I know this isn't a Padres story, but it caught my attention immediately. Andruw Jones could be looking for a new team for the 2009 season, because according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com, Jones will not make the Rangers squad out of Spring Training. That's not to say he won't take an assignment to their AAA club, but I think he would rather go somewhere where he has a chance to start.
I know San Diego isn't exactly looking for outfielders, but if they can make a deal to send Kevin Kouzmanoff somewhere for a few prospects, move Chase Headley to 3rd, you can get Jones for cheap, slide him to left, since the Dodgers are paying him a huge chunk of his contract from 2008.
Takers anyone?
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Red Sox cut Josh Bard
Josh Bard seems to be running into bad luck since his stint with the Padres. The former Padres' catcher was cut by the Boston Red Sox today according to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald.
This move comes as somewhat of a surprise to me, especially since Bard wasn't exactly struggling during Spring Training, hitting a torrid .429 with one home run and five RBI's in six games played. Taking Bard's place as the backup catcher to Jason Varitek will be former Padres' prospect George Kottaras, who is out of minor league options.
This move comes as somewhat of a surprise to me, especially since Bard wasn't exactly struggling during Spring Training, hitting a torrid .429 with one home run and five RBI's in six games played. Taking Bard's place as the backup catcher to Jason Varitek will be former Padres' prospect George Kottaras, who is out of minor league options.
Blanks will get fly balls in the outfield
Apparently Kevin Towers has become a full fledged fan of young first baseman Kyle Blanks. So much so, that he talked to Grady Fuson, the Padres' Director of Scouting and Player Development about getting Blanks some work in the outfield but only in pre-game workouts.
Padres' GM Kevin Towers: “We're not going to stick him in the outfield. We may hit him some fly balls in pregame, see how he does.”
This comes on the heels of Adrian Gonzalez getting ready to return to the team after Team Mexico was eliminated from the World Baseball Classic, meaning Blanks will see limited playing time.
I'm all for this move, if you can get Kyle Blanks and Adrian Gonzalez in the same lineup, it gives this offense a definite boost. Don't expect young Blanks to start the year in San Diego, Towers has already said that he'll be in Portland to start 2009, but if he impresses coaches during his workouts in the outfield, don't be surprised if it's not long before he gets the call up.
Padres' GM Kevin Towers: “We're not going to stick him in the outfield. We may hit him some fly balls in pregame, see how he does.”
This comes on the heels of Adrian Gonzalez getting ready to return to the team after Team Mexico was eliminated from the World Baseball Classic, meaning Blanks will see limited playing time.
I'm all for this move, if you can get Kyle Blanks and Adrian Gonzalez in the same lineup, it gives this offense a definite boost. Don't expect young Blanks to start the year in San Diego, Towers has already said that he'll be in Portland to start 2009, but if he impresses coaches during his workouts in the outfield, don't be surprised if it's not long before he gets the call up.
Bell continues to struggle during WBC
No more Hells Bells, no more Trevor Hoffman, so us Padre fans have put our faith in a guy we believe can do the job and do it just as well, if not better, than the All-Time Saves leader.
Heath Bell is the guy now for the Padres, the guy that will be coming in in the 9th inning to close out a Padres' victory. But if the WBC is any indication of how he'll perform, I'm more than a little worried about his ability. Bell has continued to struggle during the World Baseball Classic, his ERA sits at a hefty 10.50, giving up 3 runs in just 2 2/3 innings including giving up a run last night against Puerto Rico in USA's dramatic 6-5 win.
So, does that make you question Bell's ability to get the job done for the Padres? Or do you chalk this up to him just getting his feet underneath him and that he'll be ok when the regular season opens? The Padres need Bell to be their guy, they don't want a closer by committee situation, this team just can't handle that right now.
Heath Bell is the guy now for the Padres, the guy that will be coming in in the 9th inning to close out a Padres' victory. But if the WBC is any indication of how he'll perform, I'm more than a little worried about his ability. Bell has continued to struggle during the World Baseball Classic, his ERA sits at a hefty 10.50, giving up 3 runs in just 2 2/3 innings including giving up a run last night against Puerto Rico in USA's dramatic 6-5 win.
So, does that make you question Bell's ability to get the job done for the Padres? Or do you chalk this up to him just getting his feet underneath him and that he'll be ok when the regular season opens? The Padres need Bell to be their guy, they don't want a closer by committee situation, this team just can't handle that right now.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Gerut shines, Geer does not
I was just talking to a friend of mine this afternoon about a name I hadn't really heard all of Spring Training, and wouldn't you know it right on cue, Jody Gerut shows himself with his first home run of the spring...nice timing Jody.
Also having a good day this afternoon were third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, outfielder Chase Headley, outfielder/infielder Chris Burke, outfielder Chris Snelling and first baseman Kyle Blanks. Kouzmanoff, Headley and Snelling each drove in a run and Burke would drive in two while Kyle Blanks would add two more hits to his already torid spring, raising his spring batting average to an incredible .341. Watch out Adrian Gonzalez, Blanks is coming for your job.
Would the real fourth and fifth starters, in the Padres rotation, please STAND THE HECK UP! Wade LeBlanc, would had an outside shot of landing the 5th spot in the rotation, was sent to the Padres' minor league camp after giving up seven earned runs in six combined innings. Now Josh Geer, another guy who had a shot at the 5th spot, struggled today as well. Geer gave up six runs on nine hits in just 3 2/3 innings. The Padres may need to look outside their own organization for those final two spots, because it doesn't look like Geer is going to be one of those guys as well, although non-roster invitee Kevin Correia has shown flashes of brilliance and could land at #4.
Also having a good day this afternoon were third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, outfielder Chase Headley, outfielder/infielder Chris Burke, outfielder Chris Snelling and first baseman Kyle Blanks. Kouzmanoff, Headley and Snelling each drove in a run and Burke would drive in two while Kyle Blanks would add two more hits to his already torid spring, raising his spring batting average to an incredible .341. Watch out Adrian Gonzalez, Blanks is coming for your job.
Would the real fourth and fifth starters, in the Padres rotation, please STAND THE HECK UP! Wade LeBlanc, would had an outside shot of landing the 5th spot in the rotation, was sent to the Padres' minor league camp after giving up seven earned runs in six combined innings. Now Josh Geer, another guy who had a shot at the 5th spot, struggled today as well. Geer gave up six runs on nine hits in just 3 2/3 innings. The Padres may need to look outside their own organization for those final two spots, because it doesn't look like Geer is going to be one of those guys as well, although non-roster invitee Kevin Correia has shown flashes of brilliance and could land at #4.
Roster moves
Corey Brock checks in through his blog, reporting that right-hander Chris Britton was told by Padres' brass that he will not make the San Diego Padres.
Other moves made today, five players were moved to the minor league camp including left-hander Wade LeBlanc who was hoping to make the team as the 5th starter, but after allowing seven runs over six innings of work, he may have more to work on than the thought.
Other moves made today, five players were moved to the minor league camp including left-hander Wade LeBlanc who was hoping to make the team as the 5th starter, but after allowing seven runs over six innings of work, he may have more to work on than the thought.
Adrian Gonzalez or Kyle Blanks
Ok, now this isn't a question that came up last year, but believe me when I say this, it will come up this season.
Young prospect, though he doesn't quite look young at 6'6" and 270 lbs, Kyle Blanks has started to make a case for himself during Spring Training while current Padres' first baseman Adrian Gonzalez plays for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. Blanks is currently hitting .325 with a .429 on base percentage, a stat this organization absolutely smiles upon, as well as 3 HR's and 9 RBI's in 40 total at bats.
The reason this becomes a question is, with Blanks just below the majors as he'll start his season in AAA-Portland, a lot of teams will be looking at him with the assumption that the Padres will not be willing to part with Adrian Gonzalez, so they might possibly have to unload Blanks in a trade. There has been talk, however, that the Padres have kicked around the idea of sliding him to the outfield to have both his and Gonzalez' bats in the lineup. Although Blanks has good speed for a guy of his size, he doesn't have quite the lateral movement needed to cover the vast outfield of Petco Park.
If Blanks tears up AAA and shows no sign of slowing down, the Padres may have some serious decision making to do about his future. Do you call Portland and move him to the outfield to see how he does, or do you really want to risk him being a defensive liability?
If you're asking me, Blanks can be the Padres' future at 1st base, but with the offensive output that the Padres have gotten from Adrian Gonzalez, it definitely could be one of the toughest decisions they'll make, because after Blanks, there isn't a prospect in their farm system that could make the kind of impact than that of Kyle Blanks.
Young prospect, though he doesn't quite look young at 6'6" and 270 lbs, Kyle Blanks has started to make a case for himself during Spring Training while current Padres' first baseman Adrian Gonzalez plays for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. Blanks is currently hitting .325 with a .429 on base percentage, a stat this organization absolutely smiles upon, as well as 3 HR's and 9 RBI's in 40 total at bats.
The reason this becomes a question is, with Blanks just below the majors as he'll start his season in AAA-Portland, a lot of teams will be looking at him with the assumption that the Padres will not be willing to part with Adrian Gonzalez, so they might possibly have to unload Blanks in a trade. There has been talk, however, that the Padres have kicked around the idea of sliding him to the outfield to have both his and Gonzalez' bats in the lineup. Although Blanks has good speed for a guy of his size, he doesn't have quite the lateral movement needed to cover the vast outfield of Petco Park.
If Blanks tears up AAA and shows no sign of slowing down, the Padres may have some serious decision making to do about his future. Do you call Portland and move him to the outfield to see how he does, or do you really want to risk him being a defensive liability?
If you're asking me, Blanks can be the Padres' future at 1st base, but with the offensive output that the Padres have gotten from Adrian Gonzalez, it definitely could be one of the toughest decisions they'll make, because after Blanks, there isn't a prospect in their farm system that could make the kind of impact than that of Kyle Blanks.
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