#6@LynchMob: Thanks for all the good links. If anyone is interested, Latos is scheduled to start again tonight at 5 p.m. Catch the game on KKYX radio.

#10@Masticore317: I’m assuming he must have been hurt. Guevara is now with San Antonio and made his 2009 debut Friday night.

http://itmightbedangerous.blogspot.com/2009/06/one-year-later.html

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=9080

Minor League Update
June 18
by Kevin Goldstein

Announcing his presence with authority

Brian Matusz, LHP, Orioles (Double-A Bowie)
Wednesday’s stats: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 R), 1 BB, 10 K
After finishing his Carolina League run with 20 scoreless innings over his last three start, Matusz kept things going in his Double-A debut. Baltimore’s top pick in last year’s draft, the 22-year-old lefty sat at 90-92 mph while filling the strike zone with three quality secondary offerings. He’s a highly advanced arm who should be in a position to compete for a big league rotation job next spring.

Padres to Hold Open Tryout Thursday, June 18th

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090615&content_id=5338310&vkey=pr_t510&fext=.jsp&sid=t510

Spread the word!

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=9070

… and there’s some good comments there, one from a guy who was at Latos’ game last night!

Two of the more exciting players on the team (Scott Hairston, Everth Cabrera) are on the DL. When they return, maybe the bore-fest will end. Hairston’s return, whenever that is, will likely force the team to make a move. Tony Gwynn Jr. has probably done enough to hold onto the starting CF/leadoff hitter job for the rest of the season so a decision would have to be made with Giles or Headley. Or maybe Towers can get something back in a trade for Kouz. I’d like to see a lineup that looks more like this down the stretch:

1. Gwynn, CF
2. Cabrera, SS
3. Hairston, LF
4. Gonzalez, 1B
5. Headley, 3B
6. Giles/Macias/Venable, RF
7. Hundley
8. Eckstein/Rodriguez

The Pads haven’t had that kind of speed at the top of the lineup in ages. In regards to the pitching staff, I agree 100% with Peter. There is no need to rush Latos up here. He hasn’t thrown that many innings and has battled various injuries as a pro. Mid-2010 makes much more sense. For now, I’d like to see someone like Ernesto Frieri, a safer pick than Latos but he’s 23 years old with upside. If I read that the team has called up Josh Banks to replace Peavy, I’m going to go into a deep depression. He’s pitched well in AAA but Josh Geer and Justin Germano also do pretty good against AAA hitters. The way I see it, the team has CY, Correia, and three big holes to fill right now. It might be a good time to start taking a longer look at some of the starting pitchers that are close to being major league ready (LeBlanc, Inman, Frieri, Cesar Ramos when he’s healthy).

That’s exactly what I was thinking, too… doesn’t seem like the right way to handle the situation as Rosenthal. But I guess being obnoxious and condescending appears like the proper protocol. Certainly not going to help going forwards.

Also agree with Friberg on Latos. Workload’s obviously going to be an issue. I also think performance would be. If you throw two more columns on that chart, Peavy was 21 when he was in AA. His K/9 was 13.9. Even if you combine Latos’ performance at Ft Wayne and San Antonio this year, his K/9 is 9.2 at the same age.