Another Padre Pitcher Goes on the DL

Monday June 8, 2009

Well here we go again. Another Padres pitcher headed to the DL.

Luis Perdomo was placed on the DL today with a strained knee. Since he is a rule V draftee, I am not sure if we will se him in San Diego again before the rosters are expanded in September.

This is already the 6th pitcher to see time on the DL. OUCH!

The good news is that reliever Mike Adams returned from his long stint on the DL after shoulder surgery in the off season. Adams was extremely good for the Padres last season, but don't expect him to come in and be as good immediately after surgery and a long stay on the DL. Gregerson and Mujiica will probably continue in their late inning roles.

The Padres sent down SS Chris Burke and called up Wade LeBlanc and Edwin Moreno to bring the pitching staff to 13 in the wake of the 18 inning game yesterday.

That leaves the Padres with just the .103 hitting Josh Wilson at SS until Luis Rodriguez returns frm the DL at the end of the week. Wilson has no options left and would ahve had to pass through waivers to be sent down. With so little depth at the position in the organization, the Padres sent down Burke.

He even sounds like his daddy.

Saturday June 6, 2009

After being on base 5 times in 5 at bats tonight (a single, a double and 3 bb), the post game interview let us hear that not only has Jr hit like his HOF daddy, he even sounds like him.

Oh yeah, and the Padres won the game over the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-4.

After a shaky start in the first when he allowed 2 runs on 2 hits, a passed ball and a hbp, Kevin Correia settled down and shut down the D'backs for the next 5 innings to get his 2nd win of the season. In all he allowed 2 runs on 5 hits, 1 walk and a hbp in 6 IP.

Chase Headley started his 1st game at 3B this season, but gave way to Kevin Kouzmanoff in the 7th inning after being hit by a pitch for the 2nd time in the game by D'backs pitchers.

After not scoring a run in the first 14 innings of the series, the Padres exploded for 6 runs in the 6th inning.

Will Venable started it out with a double to right, Blanco moved him to 3rd with a sac fly and Chris Burke drove him home with a single. Edgar Gonzalez flied out for the 2nd out. Then it got fun. Gwynn Jr. walked and Eckstein drive in Burke. Adrian Gonzalez was walked to load the bases. Then Headley took a pitch in the leg from Dan Schlereth to drive a run. Giles drives in two with a single and then the guy who started it all off in the 6th, drove in the 6th run of the inning with a single to left.

NICE Inning!

After a perfect inning by Luke Gregerson and Edward Mujiica gave up a solo shot to Upton in the 8th inning, Heath Bell came in for the 9th and got his 16th save after allowing a single run on a walk, a wild pitch, a sac, and ground out.

The Padres improve to 26-29 on the season.

Adrian Gonzalez has now been walked 15 times in the past 8 games. With no one to protect him in the lineup, Adrian is being pitched around by other teams rather than give him a chance to beat them.

MLB Mock Draft for 2009 - The Websoulsurfer Picks

Friday June 5, 2009

Mock Drafts are always tricky and this being my first stab at it, I will undoubtedly get much of this wrong. I am only hoping to get most of the guys that are picked in the first round correct.

With some teams picking for the best possible athlete, some picking for signability, and some picking for specific types of players, i.e. - college, high school, high upside, quickest to MLB, etc... it is almost impossible to get every one correct.

I have commented on some, but not all of the picks. Just the ones that I felt either deserved or needed a comment.

With that said I am sure I will get a lot of flack for some of my picks, but here goes:

1. Washington – Steven Strasburg, RHP, San Diego State
   Strasburg is the best player available, but I am not sure that the "Natinals" can get him signed after they pick him. They wouldn't budge off $3.65 million for Crow last year even after Crow dropped his asking price by a half million to $4 million. What makes anyone think they are ready to deal with Boras who is reportedly asking $50 million for Stras?
   
2. Seattle – Dustin Ackley, OF, North Carolina
   Ackley is the best college hitter hands down. The Mariners have also been scouting Scheppers and Matzek heavily so either may go with the #2 pick. Ackley will not get past #3 if the Mariners pass on him.
   
3. San Diego – Aaron Crow, RHP, Ft. Worth Cats (Independent)
   Padres brass Kevin Towers and Grady Fuson have both been at recent starts of Crow's. On a team hurting for pitching help, he would be one pick that could make an impact quickly. If they think they can get him signed, you may see the Padres take the toolsy HS player Donovan Tate at #3. Knowing their history, I wouldn't count on that.
   
4. Pittsburgh – Bobby Borchering, 3B, Bishop Verot HS (FL)
   Pittsburgh is an emigma. They are the front runners to sign the best International Free agent this season, but are thought to be targeting Borchering who could fall as far as the middle of the 2nd round if they don't take him here.
   
5. Baltimore – Tanner Scheppers, RHP, St. Paul Saints (Independent)
   Scheppers was expected to be a top 10 pick in 2008, but injured his shoulder. He has come back this season for the independent league saints and shown nearly the same velocity as before the injury (sits 94-96), but has struggled with command and his secondary pitches have been no where near the plate. Still, he has upside that will make him a top pick.
   
6. San Francisco – Tyler Matzek, LHP, Capistrano Valley HS (CA)
   Matzek is about as polished of a high school pitcher as you are going to find. He throws a mid 90's fastball and 3 secondary pitches all with decent command.
   
7. Atlanta – Zack Wheeler, RHP, East Paulding HS (GA)
   Atlanta likes to sign high upside high school players from the southeast and Wheeler sure fits the bill.
   
8. Cincinnati – Kyle Gibson, RHP, Missouri
   I was not sure where to go here. The Reds have gone several different directions with their picks in recent years, but Gibson would be a safe pick that could make it to the majors quickly.
   
9. Detroit – Jacob Turner, RHP, Westminster Christian Academy (MO)
   Detriot has taken high school pitchers in 2 of the last 3 years and one is already pitching n the major leagues. Turner is their type of pick. A kid with great stuff (low to mid 90's fastball, a + curve and a developing change up) and a ton of potential.
   
10. Washington – Rich Poythress, 1B, Georgia
    This is 100% a signability pick. After taking Strasburg who will probably not be signed until August 15th if at all, the "Natinals" will need to pick someone here they can sign quick and under slot. Poythress is a hard hitting 1B with a good eye. A "moneyball" type of player.
    
11. Colorado – Alex White, RHP, North Carolina
    White has great "stuff" and had largely been thought of as a top 5 pick prior to the 2009 season. He has struggled with command and has not had that bulldog mentality you look for in a number one and has dropped on most boards. Still, he throws mid 90's.
    
12. Kansas City – Grant Green, SS, USC
    Green fell off the charts with a slow start with the bat and troubles in the field. A late charge against PAC 10 opponents raised his batting average, but a lack of power and the fielding woes have caused many to start thinking of him as a 2B as a professional.
    
13. Oakland – Rex Brothers, LHP, Lipscomb
    At only 6'1" and 205, Brothers is not an imposing figure and his short arm delivery looks like it shouldn't be coming at you as hard as it is, but he sits 94-96 with good control and a plus slider. He should end up a close. Think a taller and much stockier Billy Wagner.
    
14. Texas – Shelby Miller, RHP, Brownwood HS (TX)
15. Cleveland – Chad Jenkins, RHP, Kennesaw State
    
16. Arizona – Mike Trout, OF, Millville HS (NJ)
17. Arizona – Mike Leake, RHP, Arizona State
18. Florida – Chad James, LHP, Yukon HS (OK)
19. St. Louis – Mike Minor, LHP, Vanderbilt
20. Toronto – Kyle Heckathorn, lhp, Kennesaw State
    
21. Houston - Everett Williams, OF, McCallum HS (TX)
22. Minnesota - Matt Hobgood, RHP, Norco HS (CA)
23. Chicago (AL) – Donovan Tate, OF, Cartersville HS (GA)
    Tate, who has committed to UNC to play both football and baseball may fall out of the 1st round entirely due to difficulty in getting him signed and a high asking price. It is thought he will be asking for a $6 million signing bonus on a ML contract or he will go to school.
    
24. Los Angeles (AL) – Tyler Skaggs, LHP, Santa Monica HS (CA)
    
25. Los Angeles (AL) – Max Stassi, C, Yuba City HS (CA)
    
26. Milwaukee – Drew Storen, RHP, Stanford
27. Seattle – AJ Pollock, OF, Notre Dame
28. Boston – Matt Purke, LHP, Klein HS (TX)
29. New York (AL) - Tony Sanchez, C, Boston College
30. Tampa Bay – Wil Myers, C, Wesleyan Christian Academy (NC)
31. Chicago (NL) – Eric Arnett, RHP, Indiana
32. Colorado – Tim Wheeler, OF, Sacramento State

Others that could possibly go in the first round
Jiovanni Mier, SS, Bonita HS (CA)
Mychal Givens, SS/RHP, Plant High School (FL)
Billy Bullock, RHP, Florida
Brett Jackson, OF, Cal
Tommy Joseph, C, Horizon HS (AZ)
James Paxton LHP Kentucky
Andrew Oliver LHP Oklahoma State
Jared Mitchell, OF, LSU Reymond Fuentes, OF, Callego HS (PR)

San Diego Padres at #3 Overall
The Padres could go with any of 5 or 6 players at the #3 slot.

I would be happy with Crow, Matzek, Tate, Ackley if he is available, Turner, and even Rex Brothers (how many lefties can hit 96 with control?)

If the Padres take Minor I would be extremely disappointed. Minor is a good pitching prospect and could reach the majors quickly, but he is not projected as a top of the order starter. He is a #3 at best and more likely a #4-#5 type starter. The Padres already have entirely too many of this type of pitcher in their organization.

A pick like this at #3 would show that the Padres are only picking for signability and not to take the best possible athlete.

If the Mariners take Ackley I believe it is highly likely the Padres will take Crow with the #3. The FO brass have all been to see him pitch this season and he is a Padres type pick. In other words a college player.

If the Mariners don't take Ackley, the Padres will undoubtedly jump on the chance to have the best college hitter in the draft this year.

I have had my say. Now what do you think?

Another one bites the dust.

Wednesday June4, 2009

Another one bites the dust.

With Scott Hairston's bicep injury, yet another Padre went on the DL today. Will Venable was called up to take his place in the lineup due to a contusion on the left hand of Drew Macias.

That makes it seven players on the DL currently and nine players who have spent time there so far this season.

Last time I checked the Padres were on pace for 1100 player days on the DL in 2009 or just a few under their MLB record of 1200+ player days on the DL last season.

The record amount of injuries that plagued the Padres in 2009 is what doomed their season. Could they be on the way to another injury and loss filled season?

I sure hope not. It is hard watching your AAA players in a Padres uniform every day.

The good news is that Everth Cabrera has started his minor league rehab assignment and has to join the Padres by June 23rd and Mike Adams is also on a rehab assignment and could join the Padres as soon as Friday.

Once Again a Lefty Stifles the Padres Bats

Wednesday June 4, 2009

The Padres cannot hit left handed pitching.

Its real simple folks. When it comes to hitting lefties, the Padres stink.

It does not matter if they are good lefties or bad lefties, if they are pitching against the Padres they may as well be Randy Johnson or CY Young.

And the Padres showed just how inept they are against lefties again tonight by mustering only 4 hits against a mediocre lefty, JA Happ. If he threw 100 mph or had several devastating pitches I could understand it, but Happ pitches more like Wade Leblanc than Randy Johnson.

At least Bastardo threw mid 90's.

When a guy like Happ is dominating you with an 88-89 mph fastball and an 82 mph cutter you should be ashamed of yourselves.

Oh yeah, the Padres lost 5 - 1 and Chris Young was touched up for 3 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks in 6 innings. Burke gave up 2 runs in the 7th and the Padres are now 25-28 and 11 games out after the Dodgers won in Arizona.

I believe this is the first time the Padres have been swept at home this year, but if they do not get healthy and start hitting left handed pitching it won't be the last.

I am so fed up with it all tonight that I can't think of anything else to say.

What do you think?

Correia gets pounded in Padres loss - again

Monday June 1, 2009

Kevin Correia gave up two huge blasts to Chase Utley and Ryan Howard to start the 5th inning and the Padres lost to the Phillies 5-3 tonight in San Diego.

Correia gave up 10 hits and 4 earned runs in 4 1/3 innings with 5 k's to move his ERA to 5.37 on the season. Reliever Luke Gregerson gave up his first earned run since giving up 3 on May 9th.

In the lone bright spots for the Padres, Adrian Gonzalez hit his league leading 21st home run and Scott Hairston followed it up with his 8th blast of the season in the bottom of the 6th to pull the Padres within a run. That was as close as they would get and former Padre Shane Victorino would drive in an insurance run for the Phillies in the 8th.

If Adrian Gonzalez played in any of the major cities of MLB he would be voted in as the All Star 1st baseman. He is hitting an astounding 1 home run for every 9 at bats. He is on pace for 66 home runs this season. That is made all the more astounding by two facts. 1- He plays half his game in Petco, the place home runs go to die. 2 - There is no one to protect him in the Padres lineup so teams are simply pitching around him half of the time.

Folks, one big bat in the lineup and this guy could hit 50 every year. He is THAT good. So enjoy him while you can. Some team is going to offer the Padres a whole minor league team for him soon and he will be playing in New York or Boston or some other big market.

Chase Headley got another night on the bench. He is struggling mightily, having struck out 49 times in 161 abs while hitting just .236/.309/.366/.675 with just 4 home runs. Hardly the hitter the Padres were expecting when they called him up last year.

You have got to wonder how long it will be before he is back in AAA trying to hone his hitting and Macias will be back in San Diego as the 4th outfielder?