Au Revoir Boomer

by Billy Almon on Aug 7, 2007 7:17 AM PDT Comment 16 comments

It is a little sad to see all these ballplayers released midseason. Especially if it's David Wells - I've loved the guy since 2004, but always wanted to love him before that. Should last night in St Louis have been Boomer's last start? Afraid so. His contract -- $170,000 per start -- doesnt help things with the cadre of number crunchers in the front office, and given that contract structure, it wouldn't surprise Wells too much, would it? But the bottom line is I don't think we can trot him out there every fifth day in what figure to be long, tight division and wild card races.

One thing you gotta give Boomer though, he stayed healthy.

This FanPost was written by a member of the Gaslamp Ball community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Gaslamp Ball managers or SB Nation.

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Boomer....

The Padres are in a really sticky situation with David Wells right now. As dreadful as he has been in his last four starts...he was equally as good in his five starts previous to the slump he's in now.

His last four starts (all resulting in Padre losses):

4.0 IP - 11 hits, 7 ER, 1 HR
5.1 IP - 9 hits, 5 ER, 0 HR
3.0 IP - 7 hits, 7 ER, 3 HR
4.1 IP - 7 hits, 7 ER, 3 HR

His five starts previous to that (4 resulted in Padre wins):

6.0 IP - 7 hits, 1 ER, 0 HR
3.0 IP - 4 hits, 3 ER, 1 HR (Game he was tossed)
6.2 IP - 5 hits, 0 ER, 0 HR
6.0 IP - 6 hits, 1 ER, 0 HR
6.1 IP - 10 hits, 2 ER, 1 HR

With Germano's injury, CY's recent injury and Clay's struggles...it's a very hard decision as to what to do. Who would take his place?

by Drama on Aug 7, 2007 7:43 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I blame Buddy more than Boomer

When Wellsey survived the 4th inning, all I could think was "please, Buddy, don't send him back out there." And what did Pepe Negro do? He sent him back out there. And what happened? Boomer got shelled. David can give you four/five solid. But regardless of pitchcount, by the fifth/sixth inning, the other team has made adjustments and Boomer's done. But there's no reason to give up those four/five good innings that David can give us. Just quit trying to stretch it out one inning too many. And have someone ready in the bullpen before it all falls apart.

And I know I am not the first person here to say this. Over. And over. And over again.

by Demoira on Aug 7, 2007 8:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ledezma

But this is based only on KT saying they think Ledezma will be a starter.

I thought Clay earned another shot, but they can't recall him until Aug 16th. Hopefully he solidifies some things in Portland in the meantime because I think we'll need him in San Diego.

At what point can they think about a four man rotation? Never happen, I known, but it was the norm for a long time.

by Billy Almon on Aug 7, 2007 7:48 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Boomer is released

and the Pads players will go on a hunger strike led by Trevor and Peavy, I guarantee it.

by bktabinga on Aug 7, 2007 8:49 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I was gonna mention that as well...

...but Dex has just started to get his blood-pressure down.

by Drama on Aug 7, 2007 8:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

doh...forgot about his health

nothing but unicorns and rainbows and gay spideys in pads clubhouse and the front office.

by bktabinga on Aug 7, 2007 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps

Better idea might be to take him out of the rotation into a long relief role, and leave him to continue to fart around the dugout.

by Billy Almon on Aug 7, 2007 9:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think that'd be the way to go.

Who goes into the rotation? Hensley? 'Dez? Or just play it as one big guessing game? I've gotta wonder how Ledezma would fare after four. Maybe that's what Buddy can use to convince Boomer's ego that coming out of the pen would be the right thing to do "Now, come on, Dave; you and I both know Dez won't go five- you can go out there and vulture some wins and get back up to .500".

Ah, for the days that we complained about our two hit victories...

by TheThirdGonzalez on Aug 7, 2007 9:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wells could be released this week.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070807/news_1s7padres.html

"Is David Wells finished with the Padres?

The Padres weren't saying last night, but after the 44-year-old gave up seven runs to raise his ERA to 14.04 over the past four games, what manager Bud Black didn't say suggested Wells is near the end of line.

It wouldn't be surprising if the Padres released Wells this week.

"As of now," Black said after the 10-5 loss to the Cardinals at Busch Stadium, "he's scheduled to pitch Saturday in Cincinnati. That's where his next turn is."

Black then scooted out of his office and met with his pitching coaches and a member of the team's front office."

by Drama on Aug 7, 2007 9:46 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Hensley

This is one more reason that sending Hensley down is confusing to me. I know that they are talking about making Ledezma a starter, but do they really want to test him out as a starter at this pt in the season? To me, it would've made more sense to keep Hensley here for that purpose. It's not like this is a huge surprise with Wells. I know they can recall Hensley at the end of next week, but it still just seems odd.

by Winfield's Ghost on Aug 7, 2007 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't we see it coming?

Understandably we needed reinforcements after this past weekend's craziness, but I feel like there is more to this that is going on behind the scenes that the team really knew about. The decreasing level of effectiveness from Wells was like a faint light in the distance and now we realize it's actually a freight train coming right for the rotation. He's 44 years old! It's hard to compete at that level at that age with health issues, let alone healthy. Wells kicks ass in my mind for lasting this long. Waiting till the 16th (or whatever date) for Hensley might be too long of a wait...

by lohleelo on Aug 7, 2007 5:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why Can't He Be Used in Relief?

Like most people here, I trust Boomer to give me 2 or 3 good innings, but that's about it. Why can't he be a long-reliever? Maybe that would seem like a slap in the face to a guy who considers himself a starter, but he has to come to the realization that he's in his mid-40's and doesn't have the stamina he used to have.

by Mr Meadows on Aug 7, 2007 10:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

About time?

They'd be releasing Wells about 5 months too late IMO, but the past is the past, and his current role with the club isn't the best way to utilize him. It's a tricky situation with clubhouse morale and all that stuff, especially after Trevor spoke out about the major personnel changes going on at the trading deadline, but starting Wells has become a "more than likely we'll lose this one" thing.

With Boomer's paycheck and how he'd probably bitch about a bullpen assignment, what do you do if you're KT? After Peavy/Young/Maddux (who gives us a slightly better chance to win than Wells), our rotation doesn't look much different than it did approaching the last month of last season. We got some key starts from Pedro down the stretch, and perhaps Ledezma can be that guy this year, but we realistically need some waiver wire help if we want to play into October.

It's a matter of the other teams in the division getting better - the Dodgers made some moves, and their young players have started to gel. The D-Backs just have a ridiculous pool of young talent, and are going to be this good for at least another 3-5 years, so we're going to have to pick it up or grow comfortable with wild card berths, at best.

Oh, and the Rockies have young pitching and offense that isn't Vinny Castilla and (insert pitcher with +5 ERA here). At least the Giants are garbage, eh?

by California Penal on Aug 7, 2007 1:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I Blame Bud last night.

Wellsy is good for 4 to 6 innings. You have to have the long reliever ready to pull him after 4. Or they can keep shooting up Hensley to keep him going til November (wishful thinkin").

by planetjeffy on Aug 7, 2007 1:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Pitcher platoon

Why can't they go with a platoon at the 5th starter spot?

Peavy, Maddux and CY would make all their regular starts and pitch every fifth day. Germano would usually take the 4th spot if healthy, although Ledezma is there if needed. But the fifth spot is mixed between Wells (if it's at Petco) and Hensley (if it's a road game or certain home games). This would seemingly give Wells more time to rest in these hot months and he could spot relief during long road trips. And vice versa for Hensley on long homestands.

It also would keep Wells on the roster for a potential home playoff start.

by ruppertjones on Aug 7, 2007 3:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Last night I realized something

Bud Black has too much faith in his players.

Its good to have some faith of course but Buddy should know that if a pitcher gives up a good lead and loads the bases and all that crap, TAKE HIM OUT. Especially if he is 44 years old or whatever Boomer is. From the experiences Boomers has been having lately, us GLBallers know when to take him out, so should the manager for goodness sake.

Sometimes I wish they could hear us on the other end of the television.

by padresgirlforlife44 on Aug 7, 2007 4:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs