SB Nation User Blog: zotzotpadre

I like our chances

zotzotpadre — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:02:13 -0000

I like our chances

Padres increased their playoff percentage (whatever that means) by 1.1% DIFF (whatever that means)... this was back when they were 4-2... imagine what their chances are now!

Powerless Padres

zotzotpadre — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:36:09 -0000

Powerless Padres

at least Moores made off with these and this (which apparently sits in his warehouse)...

I want some MO!

zotzotpadre — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 02:30:20 -0000

I think the Padres were interested in Willy Mo Pena a couple years ago (?)... and he was recently released from the logjam-outfield that the Nats have. I just read about Pena being released here...

He has some upside and he could be a good addition if he works out (can anyone say Gerut-of-2009?). I guess the problem would be finding a place for him to play... can he be our fourth outfielder for a couple months?

Strasburg demands

zotzotpadre — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:12:39 -0000

Strasburg demands

Reported by ESPN's Gammons (though the link is to the mlbtraderumors.com site - because i'm not an insider)

Strasburg could demand big money from the Nats... or else (Japan, M's and Padres...)

Sickels' San Diego Sleeper

zotzotpadre — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:33:24 -0000

According to John Sickels, at minorleagueball.com, this kid by the name of Wynn Pelzer is a sleeper prospect... I'm guessing this is not the type of sleeper that could have a big impact in 2009, but more of a guy that could appear near the top of the padres top-prospect list in the future...

Anyways, here's what Sickels has to say:

Wynn Pelzer, RHP, San Diego Padres
A ninth round pick out of the University of South Carolina in 2007, Pelzer went 9-6, 3.19 with a 100/32 K/BB in 118 innings for Fort Wayne in the Midwest League in '08, credible though not terrific performance. But it is better than what he did in college, where he struggled with his command, and scouts point to a 91-94 MPH fastball as a sign of potential. His breaking ball is also quite good, but his changeup and splitter need work, and his command within the strike zone is still wobbly. I saw him pitch in college and was impressed with his arm strength, and I still think he's got significant development potential.

To read about the rest of the sleepers in the nl west, jump

WBC, Peavy on the hill tonight

zotzotpadre — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:21:40 -0000

Sure, Peavy will be on the mound tonight for the USA against Puerto Rico (sounds like a pretty interesting matchup)... but according to the World Baseball Classic website, I will not be able to watch - because it's on ESPN Deportes. Is this some scheme to try to get me to buy that MLB internet tv or what?

I don't even know if I can listen to this game on the radio? Does anyone know what the deal is? Any suggestion/discussion would be helpful - if tv/radio are unavailable, i hope someone is posting updates on gaslampball (i can always depend on glb)

Antonelli, Denker make top 5

zotzotpadre — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:13:17 -0000

Yahoo Sports 2b Position Primer

If you're looking around for the 2b prospect ranks, look waaay down at the bottom.

It was interesting to find Matt Antonelli still on some fantasy baseball "experts" short list of top 2b prospects... He ranked 4th on Funston and Pianowski's top 5 lists.

Also of note, Padres utility man, Travis Denker comes in at number 5 on Brad Evans list. Denker is having a pretty solid spring training.

Sickels on Will Inman

zotzotpadre — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 22:30:28 -0000

Here's what John Sickels, Minor League Ball, had to say about Will Inman, apparently based on a first hand experience (to put his "Grade B-" in perspective, that makes Inman the Padres second best pitching prospect, based on the top 20 list provided earlier this year... if you're bored, follow the top 20 link to check out Kellen Kulbacki's draft grade and explanation):

Will Inman, RHP, San Diego Padres

Bats: R Throws: R HT: 6-1 WT: 210 DOB: February 6, 1987

Scouting report after watching Will Inman pitch in April for San Antonio:

Fastball was better than I had been led to expect: his first 12 fastballs were, in order, 88-89-88-90-89-88-87-91-92-90-89-87. The fastball also had more movement than anticipated, it was not the straight pitch that I have read about in Baseball America. He mixed in a slider at 79-81 MPH, and a slow curveball at 73-74. He also threw one pitch at 81 MPH which had bizarre screwball-like action; perhaps that was his changeup. I was impressed with his secondary stuff, the only real mistake he made was hanging a slow curveball that Dan Carte hit for a home run. I liked Inman and am comfortable with the Grade B he got on the book. I see him as a Jeff Suppan-type inning eater.

Inman’s season in the Texas League resulted in very good K/IP and H/IP ratios, reflecting the quality of his stuff. His walk rate was too high, and scouts report that he had trouble with his fastball command as the season progressed, though he battled through it. His delivery is funky but deceptive. I’ve liked Inman a lot in the past and still think he is underrated by scouts, but the slippage in his control, as well as an excessive fly ball tendency that could result in too many homers, lower his rating to Grade B- Many scouts would say that is still too high. Perhaps I’m just stubborn about this one, but I still like the K/IP and H/IP.

Projected Opening Day Lineup

zotzotpadre — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 16:54:40 -0000

So you've read about the projected 25-man roster and discussed it... now let's see where you think these guys will be batting... the primary discussions have been about who will be playing shortstop, whether kouz will be ready and who's going to play second base. here's mine:

Everth Cabrera, SS
David Eckstein, 2B
Brian Giles, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Chase Headley, 3B
Jody Gerut, CF
Nick Hundley, C
Scott Hairston, LF

Two Padres get Sickel'd

zotzotpadre — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:18:47 -0000

I like seeing Padres minor league info, especially the guys that don't get a lot of press. John Sickels posted some excerpts from his new book and here are two Padres he wanted to share with us:

Erik Davis, RHP, San Diego Padres

Bats: R Throws: R HT: 6-4 WT: 200 DOB: October 8, 1986

San Diego drafted Erik Davis in the 13th round last year, out of Stanford. He pitched excellently in his pro debut, showing sharp command of his 89-92 MPH sinking fastball, solid curveball and very good changeup. He never quite lived up to expectations in college, but scouts like his emotional fortitude: he was hit in the face by a line drive in the 2006 Cape Cod League, almost losing an eye and requiring reconstructive surgery. Davis will have to prove himself at higher levels, but he’s earned the opportunity, and I think he is a sleeper. Grade C.

Sawyer Carroll, OF, San Diego Padres
Bats: L Throws: R HT: 6-4 WT: 210 DOB: May 9, 1986

The Padres drafted Carroll in the supplemental third round last year, from the University of Kentucky. He was very successful in college, and he continued to hit well in the Northwest League after signing (OPS +33 percent). However, his strikeout rate at Eugene was rather high, and a late trial in the Midwest League resulted in poor numbers. People who like Carroll say he is a polished hitter with good strike zone judgment and at least decent power, who is fundamentally sound and makes the most out of average tools. People who don’t like Carroll say he’s an aluminum bat hitter who will struggle against better pitching, and that Midwest League pitchers exposed his lack of genuinely good bat speed. The jury is still out on this, given the sample size, but he’s shown the ability to make adjustments before. Grade C for now.

compliments of John Sickels over at http://www.minorleagueball.com/