The Official San Diego Padres Thread

[bkrich83]

They've gotta get Headley out of LF. Butchered another ball out there that led to runs again.

[BatsareBugs]

Apparently Blanks has looked good so far in limited exposure to LF, but anyone can look good in controlled conditions. I'm not buying into Fuson's comments about Blanks since it's basically confirmed that he's on something given his comments about BA this past offseason.

I think the time to pull the plug on Cesar Carrillo will come soon, he has struggled, mightily, in San Antonio with an ugly K-BB ratio, ERA, everything. Also, I would not be surprised if Nick Schmidt is a bust too. He's struggling in Class A Fort Wayne.

James Darnell came to play this season and while posing a batting average of about .270-.280, he's been drawing a load of walks and has been done enough to have an OPS above 1.000 over the course of a month. It'll be interesting to keep tabs on him, as he's one of the more intriguing picks this past amateur draft.

Allan Dykstra has been struggling at the same level as Darnell, no home runs.

Blanks and Venable both have 5 home runs and have been the only few bright spots in Portland aside from Greg Burke.

Jeremy Hefner has been red-hot for the Storm, but overall pitching in the minors has been terrible, especially at the higher levels. Cedric Hunter, 2007 top prospect for the Padres on BA, has struggled in San Antonio. Meanwhile, Luis Durango, a potential lead-off hitter who has gone through the system slowly, has been hitting well and has stolen 15 bases in 18 attempts. His slugging percentage is atrocious however and still the memory of Freddy Guzman rings in my mind with players like Luis Durango.

Oh yeah, positives on today's game, Scott Hairston going 3-4 with a dinger. Edward Mujica. Negatives, Correia, Moreno, the Cla, and overall offense with only 4 or so hits in the game.

[xxBIG EVILxx]

We suck again! (In my best Rob Schnieder in Waterboy voice)

[BatsareBugs]

Quote: Originally Posted by xxBIG EVILxx

We suck again! (In my best Rob Schnieder in Waterboy voice)

Here's a fun fact... well actually, an embarrassing one.

The Padres starting rotation is 0-9 with a 5.01 ERA in the last 22 games. It's no wonder they've gone 6-16 coupled with our black hole offense. The last starting pitcher to get a win was Jake Peavy with the 6-5 victory over the Mets.

That's my negative. There's nothing good going with the major league club. The Padres did send down Arturo Lopez and called up Drew Macias to make room for Kyle Blanks in the outfield at Portland.

Speaking of the minor leagues:

Fort Wayne Tin Caps:
OF Jaff Decker may be the next top Padres prospect to go through the system and may be the best player out of the 2008 draft class. That is too early of a claim but last season he had a line of .343/.513/.521 with 18 XBH (3 home runs), 57 BB to 41 K, and 9 stolen bases in 52 games. This year his line is solid, .317/.548/.659, 8 XBH (3 home runs), 18 BB to 13 K. He seems to be capable of getting the extra base hit and has great discipline.

3B James Darnell has slumped to a .236 average and a .863 OPS after starting off above .300 and a 1 OPS.

Other position players of note at SS Drew Cumberland and OF Sawyer Carroll. 1B Allan Dysktra continues to struggle in Fort Wayne, but finally launched his first home run this week.

SP Mat Latos finally pitched this season. After two games, the young right-hander has 12 K's to 3 walks, has given up only 4 hits and has not given up a run in just slightly over 11 innings of work. He should find himself in Lake Elsinore soon if he doesn't run into any setbacks.

Lake Elsinore Storm:
SS Lance Zawadzki should be ticketed for a promotion soon. He's dominated Lake Elsinore with a .338 average, 8 home runs, and 1.095 OPS. He is also a little-bit old for Class Advanced-A. Currently the front-running shortstop prospect in the minor league system, he should be in San Antonio soon, where he'll be tested whether or not he's actually legit or a fake.

3B Logan Forsythe, drafted this past year, has done well in Lake Elsinore. 3 home runs out of third basemen isn't impressive, but a .320 BA and a .973 OPS along with 27 BB's to 25 K's is.

1B Felix Carrasco has turned it on in recent weeks, hitting 6 home runs adn bringing his average up to a respectable .281 after struggling to begin the season. However, he'll need to sustain this production in order to prove scouts and other people that this wasn't just a flash in the pan.

LF Yefri Carvajal has finally figured out how to hit. With a .283 average, the tank in the outfield still needs to show more firepower in his bat. He only hit .268 in Fort Wayne with only a .357 slugging percentage, but a .404 slugging percentage this season is a step in the right direction for the 20-year old former-international free agent signee. Highly-touted at the time, Carvajal has not lived up to the organization generated hype, but who does?

Lake Elsinore probably has the best rotation in the minors with guys like Jeremy Hefner, Jeremy McBryde and Wynn Pelzer, but they need to sustain their current Class Advanced-A lines and get through San Antonio before becoming more than just a blip on the prospect sheet.

San Antonio Missions:
LF Luis Durango should be climbing up the organization's top prospect rankings. Now in his 4th season of professional ball, Durango continues to produce with a .361/.437/.387 in San Antonio. His career minor league line is at .350/.436/.415. While being fleet-footed and having been the Padres fastest baserunner until the acquisition of SS Everth Cabrera this past season, Durango has not stolen as many bases until this season. His previous high in stolen bases was 19 in 2005 in Rookie ball, but he also had 13 caught stealings. This season he's already at 17 with only 4 caught stealings. His biggest knocks are his lack of baseball instincts and ability to hit for power. He lacks the arm and the reaction to play a solid centerfield and still needs to work on getting better jumps on the basepaths. His lack of power has a lot to do with his small 5-9, 155 frame. In any case, he participated in the WBC this year and could be a solid leadoff hitter. He has continued to hit at every level. One more impressive stat for Durango, he has more walks than strikeouts in the minors. He does not seem to strikeout a lot.

One player who came on last year was 2B Eric Sogard. His line is currently at .311/.452/.459. 1 HR, 6 RBI, 3 SB, 19 BB to 9 K's. He offers some power and can still some bases, and it'll be worth-while if he can sustain another season hitting above .300 and maintaining more walks than strikeouts.

RF Kellen Kulbacki played this week, but it was only one game. He came on towards in Lake Elsinore last season.

CF Cedric Hunter is still struggling in San Antonio. His OPS is at a Giles-like .590, but if there's one positive, he has a 9-9 Strikeout-to-Walk line in 117 at-bats. If he can turn it on and bring his numbers up, he should still be on track, but if not, it'll be likely that the 21-year old centerfielder repeats San Antonio.

SP Will Inman looks like he's gotten back on track. Acquired from the Brewers along with Steve Garrison and Joe Thatcher for Scott Linebrink in 2007, the young right-hander has a 3-1 record with a 3.38 ERA in 6 starts. His K-BB ratio has improved so far ta 27-6. The catch? He better be doing better when it's his third go-around at the AA level.

Portland Beavers:
As mentioned earlier, Kyle Blanks will be moved to left field. The move will take place tomorrow. It'll be interesting to see if he sticks, but he has been mashing in Portland. Blanks currently leads the Beavers offense with a .291 average, 7 home runs, and 20 rbis.

Closer Greg Burke may be the next reliever called up as the Padres struggle to find capable relievers this season. His line currently is 2.25 ERA, 0.75 WHIP (8 hits and 4 walks in 16 IP), 14 K's.

CF Will Venable has slowed down considerably and is now hitting .255 and still stuck on 5 home runs.

2B Matt Antonelli is still injured.

[dunnyduns]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rag3vsW0rld

Speaking of the minor leagues: Fort Wayne Tin Caps: OF Jaff Decker may be the next top Padres prospect to go through the system and may be the best player out of the 2008 draft class. That is too early of a claim but last season he had a line of .343/.513/.521 with 18 XBH (3 home runs), 57 BB to 41 K, and 9 stolen bases in 52 games. This year his line is solid, .317/.548/.659, 8 XBH (3 home runs), 18 BB to 13 K. He seems to be capable of getting the extra base hit and has great discipline. 3B James Darnell has slumped to a .236 average and a .863 OPS after starting off above .300 and a 1 OPS. Other position players of note at SS Drew Cumberland and OF Sawyer Carroll. 1B Allan Dysktra continues to struggle in Fort Wayne, but finally launched his first home run this week. SP Mat Latos finally pitched this season. After two games, the young right-hander has 12 K's to 3 walks, has given up only 4 hits and has not given up a run in just slightly over 11 innings of work. He should find himself in Lake Elsinore soon if he doesn't run into any setbacks.

I attended my first Fort Wayne Tincaps game at the new Parkview Field in Fort Wayne which is an excellent minor league ballpark.

After watching the game today though I have to say I'm extremely impressed with Jaff Decker. Decker has the build of Matt Stairs and at first glance doesn't look like major league baseball material. To me his stance reminds me of a softball stance with his feet closer together standing upright in the back of the box but, then he just explodes into the ball with nice left handed swing which is a thing of beauty to watch. Decker sweet stroke absolutely crushed a pitch in the first inning an estimated 450 feet. Decker also showed good patience at the plate drawing 2 walks and ended up 2 for 3 on the day. Also, Decker showed some pretty good speed for a guy of his build almost scoring from first on a gapper to the outfield which to me he looked safe at home but, was called out. I didn't get to see a lot defensively as he didn't see a lot of action in Left Field beside routine flyballs and singles to left field so I'll just say he looked passable defensively. I would have liked to have seen what kind of arm he has. I was also able to meet and talk to him after the game for a minute and he seems like a nice kid as well. I will definitely be rooting for Decker to make it to the majors and from what I have seen albeit in just one game he looks like he will be able to make it one day. I just wish he was in the Cubs minor league system.

Allan Dysktra is in a major slump and he knows it so, it looked like he was really pressing at the plate to end the slump. Besides a few solidly hit foul balls he didn't do a thing at the plate so the slump continues. He did make a few nice plays at 1st base so, at least his slump isn't following him to the field.

Drew Cumberland is hurt and didn't play. Sawyer Carroll looked good at the plate ripping 2 doubles into the gap. Neither of the 2 pitchers who pitch were noteworthy and I don't believe either are top quality prospects anyways.

So, from what I have seen today the one true gem on the Tincaps and future Padre is Decker. If Allan Dysktra can get it going at the plate he could see the majors one day. Next time I go I'll have to keep more of an eye on Darnell as he really didn't stand out today. I look forward to going back to Fort Wayne just to see Decker and his swing in action some more.

[BatsareBugs]

I would think Decker has at least a decent arm since he was also a pitcher in high school. I think it's awesome that you can get to see the games. I am nowhere near any of the Padres minor league affiliates and all I can do is try my best getting stuff from other people and minor league baseball's own website.

[Knight165]

Guys...why the move to put Blanks in LF?
Who are they going to play at 1B?

Thanks..

M.K.
Knight165

[dunnyduns]

If Decker can just have a decent arm and can be an average outfielder then he is in good shape because his bat is going to take him far. I think if he looked more like your typical baseball player instead of being of short and stocky like he is then his stock would really be through the roof. I really hope he makes it because baseball needs more short and stocky guys and more people need to see his that swing. It really is a hell of a stroke and being left handed makes it look that much nicer to me.

Here are a few pictures I took of the new Parkview Field and of Decker. Too bad I wasn't able to get any shots of his swing. The picture of Decker signing the ball was when I was able to talk to him while he signed the baseball for my son. The pink Jersey's were for Mother's Day and not their regular jerseys thankfully.

Also if you look in the picture of the stadium by the scoreboard and see the seats up there that's where Decker's 450 foot blast landed. It was about 4 or 5 rows up that section.