Around the Mission: 2/28 Padres Links

by jbox on Feb 28, 2010 12:00 AM PST

Fun — and games: Heath Bell a kid at heart - SignOnSanDiego.com
"I’m more a kid than an adult person," he said recently. "My father once told me, ‘You’re as old as you feel, stay young.’ I’m a responsible 10-year-old."
White Sox camp tour: Peavy fitting in, making own pitch - MLB - CBSSports.com Baseball
He had signed a team-friendly contract extension, thinking it would keep him there, then watched the Padres cut ties with franchise icon Trevor Hoffman and realized the idea of loyalty was gone. "It's disheartening to watch what has happened there," he said.
Padres Team Report - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
Top Candidate To Disappoint: RHP Chris Young
Team execs back on track with NASCAR - SignOnSanDiego.com
"Padres owner Jeff Moorad and club President Tom Garfinkel are getting back into stock car racing."
Stauffer wants to stick with Padres | padres.com: News
Tim Stauffer has been with the Padres longer than almost everyone else in the clubhouse, and he hopes it stays that way by earning a spot in the starting rotation.
PADRES NOTES: Tate wants fresh start after injury setbacks
"I'm not really too concerned about (the jaw)," Tate said on Saturday. "Everything healed OK. I'm 100 percent healthy. I'm just putting things in the past that have been kind of an issue, like the sports hernia and the ATV accident, and I'm trying to move forward."
Padres third-base prospect rising fast | padres.com: News
Third-base prospect James Darnell is in his first Major League camp and isn't at a point where he's concerning himself with his Major League debut, whenever it arrives. But make no mistake, Darnell isn't that far off.
PADRES: Bullpen depth creates competition
"That's been the talk of us guys in the bullpen," reliever Adam Russell said. "It'll be a good competition. It's a great problem for the Padres to have. We' re overstocked with quality arms in that spot."
The Padres Should Have Signed Felipe Lopez :: Friar Forecast
"Because David Eckstein is so bad, Lopez would have been a large marginal improvement. Given the low risk of the signing, the Padres should have inked him to a one-year deal."

Perpetual Padres Saga: Quest for the Start
"I have been doing some thinking about the pitchers we have and came across with top five pitchers who are going to be a great impact for this team. They are: Jon Garland, Kevin Correia, Chris Young, Mat Latos and Clayton Richard."

IVIE 2010: Call for Projections – Ducksnorts
"this year we’re using SurveyMonkey to collect data."

The Official Blog of Matt Antonelli: BLOOD TESTING
"I guess I was one of those wussies, but she didn't know it. "

Unfinished Business: Spring Training Countdown: 6 Days!!!!
"ACK!!! Look what I just found!!!"

Padres Trail
Not exactly a new Padres Blog, but I just found it.

The Friarhood - Confessions of a Ball Girl
Interviews a Padres Ball Girl

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Comments

About Stauffer

He was the guy that the pads signed after admitting to the team that he had a shoulder injury right? I thought it was really nice that he told the team that he was hurt and took the reduced money.

I thought that was a nice move to show his integrity; he could’ve lied about it right?

Then again, he hasn’t produced for us as well as he should, being a first round pick.

It is pretty crazy to think he’s one of the most tenured guys in the clubhouse

by Ilikecheeserolls on Feb 28, 2010 1:13 AM PST reply actions

well the sad thing is

that he has produced alot more than most of the Padres other first round picks over the last 20 years.

by Grey Suit on Feb 28, 2010 10:42 AM PST up reply actions

well really the last 15 the Padres had some pretty good picks in the early 90's

by Grey Suit on Feb 28, 2010 10:44 AM PST up reply actions

and yet

people were sad to see KT go.

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by wrveres on Feb 28, 2010 10:45 AM PST up reply actions

KT should have never been in charge of the draft

Pure scouting was never a strong point of his (except for AAAA relief pitchers who for some reason could only find the strike zone in SD). Also you have to remember KT could not always draft the best player due to Moores position on spending on money on the draft.

by Grey Suit on Feb 28, 2010 11:25 AM PST up reply actions

KT did not need to be strong scout.

He needed to build a proper organization. That was his failure, his inability or unwillingness to hire good people and let them do their jobs.

by field39 on Feb 28, 2010 12:38 PM PST up reply actions

And then when he finally got a quality staff in place

People complained that there were too many cooks in the kitchen.

I'm the first person to admit that I'm wrong about a lot of things, but I'm going to be the last person to admit I'm wrong about what we're currently talking about.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Mar 1, 2010 10:07 AM PST up reply actions

The problem was:

It was the hated Alderson who build that staff. With him out of the picture KT would of been on is own again.

by field39 on Mar 1, 2010 11:34 AM PST up reply actions

well their was too many chefs.

and they all cooked for Alderson, bypassing Towers. Not that that was a bad thing, mind you. I am sure KT was good at making the coffee, but the impression was given that there was this whole flow chart “process” that every decision had to go through in order to make a simple decision on anything.

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by wrveres on Mar 1, 2010 11:50 AM PST up reply actions

Please

KT did more than make the coffee. The guys that reported to Alderson were in charge of domestic and international scouting, player development and budgeting. KT was the guy in charge of roster management. I think it was a relief that KT was removed of those responsibilities. He sucked at them. All those cooks complimented each other, I fail to see how that would be a problem. I find it hard to believe that they stepped on each others’ toes much.

I'm the first person to admit that I'm wrong about a lot of things, but I'm going to be the last person to admit I'm wrong about what we're currently talking about.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Mar 1, 2010 1:39 PM PST up reply actions

okay, okay ..so he made some toast once in a while. :)

I am not so sure that they complimented each other though. We heard reports about people stepping on each others toes all the time.

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by wrveres on Mar 1, 2010 1:50 PM PST up reply actions

Not really

You’re exaggerating. We heard lots of reports of people speculating about stepping on each others’ toes.

I'm the first person to admit that I'm wrong about a lot of things, but I'm going to be the last person to admit I'm wrong about what we're currently talking about.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Mar 1, 2010 3:57 PM PST up reply actions

exaggerating?

Wally Joyner comes to mind, and while yes there were reports of people speculating, there was also this ..

"If (DePodesta) were me, I would have said, ‘Sandy, can we go have lunch, you and I and KT? I want to make sure he’s comfortable.’ " Towers said. "You know how far that would have gone?"

Though colleagues say DePodesta went out of his way to show Towers he was not after his job the stylistic differences between the two men were stark.

The affable Towers, whom Moorad has characterized as a "gunslinger," was long known among his staff as SOYP, an affectionate acronym for "Seat-Of-Your-Pants."

DePodesta, a more analytical and solitary figure, communicated so often by e-mail that Towers complained that he didn’t type fast enough to keep up his end of the correspondence. And though DePodesta’s analysis was largely responsible for identifying the hidden value in future closer Heath Bell, front office colleagues say Towers eventually grew to distrust him, and that the strain in their relationship became more pronounced after Moorad replaced Alderson.

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by wrveres on Mar 1, 2010 11:04 PM PST up reply actions

stupid blockquote

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by wrveres on Mar 1, 2010 11:04 PM PST up reply actions

Wow, you really believe in your mind that you are a part of the FO and know these people you speak of don't you?

Stats and normal little arguments aside this is getting freaking comical. I am the dumb one for continuing to read the posts you are spewing out. This is more hearsay and speculation than anything I have ever read. We all get over-involved in the sports that we love sometime but you are crossing over into absolute freakville. I am in no way attempting to influence you to slow down either though because the Jerry Springer-esque, self-destruction show is like none I have ever witnessed and I am already out of entertainment for the week elsewhere. Carry on!

by goldfyngor on Mar 1, 2010 11:20 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

wha what?

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by wrveres on Mar 1, 2010 11:27 PM PST up reply actions

Okay, there's one

You said “all the time.” I said you were exaggerating. I need prove that there were reports like this all the time.

I'm the first person to admit that I'm wrong about a lot of things, but I'm going to be the last person to admit I'm wrong about what we're currently talking about.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Mar 2, 2010 12:39 PM PST up reply actions

*proof

I'm the first person to admit that I'm wrong about a lot of things, but I'm going to be the last person to admit I'm wrong about what we're currently talking about.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Mar 2, 2010 12:40 PM PST up reply actions

Spending money

aka not drafting any boras’ clients.

by soulSD on Feb 28, 2010 3:59 PM PST up reply actions

That was not on KT

In fact, I think that was probably more of a frustration for KT. I don’t think he enjoyed having to pass on top talent.

I'm the first person to admit that I'm wrong about a lot of things, but I'm going to be the last person to admit I'm wrong about what we're currently talking about.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Mar 1, 2010 10:06 AM PST up reply actions

I'll agree with that.

but even still, after 15 seasons, you would think the guy would of pulled up triple cherrys more than once.

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by wrveres on Mar 1, 2010 11:51 AM PST up reply actions

Part of it

Was that they didn’t really have a player development process that worked. He could have been drafting gems the whole time, but the PD guys couldn’t polish them up good enough to get them ready for the big leagues. I have a feeling this is what happened with guys like Vince Faison and Ben Davis.

Grady Fuson was the first to do anything noteworthy with developing players and that was like 10 years after KT first started. Again, that’s probably on KT to get that guy in there, but remember KT was a young gun promoted from within. He probably didn’t have the Rolodex to know who to bring in or the expertise to find a guy that worked. Alderson had those things, that’s why he was able to patch up the holes.

I'm the first person to admit that I'm wrong about a lot of things, but I'm going to be the last person to admit I'm wrong about what we're currently talking about.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Mar 1, 2010 1:36 PM PST up reply actions

so would it be fair to say

that the hiring of Towers, set the organization back a decade?

I mean he went from relief pitcher in the minor leagues to GM is just over three years if memory serves.

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by wrveres on Mar 1, 2010 1:52 PM PST up reply actions

Seriously, what the fuck?

How are your comments about KT any different than the comments about Jake Peavy that you’re so upset about on the other thread?

by Drama on Mar 1, 2010 2:32 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs

Looks like wrveres has a serious case of the mondays

creanium.net
Bolts from the Blue

by creanium on Mar 1, 2010 3:22 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

Rookie Owner + Rookie GM. There were bound to be potholes found along the way. Did it set us back? Depends if you think another (available) GM could have got us to the World Series. Because I don’t know what the Padres would be today without that appearance in 1998.

I would also say that without Towers’ trade capabilities, that a lot of those teams could have been much, much worse.

The biggest problem Towers had was that he wasn’t talented enough to make the Padres into the Marlins, A’s or Twins. The only way he could really field competitive teams was with a payroll higher than the bottom 10. When Towers did have the money backing him up though, his teams had more seasons over .500 than under.

I don’t think anybody in the organization had the talent or vision to become a “Moneyball” type team that could win in spite of a minuscule payroll. Even when Alderson arrived, the payroll was significantly higher than what it was in the lean years.

Some of it has to go back to ownership. In KT’s early years, the focus was on a new stadium more than building a farm system that could compete. I also think that ownership might have had a poor vision for the future. As in one that included a new ballpark that provided enough of revenue stream to actually build a team around free agents. That vision was so far off both because of the inability for a team to be a championship contender and rely almost exclusively on free agents and because the ballpark wasn’t going to provide the revenue they envisioned. That vision influenced what KT did and was able to do, so I’m not sure I can blame him 100%.

I’m probably missing a few details, but I can’t unequivocally say that KT set us back 10 years. I can say that he definitely had flaws and the franchise has paid for those, but I’m not entirely sure how much of that was by choice and how much of it can be blamed on ownership.

I'm the first person to admit that I'm wrong about a lot of things, but I'm going to be the last person to admit I'm wrong about what we're currently talking about.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Mar 1, 2010 4:14 PM PST up reply actions 5 recs

Whew, that was a lot of words!

Definitely worth the time I spent reading it.

www.FriarsOnCardboard.blogspot.com
"jbox does not drink coffee, as it makes him clean house big time." ~Kev

by TheThinGwynn on Mar 1, 2010 4:45 PM PST up reply actions

I'll agree with all of that for the most part.

And my comments were somewhat tongue in cheek of course.

As I have said before, I was an avid KT supporter for years. Right up to the Vinny Castilla, Todd Walker, Russell Branyan at third experiment. Heck Towers was ready to open that season with Mirabelli behind the plate for crying out loud. After that, KT lost me. We even made the post season that year, tied LA for champions of the worst division in baseball, but I was already gone.

By then I had looked over KT’s body of work and i wasn’t impressed at all. Our bats were always at or near the worst in baseball. The pitching staff always consisted of the leagues castoffs, and the minor league system was always bare.

Every prospect he heralded fell flat. Not just our prospects like Burroughs, Ben Davis and Wiki Gonzalez, but ones he traded for too. Sledge and Ruben Rivera come to mind immediately.

When he found out Petco suppressed left handed power, he traded for a left power handed bat (Giles). He paid premium to get him too. KT never figured out a way to get the type of players that would play to his obvious home field advantage at the Q or at Petco ..

Then there is the case of his contracts to guys like Sterling Hitchcock, Phil Nevin and Klesko. Meh…

Don’t get me wrong. I like the guy. How can you not. He is an awesome people person, and is honest almost to a flaw. He is a great guy, and to be honest on my part, I hope he gets the chance to prove me wrong. He deserves that. He has earned that.

I am just not impressed with his body of work in San Diego.
Not even close.

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by wrveres on Mar 1, 2010 10:53 PM PST up reply actions