Friars Get Their Innings Eater in Jon Garland

Just wanted to get this out and will exbound on what I think this means for the Padres.
Reportedly $6.5 million for one year. Very nice “stop-gap” and has gone over 190 innings the last 7-8 years.
It’s just too bad he doesn’t strike out more batters but he should be a steady positive influence in the clubhouse and on the field.
Nice signing by Jed Hoyer, I wonder what enticed Garland to come to San Diego for one year?

Tags: Jed Hoyer, Jon Garland

Padres Sign Stairs to a Minor League Deal

Still waiting for scraps Jed Hoyer has signed 41 year old(he’ll be 42 by Opening Day) Matt Stairs as a left hand hitter off the bench.
Stairs who didn’t fair well last season in Philly only hit 5 HRs in his limited role mostly as a pinch hitter.
However Stairs did hit those 5 HRs in 103 ABs(all vs. RHers he did it in 100 ABs) and had a .357 OBP so he still may be useful even at his age. Plus he has reportedly already lost 30 lbs getting ready for 2010.
Look I’m not saying he’s gonna take away ABs from anybody but this is a decent deal especially since it’s a minor league deal.

Tags: Jed Hoyer, Matt Stairs

Minor League Scouting Gem: John Sickles

Okay, finally I can get out one of my sources for reports on teams minor leaguers.
www.minorleagueball.com
This is a blog that a fella named John Sickles writes and really tears into everybody from the top to bottom of all the minor league teams.
Here are some of the comments John had in his December 7th entry about the Padres farm system that Kevin Towers left Jed Hoyer starting with some rankings of the Friars’ prospects.

“1) Donavan Tate, OF, Grade B+: I’ll trust the tools and San Diego’s approach to hitting instruction with this one.
3) James Darnell, 3B, Grade B: A solid all-around hitter with good power and very good plate discipline.
10) Aaron Poreda, LHP, Grade C+: Command collapsed after the Peavy trade, cutting into his grade.
20) Eric Sogard, 2B, Grade C+: Gets on base, not punchless, defense is so-so but I like the bat enough to keep give him this grade(Ed. Note: Sogard was dealt to Oakland in the Kouzmanoff deal)”

Here’s part of John’s summary:

“I felt this system was underrated entering 2009, and things are really looking up here.”
“This was never a “tools don’t matter” organization, no matter what people said.”

Okay, check him out and his followers, they really debate and tear up everybody everywhere.

Tags: Aaron Poreda, Donovan Tate, Eric Sogard, James Darnell, Jed Hoyer, John Sickles, kevin towers, minorleagueball.com

Padres Sign Hairston Jr.

Two Hairstons: One Need
Actually I should applaud Hoyer’s move here by stealing Jr. away from much ‘richer’ teams. Hairston Jr. can play all the infield posiions and outfield positions… problem is why didn’t Hoyer do this in the first place and then trade Kouzmanoff for a starter or 2nd baseman?
Will having the Hairston Brothers create an infectiously positive clubhouse atmosphere? We can hope so my robed friends.
So Hairston Jr. will bounce around the diamond and spell all the regulars and Scott will try and nail down the center field job completely from Gwynn Jr.???
I’ve gotta read more and will get out that nice source for minor league scouting now.

Tags: Jerry Hairston Jr., Kouzmanoff, Scott Hairston, Tony Gwynn Jr.

Kouzmanoff Traded for Who? What?

In what could be Jed Hoyer’s first major blunder as GM of the Padres he traded Kevin Kouzmanoff and minor leaguer Eric Sogard for Scott Hairston and Aaron Cunningham.
That is not a typo, you read it correctly. Kouzmanoff and Sogard for Hairston and Cunningham.
Gee, I know The Padres needed a right hand hitting outfielder but not the one we traded away last year!!!
And not for our second most precious trade bait!!!
What’s next? Adrian Gonzalez for Ramon Hernandez since Nick Hundley needs tutoring?
What on earth is the reasoning for this?
Are the Reed Johnsons and Rocco Baldellis of this world demanding too much in salary to come to San Diego?
I had heard the talks had been about Gio Gonzalez and while Gio has trouble getting hitters out(unless they strike out) I initially thought Gonzalez was part of the deal(and was still frustrated) I still cannot believe this deal.
Look Cunningham in two short call ups hasn’t done too much but we can’t judge him by that. However why are we dealing a very sought after third base man during the Winter Meetings for prospect and an OFer who can only hit left handers? What is the thinking behind this?
Believe me this has shattered any confidence I had in Jed Hoyer and I’m really glad I had already requested to move from San Diego in my League(Each team is allowed to “Franchise” one of the team’s minor league prospects who make their debut in the majors each year).
I thought waiting for bargains was a good sound stratrgy but this is not a bargain.
Is Scott Hairston gonna be the difference this year playing in center field vs. righties? Com’on…
Meanwhile Kouzmanoff eliminates the battle for the 3rd base job in Oakland between Eric Chavez & Jake Fox(acquired in a trade with the Cubs). Aaron Miles was to be the supersub backup there as well. Chavez is in the last year of his six year contract and now what does this mean for him and his ailing back?
Oh boy, back to our fateful friars…

Hairston has hit .240/.315/.427 = .742 OPS vs. RHers the last three years. Can Bud Black afford to leave Hairston batting versus a bullpen righty in the 7th inning? What about the 6th?
Kouzmanoff had 24 more RBI’s than Headley in 24 less ABs!!!
And we traded him for a platoon CFer? Who can only really be used vs. lefties to be effective instead of righties?
Look I like Chase Headley and Scott Hairston as well, I also agree that Kouzmanoff should have been moved but for Hairston? Over the next few days I’m really gonna have to look and see what Hoyer’s thinking was behind this.
It’s nice that Hairston gets to come back to San Diego where he loves it but at the cost of moving Kouzmanoff???
Hoyer better get a rosary and start praying because if he keeps making deals like this his job will be hanging on every prayer.
Man, I’m so mad I can’t even figure out the all dang names I need to “tag” for this entry!!!
Oh man, now I realized we traded a second base man when we are looking for solutions to that position once Eckstein retires or moves on. Why are we moving valuable pieces and getting table scraps?
Oh no, and in this deal unless cash considerations haven’t been announced, the Padres are now about one million more dollars into salaries!!!
Gee, I guess I should be happy this opens up a spot for Will Venable now… sheesh.
Okay, next time I’ll give you a great source for minor league scouting.

Tags: Aaron Cunningham, Chase Headley, David Eckstein, Eric Chavez, Eric Sogard, Jed Hoyer, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Scott Hairston, Wil Venable

McGwire Used Roids! Grass Needs Water to Be Green!

Gee it’s nice of Mark McGwire to tell us what we’ve all known for 10+ years. Think of what would happen if Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens could say it too.
I for one still think Maris’ record stands and in my mind it does just like Aaron’s record.
I can’t even begin to discuss how tarnished hitting records became and how suddenly players weren’t putting up HRs in the numbers they were before.
Now we’ll see what Mr. Pujols says in 10 years.

Now on to the Padres…
Well, they’re making a play for Noah Lowery and I guess that’s something.
Tell you what, give me a few days and I’ll reveal a renowned source for minor league players and what he thinks of the Towers Minor League system before Hoyer and Moorad get a chance to tarnish it.
See you in a few days and keep the Faith.

Tags: Barry Bonds, Hoyer, Maris, Mark McGwire, Moorad, Noah Lowery, Pujols, Rodger Clemens

Why Not Send Kouzmanoff to the Twins? Plus My FF Board Wins the IBL FF Championship!

About a week ago I saw some press about the Twins once again making noise about a trade for Kouzmanoff. I thought to myself, “Why not if they give us one of their starting pitchers?”
Think about it, the Friars need a good innings eater and could use some stability outside of Kevin Correia. Why not make a play for Nick Blackburn(4.03 11-11 1.37) and some prospects? Blackburn will be 28 on February 24th so he should have a good 4-5 years left in his arm. Blackburn is slotted as the Twins’ #4 Starter so they can afford to upgrade at 3b for for him and some guys in the minors. With those two and hopefully a healthy year from Chris Young the Padres could stand a chance vs. the Dodgers and Rockies in the NL West.
I swear, the Twins like Tigers and A’s have been churning out good young starting pitchers and bullpen guys so why not?

Okay, time for me to do a lil Fantasy Football bragging. My FF Chat Board FFLiveWire won the InterBoard League Championship in our first year.
Here’s a link to the InterBoard forums where you see the “communications” side, the links to the eight 12 team Drafts and here is the League website with the final standings(most wins wins the Title!
http://www27.myfantasyleague.com/2009/home/17823
In tribute to the LiveWire Team here is a shoutout to all 12 of us and our draft slots in each of the eight Drafts!

1.01H brownhelmets
1.02E W4MVP
1.03B Cinciman7
1.04G Dagorhir*
1.05D frybry02
1.06A devils_advocate_oh
1.07F jerryskids
1.08C Intangibles*
1.09H MTSkibum
1.10E Lukin
1.11B Aargyle
1.12G dagame

Thanks guys!

Tags: fflivewire, Kevin Correia IBL, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Nick Blackburn

I Found The Padres Next Center Fielder!

My last entry I was wondering who the Padres could possibly get on the cheap to platoon or straight up play center field daily.
Reed Johnson is available and he can hit lefties(.329/.395/.483 the last three years).
Johnson who has tailed off in his 30’s could come “Home” to California(Born in Riverside) and get a fresh start and help the Padres chase the NL West Pennant.
If he stinks it up vs. Righties then platoon him with Gywnn or Venable whichever one is hot.
If Johnson ends up being too expensive(he cost the Cubs three million last year) then the Friars could go with Rocco Baldelli and make him part of a permanent platoon with Gwynn and to a lesser extent Venable.
Baldelli isn’t the same player he was four years ago but can still roam the outfield and could be a real cheap bargain come September.
That’s all I’ve got for now except to wish you all a Happy New Year and to hit’em where they ain’t!

Tags: Reed Johnson, Rocco Baldelli, Tony Gywnn, Wil Venable

Padres Waiting Patiently for Value

Well, I’ve found the time to follow our Padres and there really isn’t too much to report.
Hoyer who is handcuffed with a stingy 40 million dollar salary cap couldn’t sign Mike Cameron or Coco Crisp.
I don’t mind passing up on Crisp and Cameron would be too expensive anyways but I just can’t find a solution in the Free Agent Lists. So where to go with all this? I don’t know, but if the Friars could find somebody to platoon with Tony Gwynn then it would be a great “fix”, temporary or not.
Adrian Gonzalez was in the news for a week straight as the Boston Press kept getting their hopes up but let’s face it. Hoyer will get way more in return this July when say, the Red Sox are two games behind the Yankees then now. Even if Gonzalez doesn’t go to Boston and ends up with the Mets or Braves he’ll bring in a bevy of prospects and some ready for MLB players.
I can see many Padres fans biting at the bits as the team does nothing to try and improve. Does Hoyer know the team he inherited finished so well that he and Moorad don’t want to tinker with it too much?
It must be that they are waiting for the big name FAs to sign and see what value they can get from the leftovers.
“This vexes me, I’m terribly vexed”.
I can only exude displeasure at their lack of lack of moves but maybe making no moves is better than something drastic?
We’ll find out my robed friends.

Tags: Adrian Gonzalez, Coco Crisp, Jed Hoyer, Mike Cameron

Padres get Dusty Ryan from Detroit

The Padres got Dusty Ryan from Detroit for a player to be named later. Ryan has shown power in the minors and two years ago in a brief callup. When the Tigers aquired Gerald Laird it pushed Brandon Inge to 3rd and Ryan out of contention to be behind the dish. Ryan adds depth at catcher and could push Hundley from Portland. Seems like a make or break year for Hundley in 2010.
Correia signs for one year and thats really a great move as I believe that in “real life” as well as Fantasy Baseball “Contract” players are always hungrier than some one who just signed for 3-4 years. Can Correia duplicate what he did last year? Maybe and maybe not but he sure will be giving it 100% hoping to land a lucrative contract somewhere if not in his hometown of San Diego.
I want to add to this and hope to write more tomorrow.

Tags: Brandon Inge, Dusty Ryan, Gerald Laird, Kevin Correia, Nick Hundley