Last week, Friar Nation held a Q&A session with MadFriars' John Conniff and Denis Savage about Padres farm system. For those who are interested.

Friar Nation's Q&A with MadFriars John Conniff and Denis Savage

Q: What you think of Drew Cumberland? Could he be an option to replace Khalil if we chose to let Khalil go or trade him? (SDSUBaseball)

A: John Conniff: No. I like Cumberland quite a bit, but realistically the Padres are going to take him one year and level at a time, as they should. So you’re looking at ’09 in Lake Elsinore, ’10 in San Antonio and ’11 in Portland if everything goes according to plan. Also while Cumberland is a very good athlete, he had a scholarship offer to FSU as a defensive back, his game, especially his defense, needs polish.

Q: Do Venable and Hunter project as CF options or are they corner guys? (SDSUBaseball)

A: John Conniff: The Padres are very high on Venable, and according to multiple sources both within and outside the organization, he was playing a good CF before he had his shoulder problems which put him on the DL. He’s back DHing right now and there isn’t any timetable that I know of when he’ll be back in the field. Personally after watching him play in Fort Wayne and San Antonio I have a very hard time seeing him as a major league option in CF. He just doesn’t have enough of an arm to really play anywhere other than LF and I can’t see him hitting enough for the corners. Hunter I’m much higher because of his speed and on-base ability. He’s very young, 20, and holding his own in the Cal League against players that are two to three years older. His arm improved last year in Fort Wayne and I think the strength of his game is much more suited to center than the corners where he really doesn’t have enough power to play there.

Q: A lot was made about Will Inman's struggles in AA. He seems to have gotten past that and is pitching very well. How soon do you think he could make an impact in the big leagues? (SDSUBaseball)

A: John Conniff: The big thing about Inman last year was that he just didn’t have that much velocity on his fastball; it was in the 83-86 range. This spring, after a long rest, as compared to the Brewers organization which had him pitching in November last year,, he came into spring throwing in the 89-93 range, which made his change and breaking ball much better. Inman is only 21 so the Padres are going to take their time with him as well. I think he’s in San Antonio for the full year and depending what happens in the spring and at Portland next year I could see him being called up mid-2009.

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