My latest at Hardball Times examines pitchers that succeeded despite not pitching very well. Our pal Ismael Valdez, who once inspired some wretched poetry, appears on this list.
For grins, here are the five lowest ERA+ of Padres pitchers who qualified for the ERA title and finished with a winning record:
Kevin Jarvis, 2001: 12-11, 4.79 ERA, [...]
Link sat alone in a boggy marsh, totally motionless except for her heart…
Most veteran Padre on the club since 1969 (Gaslamp Ball). Fun list from jbox that might or might not benefit from my understanding what the heck he’s trying to do.
Brothers in Baseball (Baseball Daily Digest). Another year, another set of Padres hermanos. Bill [...]
As you doubtless know by now, the Padres have fired GM Kevin Towers. It’s taken me so long to write about this because it is difficult for me to articulate my feelings. His departure hits me harder than those of Bruce Bochy, Trevor Hoffman, Sandy Alderson, or Jake Peavy.
Towers was the primary architect of the [...]
I use baseball to mark the passage of time. The memory of specific events helps keep me grounded in a world that often makes less sense than I’d like it to make (forgive the fact that I grew up rooting for the Dodgers):
1981 — Fernandomania; Rick Monday’s homer off Steve Rogers in Montreal
1988 — Kirk [...]
What fascinates me is how quickly it all happened. The Padres lost their 99th game of the season on September 28, and a little more than four months later, everything had changed.
Sure, Petco Park is still here, as are Kevin Towers and Bud Black. Adrian Gonzalez hasn’t left, nor has Jake Peavy (though not for [...]
Couple things. First off, I’m pleased to announce that The Hardball Times Season Preview 2009 is now available (details from David Gassko, our editor). I contributed the chapter on the Padres. Buy the book. It rocks. And it’ll give you something to read while you’re waiting for my book.
Second, the Seamheads Historical League [...]
Wait, do you smell something? No, not that; I think it’s links…
Club and closer still need each other, but can they mend the fences? (U-T). It seems that Trevor Hoffman and his agents may have overplayed their position. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see Hoffy back with the Padres in 2009. (Melvin Nieves [...]
Not much of a theme today. Just… whatever…
Remember when we used to lust after Marcus Giles? This was in 2002 — years before he actually arrived and demonstrated an alarming inability to hit baseballs. We kinda had a thing for Jose Vidro and Bobby Hill back then, too. Don’t ask. On the bright side, Royce [...]
Hooray, it’s links:
Giles and Hoffman (It Might Be Dangerous…). Paul DePodesta offers his thoughts on the re-signing of Brian Giles as well as the latest in the Trevor Hoffman negotiations (or lack thereof). [h/t LynchMob]
John Moores to give $2.1 million to Scripps Research Institute (Gaslamp Ball) I especially like how some of the commenters begrudge [...]
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You Don’t Have to Go Home, but You Can’t Stay Here
Trevor Hoffman has signed a 1-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers for $6 million with incentives that could kick it up to $7.5 million. Like football’s Brett Favre, Hoffman now has the pleasure of being almost universally associated with one team despite neither starting nor finishing his career with that team.
We’ve got lots to cover [...]