Padres vs Diamondbacks
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- 5663 Balboa Ave., #267
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124 Comments
For your pre-game entertainment, you can read about Tony Gwynn’s return to Cooperstown … this time, as one of “them” …
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/baseball/20080728-9999-1s28gwynn.html
… always good to hear from Tony!
#1@LynchMob: Good link. Thanks LM.
If you haven’t read Dirk Hayhurst’s lastest “Non-Prospect Diary”, you should …
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-diary/2008/266553.html
… he’s just tellin’ like it is!
I know they weren’t Padres as a rule, but it nice to see two members of the 1984 Padres go into the Hall.
#4@Kevin: making 3 … so far
The only other possible candidates are Nettles and you-know-who.
Chase has been slumping lately … gets the night off tonight …
Scott Hairston, LF
Edgar Gonzalez, 2B
Brian Giles, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B
Jody Gerut, CF
Khalil Greene, SS
Nick Hundley, C
Greg Maddux, P
#6@Kevin: Thank-you for not mentioning his name, that was very sensative of you
… also, don’t rule out that Bochy takes the Giants to 10 consecutive World Series’ and gets into the HoF that way … it could happen … and he was one of the backup catchers on that 1984 squad …
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SDP/1984.shtml
#8@LynchMob: I think Kevin McReynolds has a better shot.
SAN DIEGO — Chris Young has no apprehension about returning to the mound for the first time since he was hit in the face by Albert Pujols’ line drive more than two months ago, breaking his nose and fracturing his skull.
The San Diego Padres’ 6-foot-10 right-hander is scheduled to start Tuesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=3508830
#91@Kevin: good point. I just really feel that either Kouz or Headley have to go.
#11@Masticore317: Why is that?
#12@Kevin: Because I see Headley as the better fit at 3B, and not just because he’s the better defender. He’s more of the OBP guy the Padres are looking for.
With Gerut (353 OBP, 418 SLG) in the lineup, Hairston (311, 518) continues to bat leadoff.
#14@Kevin: I’m guessing here, but I think it’s because Hairston has performed far better as the leadoff than anywhere else. Plus he’s red hot at the moment, so they’re probably just leaving him alone.
#13@Masticore317: I just think he has to prove he is better than Kouz in the majors before the Padres do something rash.
Gammons absolutely slams Manny.
http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3508405&name=gammons_peter&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fespn%2fblog%2findex%3fentryID%3d3508405%26name%3dgammons_peter
#15@Masticore317: I bet you’re right. That is probably Black’s reasoning. I just question it.
#9@Kevin: Me too.
#16@Kevin: understood, and I can respect that notion.
Woo Khalil!
#18@Kevin: He wanted someone on base for Greene.
A HR followed by a ducksnort. Too bad Mad Dog can’t bat his way out of a paper sack.
#22@Field39: Well played. Darn, I missed the scoring.
#24@Kevin: Let’s hope there’s more to come …
Down on the Farm … Pelzer with a *GREAT* outing …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_28_peoafx_ftwafx_1
… 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 Ks … yowza!
#3@LynchMob: Speaking of stinky … Hayhurst didn’t pitch so well tonight …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_28_poraaa_nasaaa_1
… but LeBlanc sure did: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 Ks!
And enough offense to be leading 3-2 after 8 …
Huffman with HR #7 for San Antonio tonight …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_28_sanaax_friaax_1
Kouz is smokin.
Greene working on his OBP, the hard way.
I don’t know what I liked better… the home run, or Matty V’s reaction to it.
I don’t mean to dis the Padres … but something seems wrong with Owings … he was lights-out in April and has been getting steadily worse and worse ever since … anyone watching have a sense that he’s not 100% healthy?
#27@LynchMob: And Jack-aNulty strikes again for Portland (3rd HR since his return to AAA) … they now lead 4-2 headed to bottom of 9th …
#33@LynchMob: AAAA
#34@Field39: How about Jack-AAAAnulty? I don’t disagree … for now …
#28@LynchMob: I filmed the blast. Hopefully it came out well.
Matthew Buschmann was lights out for 7 innings tonight. Buschmann reminds me a lot of Geer.
Whoa!!!! I’m on the phone for 20 minutes and we’re up 8-3! Holy Santa Maria!
#36@JP: Way to go, JP … get that up on YouTube ASAP!
So, how is it that Portland has just gotten better after losing half of their lineup to the major league team?
#39@Geoff B: Maybe the major league team, got the wrong half.
Hairston should have batted eighth. He is the only one who can’t get it done tonight.
#41@Kevin: Early inning at bats are wasted on Hairston. Have him start every game in the fifth of sixth.
Maybe I’m wrong …
… But who invented this malarkey about Bob Melvin’s bullpen managment in explaining the D’backs’ negative run differential last season? I ask because Matty V. is bringing it up. What manager out there doesn’t call on a mop-up man to “take one for the team” in a lopsided game, leaving him out there even if he gives up a couple of runs?
This idea that Melvin was even fairly unique in preserving his top-shelf relievers for close games and using his second-tier guys for primarily lopsided-type losses seems silly to me.
#43@Stephen: Word.
#39@Geoff B: What part of Jack-AAAAnulty don’t you understand?
Yes, he’s thAAAAt good!
And don’t forget StAAAAnsberry, ThAAAAtcher, and CAAAAmeron …
Seriously, there’s also Peter Ciofrone who’s recently been added to the team and is on fire … and Venable’s been doing very well lately …
I’m headed home, where I can watch the game.
#33@LynchMob: Jack-Anulty returns! LM, I’m telling you, PMac got a kick outta it when I mentioned the name to him at Cooperstown!
Raise your hand if you’re glad Melvin didn’t start Petit tonight?
#47@Masticore317: It’s not going to be very often that “Jack-Anulty” and “Cooperstown” will be used in the same post/comment
#49@LynchMob: No, you’re right – definitely a novelty.
BTW, if we blow this one on Maddux he’s going to start to develop a complex.
Maddux is getting pretty deep …
Pitches-strikes – M Owings 69-39; Y Petit 32-24; G Maddux 81-52.
Ground balls-fly balls – M Owings 3-4; Y Petit 1-1; G Maddux 5-6.
Batters faced – M Owings 18; Y Petit 7; G Maddux 22.
… I’m nervous …
#50@Masticore317: If you posted your story about talking to McAnulty @ Cooperstown, I think I missed it … what happened? I remember you went up for the HoF game that got rained out … I think I remember you took/posted some pics …
The Prof. balked. But as soon as he did, he immediately said “My fault.” His first since 2000.
Will the Thrill, now?
Jesus, Ledezma is just so bad. I know teams like him because he’s left-handed and throws hard, but he’s just not any good. He’s going to give up this lead….I hope not, but I have little faith.
I’m not sure that Ledezma or Thatcher deserve to be in the majors. Do we need a lefty that bad that we keep bringing these guys back?
and using him as a LOOGY is the wrong way to use him.
And he just proved me wrong by K’ing Montero.
I’ll watch the game now and be quiet.
It appears the professor knows that he is being traded (he would likely have to approve it). He tipped and waved his cap as in “thank you all for the cheers, I am gone”…Vasgersian seemed to know something was up as well.
Can’t figure out who would trade for Maddux -most press seemed to have him waiving his no-trade only to a West Coast team, and I can’t imagine the Dodgers wanting him that badly, or the Angels. It would be nice if the Pads could turn Maddux into a decent prospect, though, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
Thank you, Tony Clark.
And the trade of Tony Clark pays off for the Padres!
Nice to see Clay Hensley back. Can anybody tell me what his velocity is like? MLB.com had one pitch at 93 and there’s no way that’s legit. He didn’t throw that hard before he got hurt.
I think Hensley will be a better bet out of the pen.
Sawyer Carroll doing well at the plate tonight for Eugene …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_28_eugasx_yakasx_1
#62@David Coonce: Gameday registered his two pitches at 89 mph.
#61@Ben B.: A MadFriars commenter went to the Storm game on Sunday night and reported “Evan Scribner looked really sharp” … and took some good pics …
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dirkhansen/sets/72157606421659542/
#65
Thanks. That’s pretty much right where he was at before the injury; seems more reasonable. I had high hopes for Hensley after that one good half season (2006); maybe he becomes a useful reliever/spot starter type.
Matty is still talking about a Maddux trade.
Every time Drew gets on base I think, “How’s Matt Bush doing these days?” When not getting in bar fights, Bush is currently rehabbing from TJ surgery after being shifted to the mound. AFter flaming out as a hitter. If he wasn’t the worst number 1 draft pick in baseball history, I’m not sure who was. It was a terrible pick not just becauise Bush didn’t pan out; that’s not fooreseeable. It was a poor pick because everybody thought Drew was a better choice, and the Pads front office passed on him simply because of money issues.
It looks like Orlando Hudson pulled up (was he dogging it?) on that 7th inning groundout/fielders choice. By the way, he was out.
#69@David Coonce: Fortunately he doesn’t get on base all that often, with a .313 OBP in a great hitters’ park.
OT: I’m wondering what the wife of the guy who dances around in a friar robe and a fedora thinks about what her husband and if he has a real job.
#69@David Coonce:
What about every time he doesn’t get on base? What you are saying is true but how many starting lineups would Stephen “.312 OBP” Drew even crack? What’s his defensive rep?
#72@Turbine Dude:Clerk in a comic book store.
#73@Stephen:
True, he’s not “great.” But he made it out of single-A; there is certainly value in being a major-league starting shortstop. His 312 OBP is roughly 65 points higher than Khalil Greene’s. Drew’s defense is average.
FWIW, The Padres also passed on Jered weaver and Jeff Niemann that draft, both because of perceived bonus demands. And the kicker? They paid Bush 3.1 million anyway.
#38@LynchMob:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/55ztyw
Whole Huffman at bat, hits homerun on ball on outside corner. Some kind of strong to get that pitch out of the park. Listen to Terry Kennedy razzing at the end “get in the dugout”
Oh yeah, and Drew may have cost the Padres a pennant last year. April 25th, bottom of the ninth, two out, walk-off two run homer by Drew off Hoffman. Do you remember how many games the Padres missed the postseason by last season?
And now, up to bat, bases loaded….
Stephen Drew
Ugh…
David, I don’t remember seeing you in the DS blog before. But, damn glad you are here.
Man, Bell has not been Bell recently…
Overworked this year? Maybe?
#76@JP: Thanks for the video, very cool. I can’t believe Huffman homered to left on that pitch.
#78@David Coonce: All things considered, I would have preferred Verlander.
#79@Turbine Dude: Thanks.
Frankly, this season I’ve just been too damn busy and too damn defeated to post….right now I have the flu, summer flu, can’t sleep and am watching the game on the computer. I’m glad to see the level of intelligence here is just as high as when I last posted! With the season out of reach, I may just be a more regular poster here.
#81@Ben B.: I have a few more I will post as well. Buschmann looked good tonight. I like Blanks a lot — manager of SA a pretty intense guy in Masse ( I liked that Masse hated to lose this particular game )
#76@JP: A 3-1 fastball to Huffman? He reaches for it … and “it’s outta here” … nice! THANKS for posting … nice to see the whole AB … well done! I feel like I was in Frisco
2004 Major League Draft:
1. Matt Bush
2. Verlander
3 Phil Humber
4. Jeff Niemann
5. mark Rogers
6. Jeremy Sowers
7. Homer Bailey
8. Wade Townsend
9. Chris Nelson
10. Thomas Diamond
12 Jered Weaver
15 Stephen Drew
17 Scott Elbert
18 Josh Fields
22 Glen Perkins
23 Phil Hughes
Throw out the Rice Pitchers – Niemann, Humber and Townsend(they always get overworked in College and hurt in the majors), and allow for the fact that Nelson , Rogers and Diamond are probably busts, and you still have a whole bunch of guys better than Bush. Elbert, Hughes, Bailey, Sowers or Perkins would be the Padres’ best pitching prospect right now, and it wouldn’t even be close.
#80@Richard D.: Not sure why Bell pitched tonight, other than Black not trusting his other 15 relievers.
Only Hoffman and Hampson didn’t pitch tonight.
#85@LynchMob: You don’t want to be in Frisco. It’s awfully hot right now.
#87@Kevin: He wants a win, for Greg’s last start.
#88@Kevin: Shoot, I spoke too soon.
Way to manufacture a save opp, Bryan Corey.
In his past 11 games, Corey has given up 12 runs in 9 2/3 innings. Can we get rid of him now?
Four nights in a row?
Great strikeout. Two outs.
Taxes.
Pop out.
Hoffman.
Just for fun, here’s the Padres #1 draft picks this decade:
2000 – Mark Phillips, lhp. Bust (adrian Gonzalez was the first overall pick, by the Marlins, so this draft can’t be considered totally awful for SD)
2001 Jacob Gautreau, 1B. Bust.
2002 Khalil Greene, ss. Work in progress.
2003 Tim Stauffer. Bust
2004 Matt Bush. Bust
2005. Cesar Carillo. Bust
2006 Matt Antonelli. Too soon to tell; I think he’ll be a utility player in the majors
2007 Nick Schmidt. Probably a bust.
2008 Allen Dykstra. Probably won’t sign.
That’s not a great track record with drafts; it seems that going with signability guys hasn’t worked for San Diego this decade.
(I know there’s a game going on, I’m just curious myself.)
2007
Maddux: 351 wins.
Hoffman pitched three innings in four nights for four saves.
http://tinyurl.com/63sko9
Inman working on his delivery in dugout
Yay Padres; this season has been trying but at least we’re holding our own against Arizona.
Gottta get up early. See you all tommorow….
Jody Gerut: .285/.359/.426
#100@David Coonce: Gotta do our part to help the division winner finish under .500.
#103@Ben B.:
Agreed; then people can finally stop giving the 2005 Padres so much grief for only winning 84 games or whatever it was.
It is selfish of me, because I know that Maddux is getting towards the end and deserves to go out a winner… but Greg has been a wonderful player to watch and it wouldn’t bother me to see him finish the year and maybe even come back for another. Mad Dog is a class act.
#75@David Coonce:
KG is godawful.
I’m sure there were plenty of times Drew didn’t come through last year that contributed to a Diamondback loss. I’m not sure what cherrypicking one game – albeit a hugely frustrating one from a Padres POV – proves. I’d say Hairston’s antics cancel it out.
http://tinyurl.com/5tawzs
See former Padres All Star Catcher-now Missions coach, Terry Kennedy at the end of this glimpse into the Missions dugout (Matthew Buschman congratulated at the beginning – Kennedy at the end)
#106
Sure. I agree. But when a team misses the postseason by a single game, it’s easy to go through that whole season and find moments – Drew’s walk-off HR, Gwynn, Jr’s triple, etc. And you’re certainly right – The Padres won games they may not have thanks to Hairston. But the point I was trying to make is that in 2004 san Diego was bound and determined to draft a SS with the first overall pick in the draft, and they picked the wrong one, and they did it knowing it was the wrong one; not a single scout or FOT at the time rated Bush ahead of Drew. The Padres blew it, and it bit them on the ass, years later.
Imagine if San Diego had picked Drew and he had been successful; it may have allowed the Padres to trade him for help last year, or trade Khalil Greene, or move one of them to third, or….the possibilities are endless.
But the point is that Drew is a major leaguer, and Bush isn’t and will almost certainly never be. There is a value in having a major league player that you developed yourself; look at how few the Padres have for an example of how hard it is to develop your own talent. (San Diego currently has 3 homegrown players on its major-league roster)
#108@David Coonce: Were they determined to take a shortstop? I’m really asking.
I thought they were determined to draft someone who was signable.
Plus, Greene was clearly better last year.
Adrian: .281/.353/.518
Adams: 1.93 ERA, 44 Ks, 11 BB in 37.1 innings
Greg Maddux: “I don’t know what’s going to happen. I really don’t. I hope I stay. You’d rather stay if you’re welcome. I like it here. The losing part stinks but the baseball is still baseball. It’s still fun to come to the park every day.”
Maddux passed Phil Niekro for 10th place on the all-time strikeouts list.
#109@Kevin:
Apparently yes; media reports at the time had them focused on Bush vs. Drew as their final choice. And they picked the “signability” guy, which they’ve done every single draft this decade, with disastrous results. Spending money in the draft is thebest investment a team can make, and the Padres can’t seem to figure that out (although their Dominican signings this year do show that they are coming around) It does seem odd that they were focused on a SS since they had drafted shortstops first in 2002 (Greene) and 98 (Kevin Nicholson). Perhaps they were planning to move Greene to third?
With park effects, yes, Greene was way better last year. But he’s been dreadful this year, batting just 220/260/340 or thereabouts, and showing a complete lack of patience. If I were to pick a SS for the next five years, I’d take Drew. And I have been one of Greene’s biggest defenders.
#112@David Coonce: I see — on the issue of the shorstop obsession.
As for Greene vs. Drew, Greene’s 2008 season was impossible to predict.
Drew certainly is/was a better prospect. But he is 25, and I’m not sure he has done much to further the notion that he will be great.
Drew in 2008: .271/.311/.466
For his career, after 1,132 at-bats: .263/.320/.429
I’m not saying Greene is the answer, and I can’t defend the Padres’ drafts, but I’m sold on Drew.
#113@Kevin: Shoot, not sold on Drew. I hate when that happens.
TinyURL.com/6pw4k3
T.K trying to fire up his players.
http://tinyurl.com/6pw4k3
T.K trying to fire up his players.
Try this. Sorry
#116@JP: Good stuff tonight, JP.
Got a few more up my sleeve. I’ll try to get them all up tonight. I’m a teacher on summer break.
http://tinyurl.com/5nr5eg
Buschmann completes 7 shut out innings and TK feigns injury after Buschmann fist smash
http://tinyurl.com/5wob7b
Kyle Blanks nailed by rehabbing Benoit fastball
#3@LynchMob: Hayhurst has a less “polished” blog for his hometown newspaper:
http://www.cantonrep.com/blogs/?cat=12
Even a multi-part story about torturing a teammate with the lure of big money from Japan.
Lastly, Ranger super prospect 20 year old Elvis Andrus wins it in the 8th
http://tinyurl.com/59f4dc
I have a question: Why is Melky Cabrera so untouchable. He’s in his third full season, and these are his career numbers: .269/.331/.378.
If he was doing that in the Padres outfield, he would be garbage. But he plays for the Yankees. Granted he’s 23, but it seems the Yankees wouldn’t trade him for Pujols.
#52@LynchMob: PMac was signing autographs and stupid me forgot to bring a pen of any sort so I just chatted with him very briefly, but the one thing I did mention was the “Jack-Anulty” nickname and he totally cracked up!