- The Elsinore-High Desert game report is almost ready. I have all my notes together; now it’s just a matter of cleaning things up a little. Should be up tomorrow.
- In other news, ESPN did a good article on former MLB players in Japan a few days ago. And, if that sort of thing interests you, check out former Padre Buddy Carlyle’s thoughts on playing in Japan. It’s an excellent read.
- Here’s an interesting piece on rotator-cuff surgery I stumbled onto while searching for information about Justin Thompson.
- Closer to home, the Padres apparently are talking to Arizona about Sterling Hitchcock. San Diego is rumored to be interested in Erubiel Durazo. The Union-Tribune reports that while Durazo might be a bit much to expect straight up, the Pads have had their eye on fellow lefty hitter David Dellucci since March.
Carlyle Is Big in Japan, Padres Eye Durazo and Dellucci
Howard, Hitchcock, and Sleep
Hope you all had a good 4th. I know I did!
- Full report in the next day or two, but the Elsinore-High Desert game was a classic. Ben Howard was dominant again.
- Ryan Klesko and Phil Nevin were named to the All-Star team. I really didn’t expect the Padres to have two representatives there. Congrats, guys.
- How about that Sterling Hitchcock! First big-league game in 14 months and he allows only three runs on five hits and no walks over seven innings, with five strikeouts. Man, I’m gonna miss him.
Okay, I really need to get some sleep. I’ll have a more complete report on the game (including why there are no pictures) by Saturday…
Gwynn Named to All-Star Team, Alcantara Gets His Kicks
Happy Independence Day! Hope it’s a fun and safe one for you.
- Tony Gwynn will be on the National League All-Star team as an “honorary member,” which means he’ll suit up but not play in the game. It also means he won’t be taking up a roster spot better occupied by someone more deserving. A sensible solution, I think.
- If Izzy Alcantara can’t make it in baseball, he might try his hand at kick-boxing or pro wrestling. That was a hellacious flying kick to the neck of the Scranton Wilkes-Barre catcher he threw last night. Move over Steven Seagal, there’s a new action hero in town.
- I’m headed up to Lake Elsinore tonight to watch Ben Howard again. Fireworks after the game. Report tomorrow. Just bought a digital camera; if I can figure out how to work the thing, I might post some pictures, too.
Ripken to Start at Third Base in All-Star Game
The fans have spared us the indignity of having to watch David Bell start at third base in the All-Star Game. Cal Ripken, one of the few choices worse than Bell, will get the nod instead. Hopefully Ripken, who is hitting .227/.261/.328, will get an at-bat and a well-deserved standing ovation, then turn it over to the best third baseman in the league, Troy Glaus.
His atrocious stats notwithstanding, Ripken actually isn’t an unreasonable choice. Unlike Bell, who really hasn’t had much historical impact on the game, Ripken, for those of you too young or too old to remember, was an offensive force at shorstop through much of the 1980s and the early part of the 1990s. His numbers don’t look very impressive now, in light of the way guys like A-Rod, Nomar, Jeter, and Larkin have revolutionized the position, but at the time, Ripken was a man among boys. Yeah, he probably should have retired 8-10 years ago, and it might not have been a bad idea for him to take a few days off now and then in his younger days, but in his prime, Ripken was one of the elite players in the game.
Over in the National League, it looks like Tony Gwynn will be named to the squad for sentimental reasons as well. I’m a huge Gwynn fan and very grateful I’ve been able to watch him up close over the years. But it will be a shame if he ends up taking up a roster spot more appropriately given to someone like Cliff Floyd or Phil Nevin. Still, with guys like Ripken and Gwynn, you can’t gripe too much. The real shame is that folks seeing them now for the first time won’t get a true sense of how great they were back in the day.
Gautreau, Bozied, Barfield, and Sain
Slow day. Jake Gautreau made his pro debut Saturday night. One hit in five at-bats, two strikeouts, two errors. Did a little better his second game.
Here’s a complete rundown on what the Padres’ first five picks are doing so far:
| Player | Level | AB | BA | OBP | SLG | BB | SO | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Gautreau | A- | 9 | .222 | .222 | .333 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| T. Bozied | IND | 15 | .267 | .267 | .333 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| J. Barfield | R+ | 57 | .246 | .274 | .386 | 3 | 7 | 7 |
| G. Sain | A- | 41 | .366 | .395 | .585 | 1 | 13 | 0 |
| Player | Level | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. Harrington | IND | 18 | 16 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 7.00 |
Taggert Bozied has joined Matt Harrington in the Northern League. He’s playing the outfield for the Sioux Falls Canaries. Yes, Josh Barfield is Jesse’s son. He’s splitting time between second base and shortstop. Harrington hasn’t done much at St. Paul but he’s only 19 and I expect that his experience with the Rockies last year hasn’t put him in the best frame of mind. Greg Sain, the USD grad, is off to a good start at Eugene. He hasn’t yet played in the field in nine games.
Completely unrelated, Sterling Hitchcock is set to make his 2001 Padres debut Wednesday night. He’ll probably make about three or four starts before being traded. The Indians have had their eyes on him for years. Woody Williams is also rumored to be on his way out of town. I’ll miss both of those guys; they’ve been fun to watch.
I have to give Kevin Towers credit. At the time they were made, I thought the Padres got taken in the deals for Hitchcock and Williams. Who knew Scott Sanders and Joey Hamilton, at relatively young ages, would do so little for their new teams? Hamilton at least still has a chance, but he looks nothing like the pitcher we saw in San Diego just a few years ago.
Is the All-Star Game Worth Watching?
After reading yet another article defending David Bell’s imminent presence on the American League All-Star squad and, more fundamentally, the fans’ right to make hair-brained choices in determining who should play in the mid-season contest, I’d originally intended to dedicate this space to a rant about the entire All-Star voting process. But after thinking about it a bit, and realizing that such a rant wouldn’t be at all effective or even entertaining, I decided to change course.
So instead of talking about possible solutions to the problem of “fans” choosing someone like Bell to represent the AL team as the best third baseman in the league, I’m going to advocate something radically different and yet elegant in its simplicity: Don’t watch the game.
I’m not being facetious, nor am I suggesting that everyone should follow this course of action. If you don’t have a problem with a .247/.293/.385 starting at the hot corner in an All-Star Game, then ignore my recommendation. The game is, after all, simply an exhibition. Yes, it’s supposed to feature the best players in the big leagues, and it would be nice if it did, but in the end, it’s a game that doesn’t count in the standings or anywhere else that actually matters. If you can accept the All-Star Game at face value and don’t mind the fact that it doesn’t quite deliver on its promise of bringing together only the best players, then sit back, relax, and enjoy. I mean, is having David Bell (and I have no problem with him per se — the guy’s just doing his job the best he can; it’s certainly not his fault the fans have voted him into the game) really any worse than forcing every team to have a representative in the game? And even if it is, who cares? The integrity, such as it may be, of Major League Baseball is not at stake here. We’re not talking about reinstating Pete Rose and allowing him into the Hall of Fame (don’t get me started); this is a simple game that counts for nothing.
On the other hand, if you’re like me and want to see only the best players, then maybe the All-Star Game isn’t for you. The game is for the fans, and the fans want Bell to start at third. God bless ‘em. Me, I think I’ll skip the festivities and watch the more interesting Futures Game, which features many of the best prospects in baseball. If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll get to see the next David Bell…
Wohlers to Yankees, Patterson Up with Cubs
I’m about to start pumping out some reports on Padres prospects but before I get started I thought we’d take a look back at some of my previous reports to see how some of those guys turned out.
In other news, the Reds today traded reliever Mark Wohlers to the Yankees. I’ll bet he gets a standing ovation from the New York faithful the first time he takes the mound.
Corey Patterson is up with the Cubs. He’ll eventually hit like Ray Lankford but don’t expect too much just yet.
Florie Returns to Mound, Gwynn Announces Retirement
- Bryce Florie returned to the mound for the Red Sox last night. Having had my orbital bone broken by a thrown softball, this one hits home for me. Here’s hoping Florie can resume his career and stick around a few more years.
- Tony Gwynn announced his retirement. Not much to say right now except it’s been a pleasure watching him play these past 20 years. Hopefully he’ll get the job at SDSU so I can watch him coach for another 20.
- Unbelievable. Jose Rijo again? Yep, he’s making a final comeback attempt. Hey, he’s two months younger than Kevin Brown.
- The Syracuse SkyChiefs now have the best defensive back in all of Triple-A. Maybe Deion Sanders will boost their attendance until fans realize what the rest of us already know: Deion ain’t no baseball player.
- Chris Gomez signed a minor-league contract with Tampa Bay. He’s not the most talented guy in the world but he plays hard and probably deserves a spot on someone’s bench.
- Jake Gautreau took batting practice at the Q last night. He’ll do it again tonight before heading up to Eugene to begin his pro career.
Trip to San Antonio
Having lived in large cities in Southern California almost my entire life, I have certain preconceptions — mostly negative — about places in the middle of the United States. I am happy to say that San Antonio, or at least what I was able to see of it in a too-short period of time, shattered them almost immediately upon arrival.
One of my very favorite cities to visit along the West Coast is Seattle. If Seattle suddenly up and moved to Texas, it would probably look and feel a lot like San Antonio. The city is clean and well-laid-out, the freeway system easy to navigate, the people friendly, and the ballpark elegant yet unpretentious.
Driving down highway 281, listening to Stevie Ray Vaughn rip through Little Wing, I felt rejuvenated after a lengthy day of travel as I headed toward Wolff Stadium. I arrived just in time to hear a local Boy Scout troop sing, in many keys simultaneously, the Star-Spangled Banner.
I sat in the second row, just off to the left of home plate. Scattered clouds and a gentle breeze made for an idyllic baseball setting. The Missions played host to the Arkansas Travelers. Having mistakenly thought the Travelers were still affiliated with the Cardinals, I wondered at all the familiar names in the lineup: Armando Almezaga, Nathan Haynes, Gary Johnson. Then it hit me. All of them played at Lake Elsinore last year, when it was still a part of the Angels organization. Arkansas, I remembered, was the new Double-A affiliate of the Angels, just as Erie had been before it, and Midland before it.
The game itself wasn’t particularly memorable. The Missions won, 6-1. Shortstop Willie Bloomquist showed good actions, an accurate arm, and an admirable fearlessness in turning the double play; centerfielder Kenny Kelly flew around the basepaths but showed little aptitude or interest at the plate.
But the experience made the trip worthwhile. Good stadium, knowledgeable fans, and one of the strangest mascots I’ve ever seen: Ballapeño. Part ball, part jalapeño, this dark green creature roamed the stadium and kept kids of all ages entertained. Still, I couldn’t help but contemplate, with the big biotech conference going on back home in San Diego, the genetics involved in creating such a beast…
. . .
As promised, thoughts on Tony Batista. Despite hitting 41 homers last year, Batista had become a drain on the Blue Jays. He’d signed a huge contract and then done squat. And when I say squat, I mean squat:
| AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 384 | 75 | 18 | 1 | 17 | 22 | 95 | .195 | .239 | .380 |
This is what he’s done since last September. Ed Sprague can put up numbers like those in his sleep for a fraction of the cost. Plus you can sometimes get a decent prospect or two for Sprague. This isn’t to say that Batista can’t bounce back; after all, he’s still only 28 (and he certainly enjoyed a fine game last night at the expense of his former team). But there really shouldn’t be much doubt why the Blue Jays waived him when they did. Last year he played like an All-Star; this year he’s played like David Bell. Oh, wait, not a good example. Well, you get the idea…
Ben Howard Fans Sixteen Against Visalia
Okay, so here’s my week so far. Saturday night I was out playing Wiz-War with some friends till 3 o’clock Sunday morning. Band rehearsal from 10 AM to 3 PM. Then up to Elsinore to catch the Storm-Oaks game. Monday morning off to Texas for a professional conference. Arrived in San Antonio 6 PM local time, picked up the rental car, dropped off my things at the motel, headed out to the ballpark for a 7 o’clock game. Conference all day Tuesday. Arrived back in San Diego 10 PM. Still trying to figure out where I am and what day it is.
Now that that’s out of the way, how about some baseball. First, the Elsinore game. Ben Howard basically dominated the Visalia lineup before turning things over to an ineffective bullpen that ultimately lost the game for him. Howard, the Padres’ second-round pick in 1997, struck out the first eight batters to face him. The ninth place hitter fell behind 0-and-2 before throwing his bat at the ball and dribbling one about 50 feet down the third base line for a hit. The next batter attempted to bunt and was thrown out. Howard continued in this vein until tiring in the eighth. He finished with a franchise-record and league-season-high 16 strikeouts in 7.1 innings, allowing just one run on five hits, only one of which was hit very hard. Perhaps more impressive was that Howard, who always has had terrific stuff but poor command, didn’t issue a single walk, keeping hitters off-balance with his 93-MPH fastball and surprisingly effective breaking pitch. This against a club whose parent organization, the Athletics, preaches plate discipline as much as (if not moreso than) any organization in baseball. Howard is moving up the ladder very slowly but he’s finally beginning to show signs of becoming the pitcher the Padres envisioned when they originally drafted him. About.com has a cool article on the young righthander, complete with photos.
I’ll get to my San Antonio experience and thoughts on Tony Batista tomorrow…
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