2nd straight good outing from LeBlanc in Pads win

Wednesday Sept 9, 2009

Happy 9/9/9!

Looks like Wade LeBlanc was celebrating the day as he collected his 2nd straight victory in the San Diego Padres 4-2 win over the San Francisco Giants at Alphabet Soup Park.

LeBlanc pitched a heck of a good game too allowing just 2 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks. 2 of those walks came to start the 8th inning, but Luke Gregerson came in with 2 on and no outs and shut the Giants down.

Adrian Gonzalez provided all the offense the Padres would need driving in 3 runs on a single in the first with Everth Cabrera on 3rb base and a booming home run to left field, his 37th of the season, in the 3rd inning.

Oscar Salazar added an insurance run in the 6th with a solo shot of his own.

Cabrera stole his 22nd and 23rd bases of the season to move him into 4th place on the Padres list for rookies behind Ozzie Smith, Alan Wiggins and Roberto Alomar. 1 more SB and he will tie Alomar's total amassed over 143 games in 1988.

The Padres have now won FIVE straight series including 4 on the road and put up double digit hits for the 4th time in 8 games this month.

Barry Zito took the loss for the Giants going 5 innings and giving up 3 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks with 2 k's.

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?