14
Sep/09
20

Padres MiLB, September 10-14, Players of the Day; Playoffs!

Playoffs!

People, sorry I haven’t posted in a few days. I have been real busy with work and parenting (wife was out of town).

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Hitter(s) of the Day

Dan Robertson (Low-A): 2-4, 2B, 2 R, BB, SO

Vince Belnome (Low-A): 2-5, HR, 2 R, RBI, SO

Cole Figueroa (Low-A): 2-3, HR, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB

Pitcher(s) of the Day

Wynn Pelzer (High-A): 7.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO, 0 HR

Will Inman (AA): 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO, 1 HR

Evan Scribner (AA): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO, 0 HR

Commentary

I am certain we will see Evan Scribner in big league uniform at some point. That said, Pelzer and Inman have higher upsides. It is good to see productivity in playoff situations from all three hurlers.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Hitter of the Day

Eric Sogard (AA): 3-5, R, 2 RBI, SO

Cedric Hunter (AA): 3-5, 2B, 3 RBI

Pitcher of the Day

n/a

Commentary

Eric Sogard’s numbers took a hit this season (in an extreme pitchers’ park) but he still hit .293/.370/.400 with more walks than strikeouts (road: .320/.406/.436, home: .267/.335/.366).

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Hitter of the Day

Dan Robertson (Low-A): 2-6, 2B, R, RBI, SO

Jaff Decker (Low-A): 2-5, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 SO

Vince Belnome (Low-A): 2-5, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB, SO

Pitcher(s) of the Day

n/a

Commentary

Good to see Decker with a big game for the playoff TinCaps.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Hitter of the Day

Vince Belnome (Low-A): 2-4, 2B, 2 R

Allan Dykstra (Low-A): 2-4, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI

Pitcher(s) of the Day

Stiven Osuna (Low-A): 4.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO, 1 HR

Commentary

Dykstra came on strong to end the season. It will be interesting to see if he reverts to his ugly 75% of season numbers or if he builds on his fantastic final month.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Hitter of the Day

Vince Belnome (Low-A): 2-4, 2B, R, RBI, 2 SO

Pitcher(s) of the Day

Simon Castro (Low-A): 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO, 0 HR

Brad Brach (Low-A): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR

Commentary

Castro is a stud (Midwest League strikeout king).

9
Sep/09
6

Padres MiLB, September 9, Players of the Day; Playoff Edition

Playoffs!

Hitter(s) of the Day

Blake Tekotte (Low-A): 2-4, R, BB

Cedric Hunter (AA): 2-3, 2 2B, 2 BB – hat tip: Bob

Pitcher(s) of the Day

Simon Castro (Low-A): 6.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR

Brad Brach (Low-A): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR  

Ernesto Frieri (AA): 6.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR

Commentary

Fort Wayne won 3-1 and San Antonio and Lake Elsinore each lost by one 1-0 in 11 innings for San Antonio, and 6-5 for Lake Elsinore.

Simon Castro and Brad Brach and two other pitchers combined for a 2-hitter.

Frieri get zero love as a prospect. He has only allowed 125 hits in 147 innings (regular season plus Wednesday’s playoff game) and has a 7.6 K/9. On the down-side, he has a 3.97 BB/9. I’m not sure he’s a future starter, but I like him a lot as a reliever.

8
Sep/09
0

Padres MiLB, September 4-7, Players of the Day; Weekend Edition

Friday, September 04, 2009

Hitter(s) of the Day

Everett Williams (SS): 2-4, HR, R, RBI, BB, 2 SO  

Eric Sogard (AA): 2-5, 2B, R, RBI, BB, 2 SO

Cedric Hunter (AA): 3-6, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI, SB

Logan Forsythe (AA): 2-5, 2B, 3 R, RBI, BB, SO

Luis Durango (AA): 2-3, 2 R, 2 BB, SB

Pitcher(s) of the Day

Jorge Reyes (SS): 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO, 0 HR

Simon Castro (Low-A): 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 SO, 0 HR

Wynn Pelzer (High-A): 7.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO, 0 HR

Commentary

There are three of the top minor league pitchers in the organization. Others deserve to be in the discussion (Poreda, Bass, Luebke, Portillo, Sampson, and Sullivan deserve to be in the discussion).

Saturday, September 05, 2009

Hitter of the Day

Nathan Freiman (SS): 2-5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, SO  

Pitcher of the Day

Erik Davis (Low-A): 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR

Commentary

How awesome is it, that these two players are as good as they are and they will be outside the top organizational top 25.

Sunday, September 06, 2009

Happy Birthday Austin! Sunday was my oldest son’s 8th birthday…

Hitter(s) of the Day

Nathan Freiman (SS): 3-4, HR, R, 4 RBI, BB

Vince Belnome (Low-A): 3-5, 3B, R, 3 RBI  

Cedric Hunter (AA): 3-4, 2B, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI,

Pitcher(s) of the Day

Chris Fetter (Low-A): 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, 0 HR

Brandon Gomes (AA): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR

Commentary

Where do you rank Chris Fetter? He has pitched in short-season Eugene and Low-A Fort Wayne and has a combined 1.66 ERA. He throws in the low-90’s (legit but not “write home” velocity) and he’s taller and thus pitches at that downward plane that pitching experts love… On the other hand, he’s older (turns 24 this December) and will have to move through the system quickly. The system has gotten a lot deeper this year (with the addition of 2009 draftees, and development of 2008 draftees and 2008 international free agent acquisitions, and trade booty). Last year I rated Anthony Bass 23. I would argue that Fetter is comparable this year to Anthony Bass last year but because of increased depth, Fetter will not rank that high…

Monday, September 07, 2009

Hitter of the Day

Cedric Hunter (AA): 3-4, 2 R, RBI

Pitcher(s) of the Day

Stiven Osuna (Low-A): 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO, 0 HR

Cesar Ramos (AAA): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO, 0 HR

Commentary

Cedric Hunter hit well last week (14 for 31 – .452).

30
Aug/09
2

Padres MiLB, August 30, Players of the Day; Weekend Edition

Friday, August 28, 2009

Hitter(s) of the Day

Nathan Freiman (SS): 2-4, 2B, SO

Jaff Decker (Low-A): 2-4, 2B, 3B, R, RBI, BB

Vincent Belnome (Low-A): 3-4, R, RBI – welcome to Low-A

Lance Zawadzki (AA): 2-4, 3B, R, RBI

Pitcher(s) of the Day

Jerry Sullivan (SS): 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 8 SO, 0 HR

Anthony Bass (High-A): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR

Craig Italiano (High-A): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR

Commentary

Jerry Sullivan has been up and down since beginning his pro career… On the good side of the ledger: 53 strikeouts in 46.2 innings and .220 BAA… On the bad side: 5 HR and 23 walks. You cannot walk hitters and give up a lot of home runs and expect to succeed.

How about the combined night Bass and Italiano had?

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Hitter(s) of the Day

Everett Williams (Rookie): 2-5, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 SO

Rymer Liriano (Rookie): 2-5, R, 2 RBI, SO, 2 SB

Jorge Minyeti (Rookie): 2-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI, SO, 2 SB

Edinson Rincon (SS): 3-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI, BB

Nathan Freiman (SS): 3-5, 2B, 3 RBI, SO

Jason Hagerty (SS):  3-5, 2B, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 SO

James Darnell (High-A): 2-5, 3B, SO

PitcheR of the Day

Brandon Gomes (AA): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO, 0 HR

Commentary

Hagerty has been MIA from this list for awhile, good to see him back.  

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Hitter(s) of the Day

James Darnell (High-A): 3-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI, BB

Eric Sogard (AA): 2-6, R, RBI, SO, SB

Lance Zawadzki (AA): 3-4, 2B, 3 R, RBI,

Pitcher(s) of the Day

Jorge Reyes (SS): 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO, 0 HR

Simon Castro (Low-A): 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR

Jeremy Hefner (High-A): 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO, 0 HR

Evan Scribner (AA): 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO, 0 HR

Commentary

Two gems to start Reyes’ professional career…

Simon Castro had two disaster starts in August (4 ER in 3 IP on 8/8 and 6 ER in 5 IP on 8/13) and even so, in his last 10 starts he has a 3.20 ERA. Is Castro the Padres best non-Latos pitching prospect?

24
Aug/09
5

Padres MiLB, August 24, Players of the Day

Hitter(s) of the Day

Edinson Rincon (SS): 2-4, HR, R, 3 RBI, BB, SO

Blake Tekotte (Low-A): 3-4, 2B, 2 R, BB, SO – also had OF assist at home

Lance Zawadzki (AA): 2-4, 2B, R

Chad Huffman (AAA): 3-5, 2B, R, SO

Pitcher(s) of the Day

Keyvius Sampson (Rookie): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR – pro debut

Chris Fetter (SS): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR

Alexis Lara (Low-A): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR

Commentary

Everett Williams made his professional debut tonight as well going 0-3 with a walk, 3 strikeouts, and a stolen base. He’ll figure it out – quickly I’m guessing.

It is an automatic exclusion from Pitcher of the Day if you walk more hitters than you strike out. As such, Castro’s 5.0 innings of shut-out baseball were wiped out by 3 walks vs. 1 strikeout. Still, Simon Castro lowered his ERA to 3.57.

In the Weekend Edition I mentioned that Lara continues to impress. Breaking it down:

April: 9.72 ERA

May: 5.02

June: 2.70

July: 0.50

August: 0.82

From June 1st Lara has a 1.15 ERA in 39 innings has allowed only 1 home run, 16 hits, and 12 walks while striking out 48.

21
Aug/09
15

Castro #3 on BA PHS

Simon Castro returns to Baseball America’s weekly Prospect Hot Sheet at #3. BA raved, “Once Mat Latos accumulates 50 big league innings, the race for best Padres pitching prospect becomes a wide-open field. Castro has thrown his hat in the ring with his strong full-season debut.”

Castro features a fastball that tops out about 95 and this year the performance is catching up with the scouting reports. “Castro’s nine strikeouts [PRD: in his 7-inning no-hitter] helped to pad his Midwest League-leading total of 142.”

19
Aug/09
14

Padres MiLB, August 18, Players of the Day

Hitter(s) of the Day

Vincent Belnome (SS): 2-4, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI, BB

Edinson Rincon (SS): 3-5, 2B, 2 R, SO

Nate Freiman (SS): 3-5, HR, 2 R, 5 RBI, SO

Allan Dykstra (Low-A): 1-2, 2B, R, RBI, 2 BB – 8/17 game concluded 8/18

Jaff Dekcer (Low-A): 2-3, HR, R, RBI – 8/18 game

Matt Clark (High-A): 4-4, HR, R, 2 RBI

Pitcher(s) of the Day

Simon Castro (Low-A): 7.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 SO, 0 HR – 7 inning no-no

Wynn Pelzer (High-A): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR

Commentary

Simon Castro is too often overlooked. I saw both Kevin Goldstein and John Sickels refer to him as a “sleeper prospect” this year. Now if you said that last year, when he toiling in the relative obscurity of the Northwest League, I get it. But he is a 6’5” power righty that has a FB that touches 95 and has led the Midwest League in strikeouts virtually all season (142 in 123.1 innings).

7
Aug/09
1

Castro, In The Team Photo – BA PHS

Simon Castro makes a repeat visit on this week’s Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet as an honorable mention, “In The Team Photo.”

Castro checks in after 1 outing this week and BA said,

Quick—who leads the Midwest League in strikeouts? Unless you’re a devoted follower of the Fort Wayne TinCaps (or the Padres), your answer probably was not Simon Castro. But the 21-year-old Dominican RHP does, in fact, lead the pack with 125 whiffs in 108 2/3 innings. Castro’s showing this week was typical fare: five innings, four hits, one run, six strikeouts. And in his past three turns, all lasting five innings in duration, he’s posted a 0.60 ERA and a 23-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. That’s good, but it gets better. Through June, Castro had struck out roughly one batter per inning, but in his past seven starts he’s turned on the afterburners, fanning 50 MWL opponents over 35 1/3 innings…

5
Aug/09
30

BA’s Jim Callis Ranks Top 5 (6) Padres Prospects

On Monday, Baseball America’s Jim Callis posted an “Ask BA” piece where he listed the top 10’s for Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. I asked him if he could do a Padres top prospect list – here is his response:

My top five, assuming the premium draft picks sign (not including Latos, because he’s on pace to exceed 50 IP), would be:

  1. Donovan Tate
  2. Jaff Decker
  3. Aaron Poreda (late edit/update from Jim Callis)
  4. Everett Williams
  5. James Darnell
  6. Simon Castro

[I] threw that together quickly, hope I didn’t forget anyone obvious.

(Jim also noted that if Latos retains his rookie eligibility, Latos would be #1 on the list – and I think he will; the Padres will shut him down before 50 MLB IP.)

Thanks so much Jim!

I think the only other guys he could consider would be (alphabetically): Jonathan Galvez, Aaron Poreda, Adys Portillo, and Edinson Rincon.

What do you guys think, what does your top 5 look like?

2
Aug/09
5

Padres MiLB, July 31-August 2, Players of the Day; Weekend Edition

This just in – or maybe you already heard – the Padres traded away former Cy Young winner, Jake Peavy. I, for one, am quite happy with the haul they got. Normally, when you’re in salary-shedding mode, if you do not kick in cash to get rid of a player, you get less in return. In the Padres’ Peavy-trade, they contributed zero cash and got 4 pitchers who each throw well into the 90’s:

Aaron Poreda – could be a #2-3 starter, throws an easy 92-4 FB and regularly touches 95-6 from the left side (has touched 98-100 in past) – doesn’t give up hits, but doesn’t strike out as many as “stuff” suggests he should – should at least develop into high-leverage reliever (future closer?)

Clayton Richards – throws low-mid 90’s 2-seam FB, curve, and iffy/developing change – solid upside is a #3 starter but could easily slot in nicely as 4-5 starter

Dexter Carter – A touch old for his level (22 in Low-A) but thoroughly dominating his level – Carter features a high 80’s-low 90’s FB and leads the SAL in strikeouts

Adam Russell – Features a mid-90’s+ fastball but doesn’t control it well (career MiLB 3.8 BB/9) if he can harness the heat a little better he will be an interesting arm to add to the bullpen mix

With the quantity of quality arms the White Sox had to give up to get Jake Peavy, they could end up on the wrong side of the talent ledger on this trade. Jake is an immense talent, but I am quite excited about the bounty his trade wrought.

Friday, July 31, 2009

Only the Major League club won Friday night.

Hitter of the Day

n/a

Pitcher of the Day

Wynn Pelzer (High-A): 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 SO, 0 HR

Commentary

In his last 6 starts, Pelzer has thrown 40.1 innings (better than 6.2 IP per start) allowing 32 hits and 15 walks while striking out 44 and posting a 2.68 ERA.  

Satuday, August 1, 2009

Hitter(s) of the Day

Adan Velazquez (DSL): 3-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI – 19 yr. old Mex. INF hitting .302/.373/.523

Jonathan Galvez (Rookie): 2-5, 2B, HR, 3 R, RBI

Cody Decker (Rookie): 2-4, 2B, R, RBI, BB, SO

Emmanuel Quiles (SS): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, SO

Jaff Decker (Low-A): 2-3, 2B, 2 R, BB

Brad Chalk (High-A): 4-6, 3 R, 3 RBI, SB

Sawyer Carroll (High-A): 3-4, 2 2B, 2 R, 5 RBI, BB, SO, CS  

Lance Zawadzki (AA): 2-4, 2B, RBI  

Pitcher of the Day

Adys Portillo (Rookie): 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR – 1st pro win

Commentary

James Darnell went 1-5 (eliminating himself Hitter of the Day consideration) but homered for the 16th time on the season (7 for Low-A Fort Wayne and 9 for High-A Lake Elsinore).  

Cory Brock, of MLB.com, tweeted Saturday night that Portillo sat around 92 for the night.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Hitter of the Day

James Darnell (High-A): 3-4, 2 2B, BB  

Pitcher of the Day

Simon Castro (Low-A): 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO, 0 HR

Commentary

Simon Castro rolls on… I re-tweeted (sorry, it’s a technical term) a post from Padres Dir. of International Scouting, Randy Smith (@ResPadres – if you’re into the whole Twitter thing, you can follow me @pffriberg) that noted Castro’s last start (the dominant 5.0 IP, 1 H, 9 SO game) was executed with only 55 pitches – dominate and efficient! How do you like dem apples?