Smells Like Padres in Here - Friday Edition

by Winfield's Ghost on May 23, 2008 6:49 AM PDT

Sullivan points out that CY's injury could've been a lot worse.

Some random notes about the call-ups and such, but check out the very last paragraph.

Rob Neyer has a subscription piece up that would seem to indicate that Bard's injury was...Bard's fault. Anyone who doesn't have a moral objection to paying for Internet content want to fill us in?

We are apparently on the brink. (This is from a few days ago - I didn't recall seeing it here - apologies if it was already posted and I missed it.)

Instant replay is on the way.

Shawn Estes takes on MLB ERA leader Edinson Volquez tonight. Game time is 7:05pm PDT.

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I have very loose morals

The Neyer piece; he says that catchers block the plate unecessarily because of a sense of machismo. Here’s an excerpt (this isn’t against the law, is it? I got busted on here last year, but I posted the whole thing that time.)

“Watching last night’s video, you might guess that Bard wanted his left ankle sprained. Or broken in three places. Of course he didn’t. He just didn’t want anyone to think he’s not a man.”

Neyer seems to think Pujols was going to be safe all the way and that Bard only tried to block because he was afraid of how he would be perceived by media/fans/palyers if he didn’t. Now, I’ve never played organized ball, but I find it really hard to believe that when the throw was coming in Bard was thinking to himself “Man, I would really rather not block the plate, but if I don’t Jerry Coleman and that surfer dude sitting in Toyota Terrace sipping his nine dollar Corona will think I’m a wuss.” I think he did it because it’s his job and his instincts took over. You’re a catcher, you protect the plate. Seems pretty straight forward to me, but I must not be as smart as Rob Neyer.

Padres for life

by sdgaucho on May 23, 2008 7:32 AM PDT 0 recs

I'll admit to never playing professional baseball...

or even playing catcher at a high level, but it seems to me that, as a catcher, with a play at the plate, you glance down the line and judge how close it’s going to be, then focus on receiving the ball. If there’s even a halfway decent chance of the ball beating the runner, you stand your ground…

by pjbno4 on May 23, 2008 7:35 AM PDT up 0 recs

Speaking as a catcher

You block the plate if the ball is anywhere close, which, having watched the video, it was. That being said, Albert Pujols does not play in my fast pitch league, but I have been bowled over by a guy who had a good 100 pounds on Albert, though not very well distributed, if you know what I mean. Just a couple of days ago, one of the web gems had a catcher who made the tag because he blocked the plate with his foot enough to slow the runner. if he hadn’t blocked, or the umpire had been Tim Mclelland, that runner would have scored.

The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair.
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Douglas Adams

by Boilermaker19 on May 23, 2008 8:17 AM PDT up 5 recs

Heh.

Tim McClelland sucks.
Saw an Indians’ (I think it was them) game a few weeks ago, and his strike zone was a joke.

by sacpadre on May 23, 2008 8:55 AM PDT up 0 recs

"...or the umpire had been Tim Mclelland"

Love it. (Very recommended.)

by Drama on May 23, 2008 8:56 AM PDT up 0 recs

Thanks for the summary

“You’re a catcher, you protect the plate.”

I’m with you. And for the record – I think you’re smarter than Rob Neyer.

by Winfield's Ghost on May 23, 2008 8:41 AM PDT up 0 recs

Totally

As someone who caught for as long as I played baseball, you do whatever you can whenever you can. Part of that is simply selfishness as you don’t get that many plays at the plate. If you make a dramatic block, you’re a hero. If you get pancaked, you’re still a hero.

Remember how everyone thought Ramon Hernandez was a pussy ‘cuz he blocked the plate like a bitch?

by Phantom on May 23, 2008 9:23 AM PDT up 0 recs

Everybody already thinks Bard has a weenie arm.

The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world.

by Axion on May 23, 2008 11:10 AM PDT up 0 recs

The BBWAA agrees with you.

De-neyer’d.

The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world.

by Axion on May 23, 2008 11:14 AM PDT up 0 recs

Heeeey....

I resemble that statement.

Signed,
The surfer dude in Toyota Terrace

by sqrunt on May 23, 2008 11:52 AM PDT up 0 recs

unrelated

am i just crazy, or is anyone else worried that these spot starts of headley at third might suggest the padres willingness to trade kouz…

it would be a very padre thing to do, trade someone right as they are on the cusp of stardom (jason bay comes to mind…).

thoughts?

www.wellbelowthemendozaline.blogspot.com, and yes, its named for Jim Edmonds batting average

by justdave on May 23, 2008 10:40 AM PDT 0 recs

I think it's exactly that

It seems to me that they’ve decided that Kouz is a chip they are thinking about trading. Incredibly risky, in my opinion.

by Winfield's Ghost on May 23, 2008 10:56 AM PDT up 0 recs

There's certainly

some merit to the idea of trading Kouz. Namely that Headley is a much better 3B than Kouz is and profiles to be a better hitter. If we can trade Kouz for a valuable piece (like a young CF), then I say we absolutely do it.

Plus, you’ve got Chad Huffman in AA who is having a year that is similar to Headley’s ‘07. Huffman is a natural LF and if he can continue to rake, would be a great addition.

So by trading Kouz, you essentially can do the following:

- Upgrade OF defense: Kouz theoretically gets traded for a CF. Huffman, a natural LF, comes in at LF. Gerut goes to RF and they trade Giles for pitching.
- Upgrade 3B defense: Chase is a much better defender than Kouz.
- Upgrade team offense: Kouz still isn’t lighting the world on fire and Headley and Huffman is likely greater than Kouz and Headley.

by Phantom on May 23, 2008 10:58 AM PDT up 0 recs

makes sense

i’d like to do it sooner rather than later however… if the season is toast we might as well give next year’s team a chance to get some big league experience.

it certainly worked for Arizona (and Florida and Colorado 2k7 and Tampa Bay)

www.wellbelowthemendozaline.blogspot.com, and yes, its named for Jim Edmonds batting average

by justdave on May 23, 2008 11:01 AM PDT up 0 recs

Huffman

probably wouldn’t be up until September at the earliest, but Headley in his natural position is much more valuable than not. I expect the team will trade one of Headley or Kouz this year, and I don’t see them moving Headley.

by Phantom on May 23, 2008 11:06 AM PDT up 0 recs

Huffman can probably play RF

He also is an OK 2B.

I watched all 23 innings and all I got was this lousy signature.

by Wonko on May 23, 2008 2:59 PM PDT up 0 recs

I'm not sure about the defense

I’ve always heard about how bad Kouz is at defense, but in my eyes he’s an awesome defender, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him make one bad play.

Me fail English? That's unpossible!

by sdsuaztec4 on May 23, 2008 1:21 PM PDT up 0 recs

I don't think so much

that he lacks the physical ability, it’s that he doesn’t always make good decisions. There have been a couple instances in which he seems to change his mind about where he’s going to go with a ball and ends up throwing it away. I think he did this in the game against the Cubs that Wolf started.

But yeah, Headley is seen as a real good 3B. Kouz is seen as better than Ryan Braun, but not anyone else.

by Phantom on May 23, 2008 1:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

Appearances can be decieving

Me fail English? That's unpossible!

by sdsuaztec4 on May 23, 2008 1:33 PM PDT up 0 recs

I like Kouz

as much as anyone else, but I think he’s a valuable trading chip. Huffman will take Headley’s spot in AAA when Headley’s promoted, and could be ready to start in LF as early as 2009.

If we can get the right return for Kouz, then I think we should pull the trigger. Of course, with Kouz’s production down so far this year, his value is probably limited right now.

by Phantom on May 23, 2008 1:47 PM PDT up 0 recs

Woah

I like Kouz as much as anyone else

unless your name is iLOVEkouz5, then that statement is incorrect.

by jbox on May 23, 2008 2:31 PM PDT up 0 recs

Touché

by Phantom on May 23, 2008 2:33 PM PDT up 0 recs

I too have an uncle

Me fail English? That's unpossible!

by sdsuaztec4 on May 23, 2008 2:34 PM PDT up 1 recs

Look at those clouds

just plottin.

“I’m gonna do it this time, I mean it!”

“Me too.”

by Phantom on May 23, 2008 2:35 PM PDT up 0 recs

Why did all the dinosaurs die out?

Because you touch yourself at night.

Me fail English? That's unpossible!

by sdsuaztec4 on May 23, 2008 2:43 PM PDT up 0 recs

Kouz

ranked pretty much as an average defender at 3B last season. I have never seen Headley play third for any extended period of time, but I would imagine the benefits of having both of their bats in the lineups far outweighs any defensive liability either one brings. If Headley was significantly better than Kouz at third, I would imagine management would probably have moved him to LF (regardless of what many people think, they aren’t stupid). But if it’s only a marginal upgrade at third, then they would probably want the better athlete learning the new position.

by osbug on May 23, 2008 1:42 PM PDT up 0 recs

Kouz' Defense

Depends on who you ask. Scouts think his defense his awful and that he needs to be moved to LF or 1B immediately. People who see him play everyday find this line of criticism insane at best. Stats say he is average to above average depending on the stat you look at.

I watched all 23 innings and all I got was this lousy signature.

by Wonko on May 23, 2008 3:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

i think his defense

has been better this season than last by far. Yea he still isn’t Khalil greene on defense or anything but the last week he has made some pretty f(or)king amazing plays if you ask me. Esp. last nights play

"I get tired of hearing ballplayers belly-ache all the time. They should sit in the press box sometime and watch themselves play."

by iLOVEkouz5 on May 23, 2008 6:03 PM PDT up 0 recs

The lines spoken yesterday say

“He always takes ground balls at third, and that was only the third time at 3rd for him this season. No rhyme or reason.”

The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world.

by Axion on May 23, 2008 11:04 AM PDT up 0 recs

This is awesome.

Independent team deals pitcher for 10 maple bats.

The Calgary Vipers of the Golden Baseball League couldn’t get newly signed pitcher John Odom into Canada for immigration reasons.
And the Laredo Broncos of the United League were willing to take a cheap gamble on a pitcher.

Oh, and the Vipers really, really wanted some new bats.

So about a month after being acquired by a Canadian team, Odom found himself on the roster of a team on the Mexican border. All for the price of 10 Prairie Sticks Maple Bats, double-dipped black 34-inch C243 style.

How many bats could we get for Justin Huber?

by Drama on May 23, 2008 12:47 PM PDT 0 recs

More than we would've gotten for Sledge?

by Winfield's Ghost on May 23, 2008 12:55 PM PDT up 0 recs

Perhaps

but remember, Sledge was an “awesome leadoff hitter.”

Or wait, that never actually happened. That’s just what we were told.

Damn. No wonder I keep thinking that the Edmonds signing was the best move since acquiring Todd Walker.

by Phantom on May 23, 2008 1:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

i would have traden sledge

for a big mac, fries, nuggets, and a sauce to be named later.

no need for a beverage, i would even provide my own.

www.wellbelowthemendozaline.blogspot.com, and yes, its named for Jim Edmonds batting average

by justdave on May 23, 2008 1:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

or traded

for those of us that speak english

www.wellbelowthemendozaline.blogspot.com, and yes, its named for Jim Edmonds batting average

by justdave on May 23, 2008 1:26 PM PDT up 0 recs

Joyner suspended for tonight's game after arguing with umpire

Poor Wally.

"If I wasn't Bob Dylan, I'd probably think that Bob Dylan has a lot of answers myself." - Bob Dylan

by JollyWaffle on May 23, 2008 2:17 PM PDT 0 recs

Not sure

he’d do much good against Volquez anyway.

“Well guys, this is a baseball game. So lets try to put the bat on the ball and not swing at things out of the zone.”

by Phantom on May 23, 2008 2:34 PM PDT up 0 recs

Not that I care

because I think Wally is pretty useless – but when did getting ejected for arguing (minimally) with an umpire warrant a one game suspension?

by Winfield's Ghost on May 23, 2008 3:20 PM PDT up 0 recs

Total BS right?

The way they protect umpires these days is just ridiculous. Can you imagine that kind of punishment during the time of Billy Martin? Earl Weaver? Tommy Lasorda?

by Drama on May 23, 2008 5:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

Josh Geer

is throwing tonight for Portland at 535. For those of you who don’t know, you can listen to the Beavers games for free on internet radio or follow them on gameday this season. Check it out

Me fail English? That's unpossible!

by sdsuaztec4 on May 23, 2008 2:48 PM PDT 0 recs

I dont know if someone said this already

but kenra wilkinson is throwing the first pitch tonight!

by padresgirlforlife44 on May 23, 2008 4:25 PM PDT 0 recs

Really?

I heard it was the first weekend in June. How did you hear?

by jbox on May 23, 2008 4:46 PM PDT up 0 recs

well

my friend told me last week that she read it on kendras blog….then this morning she was on channel 933 radio and she said it.

i was bummed because i really wanted to see her cause i love her. but its wayyy too cold and im going tomorrow and sunday and am broke :(

by padresgirlforlife44 on May 23, 2008 4:54 PM PDT up 0 recs

Staying out of the cold was smart

I’m pretty sure I’m going to need to be hospitalized. And not for the usual reasons.

I watched all 23 innings and all I got was this lousy signature.

by Wonko on May 24, 2008 12:42 AM PDT up 0 recs

I saw that Giles was catching for first pitch

And I’m like “what the…?” don’t they trot out some rookie to do that. The last time Giles went out to catch was when Anna Kourni….oh Kendra is throwing out the first pitch. And the rest is not family friendly.

She was totally into the friar. I think it’s going to have her babies, either that or sue her for friar molesting.

I watched all 23 innings and all I got was this lousy signature.

by Wonko on May 24, 2008 12:41 AM PDT up 0 recs