Saturday, May 09, 2009

Once Again Meredith lets them ALL score

Saturday May 9, 2009

Once again ALL the inherited runners score off Cla Meredith.

This time is is because he blew the play at the plate.

He may only have a 3.38 ERA but he has allowed 10 of 11 inherited runners to score this season. That is pathetic.

And speaking of pathetic, now Bud Black is making another pitching change.

Why did Black wait to bing in Meredith?

Saturday May 9, 2009

Why did Padres manager Bud black wait until AFTER Gregerson walked the lead off batter and went to 2-0 on the 2nd batter to bring in Cla Meredith?

Wouldn't it have made much more sense to bring him in to start off the inning?

Bud Black has to go.

Lead Off Walk by Gregerson

Saturday May 9, 2009

Padres reliever Luke Gregerson returns to the mound in the bottom of the 8th and immediately walks the lead off batter.

And he didn't walk just any batter, he walked the NL leader in stolen bases.

Headley comes through with a 2 run double

Saturday May 9, 2009

Chase Headley comes through with a 2 run double off Astros reliever Latroy Hawkins.

Wow!

Padres lead 4-3 going into the bottom of the 8th.

Nice job Lefebvre.

Saturday May 9, 2009

Nice job Lefebvre.

Now the Padres batters are watching fat pitches cross the plate for strikes plate appearance after plate appearance and having to swing at balls off the plate because they are behind in the count. Either that or taking feeble swipes at first pitches. There is no in between with these guys right now.

I think we should start calling you a NON-hitting coach, since your players are not hitting.

You are pretty obviously doing a horrid job and the players in your charge are sucking wind.

Padres hitters show patience at plate

Saturday May 9, 2009

Man on base and starting pitcher in the 7th inning so OF course you swing at the first pitch. Well that is if you are a Padres hitter.

Kevin Kouzmanoff wastes another opportunity with runners on base in the 7th.

The Padres pitcher comes through with a key double.

Saturday May 9, 2009

Padres pitcher Kevin Correia came through with a lead off double in the top of the 6th and the Padres finally got a base hit with runners in scoring position to take a 1-0 lead through 5 1/2.

Unfortunately Correia immediately gave up a single, another walk and a run scoring single with one out in the bottom of the inning.

He then followed that with a by giving up a sac fly to deep right that gave the Astros the lead.

This will probably be Correia's last inning so the Padres will probably not have another chance to score against the Astros.

5 Strike outs in 5 IP for Moehler

Saturday May 9, 2009

Astros starter Brian Moehler now has 5 strike outs in 5 innings and has now retired 9 Padres in a row.

This is a pathetic display from the Padres.

It took 4 innings for Corriea to lose control

Saturday May 9, 2009

Kevin Correia showed uncharacteristic control through 3 innings tonight before walking 2 in the 4th inning.

If not for an incredible throw to 2nd by Nick Hundley on a steal attempt by Michael Bourn, the Padres would be down 1-0.

My question is how many more will Black allow Correia to walk before pulling him?

Padres are being shutdown by worst pitcher in baseball

Saturday May 9, 2009

The San Diego Padres are being shut down by a pitcher that was giving up a .479 BAA and a 14.00 ERA in 3 starts going into the game today.

Brian Moehler may be the worst starting pitcher in baseball and the Padres have managed just two weak singles in 4 innings while striking out 4 times.

The Padres bumbling hitters are making Brian Moehler of the Astros look like Maddux today in Houston.

Padres hitters seem to just be going through the motions at the plate. Have the players simply given up?

It would be an damning indictment of the manager and the coaching staff if they continue to play like this tonight.

Will Bud Black be the next manager fired in the NL West?

In my opinion Black should not make the trip home to San Diego if the team cannot somehow turn this around and win this game tonight and at least 3 more on this road trip.

I have had my say. Now What do you think?

Who Will the Padres Draft in June?

Saturday May 9, 2009

Who Will the San Diego Padres Draft in the June MLB Amateur Draft?

The draft is approaching and the Padres have their highest draft pick since 2004.

At the number 3 overall pick, impact type players are certain to be available when the Padres turn comes up.

For 2009 there is a glaring dearth of positional players that are expected to go high in the draft, but as many as 3 of them may go in the top 10 overall picks.

I will start with 4 college players that are either consensus top 10 or in the case of Grant Green were expected to be picked by the Padres prior to the college season on the basis of system need.

So who will the Padres pick and why?

Grant Green (Boras)

Early in the year many said the Padres should go after an area of need and draft USC Shortstop Grant Green, but Green, whom the Padres drafted in the 14th round in 2006 out of high school and were unable to sign, has not hit for power in the 2008-2009 college baseball season and has committed 15 errors in just 44 games.

Green's batting average of .368 through May 5th sounds good, but he has hit only 3 home runs and 22 extra base hits total. His 31-17 SO/BB ratio is not promising for a light hitting SS either.

On most draft boards Grant Greens stock has fallen precipitously and he is now expected to go in the middle of the 1st round.

I do not expect the Padres to draft Green with their pick in 2009.


Alex White

Alex White of the University of North Carolina is another player that has been mentioned in connection with the Padres. White is a right handed sinkerball pitcher that can hit 95-96 on the gun. He also has a plus slider that he often uses an his out pitch.

In 2009 White has a 7-2 record with a 3.45 ERA in 11 starts. In 75.2 IP he has given up 61 hits and 31 walks while striking out 82.

After a 13-3 record with a 2.83 ERA in 15 starts and just 78 hits and 42 walks vs 113 strike outs during his sophomore year in 2008, many expected White to improve on that record in 2009, but his draft stock has not dropped.

He is still a good candidate to go #3 overall to the Padres in 2009.


Dustin Ackley (Boras)

White's teammate, 1B/OF Dustin Ackley is another prospect that is projected to go high in the draft. the left handed batting Ackley is hitting .400 with a ridiculous .726 slugging percentage and 15 home runs in 49 games. He is far and away the best college hitting prospect available in the draft.

The problem for the Padres is that he has primarily played first base following Tommy john surgery in July 2008. First base is a position of strength already in the Padres system headed by Adrian Gonzalez at San Diego with Kyle Blanks, the power hitting Felix Carrasco and 2008 1st round pick Allen Dykstra following close behind.

Many feel Ackley will move back to the outfield as a professional and while there are many outfielders in the Padres system with potential, none have stepped up and showed they can be a major league starter.

I would not be surprised at all to see the Padres pick Ackley with their #3 pick and move him to a corner OF position.


Kyle Gibson

This University of Missouri pitcher burst out of the gate so strongly this season that many felt he may go as high as 32 overall. While he has come down to earth a little, Gibson still has a 9-3 record in 13 starts with a 3.73 ERA. Gibson has given up 84 hits and 15 walks in 91.2 innings while striking out 115.

Gibson has a low 90's fastball which many scouts believe will improve in velocity as he bulks up from his current 208 lbs on a 6'6" frame. He also has a very good change up which he commands well and a devastating slider which grades out as a ++.

While Gibson lacks the high upside potential of some of the other pitchers in the 2009 draft, because of his outstanding control and size, in my opinion he is the most likely to reach his full potential as a professional.

In the past the Padres have chosen a large number of college pitchers with good control, so do not be surprised to see Gibson's name called when the Padres pick at #3.


In my next post I will cover 6 other players whose names may be called when the Padres pick int eh 2009 Amatuer Draft.

LHP Tyler Matzek of Capistrano Valley HS (CA)

RHP Aaron Crow - 1st round pick of the Washington National in 2008 out of the University of Missouri and current independent league Forth Worth Cats pitcher.

OF Donovan Tate of Cartersville HS (GA)

RHP Zack Wheeler of East Paulding HS (GA)

LHP Mike Leake of Arizona State University

LHP Matthew Purke of Klein HS (Tx)