therefore presumably the Padres) wants to have a team that’s “in the hunt” every year (as opposed to a model which assumes down years followed by a “run at a championship”) … poised to add that “final piece of the puzzle” when the player and the timing appear to be right … well, for me, the timing looked good going into 2007 and Carlos Lee looked like a good candidate for that player … or, at the trade deadline, it Jermaine Dye looked like a good candidate for that player … but in both instances, the Padres did not make it happen. Unlike many others, I assume they had good reasons … I just acknowledge that the team has been on the cusp the past 3 seasons and has yet to make an aggressive / go-for-it move … so now that they are in deep-do-do, there’s not much “good will” built up, despite the run of “winning seasons” and the signings of Jake and Adrian … and I understand that …
That’s the nerve that “Carlos Lee” touches for me …
July 22, 2008 at 3:02 pm
#35@Didi: #36@Steve C: haha, I guess I made my sarcasm sound a little too much like the typical 1090 caller.
July 22, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Don’t forget, CY will need a rotation spot soon.
July 22, 2008 at 3:07 pm
#57@anthony: You mean like something along the lines of, “MoOrE$ iS a CrOoK!!11111!1!”
July 22, 2008 at 3:14 pm
#57@anthony: Bleh Sorry my bad…I was wondering about that, its not normaly something yuou would say.
July 22, 2008 at 3:18 pm
#57@anthony: This is why you are the most interesting man posting on DS.
July 22, 2008 at 3:22 pm
“We still think the club we have is good enough to play better than it’s played,” Wade said. “We’ve got a million games left in our own division at this point in time. Our fate rests in our hands and I think it’s important for us to do whatever we can, from the baseball ops side, to give our guys as much support as we possibly can.”
July 22, 2008 at 3:35 pm
#61@Pat: More interesting than Ed Wade, that’s for sure! Either they flip Wolf or Reineke sucks or Wade’s a bozo … s’pose it could be all 3 …
July 22, 2008 at 3:37 pm
I reiterate that we didn’t get jack squat for, probably, our best tradeable asset (I’m not including untouchables). We got a guy who MLBtraderumors mentions in passing as a potential Chad Quallis which, looking at his record, his age and his stats, is a pipe dream at best. KT and Sandy apparently felt the urge to p*** away our best asset for a scrub, and somehow made the giving away of tony clark to our rival look outstanding by comparison.
July 22, 2008 at 3:46 pm
62: That’s why the Astros traded for Wolf. Wade thinks that they’ve still got a million games in division. Don’t tell him that there’s less than 50 games left in the season and his team still needs to pass three others to get to the playoffs…
64: I think that if there is any area where Towers has shown that he’s capable it’s in acquiring bullpen talent. Chad Qualls would be an exceptional upgrade for the pen. Looking at the numbers that Rhinke has put up in the minors (a K per inning, not a ton of walks), I’d have to contest your statement about his potential as a “pipe dream.” The Linebrink comp may stand up here-Linebrink was a 26 year old strikeout per inning guy that the Astros couldn’t figure out what to do with. I’ll bet that Reineke is a valuable part of next years pen.
July 22, 2008 at 3:46 pm
#64@Loren: I’m not sure he had any trade value. He had the 4th worst ERA among NL starters on the road at 6.63 (Maddux is right above him at 6.27). What exactly is that going to get you?
#62@Kevin: You have to admire Ed Wade’s optimism I guess. Most, if not all, people think they have no chance but Wade is still holding out hope.
July 22, 2008 at 3:47 pm
#64@Loren: I think you think Wolf was worth more than he is. Wolf has had a horribly awfully miserable July which has completley tanked his trade value. At the end of June, I would have agreed with you. But so much of baseball, and especially mid-season trades, is “What have you done for me lately?”
July 22, 2008 at 3:50 pm
#53@Schlom: So are you saying the Padres are deliberately tanking or “stealth tanking” or just thinking about tanking but not really sure they want to tank yet?
July 22, 2008 at 3:57 pm
I really can’t see why we traded our “most marketable” chip for what seems like a B- prospect, but I guess that we will not know the result of this until we see Reineke pitch.
A couple of people have brought up the idea that we are trading him just to save money (+ get a prospect) for half a season while we expect to sign him as a free agent for next year. If we are doing that don’t you think that we may be jerking him around enough that he may not want to come back. This isn’t Geoff Blum you know, he may actually have some value after this trade (ref to blum to the white sox and back trade of a fe years back)
July 22, 2008 at 3:57 pm
#68@BigWorm: I’m not sure we can completely determine that yet. Starting Gerut over Hairston seems like they were tanking but putting Hensley into the rotation isn’t — of course since Tomko and Estes are still on the DL that was really the only move they could make. Pinch hitting with Luis Rodriguez in crucial spots also makes it seem like they aren’t trying to win. Let’s put it this way, if Tomko gets a start they aren’t interested at all at winning this season.
#64@Loren: Remember also that Wolf is on a one year contract with deep roots in Southern California. Unless he was traded to the Dodgers or Angels, the team trading for him has no chance of having him play beyond this season.
July 22, 2008 at 4:00 pm
#68@BigWorm: watch out, we don’t want to get into the “tanking/not tanking with schlom” circular debate that we got into a couple of days ago. This may have been the tipping point for GY needing to review the comments policy.
July 22, 2008 at 4:11 pm
#71@DM: Why are so many people against tanking? I don’t understand it. The benefits (Stephen Strasburg) far outweigh whatever negatives there might be (when Gerut started the first three games against the Cardinals while Hairston sat on the bench there was barely any outcry). Personally, I’m not even 100% sure there are any negatives if they do end up with the worse record in baseball.
Whatever other explanation is there for playing Gerut over Hairston? We know that the Padres management isn’t clueless so it’s not that. Same thing with signing Brett Tomko. What possible motivation could they have other then make the team worse?
July 22, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Sometimes a team makes questionable decisions. That doesn’t mean they are trying to lose.
July 22, 2008 at 4:31 pm
#73@Kevin: True, but it also doesn’t mean that they aren’t trying to lose.
I say that if it means taking some lumps this season to bring in a potential ace pitcher in here next season, the Padres have to do it (even leaving out the huge local connection). How else are the Padres going to get someone like that in here? We all know they aren’t going to sign one as a free agent.
July 22, 2008 at 4:41 pm
72: There are other explanations for Gerut starting over Hairston. Gerut has much better road hitting numbers than Hairston does and there is also the platoon issue (L vs. R). It’s also entirely possible that there were injury/illness concerns at work that we don’t know anything about. So those are 3 possible explanations. There are others.
I don’t want to get into the debate again, but claiming that a professional sports team is intentionally not trying to win is a pretty serious accusation.
July 22, 2008 at 4:45 pm
#74@Schlom: They aren’t trying to lose. They still play four very good hitters every night. They can’t help the others are having bad seasons.
They still run out very good pitchers, when they are healthy.
They aren’t telling Hoffman to have a bad season.
Why would anyone think they are trying to tank?
July 22, 2008 at 4:47 pm
#75@Paul R: Why do you see it as such a negative? If they are doing it to get better in the future it’s not really a negative isn’t it? If the Padres were able to trade away Giles for valuable prospects I don’t think people would be too upset about what it would do to the team’s performance (obviously trading a fan favorite would generate some backlash but not just because it makes the team worse). Sometimes you have to make hard decisions about the future — if it makes sense to be terrible this season to get better in the future, don’t you have to do it?
July 22, 2008 at 4:51 pm
#72@Schlom: I guess that there may be no “objective” negatives to losing on purpose this season (although you may have attendance/fan base loss if the “on purpose” part is detected. ) There is just a morality/ethical concerns. Much of the integrity of the game is dependent on this agreement that both sides are making an honest effort. By a strictly objective evaluation (for the benefit of the team) there shouldn’t be any rules against steroid use. People have just agreed that this is how they want to game to operate.
My original statement was not an attack on your position, just the circular debate that will inevitably occur. I guess that my first paragraph just feeds this cycle, so I guess that I am a hypocrite
July 22, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Randy Wolf officially traded to the Astros for minor league RHP Chad Reineke. anybody heard of him?
July 22, 2008 at 4:56 pm
sorry… note to self… read, don’t scan the posts.
July 22, 2008 at 4:58 pm
I think I have what may be some good news … Chad Reineke appears to be quite familiar with having a poor offense and bad bull pen blow a very nice start … check out last night’s box score from AAA Round Rock …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....mp;t=g_box
… looks like a 2008 Padre box score to me
July 22, 2008 at 5:02 pm
#77@Schlom: If a team is trying to lose on purpose, it’s a negative.
July 22, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Hey, it’s game on! Jake’s looking good and OG and Adrian have RsBI … thru 3 full …
Pitches-strikes - J Peavy 46-28; J Cueto 56-37.
Ground balls-fly balls - J Peavy 3-3; J Cueto 2-2.
Batters faced - J Peavy 12; J Cueto 14.
… Padres up 3-0!
July 22, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Edgar Gonzalez is good at baseball.
July 22, 2008 at 5:25 pm
#70@Schlom: imo, Gerut is a lot closer to Hairston than you might think.
I haven’t really been following game by game of late, but I would guess, just off the top of my head, that starting Gerut over Hairston against a right hander is actually the better move …
July 22, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Thru 4 …
Pitches-strikes - J Peavy 67-39; J Cueto 75-51.
Ground balls-fly balls - J Peavy 5-3; J Cueto 3-3.
Batters faced - J Peavy 17; J Cueto 18.
July 22, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Did you guys catch the line on the radio a few days ago: “The problem with the Padres offense is that Dave Gonzalez didn’t haev enough kids”
Love it!
July 22, 2008 at 5:35 pm
BA’s Prospect Hot Sheet lists Jaff Decker “in the team photo” …
http://www.baseballamerica.com.....66539.html
No one in the Arizona League has been more impressive than OF Jaff Decker (Padres), a supplemental first-round pick in June. Decker, 18 years old and out of an Arizona high school, hit .429/.538/.619 on the week. The big-bodied outfielder racked up 8 runs and 6 RBIs while stealing a pair of bases
July 22, 2008 at 5:47 pm
I just tuned in. Can’t believe the Padres are up 3-0. Maybe I should buy a lotto ticket.
July 22, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Reds announcers raving about Carlin’s defense. We must think about Carlin’s good defensive play (tonight to nip Cueto in the 5th on a front plate dribbler)when we talk about how he loses games with his bat. How do we measure his defensive work ? Will a stats measurement do so ?
July 22, 2008 at 5:49 pm
#73@Kevin: You would think that this concept would be easy to understand.
July 22, 2008 at 5:54 pm
In limited time, of course, Carlin has -1.7 win shares at the plate and 0.7 win shares in the field. Overall, he has been a negative.
I like him. I’m just reporting my findings.
July 22, 2008 at 5:56 pm
#91@JP: Word. I mean, Jim Bowden couldn’t do worse with the Nationals — if he were trying to lose.
July 22, 2008 at 6:06 pm
#91@JP: You would think so, wouldn’t you?
Schlom, imagine this: last year the Nationals decide to try and lose the rest of their games at the halfway point. They play the rockies 6 more times that season and the Padres only twice. Are you saying you wouldn’t be a little offended if you knew that we probably didn’t make the playoffs because a team was deliberately trying to lose? Do you honestly not see how that could undermine the integrity of the game?
July 22, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Carlin’s put up a couple good ABs tonight…he seems to defend the strike zone pretty well, he just has trouble hitting the ball with any authority.
July 22, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Dusty Baker leaving Cueto in tonight is just a travesty…look at the careers of Kerry Wood and Mark Prior. How does Dusty get a job…?
July 22, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Jake on the ropes … bases loaded, 2 outs … Bako up …
July 22, 2008 at 6:15 pm
#96@Paul R: You’re right. It’s amazing. He may ruin Volquez.
July 22, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Tie game.
July 22, 2008 at 6:18 pm
#97@LynchMob: bummer … starting over now …
Thru 6 …
Pitches-strikes - J Peavy 108-65; J Cueto 120-78.
Ground balls-fly balls - J Peavy 8-5; J Cueto 6-3.
Batters faced - J Peavy 28; J Cueto 27.
#96@Paul R: 120 pitches … yow … I see what you mean …
July 22, 2008 at 6:19 pm