Category Archive for ‘Notes and Links’ rss

Me, Elsewhere: The Wild, Wild Dominican Summer League

My latest Hardball Times article examines the control of pitchers at various minor-league levels. It actually started out as a blog entry for Ducksnorts but then morphed into something bigger. The inspiration for this piece was a pitcher in the Padres organization named Ivan Marcano. He’s a right-hander for the DSL Padres who has had [...]

Tuesday Links (10 Aug 10)

Snappy intro? We don’t need no stinkin’ snappy intro… A pennant race crystal ball (Yahoo!). Tim Brown likes the Padres’ chances: “The starting rotation is good, the back end of the bullpen is great, and the offense has shown some life in July and August.” Moneyball Before Moneyball Was Cool (Payoff Pitch). Gene Tenace and [...]

Friday Links (6 Aug 10)

Before we get to the rest of the links, you have to see Chris Denorfia’s inside-the-park home run from Thursday night’s victory over the Dodgers. It’s ridiculous; he actually bounced the ball off the dirt in front of home plate. It went over the head of third baseman Casey Blake, who was playing in to [...]

Me, Elsewhere: On Petco and Hoyer

I have two new articles of potential interest floating around on teh interwebs. First, Rob Neyer has graciously allowed me to contribute a guest post at his ESPN home. The piece focuses on the Padres’ increased offensive success at home this year: …hitting coach Randy Ready has gotten these guys to do something they haven’t [...]

Tuesday Links (3 Aug 10)

Links? Sure, why not… 1998 (What’s a Picture Worth?). John Weisbarth hangs out with a couple of guys from the best squad in Padres history. When you talk about Padres second basemen (and who doesn’t?), there are three names in the discussion: Roberto Alomar, Mark Loretta, and the fellow in Weisbarth’s photo, Quilvio Veras. [h/t [...]

Once Upon My Mind: Fire Sales and Other Things That Didn’t Quite Happen

No time for original content, so grab a companion and hop in the Tardis as we travel back through time… Did Somebody Report a Fire Sale? (July 25, 1999) The bottom line is this: The 1999 Padres aren’t as good as the 1998 club (which was better than it “should” have been), but it’s doubtful [...]

Tuesday Links (27 Jul 10)

You ever feel like there’s not enough time to read everything? Or maybe that’s just me… The Indie Scene (Hardball Times). Richard Barbieri attended an Atlantic League game and tells us about it. Apparently Wily Mo Pena (whom the Padres recently signed because the entire Portland Beavers outfield is in San Diego) crushed a ball [...]

Radio Wrapup

I was fortunate enough to appear on three different radio programs this past week. Archived versions of two are available online: New York Sports Exchange Friarhood Radio The third, with Elliott Price and the gang at The Team 990, happened in real time only and is lost to the world forever. If you missed it, [...]

Friday Links (23 Jul 10)

Go, read stuff. It’ll be great… Great Moments In Padres Trade Deadline History: The Joe Randa Era (619 Sports). Guest author Avenger in Chief remembers everyone’s favorite non-descript third baseman. Radbourn’s immortal season July 10, 1884: Going to Carrie’s house (Edward Achorn). If you’re a fan of baseball history, you need to be reading Achorn’s [...]

Me, Elsewhere: Revisiting Some Freakish Starts

My latest Hardball Times article revisits several players who got off to “unusual” starts this year. There isn’t much of a Padres connection, although I suppose there have been rumblings that the club might have interest in Cleveland right-hander Jake Westbrook. Another player featured in the article is Nationals outfielder Josh Willingham. I’ve expressed my [...]