While the Padres have been busy losing winnable games, I’ve been busy doing life stuff. In lieu of actual content, here are some links…
- 5000+ PA After 1932 With OPS+ 100+ & Never An All-Star (Baseball-Reference). Former Padres Matt Stairs, Kevin McReynolds, Tony Gonzalez, Tony Phillips (sort of), Doug Rader, Keith Moreland, and Jose Cruz Jr. appear on this list.
- Harang’s comeback (Inside the Padres). Tom Krasovic talks about Aaron Harang.
- Padres face small-market problems (Los Angeles Times). One person’s problem is another’s challenge. I appreciate Jeff Moorad’s honest appraisal: “Are we going to win 90 games this season? Probably not.” [h/t Gaslamp Ball]
- The rise of retired numbers (Hardball Times). Don’t expect Trevor Hoffman’s number to remain unretired much longer.
- General draft trends (Hardball Times). These are always fun. Note the overwhelming representation of players from California. (And on a similar note…)
- For Ramsay, love gets the save (Padres.com). Remember former Padres left-hander Rob Ramsay? This is a touching story about his battle against brain cancer.
- The Ogando List: Relievers turned starters (SweetSpot). Former Padres closer Goose Gossage makes an appearance; his former teammate, Craig Lefferts, does not.
- Latos strong in 2011 debut; Padres fall to Reds (Friar Forecast). Myron takes a closer look at Mat Latos’ first start of the season. Kras does the same.
- Contender or Pretender? The Predictive Value of the First Ten Games of the Season (ACTA Sports). Adrian Gonzalez’s new team has gotten off to a slow start, and there may be a legitimate reason to worry. [h/t BBTF]
- Fifteen Years of “Tainted” Titles? (Platoon Advantage). Much as I would love to claim the Yankees cheated their way to the championship in 1998, there is a Caminiti-sized elephant in the room that prevents me from doing so.
- Who’s The Youngest In Each League (Baseball America). The Padres are represented by Anthony Rizzo, Jaff Decker, Rymer Liriano, Reymond Fuentes, and Jose Dore. [h/t Watson Files]
- The PCL Padres: Stylish George (RJ’s Fro). Learn more about George McDonald of the 1936 PCL Padres, who celebrated his 93rd birthday less than a week after fellow ’36er Bobby Doerr celebrated his.
- Minor League Observations from Week 1 (Friarhood). Peter Friberg notes, among other things, that Lake Elsinore third baseman Edinson Rincon committed four errors in this past Sunday’s game. I would like to add that only one of those came in the final six innings, so he did improve as the game progressed. Heh…
re: Youngest in each league …
The comment about Jaff Decker CRACKS ME UP!!!
6 Jaff Decker San Antonio Missions 02/23/90
Reports say he seems more athletic this year
… sounds like previous reports were *wrong*!!!
Love it!
OT … from a Q&A at BA …
Q: Mark Prior’s performance in big league camp with the Yankees exceeded expectations: 11 strikeouts in eight innings, 1.17 ERA. However, I haven’t found a good scouting report to go along with his spring stats. Do you have one, and what are his prospects for the future?
A: The scouting reports on the righthander whom many scouts considered the best pitching prospect in draft history (until Stephen Strasburg came along) weren’t as encouraging as his stats. Prior’s fastball usually ran from 87-91 mph, his breaking ball and changeup were nothing special, and neither was his control (five walks).
The Yankees decided to take things slow with Prior, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2006, assigning him to high Class A Tampa to start the season. He made back-to-back appearances on Saturday and Sunday, totaling two hitless innings, showing stuff similar to what he displayed in spring training.
Prior will need more fastball and a quality second pitch if he’s going to help New York in a relief role later in the year. I’m rooting for him, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/ask-ba/2011/2611562.html
Jaff Decker was drafted as a CENTER FIELDER. why anyone would think he was not athletic is beyond me. Remember Kirby Puckett?
Jaff is a heck of a hitter AND he can go after the ball in the OF.
He may be Padres LF by the All Star break if Ludwick cant get his act together.
Here’s a name to add the list of youngest players in the Midwest league …
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=LF&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=575928
Padres have called Corey Adamson up from extended spring training to play while Tate & Williams are out due to injuries sustained yesterday when they collided in the OF …
In an ideal world, Ludwick will catch on fire and be traded to a contender by ASB, thus, saving the Padres much dollars to use for the draft, and Aaron Cunningham will be up to prove his ability against better competition.
Alas, the only FA signing working out so far is Orlando Hudson, and Ludwick isn’t producing and still get plenty ABs at #4 spot. Then again, the season is barely 2 weeks old. Plenty of games left and plenty of games to give away.
Hawpe is looking so slow with his bat, he may not turn into a reliable first baseman platoon for Cantu. Come on, Headley, this is your break out year, start breaking out!