Left Coast Bias

Defending Chase Headley on his Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:01:00 +0000

Happy Birthday Chase!

There is only one person that has lived that has lived up to the moniker "savior." And even He has his detractors.

Chase Headley was cursed with being presented to the San Diego fan base as a savior to a struggling offensive lineup. Headley was the 2007 Texas League Player of the Year and was considered one of the top prospects in the Padres organization. A 2nd round pick out of the University of Tennessee, success followed Chase Headley at every level.

On June 15, 2007, thanks to an injury to Kevin Kouzmanoff, Chase Headley was brought up to start at third base. He was hitting .357 at San Antonio at the time. He quickly obtained the moniker "savior" despite the organizations (and common sense) best attempts to lower expectations. He made his Major League debut in Wrigley Field in 2007, when he played 8 games. He was brought up again in 2008 (June 17th) to start a game at Old Yankee Stadium. Last year, when the Padres were bringing up Anthony Rizzo, I wrote about the fallacy of putting the level of expectations that we as fans did on players like Headley and Rizzo.

The takeaway? Headley wasn't a savior. He was simply an above-average baseball player. But to a fan base expecting the Bryce Harper of San Diego, there was no greater crime. And it is a crime that Chase Headley continues to pay for.

In 2011, Chase Headley finished in the Top 10 of 3rd basemen in the following categories: AVG (10th), OBP (3rd),SB (3rd), BB (7th), RUNS CREATED (9th).

Is he a power threat? Not really. Though people whose view of baseball is as regimented as a blueprint assume he should be since he plays a corner infield position. Bud Black often uses Headley in power positions in the lineup, though admittedly, who else should bat 3rd or 4th on this team right now? Yet what Headley does do, and does it well, is get on base. In a park and with a lineup that will not produce many 3-run HRs, the Padres need to manufacture runs to win. And you can't manufacture a run without having people on base. For as much debate (read: bitching) there is about the park and its dimensions, Chase Headley is a rare player who can and has had offensive success in Petco.

Of course, if you only view offensive success in HRs and RBI, I see why your disappointed. I also see you have a painfully narrow view of what a successful baseball player looks like. While HRs are not the be all, end all, RBI is as imperfect a stat as W are for a pitcher.

The Padres have many holes to fill. Middle infield, corner outfield, half the starting staff is injured. Let's not go creating problems where they don't exist. Chase Headley is one of only a few players that the Padres have that produce consistently, are durable, plays solid defense, and is homegrown (for whatever value you put on that).

Imagine a world in which Chase Headley was not presented as the savior of a franchise, but simply a minor league prospect brought up to replace an injured starter. Consider how much leeway you give Anthony Bass or Wieland. And then ask yourself why unrealistic expectations cloud your opinion of one of the few bright spots on this Padres roster.

Extend Chase Headley and build a lineup around him, Maybin and Alonso. But if you think Headley is part of the problem, I'm not sure we are watching the same games.

Headley had the audacity of not being Brooks Robinson. For this, some fans will never come around to him. But if your expectations are that high, strap in friend, because life is going to be really disappointing.

On Fandom In Dark Times

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:34:00 +0000

So, the Padres aren't very good this year. At least so far anyway. Who knows what the rest of the season holds? But one thing is sure, this incarnation of Padres baseball through 3 weeks has not been the poetry that Annie Savoy spoke of.

This sloppy start has lead to understandable frustration. It's one thing to lose. It's quite another to lose in the manner and fashion the Padres have. The Padres are 5th in MLB in strikeouts (I was mildly stunned to learn there are 4 teams who strike out more. If you are curious, they are: St. Louis, NYM, Houston, and Arizona. I suppose there is something to take from this that the Top 5 teams in strikeouts are all National League. I just don't know what that is.) and lead the league in errors. With a young team with limited resources, this is not a recipe for success. And makes losing in this fashion that much more frustrating.

Which has lead some fans to declare that they will no longer support this team until a better product is placed on the field. This is not the first nor will it be the last time a fanbase will make such a declaration. The idea is based in capitalist ideology. Baseball is a product, we are the consumers, thus if we are upset with the product we as consumers will stop purchasing said product until it is fixed. And while that makes perfect sense in a consumer based economy, it sadly makes next to no sense in sports.

For example. Let's say there is a great Thai restaurant in your neighborhood. You love this place, order the same thing every time, and every time it hits the spot. Then they change chefs. And the Tom Yum isn't as good anymore and the Gra Pow isn't as spicy and so on. So you stop going, perhaps post a scathing review on Yelp that longs for the chef of yore. In that scenario, there is another Thai restaurant 5 miles away. You have options.

There aren't options for fans. I'm a Padres fan. Have been since I was cognitively aware of baseball. I've never been a "fan" of another team. There have been teams I liked, or enjoyed rooting for provided that rooting interest did not interfere with the Padres. But no team that I have had an emotional connection to as I do with the Padres. Because ultimately that's what sports are. They are emotional connections. Why do you get so upset that you are near inconsolable when your team loses in heartbreaking fashion? Because this is more than a consumer based product. This is deeper. It matters in ways restaurants, soda, electronics and shoes never will. Other than my parents, there is nothing in this world that I've known and cared about for a longer period of time then the Padres.

It is for this reason that I cannot simply turn my back on them when they struggle. Because, unlike the Thai restaurant, there isn't another baseball team nearby that I can get the same experience. As frustrating and, at times, demoralizing as losing is, the reason it bothers me and matters to me so much is because I care. Because I'm a fan. If I stopped going, stopped watching the games on television and stopped wearing their apparel, that loss would far outweigh the frustration I feel when watching them today.

I choose to continue to attend games and watch games, even if I'll be sulking during most of them. Because it's what I've always done. And even in losing, I like to go to the games. I like watching the games on television.

Silver Linings on Opening Day

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:24:00 +0000

I've been accused of being an optimist and an apologist when it comes to the Padres. Guilty on both counts. When Conan O'Brien signed off from NBC for the last time, amid one of the strangest controversies in television history, he said this:

"Please don't be cynical. I hate cynicism -- it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere."

That's a lesson we could all stand to heed after Opening Day.

Yes, the Padres lost. Yes, Volquez walked in 2 runs which ultimately proved to be decisive. And yes, the Padres committed 3 errors, an "accomplishment" that was as rare as a unicorn last year.

But if you choose to draw sweeping conclusions from one game or have chosen cynicism over optimism over one day, then you don't get the point of Opening Day at all. Opening Day is for new beginnings. Everyone is still in it, everyone has a chance. Sure, it's unrealistic to expect a World Series parade in November down J street this year, but that doesn't mean we can't at least enjoy the fantasy for a little bit longer.

Ownership is in upheaval, they have the lowest payroll in baseball and have jettisoned 3 of their best and most popular players in the past 2 years. So yes, there are real reasons to be cynical. A 5-3 loss to the Dodgers on Opening Day is not one of them. With that being said, here are the silver linings from Opening Day. Deep breaths everyone, we got 161 of these to go:

- The first 3 innings of Edison Volquez: He lost his control in the 4th. In part due to a shrinking strike zone but Volquez was unable to mentally handle being squeezed. But before that, the guy was lights out. He was both high risk/high reward on Opening Day but I was encouraged by the high reward part. As he becomes more comfortable in Petco and a year with Balsley, I'm confident that the first 3 innings of Volquez will be more the guy we see.

- Cam Maybin: Boom Stick! 7th longest HR in Petco Park history. Win or lose, that was just a fun moment.

- Yonder Alonso: Got robbed of a base hit by Dee Gordon. But he hit the ball well. And played a pretty nice first base I thought.

- Jesus Guzman: 2 out hits will get you to Heaven. Got the Padres on the board for the first time this year with his 2-out double. He is suspect in the field without question. But that guy can straight out hit.

- It's Freaking Opening Day: CALM DOWN! The Padres aren't going to walk in 2 runs and commit 3 errors in a game very often. Unfortunately it came on Opening Day where there is a bigger microscope then normally. But despite falling behind 5-1, the Padres were able to make it a game.

Finally I leave you with this: There were 7 games played yesterday. And except for one that went 16 innings, more runs were scored in the Padres vs Dodgers game then any other game.

10 (Not So) Bold Predictions for the 2012 Padres Season

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 01:28:00 +0000

So here we are. It feels like it was just yesterday that we were watching the Cardinals somehow overtake the Rangers in Game 6 on their way to a World Series title. Since that time, Albert Pujols, Jose Reyes and CJ Wilson have all changed teams. Somebody's fever dream came to life in center field in Miami. And the Padres changed GM's and, soon enough, owners.

With the 2012 regular season mere hours away (for those of us in the Western Hemisphere anyway), here are 10 predictions, hopes, thoughts and rambles for the 2012 San Diego Padres. In no particular order. Other then this is the order I thought of them.

10) Andrew Cashner will be the closer by the end of the season.
Huston Street is the highest paid player on this team right now.

I'll give you a moment to let that sink in.

Welcome back. Street has not been great in Spring though I think he will settle in fine with Petco. I'm more basing this on the likelihood that, if the Padres are not in a division or wild card race come the trade deadline, Street, the highest valued Padre on the roster will likely be jettisoned to a contender in need. Which leaves Cashner and his 103 MPH fastball with an opening. I just don't think Byrnes traded the top prospect in the system for a middle reliever.

9) I will have no more than 3 rants about the Sunday giveaway being only for kids.
SERIOUSLY!?!?!? Like a grown man wouldn't enjoy a Padres Hot Wheels car or lunch box? Ugh, let's move on.

8) The Padres will have more than 1 All-Star.
My money right now would be on Maybin and Luebke. Both players are young and on the precipice of breaking out. The starting pitching in the National League is deep so it's a tough group to crack for Luebke, but as is typical many will pull out of the ASG for various reasons.

And speaking of Maybin

7) Cameron Maybin will become your favorite Padre.
If he isn't already, the fact that Maybin will be here for the long haul will certainly endear him to a fan base that has seen favorites like Peavy, Gonzalez and Bell leave San Diego. Maybin becomes the face of the on-field product. He's personable, funny, and makes highlight reel catches in CF. You will own his jersey by Aug. 1.

6) Orlando Hudson will say something stupid via Twitter.
This isn't really a bold prediction. This is more the equivalent of picking the #1 seed to beat the #16 seed. Yeah, you got that one right. But so did everyone else.

5) Zou Bisou Bisou will be someone's walkup music.
If wishing made it so. Sidenote: Did Betty Francis get to test out the Hodad's stand at Petco early?

4) The Swinging Friar will finally be recognized as the best mascot in baseball.
Even in the worst of times, the Swinging Friar makes me smile. He's hilarious. He's fun. He is what going to baseball games is about.

And he has a Frankenstein version of himself.

3) The Padres will reclaim the Vedder Cup.
Last year was a poor showing. A poor, poor showing indeed. 1-5 against the hated Mariners. And the 1 came on a 1-0 win with Maybin reaching base on a 3 ball walk. Revenge shall be ours. Or, you know, a .500 record would suffice.

2) The Padres will throw a no-hitter and hit for the cycle.
I make this prediction every year so I can't take too much credit for when this finally happens. But it's statistically crazy that it hasn't happened yet. I wrote about the Padres no-hitter woes last year. One day, it's going to happen. I just hope I'm not shopping in a Costco when it does.

My picks this year: Stauffer (No-Hitter); Maybin (Cycle)

1) The Padres will struggle to start the season but make things interesting in June.
The beginning of the season is not kind to the Padres. Outside of a ton of NL West games, the Padres face Philadelphia, Washington, Milwaukee, and Anaheim.

But then May 24th comes along. And the New York Mets. Followed by the Cubs then a June where they take on Seattle 6 times, Oakland, Houston and Colorado. If the Padres can tread water for the first two months, a strong June will make them, if not contenders, then at least interesting come the All Star Break.

MLB Prop Bets 2012

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 19:23:00 +0000

If you follow this blog or its related Twitter feed, you may notice that I like sports gambling. I like doing it, though my trips to Vegas are fewer and farther between these days. But I like knowing what the odds are, how the odds shift based on various pieces of information coming out. And I love me some props. Prop bets are both fun and sometimes goofy (this past Super Bowl had a prop for how many times Giselle Bundchen would be shown during the game). Last year I wrote the first annual Left Coast Bias MLB Prop Post.

Last year I went 4-4. Respectable, but we can do better.

As always, this is for entertainment purposes only.

Who Will Hit Most HR's in 2012?
My Pick: Matt Kemp 18/1
Why? Kemp finished 3rd last year in MLB in HR with 39. This was also good enough for best in the National League. Despite that, you are getting 18/1 for him to lead the league this year. While Bautista has won this two years in a row now, getting 18/1 on a player as good as Kemp is a value bet.

Adrian Gonzalez BA O/U .305
My Pick: Over
Why? Adrian Gonzalez saw a 40 point increase in BA in his first year in Boston. While his power did not see the uptick many predicted, Gonzalez still proved he was one of the best hitters in baseball. Caution however, that prior to last year that last time Gonzalez hit over .300 was 2006. That being said, I'll take my chances with the smaller ballpark and the protection throughout the lineup.

Justin Verlander SO O/U 225.5
My Pick: Over
Why? Here is Verlander's last three seasons strikeout totals since the Tigers stopped limiting his innings: 269, 219, 250. Once out of three seasons he went under, and that time he only went under by 6 SO. The two seasons he went over he went WAY over. I'll bank on those seasons.

Matt Kemp O/U HR 33.5
My Pick: Over
Why? Bautista hit 43 HR's last year to lead MLB. If I'm picking Kemp to do that this year, I have to believe he goes over 33.5.

Cameron Maybin Total SB O/U 34.5
My Pick: Under
Why? Maybin stole 40 bases last season. His previous high in the Majors? 9. We know Maybin can run. We know the Padres like to run. But 35 stolen bases is a ton. More a hunch then anything though wouldn't be shocked if Maybin matched 40 again.

Huston Street Total Saves O/U 30.5
My Pick: Under
Why? Andrew. Cashner. Whether Street is traded or not, I think there is a better than outside shot that Cashner is the closer by the end of the season. Street has been struggling in Spring Training. The argument for the over is, of course, the fact that the Padres don't play many high scoring games. Meaning they have ample chances for saves. It's just a matter of who will receive those saves.

San Diego Padres Regular Season Wins O/U 73.5
My Pick: Over
Why? Because I'm a sucker. But seriously. The Padres won 71 games last season despite the Brad Hawpe and Ryan Ludwick experience, and sudden down year from Mat Latos, and essentially no offense. However, their Pythogorean W/L was 79-83. This year, this team has the chance to be sneaky decent. A lot of young, highly touted young players. If Headley and Venable breakout, if Maybin continues to improve, if Luebke is the ace people think he can be, if Alonso is as advertised at first, etc etc. In a worst case scenario, this team wins 71 games like last year. Considering how many close games they play, sheer luck could increase a 71 win season to a 74 win season. A few things break the right way and this is a .500 team primed for 2013.

And finally...

Odds to Win World Series: San Diego Padres 70/1

Sometimes you have to put your money where your mouth is. You just never know:

The MegaMillion Owner

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 20:06:00 +0000

So, you won $640 million in the Mega Millions. Congratulations.

Thanks to a PR blitz and instant celebrity, your purchase of the San Diego Padres for $612 million has been quickly approved by MLB owners and Bud Selig.

What's the first thing you do as new owner of the San Diego Padres? I asked Twitter and Facebook for some ideas. Their thoughts:

- Huge Dubstep Party on the infield. (No word on whether this was during a game or not. If during the game, the dancing groundskeeper is going to be psyched.)

- Bring back the home plate and wave logo.

- Bring back the brown. (Of course.)

- Multiple responses for bringing in the fences. (Even more predictable.)

- Craft beer in all concessions.

- Providing the Swinging Friar the luxurious life he deserves. (I'm as pro-Friar as possible. I applaud this idea.)

But perhaps my favorite, and let's be honest, the most truthful came from Woe, Doctor!:

@LeftCoastBias If somebody replies w/anything other than "pencil myself in as an Opening Day starter" they're lying.
— Woe, Doctor! (@woedoctor) March 30, 2012

As for me, well, I don't know if I'd want to take the mound. Though my 57 MPH "fastball" would keep hitters off balance. For about 3 minutes. But I wouldn't mind taking a few cuts in a Spring Training game ala Billy Crystal.

I'd also get to do the play-by-play whenever I wanted. And probably screen The Dark Knight on the Jumbotron. And buy the Delorean from Back to the Future and use it as the bullpen car.

You know, normal stuff.

What would you do?

A Rising Tide Floats All Boats

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 02:23:00 +0000

According to Forbes Magazine, the Los Angeles Dodgers are valued at $1.4 billion, second only to the New York Yankees.

So by that measurement, the Guggenheim Capital group and their most prominent (though not main) member Magic Johnson, got quite a deal.

But by any other measure, $2 billion for a professional sports franchise is an unbelievable, perhaps outrageous, amount of money to spend. Yesterday the Los Angeles Dodgers became the most expensive sports franchise in North America and the record setting $2 billion price tag more than doubled the previous MLB record ($845 million by the Ricketts family in purchasing the Chicago Cubs).

This is the ARod contract of purchasing sports franchises. It's outrageous but it also sets a new bar for the valuation of a sports franchise. The question of whether the Dodgers are in fact worth this amount of money is impossible to answer right now. They are without question one of the storied franchises in baseball. They have just signed a new television contract which has rapidly increased their value. Frank McCourt is no longer an albatross around the franchises neck (though he is looming right outside the stadium in the parking lot). But they are the second most interesting baseball team within a 30 mile radius and their popularity is paltry in comparison to that of the Lakers and, this year, the Clippers. All of that is likely to change.

But what does this purchase price mean for the rest of baseball? As you are likely aware if you are reading this blog, Jeff Moorad stepped down as CEO of the Padres last week, effectively ending the layaway plan purchase Moores had set up. Per the North County Times, the Moorad group can still complete the purchase the team by 2014. Though it would seem a more likely scenario is that both John Moores and the Group Formerly Known as the Moorad Group will attempt to find one buyer for all 100% of the ownership stake. If you were John Moores, and the team roughly 100 miles north of you just sold for $2 billion, suddenly the landscape has changed.

The Padres are no doubt more valuable then they were in 2009. The new television deal could be worth close to $1 billion over 20 years. Forbes Magazine has valued the team at $458 million, up 13% from last year, thanks in part to the television deal. The Padres are poised to be contenders in the near future, and have very little committed money to the current on the field product.

Tom Krasovic tweeted last night that an MLB insider said the Padres price could reach $700 million due to the Dodgers price. Unrealistic? Who's to say? The landscape has changed. What seems to be clear is this? John Moores sold the Padres for $525 million in 2009. He will certainly receive more than that this time around.

San Diego Padres FOR SALE

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:30:00 +0000

The longest window shopping session in the history of man has finally come to an end. Jeff Moorad, and his group of investors who I imagine all looked like oil tycoons from Looney Toon cartoons (even Troy Aikman), has stepped down as CEO of the Padres. This effectively put an end to the layaway plan Jeff Moorad had in place to buy the Padres from majority owner John Moores.

Jeff Moorad's future as the next majority owner of the Padres has been in question since January, when MLB owners never reached the approval vote, having the issue die in committee. On March 9th, Moorad withdrew his application for approval. And on March 22nd, his office was cleaned out.

So, now what? In all likelihood, some business person I've never heard of will come in and buy the Padres at some point. John Moores' desire to sell the team seems to still be very much alive. The Padres value, per Forbes magazine, is 20th in baseball at $458 million, a 13% increase from a year ago. So Moores makes out in this deal.

But who will own the Padres? And what will this team look like with new owners? That's more fun to theorize about. So, despite none of these people likely having any real shot of buying the team, let's take a look into the future, and imagine a world where the Padres are owned by the likes of these folks:

1) MARK CUBAN
First things first, this will never happen. The chance Mark Cuban has of being approved by MLB's owners is less than zero. The old boy's club that is owning an MLB team has no desire to have that party crashed by the likes of Cuban. Which is a shame. Because I think Mark Cuban is good for baseball. I've always liked Cuban. I like to think Cuban is the kind of owner I would be if I were a billionaire. And sort of an asshole. He's a fan, he's passionate, and he likes to be one of the guys (though owning the team appears to be the only way he could be "one of the guys"). He is likely one of the most recognizable owners in all of sports, thanks in large part to both his court side daily appearances and multiple stints on reality television (Shark Tank, The Benefactor, Dancing with the Stars). Cuban is interested, and he makes the team he purchases interesting. And in a time where MLB is losing popularity and is viewed as stuffy and resistent to change (both somewhat true observations), Cuban is the shot in the arm MLB could use.

Cuban's desire to own a baseball team is well documented at this point. He has made overtures to buy the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers, two of the most valued commodities in professional American sports. But so far he is 0 for 2. Why not take a shot with a slightly less visible team?

With Cuban as owner, he would instantly become more famous than any player on the team. Perhaps that's a bad thing. Daily shots of Cuban behind home plate during games, yelling at umpires, would become so commonplace Sportscenter would do a Top 10 of "Cuban Meltdowns" or some other Cuban Missile Crisis play on words that no one under the age of 45 will get. The clubhouse would be outfitted as the nicest frat house in America.

But Cuban wins. He likes to and cares about winning. Whether the Mavericks are profitable or not is secondary to having them win. Because in the end, owning a team for Cuban is a hobby. The teams are more toy than business venture.

2) RAP MOGULS

The New Jersey Nets are terrible. At 16-34, they will miss the playoffs in the NBA this year, again, which seems impossible as it would appear every team in the NBA makes the playoffs. Yet every time there is a major free agent, they all consider going to the Nets. Why? H.O.V.A. (I had to Google that). Jay-Z is part (though not majority) owner of the New Jersey (soon to be Brooklyn) Nets. And Jay-Z is cool. And has a smoking hot wife. And can perform concerts for your Opening Day, and appear at press conferences and do all the things that Jay-Z does that make him cool. The Nets are terrible, but no one cares, because Jay-Z is cool.

But Jay-Z is East Coast. The Padres need a West Coast rap mogul. Enter Snoop Dogg.

No more bullpen. Dogpen. Cristal instead of Gatorade. Hot boxing on the top level of the Western Metal Supply Building. I don't know if the Padres would be any better, but they would be interesting.

For a fun list of changes that would be made, check out Twitter here.

3) FANS

That guy has a part ownership stake in the Green Bay Packers. That guy. Think about that.

Theoretically, having the fans own the team sounds great. Power to the people! We are the 99%. Whatever. Until a decision has to be made. Have you ever read a comment thread or a Twitter feed between fans. We argue. About everything.

Best food at Petco? Garlic Fries. NO, RANDY JONES BBQ! Are you insane? Randy Jones? Dumbest thing I've ever heard. Ever. NOBODY LIKES GARLIC FRIES! AND IF YOU DO, KILL YOURSELF. Unfollow. UNFOLLOW.

Now do that conversation with personnel decisions. The Reds want to trade for Mat Latos. Is Joey Votto involved? Can we get the Reds mascot? SCREW YOU. No, screw you!

There is a level of emotional detachment an owner has to have. They have to be able to make calls in the absence of personal emotion. Fans do the opposite. This team (or whatever team you follow) is nothing but emotion. Screw logic. Ask a group of 10 fans what the best burger in San Diego is (Rocky's by the way. This is not a discussion). Now, after the fighting is over, tell me if you want these same people deciding how much to give a free agent, or whether to extend Cam Maybin.

So, there you have it. Some ownership options. None are great. So, in the meantime I'll keep playing the lottery. If an unknown bid is suddenly given to John Moores, you'll know where that came from. First order of business? More Sculpin.

Yu Darvish vs Will Venable

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:08:00 +0000

Well, that was exciting. If you were to listen or watch coverage of yesterday's Spring Training game between the Padres vs Rangers you would be excused to assume the second coming of Cy Young was present.

Darvish, for what it's worth, did not disappoint, throwing two scoreless innings.

But I'm more interested, not in the outs Darvish recorded, but the one he didn't. In the Top of the 2nd, Will Venable took a 2-2 fastball and doubled off the CF wall (should be noted that had it not been for the giant blue wall in CF, Venable would have taken him deep).

Venable's double, an estimated 410 foot shot on a 93 MPH fastball, was "wind aided" and due to "altitude" according to Yu Darvish afterwards. He also said that Venable didn't square the ball up.

Venable's reactions were fantastic. On Darren Smith's show on Wednesday, Venable said sarcastically "Of course I didn't hit is squarely...because he's Yu Darvish. And I'm Will Venable."

Per Dan Hayes, Venable's reaction was "Maybe his perception of reality isn't as right on. I don't know. No comment."

Brilliant stuff from Will.

But let's look at Yu Darvish's claims. First, wind. Per ESPN's box score, there was an 11 MPH wind coming from the West. According to some guy on the internet who claims to be a physics expert (and my English degree is not going to challenge him on that), an average headwind of 10 MPH would convert a 400-ft HR into a 370-ft out. However, at Peoria, a westward moving wind would create more of a cross-breeze, not a tail or head wind. Thus, while it may have some effect on trajectory, if anything, the ball would have flown further without the wind, a point Will Venable made on Darren Smith's show: "I think the wind saved it from being a homerun." Well played sir.

Now, how about the elevation claim. Weather Underground list their elevation at 1,145 ft. According to our mystery physics person, 1,000 feet of elevation adds 6 feet of flight to a baseball. As a brief comparison, an article in the Arizona Central prior to the All Star Game in Phoenix quoted a University of Arizona professor (Wildcat shout-out!) who had co-authored "Effects of Altitude and Atmospheric Conditions on the Flight of a Baseball" and found that a baseball flys, on average, 5 feet further in Phoenix and their elevation of 1,038 feet.

Fair enough.

So let's assume that Venable's double in the 2nd got an extra 5-6 ft based on elevation. A number that is at least in part limited based on the cross wind that was present that day.

But no, I'm sure he didn't square up on it.

In Which It Is Safe To Shop Again

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:37:00 +0000

My closet is littered with jerseys I no longer wear. Giveaways, gifts, or impulse buys that now simply mark the history of the Padres through the years (well, through the late 90's to today). Among them are:

Mid-90's Gwynn (a jersey I still wear, of course)
Trevor Hoffman (Retired from wear when he became a Brewer. Now free to be worn at will.)
Khalil Greene (free jersey giveaway day)
Mike Cameron (another giveaway)
Jake Peavy (during his Cy Young season)
Adrian Gonzalez (which will never see the light of day again)

Buying a jersey of your favorite team is tricky business. For one, they don't come cheaply (a 2012 Authentic Home jersey runs $258.99).

Secondly, if you are to invest the money it takes to have a jersey, there's really nothing worst than waking up to find out the player you've chosen to hitch your wagon to has been traded to Cincinnati.

And finally, more own personal rule of thumb regarding jerseys. If you are not on the team, I'm not wearing your jersey. Nothing makes me cringe more than walking around Petco and seeing Giles jersey's. If you are not currently on the team, I'm out. Obviously, the exception to this is a retired player (i.e. Gwynn and Hoffman). But while Hoffman was a Brewer, that jersey collects dust. Don't be the guy walking around in an Adrian Gonzalez jersey while he's hitting doubles off the Green Monster.

It is with all of this in mind that today's news regarding Cameron Maybin. Originally broken by Dan Hayes at the North County Times, the Padres today agreed to a 5 year/$25 million extension with an option for a 6 year. With this deal (similar to the deal Josh Brynes pulled off with Chris Young of Arizona), the Padres have secured one of the most important positions in baseball with a player taylor made for Petco Park both from a defensive and offensive standpoint.

Moreover, Cam is just fun. He's fun to watch. He seems like a fun guy in the clubhouse. He is a player that, as a fan, I'm proud to say is a Padres. Since coming here, Maybin has becoming instantly popular. With the departures of Gonzalez and Bell, I would argue he is likely the most popular Padre of the current roster. For good reason. (BTW, my personal second favorite: Chase Headley. Though that can be a controversial topic amongst fans and probably best left to another post...or shouting matches over Sculpin)

And most importantly, it is now safe to purchase a jersey. Dig into that penny bank, and as Donna and Tom Haverford would say...TREAT YO SELF!

All Those Yesterdays

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 17:52:00 +0000

One week from today the Padres will play their first Spring Training game of 2012. This news is, in itself, exciting and interesting.

But this isn't about that. This is about who they play. And a rivalry renewed. A rivalry steeped in tradition. If tradition means completely manufactured for no apparent reason. The Vedder Cup returns on March 5th. My blood is already boiling.

For the unacquainted, here is a quick primer on the Vedder Cup. And also where the name "Vedder Cup" came from.

2011 was a dark time for Padres fans and the Vedder Cup. In total, the Padres went 1-5 against Seattle. The Padres scored a total of 4 runs in those 6 games. 4 runs. Total.

The one game they won was on July 2, 2011. You may remember this game for the 3 ball walk. In the Top of the 5th, Cameron Maybin was awarded first base on ball 3. Thanks to a scoreboard mistake that showed Maybin had a full count prior to ball 3 being thrown, Maybin was awarded first. He later came around to score the lone run of the game. (Fun fact: Joe Montana threw out the first pitch that day. Ok, not that fun. But still a fact.)

The Padres won only 1 game in the Vedder Cup series. And they only won it because of a scoreboard error. Not a great showing.

My "Wishlist" for 2012? (Oh oh, are the Pearl Jam puns coming on? They are tough to stop once they begin). Do better than that.

Winter is coming. And by winter I mean Spring. And by that I mean...let's get those dirty hippies from the North.

Vedder Cup. 2012. Reclaim the Eddie!

It's Not Just a Game

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:15:00 +0000

Nick Hornby wrote in "Fever Pitch" (Quick aside, don't let the Jimmy Fallon/Drew Barrymore movie be your only knowledge of this source material. Nick Hornby's book, memoir-esq about being a die-hard fan of the English Premiere League Club Arsenal is appointment reading for anyone who considers themselves more than a casual fan of a team) that the longest relationship he had ever had, outside the one with his own parents, was with his beloved soccer club, Arsenal. In a poignant, and perhaps an all to close to home moment, while arguing with his girlfriend over his borderline obsession with Arsenal, Hornby rants about why sports, and the outcome of these games matter so much. His point? That he had wanted an Arsenal championship for longer than he has ever wanted anything in his life. For a man in his 40's, this relationship has lasted more than 30 years. Finally ending with this line when his girlfriend retorts, as all who are not sports fans inevitably will, by saying it's "only a game": "Cause it quite clearly isn't 'only a game.' I mean if it was do you honestly think I'd care this much?"

There have been multiple times as a fan of various teams where I have wondered aloud "why do I care this much about this?" I have often wished I simply didn't care, thus avoiding the sharp pings of sorrow that follow any excruciating loss. I can remember with vivid memories the losses that really stung. Arizona losing to Illinois in the Elite Eight after blowing a 12 point lead with under 4 mins to play. The Chargers, with victory literally in their hands against New England in the Divisional Playoffs, having it all taking away. And the slow burn that was the 2010 Padres 10-game losing streak.

But the worst loss that I've ever experienced as a fan pales in comparison to the news that trickled out of San Diego on Tuesday, February 14th. Tony Gwynn's cancer had returned and he was undergoing another surgery. The headline, which I first read on Twitter, hit me like a ton of bricks. The details of the story only furthered the bad news. The tumor was wrapped around a nerve; if they remove the nerve he may never be able to move the right side of his face again.

It is an odd feeling to think of your childhood heroes as mortal. Of course they are and no one truly believes they are immune from harm. But it filled me with more emotions than simply "I feel bad for this person I admire." Tony Gwynn, like the Padres, has been the longest relationship I've had outside of my immediate family. As a Little Leaguer, I attempted to mimic his swing (despite being right handed and more a defensive specialist than anything.) I've met the man 4 times that I can recall, all passing moments that were mere blurs to him but which are immortalized in my memory (Or in one case, in wood and glass. One more quick aside, doing photo day one year I, no more than 16 or 17, got my picture taken with Gwynn. If you've ever been to one of these photo days you will know that the experience is akin to herding cattle. A long line of fans is constantly moving as you stop and take pictures with players. The meetings with the players are seconds at most. My picture of Tony Gwynn with me was later sent to Tony Gwynn himself by my mother, asking for an autograph. It was returned, signed and now sits in a frame along with his SI cover "The Best Hitter Since Ted Williams").

But more than the dread I felt for Tony Gwynn was this thought. I have reached the age where the people I admire are starting to show their age. Pearl Jam's "Ten" is 20 years old. Today would have been Kurt Cobain's 45th birthday. It's been 18 years since "Pulp Fiction" came out, and Tony Gwynn is in the fight of his life, again.

There will come a day when he is no longer with us. I remember how much my Dad was affected by the death of Mickey Mantle. I know that my mother is saddened that there is only two surviving Beatle left and he is nearing 70.

But this past news told me one thing. It's not just a game. They aren't just players on television screen. If they were, reading that Tony Gwynn is having cancer surgery wouldn't matter so much to me.

As of this writing, I am happy to say that the surgery apparently went very well. A nerve from his shoulder was placed in his cheek providing him with movement to the right side of this face. The road back I'm sure is long, and arduous. And one day there won't be a road back to take. But here is hoping that somehow, Gwynn knows that we are all pulling for him. And how important he is to us.

Get Well Soon.

Friends in Low Places

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:04:00 +0000

Chances are, at some point in your life, you had a dream that was probably not all that realistic. Astronaut, rockstar, movie star. For me, and many others, that dream was playing professional baseball. A dream shared by many I'm sure. And for nearly all of us, a dream that dies off somewhere between the ages of 15-22.

Well, unless you are a country music star.

Today marks the 12 year anniversary of the New York Mets extending a Spring Training invite to Garth Brooks. Which reminds me of one magical spring, when the man not known as Chris Gaines, spent a month in Peoria with the San Diego Padres.

Perhaps you do not recall such a moment in Padre lore. But it happened. Boy, did it happen.

You won't be stunned to hear that Garth Brooks, though great at selling records, was not so great at baseball. Officially Garth Brooks went 1-22 as a Padre. And that's all the stats I can find. Really, I spent a pretty minimal amount of time looking. Do you need stats to know that Garth Brooks wasn't good at baseball?

But there is one, very memorable moment, from the Garth Brooks era for me. And that is this. I've been going to baseball games since I was probably 5 or 6. At first, in San Diego while living in Oceanside at The Murph. Then, when living in Tucson, to Spring Training games at Hi Corbett Field and later, Tucson Electric Park. On average, I'd say I go to close to 30 games per year, between minor and major league games.

And only once have I caught a foul ball at a game. It came on a relatively warm day in March, sitting at Tucson Electric Park watching the Padres play the Rockies. And it was hit by Garth Brooks.

The only foul ball I've ever caught was off the bat of Garth Brooks. This was as bittersweet as it comes for me. I've always wanted to catch a foul ball at a game. But I always imagined it would be hit by an actual baseball player. Not, well, not Garth Brooks.

Garth Brooks being in town was a big deal locally. So much so that every news station had dispatched reporters to Tucson Electric Park for this game, to see the country-music star attempt baseball. Honestly, if you never got to see him play, here's how I would describe it. He made Michael Jordan seem like Mickey Mantle.

Moments after Brooks foul ball was hit into the stands and ended up in my hand, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning around, there was a very big camera and a woman with a microphone, both pointed right at me. Yes folks, Garth Brooks making contact with a baseball was now newsworthy.

The reporter asked if I had come here to see Garth Brooks. "No, I came to see the Padres."

The reporter asked if I was excited that I had caught a ball hit by Garth Brooks.

I replied, "Yeah, I guess. I wish it had been hit by Tony Gywnn though."

The Promise of a Brighter Future

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 18:08:00 +0000

The Mat Latos trade nearly got me into quite a bit of trouble yesterday.

There I was, trying to enjoy a nice day out with my wife, finishing up some Christmas shopping and grabbing lunch. Pleasant and completely removed from any Padres rumors or hot stove talk. As we are browsing through some shop in Downtown Pasadena, I check my email from my phone. Not for any reason really, just habit.

Hey, an email from the Padres. What 50% sale are they pushing now...wait, what?

PADRES ACQUIRE EDINSON VOLQUEZ AND THREE TOP PROSPECTS FROM REDS

Wow. That's a substantial haul for the Padres. Must have given up something major. But who? I had to read on. So I kept "browsing," my nose tucked very firmly in my phone. Then I got to this: "...in exchange for right-handed pitcher Mat Latos."

Double wow.

I had to know more. More importantly, as is so much a part of our information culture these days, I had to know what the reaction on Twitter was. Knowing full well that the Latos' are prominent on social media sites and the amount of passion Padres fans have for Latos (#TEAMLATOS being a common hashtag on days he starts). But I was shopping and supposed to be enjoying a nice day out with my wife. I can't just ignore her to read what my Twitter feed says about this trade.

But I had to.

I'm pretty luck in my relationship. My wife is a baseball fan. She gets it. Maybe not to my more obsessive level, but she gets it. So I very casually bring it up. "Oh wow, the Padres traded Latos." Her reaction? "Wow, really? Are you going to write a post about it?"

She gets it.

So I briefly scan Twitter. I don't know if I've ever seen a more substantial schism between baseball experts and scribes (who thought the Padres fleeced Cincinnati) and Padres fans (who saw this as yet another popular Padres player being shipped off for unknown commodities).

I am in no way an expert on baseball prospects, certainly not ones from a team not named San Diego. But I know 4 players for 1 player is a lot. I know that nearly every expert who does know about teams farm system seem to love this move. The Padres farm system, already considered a Top 5 system heading into 2012, is better. The Padres likely have their starting first baseman now in Alonso, they have a bit of a surplus now in catching prospects and a potential replacement for Heath Bell. This all ignores Volquez, who has quality in him somewhere if he can just find it again. Now he moves to resurrection island for pitchers in Petco Park. All in all, this seems like a win.

It's not fun trading away star players. And frankly, the Padres right now are in short supply of players that a casual fan will recognize come Opening Day 2012. But Mat Latos wasn't untouchable, clearly, and never should have been. He has had stretches of brilliance, but stretches of mediocrity. He may or may not have maturity issues (a topic I will completely ignore, except to say it was mentioned prevalently yesterday when this trade was reported, from multiple sources). But what was clear was that Mat Latos was not in Josh Byrnes long term plans. In what has been the clearest example yet, the players Brynes covets are not the same that Hoyer did.

I'm not distraught over this trade. I wasn't when I first heard about it, I'm far less now. The Padres got a huge haul. They gave up a volatile but talented pitcher. But they received in return a lot of pieces that, I hope, will lead to long term success down the road. Or maybe it's because I've always been indifferent to Mat Latos. Always rooted for him, always liked him. But I wasn't enamored with him the way others were, or the way I was with Peavy. It seems folly in today's modern baseball world to fall in love with starting pitchers. To injury prone, to in demand, to on the move.

In either way, I slept on this trade and I like it more than I did yesterday, and I liked it yesterday. Best of luck to Mat in Cincinnati (outside of 6 games). Now, with 3 possible first base options, we wait for the second shoe to drop.

Is Rizzo next?

Happy Trails Heater

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:40:00 +0000

One of the hardest things in sports, in my opinion, is replacing a legend. Being the guy after the guy that a city adored seems to be a nearly thankless job. Will you ever not be compared to the person you replaced?

In modern sports history, the list is short of those who have replaced a legend and succeeded or even surpassed them on their own. Aaron Rodgers replacing Brett Favre is perhaps the most successful example. I said the list was short. Meanwhile, the list of a vacuum being left by icons leaving or retiring is long. The Dolphins haven't been able to replace Dan Marino for 20 years. The Bulls spent roughly the same time trying to find someone to capture the city's imagination the way Michael Jordan did, finding a possible superstar in Derrick Rose.

Heath Bell became a Padre via a trade that made little noise at the time. The Padres traded Ben Johnson and Jon Adkins to the Mets for Bell and Royce Ring. Bell, at the time, was tolling away on the round trip shuttle between New York and Norfolk, never finding his place in the Mets plans. In San Diego, he replaced Scott Linebrink as the 8th inning bridge to Trevor Time. Until 2009, when the previously unthinkable happen and Hoffman signed as a free agent with Milwaukee. Gone was Trevor Time, a San Diego tradition for more than a decade.

For the first time in 15 years, someone not named Trevor Hoffman was being asked to close games in San Diego. Heath Bell was tasked with the job of replacing a player that rivals only Tony Gwynn in importance to this franchise.

Good luck? Hardly needed. Hardly needed. In his first year as the full-time closer Heath Bell saved 42 games, earning his first of 3 All Star appearances. He quickly became a fan favorite amongst the friar faithful. He's quirky, jokester personality was straight out of central casting for a closer. He was goofy. He was fun. He took blown saves on the chin. He celebrated every save like it was Game 7, no matter what the calendar said. No one will ever replace Trevor Hoffman in San Diego. Heath Bell never tried, nor ever wanted to. He was just "Heater."

I read once that fans in San Diego expect "the show" with a closer as much as results. Trevor Hoffman is often credited with starting the now prevalent tradition of a closers entrance music. Heath Bell picked up that mantle, racing in in full sprint from the bullpen as Breaking Benjamin blared from the speakers. Was it as iconic as AC/DC? Hardly. But it was fun. And in the end, baseball is suppose to be fun.

And I think that's what I'll miss most about Heath Bell. He was fun. I like winning. I like success. But I like having fun watching baseball more than anything. Heath Bell provided all three, being one of the best closers in baseball after being a throw away piece in a nearly forgotten trade.

For all the saves you gave us, for all the honest interviews you gave, for your Twitter Q&A's and your now infamous All Star Game slide, thank you Heater. You were what I love about baseball and athletes. You were good. And you were fun. And at the end of the day that's all any fan can ask of a player.

Happy Trails Heater. Enjoy Miami.

The Church of Gwynn

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 03:47:00 +0000

So the Cardinals have a new manager. Well, welcome aboard Mike Matheny. I don't envy anyone who has to try and replace an icon of the level of Tony LaRussa. Best of luck. I think you might need it.

The Cardinals hiring of an ex-player led to the obvious discussion topic amongst Padres fans. What former player could manage the Padres? This of course leads to the most obvious answer: Mr. Padre, Tony Gwynn.

This is the kind of debate fans have post-World Series but pre-hot stove. But hey, at least it gives us something to talk about.

Here's why hiring Tony Gwynn (which again, I cannot stress enough, is hypothetical only. No rumor is being put forth that this is, in any way, an actual idea) to manage the Padres is a terrible idea.

One, and frankly most importantly, is that I don't think Tony Gwynn has any desire to ever manage at the Major League level. He has said many times how much he enjoys teaching the game of baseball to young people. I don't sense Major League managers do a lot of "teaching" the game. My sense is that Gwynn has no interest in SABR and no interest in player ego. Not that college kids don't have egos, but they aren't being paid multi-million dollars and college baseball players are hardly the celebraties that their football and basketball counterparts are.

Two, and more importantly to me, is the fact that being the head coach/manager of a professional sports team has to be the most grueling job in sports. And the least forgiving. Simply put, if you are the head coach or manager of a professional sports team, there is about an 85% chance you will be fired and/or run out of town by the teams fanbase.

Who on earth wants to go through that with Tony Gwynn?

If you follow the various Padres fans on Twitter, then you are no doubt aware of the popular hashtag #BudBot. A fun little way to express your displeasure with how Bud Black has arranged the lineup, or made a pitching change.

Are we really ready for a world of #GwynnBot tweets? Are we ready to have hour long debates over Gwynn not abiding by a players WAR? I'm not.

My guess is Tony Gwynn may not make a great MLB manager. At minimum, he has no experience. Yes he manages a college team but frankly, to me, that could not be further from the same as MLB. Is it baseball? Yes. But at the college level, the main focus, as I understand it, is to recruit players.

I pray at the Church of Tony Gwynn. I don't need that image sullied by him taking a job that is impossible to succeed at longterm. Bobby Cox comes around once in a generation. Even Joe Torre was let go by the Yankees.

BBA Post-Season Awards

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:14:00 +0000

The Baseball Bloggers Alliance (of which Left Coast Bias is a proud member) has made their selection for the 2011 MLB Post Season Awards.

Each year, the BBA selects winners in the following categories:

Connie Mack Award (Manager of the Year)
Willie Mays Award (Rookie of the Year)
Goose Goosage Award (Top Reliever of the Year)
Walter Johnson Award (Top Pitcher of the Year)
Stan Musial Award (Top Player of the Year)

Left Coast Bias submitted ballots for the Connie Mack Award as well as the Stan Musial Award. Click here to see how my votes came out.

Well, the results are in! Here are the 2011 BBA Post-Season Award Winners

Connie Mack Award
NL: Kirk Gibson, Arizona Diamondbacks
AL: Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay Rays

Wille Mays Award
NL: Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves
AL: Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals

Goose Goosage Award
NL: Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves
AL: Jose Valverde, Detroit Tigers

Walter Johnson Award
NL: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
AL: Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers (unanimous)

Stan Musial Award
NL: Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers (unanimous)
AL: Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays

As indicated by the BBA, in all but two instances these awards have matched their BBWAA counterparts over the past two years.

The Theo Epstein Domino Effect

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 05:12:00 +0000

When a team loses 90-plus games in a season, it has to look for some silver linings. Some glimmer of hope that let's the fan base know that, while this season was difficult and trying, brighter days are on the horizon.

In San Diego, that silver lining was Jed Hoyer. In Jed, the franchise had taken a clear direction that appeared, from the outside anyway, to be the right direction. Organizationally, the Padres won two Minor League championships. Now, maybe you don't put a ton of stock in that. But as one of Jed Hoyer's main goals when coming to San DIego was to strengthening the farm system, two Minor League championships would seem to be the first signs of progress.

Organizationally, the team has improved. Per Keith Law, the Adrian Gonzalez trade alone moved the Padres farm system up half a dozen spots in his organizational rankings, a list that doesn't account for the Padres 2011 draft in which the Padres were graded very highly (realizing of course that the "grades" for any draft are both subjective and premature). This is all credit to Jed Hoyer, among others, but as Jed is the GM Jed gets the credit (and blame).

That silver lining no longer exists. Per ESPN Chicago, the Theo Epstein deal to the Cubs is all but done which will make Theo Epstein the President of the Cubs. More pertinent, however, is who Epstein will be bringing with him to Chicago to work as his GM.

"Two other sources confirmed ESPNChicago.com's report that San Diego Padres general manager Jed Hoyer will be named Cubs GM a few days after Epstein's news conference. But Padres owner Jeff Moorad emailed ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes late Wednesday night that the Cubs had not asked for official permission to interview Hoyer."

While nothing is 100% at this point, that seems to be only a matter of semantics and not reality. The lack of a denial of these rumors from the San Diego Padres, Jeff Moorad and Jed Hoyer tells you everything you need to know. If reports are to be believed, Josh Byrnes (formerly the Arizona Diamondbacks GM) will ascend to the GM spot in San Diego, a result that Jeff Moorad likely wanted from the day he got here.

Losing Jed Hoyer is a blow, and I'm not sure how any Padres fan can think otherwise. He was here just long enough to trade away the best player this franchise has had in a decade and now will not be here to carry that plan through to fruition, be it good or bad. Theo Epstein is getting the band back together for one last tour. A World Series title in Chicago will supplant Epstein's place in Major League history.

But what of us? It has become clear that the Padres is merely a stepping stone for a bigger job in a bigger city with a bigger payroll. What San Diego needs is someone with a desire to come here and stay here. I don't believe for a second that Jed Hoyer didn't put his every effort into his tenure of the Padres. But the issues in San Diego are not fixable in a year or two and Jed's plans were designed for long-term success not short-term gains. But ultimately, this was a job for Jed. A job that would lead to a better job in his mind. Could he, or anyone, have foreseen the collapse of the Red Sox and the subsequent housecleaning that their front office went through? No. But his decision to leave, and Jeff Moorad's decision to let him leave (keep in mind, it is entirely within Moorad's control to stop this, but he has chosen not to because he gets the GM he likely wanted from the start in Byrnes) clearly is an end result desired by all parties.

Jeff Moorad is now letting the architect of the Padres organization over the last two years walk out the door. He brings in Josh Byrnes who, admittedly, I know very little of. His tenure in Arizona was not marred by any moves that would particularly blow you away, though one could argue the NL West championship team of this year was a direct by-product of Brynes. And this is not meant to slight Josh Byrnes at all. I'm simply upset that the team is left virtually rudder-less for the moment and that Byrnes lives with the aftermath of the Adrian Gonzalez trade and the 2011 draft.

But hey, at least the Padres will get compensation, right?

"There will be no compensation for Hoyer, a source said. Moorad and Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts have become friends since the Ricketts family bought the Cubs in October 2009."

Crap.

**UPDATE**

Well, that escalated quickly. I mean that really got out of hand.

The deal that will make Theo Epstein the President of the Cubs and Jed Hoyer his GM apparently will also include Padres Assistant General Manager Jason McLeod.

What. The. F.

The man credited with drafting Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury, and the person who, if my Twitter feed is to be believed, made the jagged pill of losing Hoyer go down smoother (hey, at least we'll have McLeod!) will become the...oh who cares what he'll become in Chicago. The point is he won't be here.

So now, Moorad is letting McLeod and Hoyer walk out of the door for little more than a handshake. This, my friends, does not organizational stability make.

This story is made even more ridiculous by reports that Hoyer asked Moorad for a 5-year extension to stay in San Diego. Now, I'm not sure a GM, or any front office member is deserving of a 5-year extension after a 90 loss season, but it does indicate to me that Hoyer had every intention of staying, provided he was confident he would be here long enough to see his vision through.

Not that any of that matters now. I read somewhere today that it feels like Hoyer was merely brought in here to be a consultant for the Adrian Gonzalez trade. Tongue in cheek, but it now feels closer to the truth than it was intended.

Did Hoyer really get everything the Padres could for Adrian Gonzalez? Would Josh Byrnes had looked beyond Boston for a trading partner? Would any of these questions even be in the back of your mind if Hoyer was staying?

I don't know the answers to those questions. But I know this. This appears to have all begun with fried chicken and beer in the clubhouse in Boston. That chain reaction has lead us here.

Who needs a drink?

***UPDATE II***

Per the NCTimes.com the Padres will receive compensation for Hoyer:

Assistant GM Jason McLeod is expected to join Hoyer in Chicago and a source said the Padres will receive compensation from the Cubs in return for freeing both men from their contracts.

So we got that going for us, which is nice.

BBA Connie Mack and Stan Musial Award Ballot

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:48:00 +0000

As part of the BBA Post-Season Awards, I will be providing my ballot for the top manager in each league and the top player in each league.

Without further adieu, Left Coast Bias respectfully submits the following:

National League Manager of the Year (Connie Mack Award)

1) Kirk Gibson - Arizona Diamondbacks
29 win difference. That's the difference between the Diamondbacks in 2010 and the Diamondbacks of 2011. Even using the Diamondbacks Pythorgean W/L record of 88-74 still wins the division (perhaps more a statement of the NL West in 2011 than anything). They were picked by nearly every "expert" to finish last or 4th in the West. They weren't the best hitting team, nor the best pitching team. They just kept winning and they ran away with the division. When you are at the helm of the biggest turnaround in baseball, you win this award. It's just a fact. Case closed.

2) Ronald Roenicke - Milwaukee Brewers
Some could say that winning the division with two potential MVP candidates is not impressive. I say winning the NL Central, any year, is impressive. The Brewers quietly were the 2nd best team in the National League, had the distraction of Prince Fielder's imminent departure, and easily won the division.

3) Charlie Manuel - Philadelphia Phillies
There's something to be said for winning when you are expected to. While he had the four aces, the NL East is perhaps arguably the best division in the National League. And the Phillies, despite injuries, still dominated.

American League Manager of the Year (Connie Mack Award)

1) Joe Maddon - Tampa Bay Rays
Maybe it's unfair to win an award for one month of work. But when you catch the AL favorite, down 9 games, despite a collapse on their part, you have to be considered for this award. Maddon was able to keep a clubhouse that had every reason to cash in on the season and get ready for fishing and golfing focused. It took all 162 games, but the Rays are post-season bound. And every decision Maddon made in September seemed to be the right one.

2) Ron Washington - Texas Rangers
Against who it mattered most, the Rangers dominated. They were 12-7 against the Angels, a record that all but buried the Angels and their post-season hopes. They lost Josh Hamilton for a significant portion of the year, struggled for much of the year with a leaky bullpen, yet ran away with the AL West by 10 games.

3) Jim Leyland - Detroit Tigers
For much of the year, the AL Central was the Indians. The White Sox and Twins both made runs of varying degrees at some point this season. The Tigers just kept on going, behind superace Justin Verlander and MVP candidate Miguel Cabrera.

National League Player of the Year (Stan Musial Award)

1) Matt Kemp - Los Angeles Dodgers
.11 pts away from winning the Triple Crown. As this category is "Player of the Year" not "MVP" Matt Kemp was clearly the best player in the National League in 2011.

2) Ryan Braun - Milwaukee Brewers
Led the league in OPS, top 10 in RBI, Batting Average, and HR. A completely dominant season from Ryan Braun.

3) Justin Upton - Arizona Diamondbacks
It's crazy to think now that Upton was nearly traded last off-season. This pick may make the statheads head explode, but their are few players I enjoy watching more than Upton. A key to the Diamondbacks unlikely 2011 run.

Best of the Rest:
4) Lance Berkman - St. Louis Cardinals
5) Roy Halladay - Philadelphia Phillies
6) Jose Reyes - New York Mets
7) Prince Fielder - Milwaukee Brewers
8) Troy Tulowitzki - Colorado Rockies
9) Joey Votto - Cincinnati Reds
10) Albert Pujols - St. Louis Cardinals

American League Player of the Year (Stan Musial Award)

1) Justin Verlander - Detroit Tigers
In part because no offensive player in my mind ran away with this, Verlander was the most dominant single player in the American League this year. A bold statement for someone that only plays every 5 days perhaps, but to me, there was no one who had a more prolific season than him. His 2011 shouldn't be relegated only to the Cy Young (which he will certainly win).

2) Jacoby Ellsbury - Boston Red Sox
Ellsbury saved the Red Sox season on a variety of times in September until the magic finally ran out. Despite a complete meltdown around him, Ellsbury remained a bright spot.

3) Jose Bautista - Toronto Blue Jays
Two years in a row leading the league in homeruns, an insane 1.056 OPS, and hit over .300. Best player on a team that is getting better every year. Sign stealing or no sign stealing, this guy showed that 2010 was no fluke.

Best of the Rest:
4) Evan Longoria - Tampa Bay Rays
5) Miguel Cabrera - Detroit Tigers
6) Curtis Granderson - New York Yankees
7) Adrian Gonzalez - Boston Red Sox
8) Paul Konerko - Chicago White Sox
9) Mark Teixeira - New York Yankees
10) Jered Weaver - Anaheim Angels

Wild Thoughts for Wild Card Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:04:00 +0000

The 2011 MLB regular season came to an end last night. And oh what an ending it was.

First, as this is a Padres blog, let's quickly note that the Padres bookended 2011 with victories, beating the Chicago Cubs 9-2 (where were those runs all year). Changes are no doubt coming, one coming today in Randy Ready being let go (yet another hitting coach scapegoat). I'm more relieved than anything. 2011 was a trying season, made more so with the memory of 2010 so fresh in our mind. It was a struggle, it was tough to watch, and at times it just wasn't fun. But I still miss it. And hope for brighter days.

Because on the same night the Padres were finishing their 71-91 campaign, across Major League Baseball games were happening that reminded me how fun watching this game can be, and showed me a world that one day I hope the Padres exist within.

Was September 28, 2011 the greatest regular season day in MLB history? I don't know about that. But I can say with no hyperbole that I've never experienced a regular night of baseball like I did on Wednesday.

Some quick thoughts, as I don't even think I can put my thoughts into a coherent paragraph.

- I left work at roughly 5pm Pacific. The Rays were down 5-0 at that point. I got home and somehow it was 7-0. I stopped paying attention to this game at this point, turning my attention and all my fandom I could muster toward Baltimore.

- The Braves had a 3-1 lead at this point. As the Cardinals were well ahead of Houston, I pretty much assumed this was must win for Atlanta at this point. I was rooting for this, simple so we could have a Game 163.

- Went to get In N' Out for dinner. I came back just in time to see Evan Longoria hit a grand slam to get the Rays within 1. WHAT?!?!?!?!

- Boston was up 3-2 when..rain came. I contemplated whether MLB would call the game as it was the middle of the 7th with Boston up 3-2. It seemed like a very Bud Selig-y thing to do.

- The Braves are still up. No big deal there for the time being.

- I'm fully focused on the Rays game right now. Down 1, bottom of the 9th, and some guy named Dan Johnson is batting. No idea who this guy is, time to focus on hoping for rain to let up in Baltimore and an Oriole comeba....WHAT?!?!

- Dan Johnson, with 2 strikes, just saved the Rays season. Unbelievable! I'm cheering like I grew up in Tampa.

- Rain is over in Baltimore. Still, I'm rooting for an Oriole comeback here. That is not filling me with any kind of confidence.

- What's this? Hunter Pence just broken bat killed the Braves. Anguish on the fans faces. I've been there.

- The Braves get their last crack to avoid being on the infamous "Worst Collapse" list. They know it's over, you know it's over, their fans know it's over. Guess what, it's over. Cardinals in.

- At this point the Red Sox/Orioles game and the Rays/Yankees game blend together. Here's what I remember: 1) The Orioles defense came to play. Great relay throw to cut down a run at home, getting out of jam after jam. And then, Papelbon. There's really nothing I enjoy more than watching Papelbon blow a save...except when Brian Wilson does it. That double to the gap was delicious. Just delicious. Tie game. Andino's line drive to left, which I didn't think Crawford would catch but I also didn't think the Orioles would send the runner. He didn't, they did, game over. My favorite part of all this was how much Baltimore celebrated. They went nuts and good for them. This was the biggest game of their season. They played as hard as any team would, as if it were Game 7. It was fantastic. I felt great for their fans, who, for three days were one of the most relevant teams in baseball. And everyone outside New England was an Oriole fan.

2) I switched the channel just in time to see Evan Longoria go all Mark McGwire circa #62 on the Yankees, walk-off style.

Like that, the Red Sox were eliminated. Good riddance. I don't like their money, their arrogance, and their sense of entitlement. I will say I enjoyed their stadium, and the few fans I met in Boston were pleasant.

But fuck them.

It was great. It was fantastic. It was the most fun I've had watching baseball in awhile. And I'm looking forward to more in October.

The Curious Case of the Padres No-Hitter

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 03:10:00 +0000

Mat Latos was dealing last night. No other way to say it.

He was dealing so much, that for a moment, brief though it may have been, a familiar thought creeped through the minds of Padres fans.

"Is tonight the night?"

It wasn't, again. No no-hitter for the Padres. But for 5 innings last night, Latos was throwing as well as any Padres pitcher has this year. He was no-hitting the Cubs (a perfect game in fact until a walk in the 5th).

Then a triple by Coleman (the opposing pitcher of all people!) and that was that. You might ask yourself, "isn't the 5th inning a little early to talk no-hitter?" And you'd be right. It is. But so it goes for a franchise and a fan base that has been deprived such a feat for their entire existence. 42 seasons, 0 no-hitters.

Since the Padres inaugural Major League season of 1969, there have been 104 no-hitters. That's 3.5 no-hitters per current Major League team (yes, I realize the math isn't perfect as their has been expansion since 1969, but the point remains the same). Yet, never once, have the stars aligned and the ball bounced right and we get to see a Padres catcher hoist a pitcher in celebration of a no-hitter.

Not that the Padres haven't been close.

Twice the Padres have been one out away, though even that stat requires an asterisk. The two:
July 18, 1972 Padres vs Phillies. Steve Arlin held the Phillies hitless with 2 outs in the 9th inning before Tom Hutton, a career .248 hitter, singled to break up not only the no-hitter but also the shutout. The Padres went on to win 5-1.

July 9, 2011 Padres vs Dodgers. Aaron Harang went 6 strong innings but was pulled after 95 pitches. The Padres bullpen of Spence, Qualls and Adams kept the Dodgers scoreless, and hitless, into the 9th inning before Gregerson gave up a double to Uribe and the game-winning single to Navarro. The problem here? The Padres were shutout through 9. Which created the nearly untenable possibility for those of us desperate for a no-hitter of having the Padres pitch 9 hitless innings, and then have it blown in extras due to a lack of offense.

It seems impossible that the Padres could exist for as long as they have without accomplishing this feat. It's more impossible when I think of the pitchers that have pitched for San Diego (Randy Jones, Andy Benes, Andy Ashby, Jake Peavy).

But I know one day it's coming. Until then, anytime a Padres pitcher gets into the 5th without giving up a run, I'll think myself "is tonight the night?"

And one of these days, it will be.

One day. One day.

Hoffman the Hall of Famer and Why Being #2 Shouldn't Matter

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 21:57:00 +0000

Were you one of the best players at your position during your career?

That's the criteria for the Hall of Fame in my opinion. Of course, there is no real criteria. But if I'm voting on players and looking at a list, thats my first question. Were you one of the best during your career? Baseball is unique in that it cares about its past perhaps more than any other sport. Yet, it is nearly impossible, for a variety of reasons (rule changes, desegregation, steroids), to compare different eras of baseball.

Was Trevor Hoffman one of the best at his position during his career? There is no way to answer that question other than with a resounding "yes."

This of course is being brought up today thanks to Mariano Rivera breaking the All-Time Saves record. Rivera stands alone atop the saves leader board at 602. Who knows where that number will stop, as he shows little sign of slowing down. But, does Trevor Hoffman now being the SECOND greatest closer of all-time somehow invalidate his Hall of Fame credentials? Of course not.

Regardless of whether you believe in the saves stat or deride it as more useless than pitchers wins or RBI, the fact remains that closers are judged by them. A closers job is simple yet incredibly complicated at the same time. Come in, pitch one inning, get three outs. Done and done. Except it is never as simple as "done and done."

Closers are more often remembered for a singular moment of failure. Mitch Williams, Brad Lidge, Byung-Hyun Kim. We know these names not for their effectiveness as a closer but because they failed to get those three outs in critical situations. It is also why the position of closer is perhaps the most volatile in sports. Great relievers have attempted to make the transition from the middle of the game to the end of the game and have failed miserably. It is this volatile nature of the position that makes the careers of Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera so spectacular and so rare. Both are over 600 saves. That number is impressive on it's own. It is made more impressive with context. Like this: Number 2 on the active saves leaderboard is Francisco Cordero...at 323 (wait, Francisco Cordero? Yes, Francisco Cordero). Which means that the mark that Hoffman set and Rivera continues to set is likely not to be matched for a long time. It is likely as unattainable as Ripken's games played, Dimaggio's 56, or Cy Young's 511 wins. Imagine, if you will, that the second person on the All-Time Wins list was at 509 (they aren't, by the way, second place is Walter Johnson at 417). As unattainable as 600 saves is, it is perhaps more impressive that two players during the same generation met that standard.

To reach the totals that Rivera and Hoffman have reached requires consistency at a position could not be less consistent. Yet they were. It is what makes these two closers so special.

And why both are heading to Cooperstown.

Occasionally I will read or hear an argument against Hoffman's Hall of Fame resume. It usually has to do with either A) some sabremetric stat that is not as impressive as one would expect; B) post-season performance.

Let's deal with the post-season issue first. Mariano Rivera is, without question, the greatest post-season closer of all time. No debate. But even he is not without spectacular failure. Game 7, 2001 World Series is submitted herein as exhibit 1. But, unlike Mitch Williams (and so many more) before him, Rivera had already built up a lifetimes worth of playoff appearances prior to blowing Game 7. And he recovered to continue that dominance throughout much of the 2000's.

Hoffman had a fraction of those chances. By no fault of his own. The teams he played for were more often than not mired in mediocre to sub-par seasons, pushing Hoffman's greatness to a mere footprint of multiple MLB seasons. The mere fact that one was not given the opportunity to be great, by no fault of their own, is not reason to keep them out of the Hall of Fame. I don't think anyone's Hall of Fame candidacy should be based on post-season performance. A factor? Sure. But not a criticism.

The second issue is the sabremetric argument. The argument seems to go that by other standards, Rivera so far outshines Hoffman that Hoffman is somehow suddenly not a Hall of Famer. It also follows that the position of closer is not as valuable as one would think, so being the best or second best at this "irrelevant" position is useless. To which I say, SHUT UP!

The job of a closer is to save the game. Whether someone does that with three long fly balls, or by walking three guys then striking out the next three, is irrelevant if the end result is the game was saved. I simply don't care, nor do I think it matters that Rivera has a better K/9 rate, or whatever Bill James stat you want to use. The barometer is saves and by that barometer, Rivera and Hoffman are the greatest...and it's not even close for a third.

Comparisons between Rivera and Hoffman are inevitable. But they are also ultimately pointless. It doesn't matter if Hank Aaron or Babe Ruth was better. They were both great. Who was better, Dimaggio or Mantle? Who cares, because they are both great. The same should be said about Rivera and Hoffman. Two of the greatest closers in baseball history who played during the same time period. They are the standard-bearers for all those who come after them.

Who's better: Rivera or Hoffman? Ultimately it doesn't matter, because both belong, and both will be, in Cooperstown soon enough.

Planning Your 2012 Padres Road Trip

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 17:42:00 +0000

The San Diego Padres 2012 season schedule was officially unveiled today, providing all fans a momentary distraction from the Padres 2011 season (mercifully).

And while there will be plenty of time to look at the schedule from a strategic standpoint, or look for key series late in the season (hopefully), today is about party planning.

Road trip party planning.

The 2011 Padres interleague schedule gave fans two great excuses for travelling. Road games in Minnesota (and new Target Field) and Boston were quickly seized upon by fans. Including myself, who took the once every 6 years opportunity to travel to Boston (a city I had never been before) and take in a game at Fenway (also a first, obviously).

So, looking ahead, what road trips are most enticing for Padres fans? Let's take a look at some of the road trip opportunities that stuck out to me:

May 11-15
@Philadelphia; @Washington
This is the trip for you history buffs. Two of the most historic cities in American history in back-to-back series. Plus the potential to see Strasburg in person and the (relatively) new Nationals Park. The downside...Phillies fans. Batteries not included.

May 24 - 30
@New York Mets; @Chicago Cubs
If history isn't your thing, then perhaps visiting two of the most iconic cities in America will be. Take in a Broadway show, walk Central Park and check out Citi Field for the first time. Then head West to historic Wrigley Field (a stadium that should move immediately to the top of your baseball stadium bucket list if you haven't been) and enjoy deep dish pizza, Chicago hot dogs and a fan base more depressed than our own. This trip will help you finally decide, once and for all, New York Pizza or Chicago Deep Dish Pizza.

June 12 - 17
@Seattle; @Oakland
Interleague! While Oakland doesn't have the same sex appeal as Minnesota or Boston, hey, it's interleague! A little Pacific Northwest trip where you can take in fresh salmon, grunge music and spend all your time in San Francisco while "visiting" Oakland. Also, watch the Vedder Cup, Year 2, in person!

July 27-29
@Miami
I read that the Florida Marlins are changing their name to Miami as of next year. One step closer to Back to the Future, Part II being true! Brand new stadium, fun dining and nightlife city, possible hurricanes. This trip has it all!

August 10-12
@Pittsburgh
Long considered, by those that have been, as one of the great ballparks in America. I'm pretty sure they put french fries in their sandwiches in Pittsburgh as well. So there's that.

And of course the usual array of NL West cities. Personally, I have yet to make it to Denver or San Fran for a game (blasphemy, I know). A problem I hope to rectify in the 2012 season.

So pack your bags, buy those plane tickets, and I'll see you all on the road!

Looking In on the Pre-Season Bets

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 23:32:00 +0000

Back before the season started I looked up a few pre-season proposition bets for the upcoming MLB season and wrote a blog post about it. As we are under 3 weeks before the season ends, I thought it would be fun to look back and relieve those picks. And for you all to see why I work for a living vs gamble for a living.

Most Regular Season HR's by Any Player: O/U 46.5
My Pick: Over
How's It Looking? For the second year in a row, Jose Bautista is leading MLB in HR's. Whether that's because pitchers haven't learned to stop throwing him first pitch fastballs, sign stealing or some other reason is irrelevant. For purposes of this blog, what is relevant is he has 41 HR's as of this writing. So with less than 3 weeks away we are looking at 6 more HR's. Doable...though he is currently in a 5 game HR drought. Time, my friend, is a ticking.

Most Regular Season Wins by Any Pitcher: O/U 20.5
My Pick: Over
How's It Looking? WINNER. WINNER. CHICKEN. DINNER! Justin Verlander is already at 22 wins which means "we goin' Sizzler, we goin' Sizzler." It's the era of the pitcher. Never mind that my thought was it would be one of Philly's four starters. Just ignore that part and enjoy your steak.

Albert Pujols Total HR's: O/U 38.5
My Pick: Over
How's It Looking? Pujols is sitting at 34 as we speak. The reasoning for going over is, A) it's Albert Freaking Pujols, and; B) Contract Year. This would already be a winner had it not been for his mid-season injury. Even with that injury, though, we are only 5 HR's away from cashing in. The bad news: He hasn't gone deep since Sept. 1.

Adrian Gonzalez Total HR's: O/U 36.5
My Pick: Over...barely
How's It Looking? Not so good. I tempered my pick on this one but landed on over for this reason: He had gone 30, 36, 40, 31 over the past four years while playing at Petco Park. Moving to Fenway, the thought was he would increasing those HR totals. Despite the MVP type season he is having, his HR total is at 24, on pace for his lowest total in the past 5 years.

Buster Posey Total HR's: O/U 19.5
My Pick: Under
How's It Looking? Great! Thanks to a season ending injury in May, Posey managed only 4 HR's this season. Fun sidenote. In the article I just Google'd to get the date of Posey's injury, the story mentioned how the Giants were "hesitant to say this was season-ending." Oh Giants. So young, so naive.

4 Aces (Halladay, Oswalt, Lee, Hamels) Total Regular Season Wins: O/U 59.5
My Pick: Under
How's It Looking? The thought for going under here had more to do with their bullpen. What ended up happening was the Philadelphia offense wasn't quite what I expected, but then again, neither was Lee. Still time for them to hit the over here, but as Philadelphia has all but secured the NL East, not seeing a lot of starts for these 4 down the stretch.

Heath Bell Regular Season Saves: O/U 35.5
My Pick: Over
How's It Looking? WINNER. WINNER. CHICKEN. DINNER. Bell, in two years as a full time closer, had yet to save less than 40. And while this year may be the year, he is already at 36 saves despite the fact that he's been MIA for long stretches of time this season (through no fault of his own).

San Diego Padres Regular Season Wins: O/U 75.5
My Pick: Over
How's It Looking? Well, if they go undefeated the rest of the season...forget it. I'm embarrassed. Let's move on.

*FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY

California League Playoff Preview

noreply@blogger.com (GTH) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 03:39:00 +0000

I am by no stretch of the imagination, a minor league expert.

I enjoy minor league baseball. I try to attend Lake Elsinore Storm games on a semi-regular basis. (Side Note: If you have not made it up to The Diamond in Lake Elsinore, do yourself the favor and do so. I live nearby so its a quick drive over, but make a point next year to head up at least once. It's well worth it.)

That being said, I figured I would take a crack out of previewing the California League Playoffs, set to begin tomorrow. For one, it will allow all Padres fans here the chance to enjoy some playoff baseball. And second, I literally cannot think of something to say about this Padres season at this point that hasn't been said a million times. Ugh...let's just play these final 21 games.

Ok, enough wallowing. It's playoff time!

The California League Playoffs are broken down into 3 rounds amongst two divisions. Of each division, 3 teams will make the playoffs for a total of 6. The first half champion gets a first round bye, the second half champion gets home field advantage in the first round and each division has a "wild card" team. The first round is called the "Mini-Series" pitting the second half champion (or #2 seed) vs the wild card team.

Our very own Lake Elsinore Storm had themselves quite a season, nabbing the 2nd seed. Their mini-series matchup will begin tomorrow vs the Inland Empire 66ers.

For the Storm, the name of the game is speed. Something that is clearly an organizational focus, the Storm led the California league in Stolen Bases (196). Leading the way for the Storm is a name that should be quite familiar for Padres fans. Reymond Fuente, brought into the organization as part of the Adrian Gonzalez deal, leads the team with 41 stolen bases. From seeing him in person, the kid can flat out run. Much like Cam Maybin, Fuentes forces the issue, forcing infielders to hurry throws, outfielders to hurry the ball back in, and wreck overall havoc on the base paths.

Other than Fuentes, the Storm also bring more than 60 stolen bases to the playoffs from their middle infield. Jonathon Galvez and Jeudy Valdez (2B and SS respectively) complete a speed trio for the Storm.

Sadly (for the Storm, not for the player), the Storm's best player by far well not be present. Jedd Gyorko got a much deserved promotion to AA San Antonio after tearing the California League up (.365 and 18 HRs in 81 games). In his place, the Storm have been utilizing Edinson Rincon who has provided a consistent bat though not the power that Gyorko had.

Inland Empire 66ers are not a hitting team. I mean, they take their at bats as baseball rules require, they just don't hit very well. What they do do well however, is strike people out. In Game 1, the 66ers will throw John Hellwig, a 6'9" strikeout machine in the second half of the season since moving from the bullpen to the rotation. In the second half, Hellwig has posted 78 strikeouts in 57 2/3rd innings. Game 2 will be Dominican Ariel Pena who has posted 180 strikeouts in 151 2/3rd innings, second most in the league this season.

Strikeouts vs Speed. Game 1 of the California League South Division Mini-Series begins tomorrow night at Inland Empire. The Storm lead the season series 13-12. It has the makings of a very entertaining series. Winner moves on to face the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. But more on that if we get there.