SB Nation User Blog: sectionop92

OT: Thoughts on hazing

sectionop92 — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 05:29:19 -0000

There has been an awful lot of run on the "playful" side of rookie hazing in the last few days and a lot of it has centered on the Padres. Living in San Diego, this hasn't been the first time the topic has come up in relation to the team this season. Former players like Phil Nevin almost gloat about the nature of hazing and recall tales of a certain HOF-worthy reliever setting a rookies clothes on fire in a trash can for turning the radio to a different station. Given I'm not a very politically correct person, but when I was a senior in high school there was an incident on-campus that involved a freshman baseball player, some sophomores, a baseball bat and some lubricant. Suffice to say, all these years later I'd expect the tone and nature of hazing to be addressed by Major League Baseball in some way since it is my belief there is a huge trickle down effect of, "Hey isn't that cool...how can we top that?" in a lot of locker rooms throughout the nation, with the intention of malicious intent on younger players.

Every hazing story reminds me that there is a difference between humility and humiliation. If I have one pet peeve, it's that we support this type of behavior and ask how the next henous hazing incident happens at a school or in a recreational league. If we clap our hands for one, are we not enabling another? I don't want to come across as holier than thou, but I guess I have a hang-up concerning this topic.

OT: The Pads' "Victory Bell"

sectionop92 — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 23:03:59 -0000

Yesterday afternoon I was out and about as the Padres' pregame show hit the airwaves. Usually I don't care for the fluff-fest, but they had a real news update so I kept it on for a few minutes longer to edumacate myself to the events of the day.

As the stock market recap is given, the closing market bell ringing goes off. I thought nothing of it; it should be like the closing bell ringing I've always heard on every newscast before. Not today though. Right after the closing bell's ringing stopped, the pregame announcer proclaimed that the news man had "rung the Padres' victory bell". After I heard that, some part of me laughed and then died inside.

I just don't know if it's me or why the Padres seem to drag a lot of real life issues onto the field with them now, things that might seem to push an agenda more past being profitable (i.e. the camouflage jerseys). In a time when the economy is in the crapper, using the Dow's closing bell as a "victory bell" kind of smacks like a John McCain joke.

Jesus has risen in the AZL!

sectionop92 — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:50:56 -0000

Catcher Jesus Navarro and recent draftee C.J. Ziegler are currently the top offensive stars for the Rookie League Giants in Arizona. Given that Wendell Fairley is off to a solid start (read his stat line beyond the batting average), I'll take it as a positive sign that this team, which is essentially cobbled together from the college ranks, organizational filler and the latest imports, that a young catcher and a over-aged corner infielder are leading the offensive output at current without some of the real talent signed and on the way in.

Newest draft signings

sectionop92 — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:03:30 -0000

LHP's Aaron King and Scott Barnes along with 1B Robert Flanigan were added to the "signed" update to the Giants draft database over on Baseball America. This ended a cold streak of signings after many of the seniors in the class agreed to deals relatively quickly. Now lets start seeing some names like O'Sullivan, Crawford and Kieschnick get signed in the next few days.

If anyone has any info or rumored activity on what is going on in the Dominican, feel free to add any info to this thread.

Draft predictions

sectionop92 — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:33:57 -0000

I'm not one that thinks there is an overall terrible pick to be made, unless this team pulls a player from the second round out of it's draft hat for the #5 overall pick. There seems to be a surplus of good prospects to pick from that the aforementioned strategy shouldn't come into play, unless this team is copying the Bill Bidwell financial model. So since we're so close to the event in question, here are some of my thoughts about what could happen:

We take Hosmer at the #5 spot. Yeah, it goes against what is out there for what we're supposed to do...and that's the point. If this guy's power stroke and ability to play 1B or RF is all it's cracked up to be, we can't pass on him. This is the type of prospect who gives the franchise flexibility and that left-handed bomber that would have his own Countdown to McCovey Cove clickers. Alvarez, Smoak, either Beckham, Matusz, Skipworth, Alonso, Crow, Wallace, etc. would all be fine picks as well and I'd love to have them. Just something says "we f'n need this guy" when I keep reading about Hosmer.

Wouldn't be surprised if the first three players were all position players and if the ratio of hitters to pitchers for the first ten picks would be 6:4.

What does everyone else think? We got about 36 hours and some change until we're up on the dog and pony show Bungles calls the first round now.

Just when you thought you heard it all (NL cellar dweller related)

sectionop92 — Wed, 28 May 2008 03:06:14 -0000

On my way back from doing a favor for my roommate tonight, the homeristic Ted Leitner made my ears do a triple-take with a quote for the ages. Here's how Teddy Homer put it,

"With all the talent the Mets have, I'll take the Padres clubhouse in a second anytime."

I'm not taking him out of context. He didn't give the slightest hint that he was kidding. Teddy Homer proved just how under the heel he is when it comes to his employer. He'd rather not have a team with talent even if it underachieves, but have a team that has had the bottom fall out from under it, but has the "aw shucks" attitude. Ted lives in Denialsville...that the Padres will find a way out of being terrible and this won't last. It would be like any of us saying "Yeah, I want that Gamers spirit in SF rather than a load of talent, like in Tampa." To put it simply, Ted would rather have his kid's finger painting than have a Picasso if given the choice. Jon Miller is Aphrodite to Ted Leitner's hackneyed Banshee. For once, I do feel sorry for the Padres fans with the ownership that's copying the Bidwell model oh so well from the Arizona Cardinals.

Good (unexpected) news from Augusta

sectionop92 — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 07:04:33 -0000

Out of all the Baby Gigantes, Ramon Corona took the first big step forward tonight that the 2007 draft could have an additional dividend. Corona broke out of a 1-16 start with a 3 HR, 5 RBI and 15 total base night. It has been the first feature story on Milb.com for the night...a shame that it's a shade past midnight now and no mention, oh well! Corona is playing left field and his family lives two doors down from A-Rod in Florida. Also in the game, Nick Noonan got on track and Dan Turpen had another dominant three innings. Don't want to ruin the surprise of what happened in San Jose...I'll leave that for our regular recapper!!!

In honor of Ramon's night, I suggest a drinking game that any watching the Master's, that if any non-contender nails a putt beyond 20 feet it is worth of a shot and if they're still in contention in the back nine, that it's a shot on the odd numbered holes and three gulps of beer on the even numbered ones. Don't worry, you can pick your non-contender unless you want to forget your name or any wagers you have/had.

And if the Giants win three out of four...paint the town red and invite the Cossacks to join ya.

The opposing radio view from today's (3/12) game

sectionop92 — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:53:53 -0000

If anything, Padres' annoucners Ted Leitner and Andy Mazur are already in mid-season form...as in, the Padres are "GODS!!!" and they can't see the parallels between them and the Giants.

Example #1. They talked about draft history and said the Giants have gotten nothing besides Cain and Lincecum. Then they go on to taught Khalil Greene, Chase Headley(yeah...hasn't made the team yet, but understandable) and leave out the fact that they've blown just as many picks, if not bigger ones, because they chased hitters for nearly a decade. So the pot can't call the kettle black because John Moores doesn't pay for that.

Example #2. Leitner and Mazur gloss poetic about money the Giants wasted on Aaron Rowand, but low-and-behold, you always hear how great a leader Tony Clark will be because he played his high school basketball and broke Bill Walton's local records, how Brian Giles is a "GAMER!" and how Jim Edmonds is finally going to be on the Padres' side when he gets those "big hits" he always got against them. Ah...where can I pull to the side of the road and toss my car radio then the contents of whatever is in my stomach?

Example #3. Jerry Coleman...for as great as he was...needs to be put out of the broadcast booth. He said at the end of the inning today: "San Diego Padres 5, San Diego Padres 3...I'm mean San Francisco Giants 3." It's obvious the guy can still talk, but he doesn't prepare in any way. This is the same HOF announcer who asked if Steve Kline was 98 years old last season, in reference to how long he's been in the pro's. Just put a mic in-front of him, but don't connect the cord if he won't go willingly.

So that's the way it is...down here, where the Pads will be proud to be wearing the sand camouflage jerseys once again because they just don't get it.

For anyone who has the Sporting News season preview issue

sectionop92 — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 02:16:57 -0000

Is it just me or did the baseball writers of the Sporting News staff fluff this issue like Joe Everyfan was a porn star? Red Sox vs. Cubs world series predicition, "bad, bad Barry Bonds" interview with Lance Williams, the "rival" scouts blurbs reading like pragmatism is a overpriced claret when they'd rather have the moonshine in the coffee cup, etc. etc.

Loved reading how Tim Alderson was a "polished college pitcher" in the top 10 prospects section. Fact check, thy name is handing assignments down to interns to get $2 hot wings and eye humpage on deadline at 4 p.m. right before issue goes to print.

The article that related to the issues around whether the players out of high school should or shouldn't sign was pretty good (of course, since it had the Bumgarner's in it). And the college and high school stuff in back since it's a quick reference to the main names. But this is quite a horrendous preview none-the-less outside of those few highlights.

Pedro Alvarez injury

sectionop92 — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:15:50 -0000

Is a freefall possible? This could bump up other corner infielders who do play all season.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/college/?p=348