Yesterday's quiz about the Padres' 2006 NLDS roster seemed to be a hit (an infield single, but a hit nonetheless), so I thought I'd see how you all would fare recalling the franchise's previous playoff team. Granted, it was just the year before, but there was a good bit of turnover between the two years so it won't be a total cakewalk.
Twenty-four Padres participated in the three-game season-ending sweep at the hands claws of the Cardinals, in addition to Game Four's projected starter who went unused. As a hint, the positions each player played in the series are listed. Two players had only pinch-hit appearances; their regular-season positions are reflected parenthetically. The starting pitchers are listed in order of the games they started, and the relievers are logged alphabetically, so bear that in mind when you're scrambling for names with fifty-three seconds left on the clock.
Be sure to log your results in the poll below when you're through, and use spoiler-alert black-bars where applicable in your comments.
Just like that? Just like that.
Since apparently I'm working backward, I guess it would make sense to do a quiz about the 1996 Padres next, seeing as how I already did one about the 1998 team back in March. That one was about everyone who played for the team during the regular season, though. That led me to wonder which you'd prefer for the '96ers quiz: regular season or playoff roster? There's something to discuss in the comments without the need of spoiler bars.
I sincerely feel bad for anybody losing their job, especially one they love. Hearing that former Padres PA announcer Frank Anthony is upset is unsettling.
Bernie Wilson spoke with Anthony this morning and sent out a few tweets afterwards:
Just spoke w/ deposed #Padres PA guy Frank Anthony, who's trying to take high road but says it's "hurtful" he was pushed aside.
True, not everyone can be a PA Announcer, but the Padres presumably won't give the job to just anyone. The idea is that they are going to find talent with this dragnet approach. If I thought I had the chops I'd be upset if they did an invitation-only tryout, which is how Anthony was hired in the first place.
"This change was made because it coincides with the 10th anniversary of Petco Park ... and our desire to give all fans the opp. to audition for and/or help us choose the voice who will take the ballpark experience into the next decade."
Anthony had a good ten year run. I certainly don't want to sound callous but his voice and delivery were never really my cup of tea. He always brought a lot of energy to his job but he reminded me more of a game show host than a baseball announcer. It sounds like I'm probably in the minority though since lots of Padres fans loved Anthony and think the Padres made a major public relations error when announcing the open tryout.
To me an open audition seems to be the appropriate way to hire new talent if you don't already have someone in mind. Opening a position to the public happens with almost every job. The fact that the promotion of the job is being made into a contest seems like it's line with a position in the entertainment industry.
Petit signed with the Athletics as an amateur free agent in 2001 and worked his way up their ladder before finally arriving in Oakland in 2008. He raked to the tune of .348/ .400/ .435 in the small sample size of 23 at-bats over 14 games. He was much less impressive in 11 games in 2009, got sent back down, and has yet to resurface in the majors. Petit was traded to the Rangers before the 2010 season, and signed with the Padres after it. He was released toward the end of spring training and sat out the 2011 season before signing with the Indians. Petit had a solid comeback season in 2012, hitting a career-high 10 homers with AAA Columbus.
After his season in the land of the Buckeyes, Petit signed yet another minor league contract with the Padres. This time he made good on it, batting .292/ .344/ .380 in 503 at-bats while splitting his time in the field between shortstop and third base. Petit matched his career high with 26 doubles and drove in 61 runs, just shy of the career-high of 63 he posted in 2006 as a member of the Single-A Stockton Ports.
Best of luck to Petit this season in Oklahoma City and/or, if all goes well, Houston.
6 players are one step closer to arbitration hearings
On Tuesday, 6 San Diego Padres players filed for salary arbitration. The list of players included Chase Headley, Ian Kennedy,Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross, Everth Cabrera, and Kyle Blanks. The Padres were able to avoid arbitration with Seth Smith by signing him to a 1-year deal worth 4.5 million dollars. For the remaining 6, they will exchange salary numbers with the team on Friday. If a deal can't be reached, they will head to arbitration hearings.
In 2013, Headley earned 8.575 million. So, an estimated 1.5 million dollar boost isn't so bad. Granted, he did not perform up to the level he did that earned him a 5 million dollar increase between 2012-2013. But, 10 million dollars for solid 3B who almost any team would want won't break the bank.
Kennedy finished 2013 earning 4.265 million dollars. We didn't see much of Kennedy last year due to his acquisition at the trade deadline. He finished 2013 with an ERA of 4.24 with the Padres and an overall 4.91 ERA in 2013.
Cashner was money last year. In terms of actual money, he was well worth the 500k afforded to him. Yeah. A half million dollars for a 10-9 season with 175 innings of work and a 3.09 ERA. So, an estimated payroll boost of 2 million dollars is very much expected for Andrew.
Everth. We remember him. He missed the final 50 games of 2013. His salary was 1.275 million, but I'm not sure he got all that money last year. But, even if he did, a 1 million dollar increase isn't too bad. His performance last year was good while it lasted. Let's hope he earns that estimated 2.2 million in 2014.
Another one of last year's rising stars will be looking to have that salary rise in 2014. Ross started 2013 in the rotation, went to the DL, made some pitches in the bullpen, and once he got back in the rotation, he showed his stuff. Though his 3-8 would make you think otherwise, an ERA of 3.17 is promising. His estimated salary for 2014 is an increase of 800k over his 2013 salary of 500k.
What can they do with this guy? When he's good, he's good. When he's not, it's because he's injured. In 2013, he got a paycheck of 600k for 308 plate appearances. $1,948 per PA is good for business. A salary bump of 400k will suffice for next year.
Well, that's it. Sometime tomorrow, the players listed above could take all this writing and all these numbers and make them obsolete. I just hope that all parties can come to an agreement tomorrow and not have to go to an arbitrator. Leave the money matters here and have have it be dragging on for a little bit longer.
If you head on over to Padres.com and check out the schedule you will notice that all games have a start time listed with them now. Last year when the game times came out it was kind of big deal (at least as far as these things go) as the team changed all its Petco Park game times to start either at 10 past the hour or 40 past. This year that has not changed, start time for the most part are 12:40 pm, 1:10 pm, 3:40 pm, 5:40pm or 7:10 pm.
The 12:40 pm start times are reserved for certain Wednesday and Thursday games. There are none of these in March or April to kick off the year. There is one May 7 against the Royals. None in June. Two in July with one on July 2 against the Reds and another July 31 against the Cardinals. August and September both do not have any.
The 3:40 pm start times are also mainly for select Wednesday and Thursday games. These late afternoon starts were re-introduced a couple years ago to encourage fans to kick of work a little early, enjoy a game and still get home before it's too late. This also the start time preferred for the Home Opener or Opening Day. Since the Padres have designated the second game of the season as Opening Day, Tuesday April 1 will be a 3:40 pm start time. April 17 against the Rockies will also start at this time. As will June 4 against the Pirates and June 19 against the hated Mariners in the final Vedder Cup game of the season. Another special 3:40 start time will be July 4 against the Giants. The final 3:40 pm game will come early this year on August 13.
Typically, at most of the 12:40 and 3:40 games organist and Gaslamp Baller Bobby Cressy (B Cres) tickles the ivories for our enjoyment. Perhaps he will contribute a FanPost when he knows what games he will be doing this year and ask for any requests as far as tunes to play for the crowd.
The 1:10 pm start times are for Sundays only. Every Sunday home game except for one will have that start time. The exception? That would be Opening Night on March 30. That game will be played at the ESPN mandated 5:05 start time.
The 5:40 pm start time is used exclusively this year for certain Saturday home games. This is the preferred start for Saturdays, but because of television blackout rules for games that overlap with the Fox Saturday baseball broadcasts, some need to start later in order to be televised locally.
Speaking of Fox, it appears that the Padres may have a game that will be televised on the network for perhaps a national broadcast (but likely just a regional one). The July 5 Saturday game against the Giants is scheduled for a 4:15 pm start time and that irregular time would seem to indicate that Fox wants to televise it.
The 7:10 pm start time will be used for all other home games.
Those two players are in no way relevant to the potential acquisition of Masahiro Tanaka.
The Yankees have a long and storied history of signing players to contracts that don't work out. This comes with the distinction of (once upon a time) being the most aggressive and wealthy of all MLB franchises. A side effect of that history of failures is that any time the Yankees sign/might sign a player, comparisons will be made between that player and one of those "failed signings". For example, when word of just how many years Robinson Cano was seeking began to leak out, some pointed to Alex Rodriguez's huge 10-year contract as evidence as to why approaching the length of that deal would be folly. Now, I'm not trying to stump for the concept of giving 31-year olds 10-year deals, it's just I don't see the usefulness in comparing two completely dissimilar players that way. Apples to moon rocks, says I.
That's where Hideki Irabu, Kei Igawa and Masahiro Tanaka come in. The first are two highly publicized, failed Yankees signings. Both pitchers happen to be from Japan. And those facts, in my opinion, have zero relevance when it comes to the discussion of signing Masahiro Tanaka. Irabu and Igawa were different pitchers with different personalities and different pitching attributes. In fact, Igawa's projections as a starter were so inferior to those of Tanaka that his even being brought up at all is absurd. At least Irabu had something of a pedigree. All of those distinctions are more than enough to render any similarities that the two share with Tanaka completely superfluous. Just being Japanese imports should be no more a factor in acquiring a player than if they were born in the same state as famed draft pick flameout Brien Taylor. Judge the player on their own merits.
Let it be said that I'm not arguing Tanaka's being an import or pitching only in the NPB are to be ignored. His career statistics, usage and quality of opponent during his time there should all be considered. But even then, his resume is so different from Irabu's and Igawa's that they are to be totally removed from the discussion. Even comparing him to a more recent contemporary, Yu Darvish, is of questionable usefulness considering the types of pitchers they are. It will be mostly up to the scouts to attempt to try to predict how well Tanaka should translate as a MLB starter.
We can only hope that the Yankees are over whatever possible anxiety disorders the failed acquisitions of Irabu and Igawa have caused. Any sort of misgivings they have because of those players from times past can only serve to cloud their judgment in coming to a decision regarding Tanaka. And these sorts of vital, franchise-altering decisions are complicated enough as is without letting mistakes of years gone by impair your judgment.
Eight different players have tallied at least 12 total bases in a game as a member of the San Diego Padres. It has occurred nine times, as one of the players did the deed twice. That same guy is also one of the two who have totaled not just 12, but 13 total bases in a game.
Now it's up to you to see how many of those eight you can name in two minutes. To help you out, I've listed each player's position and how he accrued all those bases.
After you're done, be sure to log your results in the poll below. And as always, don't forget to spoiler-proof your comments where applicable.
After hitting .286/.376/.498 with 31 homers for the Padres that season, Headley slugged just 13 home runs last season. He still posted a .250/.347/.400 batting line in 2013, and was excellent defensively at third, but the dip in homers and runs batted in likely cost him some money this offseason.
The arbitration process generally rewards traditional counting stats -- like home runs and stolen bases -- so, Headley wasn't going to get the same kind of raise he did last offseason if he had taken his case to the panel.
At $10.25 million, Headley will be the Padres highest-paid player, topping the $9.5 million Carlos Quentin is set to earn next season. That could be motivation enough for the small-market Padres to pursue a trade for the 29-year-old third baseman. However, Headley will become a free agent after the season, so general manager Josh Byrnes might be more concerned with maximizing his club's return than Headley 2014 salary.
The ongoing saga of Chase Headley and his contract gets a new chapter today.
One of the biggest question marks for the Padres over the last year or so regarded Chase Headley's contract situation. There have been rumors that he has needed to be traded, rumors about a big contract extension and finally talk that the team will simply sign him for a final year and let him test free agency come October. Today we have found out that, at least for now, the team will forward with that one year deal.
The Padres and Chase Headley avoided arbitration in his final year before free agency and settled on a contract value of $10.525 million dollars for the 2014 season. MLBTradeRumors.com had predicted that it would be close to $10 million, so the figure makes sense to those who spend time analyzing these things.
Headley previously made $8.575 million in 2013, $3.375 million in 2012 and $2.325 million in 2011. All typical raises for a player during his arbitration years that produced as he did.
In the very short term, the deal makes sense in that the team had to agree to a contract before any arbitration hearing in February in order to avoid a messy court case over his 2014 salary. That part is good. However, it once again brings the complicated issue of Headley's future with the Padres to the forefront. It is an issue that has been messy in the past when the team has brought it to the attention of the media and one that gives fans an unsettled feeling about the future of one of the team's most notable players. To be continued.
Kyle Blanks gets a new contract in his second year of salary arbitration.
The Padres and Kyle Blanks settled on a number just shy of the $1 million MLBTradeRumors.com predicted salary. Blanks will make $988,000 in 2014. He made $605,000 last year in his first arbitration eligible season last year. That deal last year came quite early as the team wanted to either sign him at a bargain or possible release or trade him to save money and a roster space. Blanks has battled injuries throughout his career, so the team is cautious about giving him a salary that his health can not justify.
This season will once again be an important year for Blanks. He will be due another raise this time next year and another injury plagued season could cause the team to finally balk and move on. A solid season would see more dollars come his way and more responsibility to justify them. With Jesus Guzman now an Astro, the onus is on Blanks to provide a RH bench bat the team can count on in 2014. The team needs him to be that and Blanks needs it as well.
Everth Cabrera gets a new contract in his second year of salary arbitration.
Everth Cabrera's 2013 season unfortunately might be best remembered for the 50 game suspension he was forced to serve, which ended his year prematurely. However, it was also a year where he was selected for NL All Star team and proved to be one of the most promising young shortstops in the game. It was also a year where he was supposed to have earned his first million dollar paycheck. Due to the suspension he did not earn his full $1.275 million salary. In 2014, he looks to finally earn that million dollar annual income and the total value is almost double what he could have earned last year.
The Padres and Cabrera settled on a sum of $2,450,000 million for 2014. MLBTradeRumors.com had predicted he would get $2.2 million, so this is in the same ballpark as expectations. Without the suspension, Cabrera would likely have earned more. While there is nothing that says the suspension should impact future salary, the dollar figures are justified by a player's statistics. By missing 50 games in 2013, Cabrera could not pad his stats and justify a higher income.
Despite the suspension, the Padres seem to be relying heavily on another solid season from their shortstop. There is no one on the roster that can realistically compete with Everth for playing time, so he will get the full benefit of the doubt that he is clean and ready to produce as he did before sitting out those final 50 games of 2013.
Tyson Ross gets a new contract in his first year of salary arbitration.
When the Padres may a trade with the Oakland Athletics last year to acquire Tyson Ross, I am not sure even they had anticipated that he would play as well as he did down the stretch in 2013. The Padres knew they had a project on their hands, a project that had all the tools to succeed, but were still taking a gamble on the young fireballer. Ross impressed in Spring Training, earned a spot on the club out of camp pitching in relief, made his way to the rotation, fought back from injury and looked like a ace to finish the year. That sort of sticktoitiveness is something baseball clubs love to see and fans love to root for.
Yesterday, the Padres and Tyson Ross agreed on what he would make in 2014. He salary will be $1.98 million, which percentage-wise is a significant amount higher than the $1.3 million that MLBTradeRumors.com predict. Perhaps, the analysis done on Ross by outsiders was a little off or perhaps the Padres were generous with a playing they view as a rising star. Either way, expectations are growing for the hard throwing hurler.
Ian Kennedy gets his first contract from the San Diego Padres
This is Ian Kennedy's second go around in his arbitration years. Last year he got a huge raise going from $519,500 in 2012 to $4.265 million in 2013. That was in large part due to his fantastic 2011 season and 15 wins in 2012. His performances while making near the league minimum in his early years justified that hefty raise. His 2013 season proved that he is still a durable starter capable of making 30+ starts per season, but otherwise his performance was not up to his previous levels. Nevertheless the arbitration process basically requires that he get another raise, just not quite as big this time.
The Padres and Kennedy settled on an amount of $6.1 million in 2014 salary. This is close to the MLBTradeRumors,com predicted amount of $5.8 million, so nothing seems out of the ordinary with that number. Despite being a lesser raise than the one he got this time last year, that dollar figure is still a tidy sum and one that will not be justified if he repeats his 2013 performance. Hopefully this salary will mean more than a paycheck to Kennedy and he will use the Padres' monetary support as fuel to get back to the heights he has climbed in previous years.
Every day, the first time I think of it after midnight, I check to see if any Padres were born on that day. I spotted Brian Falkenborg's name and knew he was a Friar at some point, although I couldn't quite pinpoint when. What follows is my train of thought immediately after clicking over to his BR page:
"Oh yeah, he was a Padre twice. That seems vaguely familiar."
"Huh, he was a two-time Dodger too. That's weird."
"Each time the Padres signed him was after the Dodgers cast him off. That's kind of embarrassing."
"Hey, there's a pattern to his career! Bird - Dodger - Padre, Bird - Dodger - Padre."
This morning, I made my way down to the ballpark for the second time in as many weeks. I was one of the nearly 5,000 in attendance to mourn the passing of Jerry Coleman. I'd shed plenty of tears in the last two weeks, so it seemed like a good idea to bring some tissues.
The tenor for the day was set before I even entered Petco Park. Walking from the parking lot to the gate, I saw a fan wearing a jersey bearing the name of the Padres late bullpen coach Darrel Akerfelds. That handful of Kleenex in my pocket suddenly seemed woefully insufficient.
I entered through the East Village gate to see the Colonel's statue. The memorial at his feet had grown even larger since I visited on the night of his death. There were flowers, hats, stars, and mementos of all sorts. From there, I worked my way up to the main concourse, pausing to watch the photos of Jerry being shown on every screen in the park. Ushers were distributing brief biographies of Jerry, not that there was a soul in attendance that didn't know it by heart: Four World Series rings, two wars, and fourty-two years behind the microphone.
Dick Enberg took the stage to introduce the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Band, who played the national anthem before a group of Marine F-18 fighter jets flew over the field in the missing man formation. Watching that lone jet pull away from his squad, I pulled out the first of many tissues. Enberg spoke briefly about his time working with Jerry on Angels broadcasts before introducing Randy Jones and Bob Chandler. Chandler described him as "the most beloved sports figure in the history of San Diego." It's a hard to disagree.
Padres Chairman Ron Fowler talked about his father's love for Jerry and his role with the Padres. He described him not just as the one constant through more than four decades of Padres baseball, but "the very soul of this organization." He announced that the Padres will wear a patch on their uniforms this season. Fittingly, it's a star bearing his initials.
Fowler was followed by County Supervisor Ron Roberts, who told a story about riding the New York subway with Jerry, who claimed to know the system like the back of his hand. When they went the wrong way after leaving Yankee Stadium, Jerry amended that claim: "It must have been my glove hand."
Former Padre Tim Flannery played his tribute to the Colonel, "The Man Who Hung The Stars". Another tissue out of my pocket. "I can hear that old familiar voice spilling from a local bar." There goes another tissue. I managed to stop sobbing for a little bit as Joe Torre took the stage, representing the Office of the Commissioner. I'll be honest, I tuned him out a little bit. I barely caught the moment where he flubbed and said Pirates instead of Padres. It's no "Rich Folkers is throwing up in the bullpen," but I think Jerry would have appreciated it.
Then it was time for what everybody knew would be the most difficult part of the ceremony: Ted Leitner's eulogy. I ran out of tissues about halfway through. It was filled with stories of his more than three decades in the broadcast booth with Jerry. "All I had to do was show up and say, 'Jer, what did you do today?'" He reminded us of why we all loved Jerry so much: He made us laugh. He made us smile. Even in the middle of a terrible baseball game in the middle of a terrible season, he put so much joy into our lives. He talked about Jerry's best friend: His beloved German Shepherd Gus, who was also in attendance (oh god, why didn't I bring more tissues?). Perhaps most poignantly, he absolutely refused to speak of Jerry in the past tense.
Lieutenant General John Toolan spoke of the Colonel's military service. He hailed him as a great Marine, extolling him as a role model for all the other Marines in attendance. He was followed by a 21 gun salute, the playing of "Taps" (I might have resorted to using my sleeve as a tissue; don't judge me). There was one more flyover: A plane just like the one he flew in World War II.
His daughter Chelsea was the last to speak. She thanked the Padres and the thousands of fans for their support in such a difficult time. She ended the ceremony in a way that I'm sure would have made Jerry smile: "Semper Fi, and BEAT L.A."
BCB's Danny Rockett returned to the Sheraton for a second day of Cubs related mayhem.
Day two of the Cubs convention began by finding the game piece I had received with my "Welcome Office Depot" promotional bag, on my kitchen floor, which entitled me to a guaranteed autograph at 1 p.m. on Saturday. I hadn't bothered to check who was signing at that time, as I'm not really an autograph guy, but upon further inquiry, I learned that I was entitled to a Kerry Wood autograph! Kerry Wood! Guaranteed! I hadn't planned on showing up until 2 p.m., when WGN's Kathy and Judy were to host a forum on the Cubs players personal lives. But a Kerry Wood autograph enticed me out the door an hour early. Maybe I am an autograph guy after all.
After a long delay on the Red Line, at of all places, Addison.
I got there as fast as the CTA could manage, and made it to the autograph line 15 minutes late, only to find out that Kerry Wood was a no-show, and unfortunately replaced with Ryan Sweeney. Cue sad trombone noise. Wah wah wah….. So the one time ever in my life I've showed up to get an autograph, the guy wasn't even there. Oh well... Ryan Sweeney it is.
What a line!
Ryan Sweeney hasn't seen a line like this since he volunteered at his fraternity's charity kissing booth!
Having felt like a jerk for having Dwight Smith sign my 50 cents off Target coupon the night before, I came prepared with a Cubs gnome ripe for the signing!
For kicks, I asked Sweeney to sign, "Abraham Lincoln" or "Not Kerry Wood" on my gnome. The ushers who were guarding Sweeney thought my 'fake signature' joke was funny, but Sweeney did not. I actually felt kinda bad for the Sweeney, having to deal with the public all day. I mean, which one of us does not leave the house and say "Look at all these morons in my way! People are the worst!" And here's poor .266 hitting, 192 at bat having, Ryan Sweeney being asked by a middle aged blogger to write "Abraham Lincoln" on a gnome for kicks, whilst filing in for a beloved Chicago icon. Kind of a bum deal, despite the hundreds of thousands of dollars he's paid to play a game.
Sweeney, when asked to sign the gnome's beard, found it too bumpy, and chose the arm instead. I remarked to an usher that Sweeney was too chicken to sign the gnome's beard because of its rough topography, and he recommended Lee Smith as someone who would be into that sort of thing, because he's got a good sense of humor.
Who knows? Maybe Sweeney will be the next Dawson, Sandberg and Banks rolled into one? Then I won't fault him for not obliging my want of a "joke signature" on my gnome. At least he signed the arm.
After the autograph debacle, I went on over to WGN's Kathy and Judy show, which was paneled by Jeff Samardzija, James Russell, Pedro Strop, and Mr. "I'm afraid to sign a bumpy gnome beard" Ryan Sweeney.
At this seminar I learned such fun facts as... they are all Republicans. James Russell cherishes his guns. Jeff Samardzija sometimes throws up to drink more. Pedro Strop wants a Rolex. And Ryan Sweeney paid for his wife's boob job. I don't want to get political here, but they did, and I'm just reporting on what I saw. Russell said he's a Republican because he wants to "keep all his money." And In Democratic Chicago, you couldn't cut the tension in the room with a chainsaw after that remark. The audience's demeanor seemed to be… " C'mon. You didn't just say that, right? We want to root for you and you just said something that's gonna stick in our minds every time you take the mound." Kathy and Judy realized it too, and quickly changed the subject.
I then asked the panel a boring question: "What's the most dangerous city to visit, partying-wise?", in hopes of an excuse for a failed road trip this year, but instead got the expected answer of New York City and Los Angeles, and found their answers even more boring than my question. I left before they answered completely. Grabbed a $7 beer outside the convention hall to steady my nerves for asking such a dumb question, and headed next door to the Rick Renteria/coaches forum.
My main take away from the Renteria panel was that the Cubs now have the San Diego Padres minor league management team as our Major League staff. That's of course not totally true, but the Padres were brought up a fair amount. Far too much for my taste anyway, having lived through 1984. Plus, it was stuffy and 80 degrees in the ballroom , which I'm not accustomed to since the polar vortex. So I bounced to see what kind of trouble I could get into. Luckily, upon exiting the ball room. I bumped into this guy.
This is Jeff. His girlfriend gave him Cubs footy pajamas, and he decided to wear them to the convention. You sir, are a real American hero! And likely the most comfortable guy at the convention! Jeff and I talked about everything from "Samardzija being a number 2 or 3 on most teams," to "What if Steve Bartman wasn't a shy recluse and how he should be here at the convention cashing in on his notoriety."
Pajama Jeff's friend also made mention of meeting 80s lefty starter, and Cubs Con attendee, Steve Trout, who when asked, "What was his favorite memory from the 1984 season", responded, "I don't remember her name."
It goes without saying that the best part of the Cubs Convention is convening with like minded individuals with the same love and interest as you. At Cubs Con, you can confidently strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere. A player. An usher. A fan. Anyone. Being here is as close to feeling a part of the Cubs family as any place I've ever been, save Wrigley Field. There is something Cubs fans know that no one else knows. An affable patience. A collective longing. Connecting us all. We are the lucky ones who know what "hope" is.
Grabbed another beer and...
Watched the Cubs play the Feud! Family Feud that is...The alumni team of Derrek Lee, Scott Eyre, Mark Prior and Mike Remlinger, edged out the 2014 Cubs in a nailbiter. The event was to be hosted by National Anthem singer Wayne Messmer, but he didn't show and it was instead MCd by Wrigley's public address announcer Andrew Belleson.
Richard Dawson he was not. Not only because he didn't kiss each contestant with a creepy old man kiss, but because he kept screwing up the game by not revealing the 'top surveyed answers' that weren't guessed after the points had been decided. He also let the game die a horrible stage death when the contestants were stumped by allowing awkward silences and unwanted blurtings from the late afternoon almost inebriated peanut gallery crowd.
But the Cubs fans were on Belleson for his "Feud" errors like I hadn't seen since Marmol's 2013 spring! Apparently, Cubs fans love baseball and Family Feud protocol equally. Personally, I'll cut Belleson some slack because he was Messmer's understudy, and he's too young and sober to try and pull off hosting a game show in the shadow of such inebriated greats as Richard Dawson.
Lee Smith vs. Little Kid. Who wins?
You guessed it. Little Kid.
Rick Sutcliffe, pictured blurrily in the background, also regaled the audience with an amusing anecdote about when he was on the real Family Feud in the 80s in a players vs. umpires match, and Wally Joyner was asked the question "What is the most attractive age of women?" And Joyner said "16". The audience laughed. Most nervously. It wasn't the Red Baron's finest moment, but not a disaster either for such an off color joke in a public setting.
The rest of the night was taken up by a sloppy basement hamburger and Cubs Bingo. But at least Messmer showed up to MC this time! Messmer held Cubs court and did everything a game show host should do except call my winning numbers.
My bingo card mostly looked like this...
Thus, our table mostly looked like this...
Other tables looked like this...
And the guy sitting next to me looked like Ryan Dempster...
All in all, it was a successful day of being a Cubs fan in January.
Speaking of Cubs fans…. These three people deserve a championship!
The prospect staff at Fake Teams continues their fantasy prospect rankings and system reviews with an in-depth look at the San Diego Padres.
The prospect staff here at Fake Teams will be taking an in-depth look at each major league organization, including our top 10 fantasy prospects, an overview of the organization's minor league system as a whole and potential opportunities for playing time in 2014. Our goal is to provide you with more information as you prepare for minor league drafts for dynasty and keeper leagues, as well as look at players that could potentially be worth watching during the spring, as they could be in line to potentially help your fantasy team. We will be reviewing two teams per week until we are through all 30 teams, and you can see the schedule of when your favorite team will be reviewed below.
It was a down season for the Padres, as they finished with a 76-86 record which was good for third place in the NL West. They were sitting at .500 as late as June 28th, just 2.5 games out of first place, when they went on their longest losing streak of the season (10 games), and never recovered. The team struggled to deal with injuries in the lineup (Yonder Alonso, Cameron Maybin, Carlos Quentin) as well as the pitching staff (Casey Kelly, Robbie Erlin, Huston Street). Add to it major regression from their top hitter Chase Headley, general ineffectiveness in Edinson Volquez, and even a Biogenesis-related suspension (Everth Cabrera), and it's not hard to see what led to that win total. There were a few bright spots, with Jedd Gyorko having an excellent rookie season while also learning a new position at the major league level. Outfielder Will Venable set a career high in home runs, going for a 22 HR/22 SB season to help lead the offense.
The strength of the farm system is critical to the long-term success for the Padres, as they tend to be in the lower half of the payroll spectrum despite an $80 million payroll for 2014. Thankfully, they should be seeing some of their top prospects begin to make an impact at the major league level in the next couple seasons. The system's top prospect for baseball purposes remains Austin Hedges, but will not be the top one for our fantasy-based list. Hedges is considered an elite defender, and will likely supplant Nick Hundley and Yasmani Grandal within two seasons, but doesn't have the same upside for fantasy owners given his offensive profile. To go along with him, there are a number of high-ceiling pitchers, along with toolsy outfielders like Hunter Renfroe and Rymer Liriano.
At the major league level, the main question throughout the 2014 season will likely be surrounding Chase Headley. Headley recently agreed to a 1 year, $10.525 million salary in his final year before free agency, and it remains to be seen whether the team will look to sign him to a long-term extension, try to move him at the trade deadline, or let him walk at the end of the season. If the Padres fall out of contention, it would seem a lot more likely that they will try to trade him to a contender and help load up their system even further.
Overall, the farm system is set to deliver additional help over the next 2-3 years, which could help the Padres compete for a playoff spot in a division that is getting stronger every year. They can build around players like Gyorko, Andrew Cashner, and Ian Kennedy in the short term, while supplementing them with Hedges, Wisler, and some of the other names below as they become ready to contribute as well.
2013 Graduates
The following players have surpassed their rookie maximums of 130 AB, 50 IP, or 45 days of service time prior to September 1st of this year.
Nick Vincent (service time), Robbie Erlin (innings), Brad Boxberger (service time), Jedd Gyorko (at bats)
Major League Opportunities in 2014 By Jason Hunt(@jasonsbaseball)
Despite the poor record, there are actually not a lot of opportunities for a prospect to breakthrough on the offensive side. Last year's top prospect Jedd Gyorko solidified the second base position, and barring a trade of Chase Headley before the start of the season, has locked up the rest of the infield. In the outfield, we could see both Cameron Maybin and Seth Smith splitting time in the third outfield spot next to Will Venable and Carlos Quentin, or potentially both of them should the oft-injured Quentin get hurt again.
The team has acquired two of its' top starting pitchers in the past 12 months, trading for Ian Kennedy and signing free agent Josh Johnson to a 1 year contract. Beyond that, most of the opportunities for prospects will come in the back end of the rotation. Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross are locked into the 3rd and 4th spots of the rotation, and some combination of Cory Luebke, Casey Kelly, Burch Smith, Joe Wieland and Robbie Erlin will look to nail down the fifth spot. They also signed free agent reliever Joaquin Benoit to a three year contract, and will likely serve as insurance should closer Huston Street get hurt again this year. It's possible we see at least one of those starting pitcher candidates in the bullpen this year as well, but their fantasy value would be extremely low should that happen.
Top 10 Fantasy Prospects By Brian Creagh(@briancreagh)
Our top 10 fantasy prospect rankings are based upon standard 5x5 fantasy baseball leagues, with a balancing of ceiling and present value. While we are having discussions regarding these lists as a collective group, the top 10 fantasy prospect rankings are finalized by the writer listed above. Players are no longer considered prospects once they exceed either 130 at bats, 50 innings pitched, or 45 days of service time in the Majors prior to September 1st.
The Fried/Wisler debate for the top of the list was one of the most difficult for this entire series. It comes down to Fried's high ceiling and low floor vs. Wisler's lower ceiling and higher floor. Fried's potential as a frontline fantasy starter is what ultimately gives him the nod. If I can only hold a few minor leaguers on my roster, I'm going to favor the ones with a chance to be something special. Fried has that potential and could end up being one of the best left-handed pitchers in this crop of prospects. He has the upside, the favorable home park, and the time necessary to develop.
At 6'4" 185 lbs., there is some room for Fried to fill out, and I suspect an uptick in velocity might come along with it. Currently, the fastball sits in the low 90s and with below-average command of the pitch; it's difficult to project it for anything more than an average offering. It is common for young, high school arms to struggle with establishing fastball command early in their careers, and at 20 years old in 2014, Fried has plenty of time to make improvements. Working in Fried's favor is his smooth, repeatable delivery which should lend itself to establishing a consistent fastball as he gets more reps. His curveball has the potential to be the devastating out-pitch required of most fantasy studs. Fried gets sharp, tight spin on the ball and misses a ton of bats with it. His changeup is equally tantalizing when considering Fried's inexperience. It is difficult to distinguish from his fastball and gets late, arm-side break. Both the changeup and the curveball become plus major league offerings if Fried can establish his fastball.
His ceiling is that of a number 2 starter and potential fantasy rotation anchor. There's a chance he develops 3 plus pitches and uses them for above-average strikeout rates and sub-3.3 ERAs. There's also the chance the fastball command never develops, and the secondary offerings don't take the requisite step forward and Fried is nothing but a fringe-rotation piece and irrelevant in fantasy circles. There's still a lot of time for his prospect stock to fluctuate, but when it all shakes out I like Fried to emerge as one of the better left-handed starters in his class. Don't expect to see him in San Diego until at least 2016.
#2 Matt Wisler (RHP)
FANTASY STATISTICS (ALL LEVELS)
W
SV
ERA
WHIP
K
10
0
2.78
1.03
131
SECONDARY STATISTICS
IP
HR/9
GO/AO
BB%
K%
136
0.53
0.76
6.2%
24.4%
OTHER INFORMATION
AGE ON 1/1/2014
B/T
ROSTER STATUS
LEVELS
21
R/R
Not On 40 Man Roster (Protect After 2015 Season)
A+, AA
2013 was a huge season for the Padres fantasy prospect, Matt Wisler. Coming out of spring training there was a ton of buzz on the kid and he carried the momentum through the season ultimately reaching AA. Wisler is a former 7th round draft pick in 2011 out of Bryan High School in Ohio and has risen quickly for a high school draftee. The 21 year old was victim to one of the worst small, sample size, career beginnings you'll ever see after pitching in only one game after being drafted in the 2011 season. In that appearance, Wisler gave up 2 walks, an HBP, and 2 hits with 4 runners coming into score without recording an out. Despite spending the entire off-season with an infinite ERA and WHIP, Wisler has made short work of full-season ball hitters by maintaining an elite K/BB ratio and handling a healthy load of innings in back-to-back seasons out of high school.
Wisler does not have as dominant an arsenal as the lefty above him in Max Fried, but his proximity to San Diego and a significantly higher floor, make him the safer fantasy option at this point in time. Matt Wisler projects to have two plus pitches and a passable changeup, which should be enough for him to succeed long-term as a starter. His fastball works 92-94 with good arm-side run. His fastball command is evident, and is a big point in his favor. His slider and changeup play up when Wisler can sequence off of well-placed fastballs. The slider should give righties fits and will end up missing a ton of bats. It should be enough to keep up average to slightly-above strikeout rates keeping him a strong fantasy play regardless of potential win count. Developing his changeup will be especially important for Wisler so that he can have sustained success against lefties. In AA this past year, right-handed batters hit .188/.213/.282 while lefties hit him hard for .261/.337/.444. The slider is not effective enough working into the lefties, and a changeup could be a neutralizing pitch that can keep lefties off-balance.
Wisler's ceiling is a number 3 starter with no standout, sexy attribute. The strikeouts should come at a competitive rate, the ratios should be suppressed by his low walk rates and home park advantage, and he should hold up for 25+ starts every year. Nothing dominant here in the profile, but a useful fantasy asset nonetheless. He's on the outside looking in for a 2014 rotation spot, but should work his way up to San Diego at some point this season, and could be a consistent contributor by early 2015.
Photo Credit: Derick E. Hingle - USA Today Sports
#3 Hunter Renfroe (OF)
FANTASY STATISTICS (ALL LEVELS)
AVG
R
HR
RBI
SB
0.271
26
6
25
2
SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA
OBP%
SLG%
BB%
K%
183
0.308
0.459
4.9%
26.8%
OTHER INFORMATION
AGE ON 1/1/2014
B/T
ROSTER STATUS
LEVELS
21
R/R
Not on 40 Man Roster (Protect After 2016 Season)
A-, A
The Padres top pick (13th overall) in the 2013 Draft, Hunter Renfroe is a college outfielder with big power potential, average speed, and a questionable hit tool. Drafted out of Mississippi State University, Renfroe made it to Lo-A in his first season and flashed some intriguing fantasy potential. In 25 games at short-season, Renfroe slashed .308/.333/.510, hitting 4 bombs and swiping two bases. He moved up for a shorter stint in Lo-A and struggled with a .212/.268/.379 slash line and his below-average contact skills were quickly exposed. It was a small sample at both stops, but the high-risk, high-reward nature of his profile was on full display.
Renfroe's power is plus and one day may end up plus-plus with the ability to hit 25+ HRs during his prime. He generates a ton of strength thanks to good bat speed and a 6'1" 200 lb. frame. Renfroe's swing is similar to most classic sluggers, leveraged to the hills and creates tons of backspin and loft when he makes contact. Making contact is the big question with Renfroe - he struck out 49 times in 43 games across the two different levels. Some scouts say the high strikeout totals and hit tool concerns are merely a result of his aggressive, slugger's mentality and not indicative of poor bat-to-ball ability. That's something I can take a risk on when it's paired with the power Renfroe provides.
Playing next season at 22 years old, Hunter Renfroe should continue to move quickly through the Padres system. I wouldn't bet that he reins in the aggressive approach much, and high strikeouts will always be apart of his game. He should still be able to make enough contact to let his power materialize and get on base enough to swipe some bags. Renfroe has average speed and enough base running skills to possibly reach double digits at the highest level. A 20 HR/15 SB middle of the order slugger, with room for more in the power department is a healthy choice in every fantasy draft. He's a top 15 pick in any dynasty draft selecting from the most recent crop of draft picks and international signings. Renfroe could make an appearance late in 2015, and should start to make a fantasy impact sometime in 2016.
#4 Dustin Peterson (3B)
FANTASY STATISTICS (ALL LEVELS)
AVG
R
HR
RBI
SB
0.293
20
0
18
3
SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA
OBP%
SLG%
BB%
K%
172
0.337
0.344
5.2%
19.2%
OTHER INFORMATION
AGE ON 1/1/2014
B/T
ROSTER STATUS
LEVELS
19
R/R
Not on 40 Man Roster (Protect After 2017 Season)
Rk
The Padres second round pick in 2013, and brother to first-rounder D.J., Dustin Peterson is an offensive weapon without a defensive home. As a result, he takes a hit on a lot of standard prospect lists, but in a fantasy-geared version he deserves much more love. Dustin Peterson's offensive profile is super raw, and highly projectable at this point making him a riskier pick than most. But for the same reason I ranked Fried over Wisler, if I only have a few slots to hold minor leaguers, I'll take my chances on the guy who can be a stud.
There are plenty of positive signs in Peterson's offensive game that hint at him putting all of his raw tools together. At 18 years old, he maintains a short, compact swing and doesn't look to do too much with any pitch. He isn't selling out for power and is happy to take the ball the other way. Standing at 6'2" 180 lb. Peterson's frame is going to fill out and the power will likely come along with it. I love prospects that have the approach, and plate discipline down and are only waiting on the power. If the power doesn't come, he still has some potential as a top of the order threat, but if it does he's an excellent middle-of-the-order asset. In a brief 38 game sample in Rookie League, Peterson slashed an impressive .293/.337/.344 stealing 3 bases, but missing even a single home run.
The reason you won't Peterson in the Top 5 of most Padres prospect lists is the uncertainty of where he finds a home. Peterson played shortstop in high school, but lacked the quick first step necessary to stick at the higher levels. The Padres have moved him over to 3B and while the reports aren't glowing, many believe he has a chance to stick and become an average glove. If he sticks at 3B, his fantasy value is big. The power doesn't need to fully develop and if he becomes a plus-AVG, average-HR guy, he can be a Top 10 fantasy play at the position. The development road for Peterson will be longer than most, and the biggest thing to watch for his is defense, because a shift across the diamond to 1B, puts too much pressure on his power maxing out. Peterson might stick around extended spring training next year, and could end the season with his first full taste of full-season ball. If the Padres push him earlier, I think it's a great sign about their confidence in his ability to stick at 3B and test the legitimacy of his bat.
Photo Credit: Rick Scuteri - USA Today Sports
#5 Casey Kelly (RHP)
FANTASY STATISTICS (ALL LEVELS)
W
SV
ERA
WHIP
K
0
0
0.00
0.00
0
SECONDARY STATISTICS
IP
HR/9
GO/AO
BB%
K%
0
0.00
0.00
0.00%
0.00%
OTHER INFORMATION
AGE ON 1/1/2014
B/T
ROSTER STATUS
LEVELS
24
R/R
On 40 Man Roster (3 Options Remaining)
DNP
Kelly's minor league development has been an absolute roller coaster ride. A top prospect after being drafted 30th overall by the Boston Red Sox, Kelly appeared on every Baseball America Top 100 list between 2010 and 2013 seasons. He received a brief call-up in 2012, which was met with mixed results. Kelly appeared ready to truly begin his big league career in 2013 until an injury in Spring Training derailed his plans. Casey Kelly spent the entire 2013 recovering from Tommy John surgery and is not far away from a return to the mound in San Diego. I expect there to be some rust this season as he sticks around extended spring training or the upper minors, but Kelly certainly has the ability to return to form and regain most of his Top 100 prospect value.
Kelly features a three-pitch mix that is average to slightly above. He lacks the dominant fastball of an anchor, but maintains the command profile necessary to still find success. His fastball sits 90-92 but can get up from more. It's not uncommon for TJS recoveries to add a few ticks to the fastball after sufficient rehab. His curveball and changeup are the money pitches, with the curveball the more consistent offering at present. Kelly gets good depth on the hook and it should keep the strikeout numbers at a respectable level. His changeup is still a work in progress but has the potential to be a plus offering down the line. He still throws too firm, but with time and repetition Kelly could develop the necessary feel for the pitch.
For a prospect that has already made his MLB debut, Kelly is a riskier play than the rest. You won't get a full season out of him in 2014, and he might be another year away before fully returning to form. He's 24 years old so there are still plenty of miles left to burn on his arm, but owners will have to be patient. He will likely lose prospect status this year, and could get lost in the shuffle prior to the 2015 season where I would more likely see a solid return on Kelly. Keep him on your radar and stay patient because a solid #3 pitcher in Petco is worth rostering in any format.
Photo Credit: Kevin Liles - Getty Sports
#6 Burch Smith (RHP)
FANTASY STATISTICS (ALL LEVELS)
W
SV
ERA
WHIP
K
7
0
3.72
1.22
148
SECONDARY STATISTICS
IP
HR/9
GO/AO
BB%
K%
128.2
0.98
0.8
8.3%
27.8%
OTHER INFORMATION
AGE ON 1/1/2014
B/T
ROSTER STATUS
LEVELS
23
R/R
On 40 Man Roster (2 Options Remaining)
AA, AAA, MLB
I am irrationally excited about Burch Smith and have been on his bandwagon for just over a year now. A big 6'4" 215 lb. right-hander out of Oklahoma University, Burch Smith is a strikeout artist who showed enticing K/BB ratios in the minors that did not carry over well in his brief big league cup of coffee. Smith saw two different stints in San Diego and the second one provided a brief glimpse into what could be in store. In 4 September starts, Smith pitched 23.2 Innings and struck out 31 batters while walking 14 and surrendering a 3.80 ERA. Mixed in there was a gem against the Atlanta Braves where he hurled 7 innings of shutout ball, striking out 10 batters and walking just 2.
Smith features a monster fastball/changeup combination. His fastball works in the mid 90's with some late sink, while the changeup is a deceptive offering with a ton of movement. If he can develop the curveball and refine the fastball command, Smith is a high-upside #3 starter. His curveball tends to get loopy and can't be relied upon to get a swing-and-miss. It doesn't have to become anything special, but he needs to be able to trust it late in the count. If the curveball doesn't come around, expect to see Smith in a late innings reliever role. He should thrive there but could provide minimal value to fantasy owners.
The addition of Josh Johnson hurts Smith's chances of securing a rotation spot out of spring training. I wouldn't be surprised to see him back in AAA to start the season and being one of the first injury replacements during the season. With the upside in strikeouts that Smith provides, he's a worthy flier at the end of dynasty drafts that should provide immediate return in either the rotation or bullpen.
Photo Credit: Rick Scuteri - USA Today Sports
#7 Rymer Liriano (OF)
FANTASY STATISTICS (ALL LEVELS)
AVG
R
HR
RBI
SB
.000
0
0
0
0
SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA
OBP%
SLG%
BB%
K%
0
.000
.000
0.0%
0.0%
OTHER INFORMATION
AGE ON 1/1/2014
B/T
ROSTER STATUS
LEVELS
22
R/R
On 40 Man Roster (1 Option Remaining)
DNP
Similar to Casey Kelly, Rymer Liriano spent 2013 on the shelf due to Tommy John surgery. The procedure isn't as damning for an offensive prospect, but the lost development hurt a raw player like Liriano who needs time to learn to put his intriguing tool prospect together. The upside is certainly still there, but the risk has grown larger. Liriano is a physically imposing player standing at 6'0" 225 lbs. and has above-average power and speed capabilities. The tools don't come together quite yet on a baseball field, but they are certainly visible to anyone who watches him play.
Liriano has made a habit of struggling after every promotion before finally figuring things out after repeating the level the next season. His first taste of Lo-A resulted in 50 games of .191/.234/.293 in 2010 before crushing the same level in 2011. Then he was promoted to Hi-A where he hit .127/.213/.182 albeit in a small 15 game sample. He raked the same level in 2012 and found his way to AA where he hit a more optimistic .251/.335/.377. I mention this trend, because a year off might end being worse for Liriano than it is for most. Expect some rust as he finds his way back.
If Liriano is able to return to form quickly, the power will be the next thing to look at in evaluating his fantasy stock. It had yet to come around before the injury, but given his swing and athletic build, scouts see the power coming down the line. If it comes, Liriano is still a future 20-20 potential guy with questionable AVG to go along with it. The makeup and work ethic is there for Liriano to make a full recovery. His previous handlings of failures at every minor league stop bode well for him to make the proper adjustments and make the most out of his lofty toolset.
Photo Credit: Mark J .Rebilas - USA Today Sports
#8 Austin Hedges (C)
FANTASY STATISTICS (ALL LEVELS)
AVG
R
HR
RBI
SB
0.260
38
4
38
8
SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA
OBP%
SLG%
BB%
K%
341
0.333
0.390
8.2%
15.8%
OTHER INFORMATION
AGE ON 1/1/2014
B/T
ROSTER STATUS
LEVELS
21
R/R
Not on 40 Man Roster (Protect After 2015 Season)
A+, AA
You would struggle to find one player in the minor leagues whose fantasy value is further apart from his professional value than Austin Hedges. The hands down best defensive catcher in the minors, Hedges lacks the offensive profile necessary to be a stud fantasy asset. He will top almost every San Diego Padres top prospect list and will be over-picked in almost every dynasty draft this off-season. With a big arm, and flawless footwork behind the dish, Hedges is going to shutdown running games and get the most out of his pitching staff thanks to his glove work behind the dish.
While we don't care about defense in fantasy leagues, his future at the position is also his greatest asset for fantasy owners. Most catching prospects worthy of fantasy consideration are offensive-minded players that you hope can stick for a few years. The safety that comes with Hedges is worthy of a late pick in dynasty formats. Not much is expected out of the bat, but to have a starting catcher who plays 140+ games every year, is borderline replacement level already due to the R's and RBI he should accumulate just through playing every day. Anything by way of AVG or HR is just gravy. If you own Hedges already in dynasty formats, I would suggest shipping him off because his name value carries a lot more weight than his future production. If he maxes out at .280 AVG and 13-15 HRs he's probably still on the outside looking in for Top 10 fantasy catchers most seasons. His realistic line should be closer to replacement value.
#9 Joe Ross (RHP)
FANTASY STATISTICS (ALL LEVELS)
W
SV
ERA
WHIP
K
5
0
3.76
1.34
79
SECONDARY STATISTICS
IP
HR/9
GO/AO
BB%
K%
122.1
0.52
1.35
7.6%
15.1%
OTHER INFORMATION
AGE ON 1/1/2014
B/T
ROSTER STATUS
LEVELS
20
R/R
Not On 40 Man Roster (Protect After 2015 Season)
A
Former first round pick and 25th overall selection of the 2011 draft, Joe Ross lost some shine this past season after repeating Lo-A for the entire year. The results improved across the board except in strikeouts where he dipped from 21.6% to a pedestrian 15.1% k-rate. Ross has a projectable profile standing at 6'3" and 185 lb. and at only 20 years old, he has a few years to develop before being pushed up to San Diego. The most troubling part about the drop in strikeouts is that it paralleled his first big workload on a professional level. Ross pitched 54.2 innings in 2012 and bumped up to 122.1 in 2013. His stuff appears to work better in short bursts and doesn't seem to hold up across an entire season. The stats prove it as his monthly strikeout counts went in order from 18, 19, 19, 12, and 11 in August with roughly the same amount of innings every month.
So Ross' future might end up in the bullpen, where he could be an elite option. His fastball/slider combo is nasty especially in short stints. The fastball works in the low 90's but is a heavy pitch that works well with his slider. There isn't really enough there to fool hitters the second and third time through the lineup. He can still find some utility has a weak contact-inducing starter so you don't want to give up on him starting. Next year will be a big step for him as he finds himself in Hi-A and in need of missing bats and holding his stuff deeper into games and the season. The production may never match the projection, but if you can take a flier on him late, Petco should make him a serviceable option out of the rotation.
Peterson gets the final spot here due to his likelihood of making an impact at SS for the Padres. It won't be a loud impact as none of his tools project to be more than average, but he lacks a glaring weakness and has the ability to stick up the middle. The tools will have to max out for Peterson to have a chance, but he's the classic "grinder" type of player who can reach that level. Peterson's best fantasy asset is his legs. He has stolen 132 bases across 303 minor leagues games at an impressive 80 percent success rate. The speed isn't elite, but 20+ steals is a possibility if given a full season's worth of playing time.
His approach is geared towards contact with little to no power in his profile. He has 11 career HRs and anything above 5-7 at the major league level is wishful thinking. Peterson does have an excellent approach at the plate, which could boost his value by putting him at the top of a batting order. A career 174/166 K/BB ratio is elite level stuff and Peterson's OBP has never dipped below .360 for a season. At the top of a San Diego lineup, Peterson could wreak havoc by scrapping his way on base and accumulating runs and SBs at a solid pace. A lot needs to go right for this to happen, but keep an eye out for Peterson in deep dynasty formats.
Other Interesting Prospects By Brian Creagh (@briancreagh)
Franchy Cordero - One of the most intriguing under-the-radar international signings, Franchy Cordero is a young SS prospect who projects to develop above-average power. That profile alone is worth taking note of, but add in the fact that he can run a bit and has the production to back it up (.333/.381/.511 triple slash in his first season state-side) than Cordero can be a monster fantasy player down the line. He fell out of the top 10 because of how far away he is from truly capitalizing on his potential, and your roster spot may be better suited for a player closer to the majors. Keep an eye on him and any one in a 20+ team dynasty league should keep him in mind.
Keyvius Sampson - The future lies in the bullpen, but Sampson has elite stuff that plays up when he can let it fly out of the ‘pen. Walks will always be an issue and could limit his usage in high-leverage situations, but for those looking for extra strikeouts, Sampson could be a huge weapon. The Padres still have him as a starter, but he was effective coming in late during the Arizona Fall League. I doubt his rotation hopes last much longer.
Cory Spangenberg - A Top 100 player before the 2012 season, Spangenberg has been exposed in the higher levels. The AVG is still solid, but the steals are coming in at a less efficient rate and there is no real power to speak of. Spangenberg will be 23 next season and with little projection left, his slap-heavy approach at the plate will need to succeed against AAA pitching to warrant a big league appearance. Still a disappointment for a 10th overall pick from 2011.
Recent Padres backup catcher John Baker is one of four former Friars born on this date, and one out of two of those four who is turning 33 today. This is normally when I would post a card of him from his days in San Diego, but no such card was ever issued despite him spending a season-and-a-half with the club. So, I did the only sensible thing and made one fitting the bill. I didn't want to repeat any of the designs I used for the Jedd Gyorko or Alexi Amarista mockups I made last spring, so I reached way back and mimicked the 1909 E101 set. One, it's very simple to imitate using just MS Paint, and two, I wanted to do a set that included horizontal cards so I could use that hilarious photo.
Despite his shortcomings both behind and beside the plate, Baker was a fan favorite in San Diego due to his enthusiasm, love of the game, and overall gifworthiness.
Johnny Bakes was optioned to AAA Tucson in late May when Yasmani Grandal returned from suspension, and was designated for assignment two weeks later to make room on the 40-man roster for Logan Forsythe, who had been on the 60-day DL. He was claimed by the Dodgers in a move that many assumed was made just to pump him for information about San Diego's staff and signs. Baker spent the rest of the season with AAA Albuquerque, hitting .203/ .294/ .301 in 153 plate appearances over 40 games. He was granted free agency after the season and inked a minor league deal with the Cubs which includes an invitation to big league spring training. Chicago seems to be set behind the plate with starter Welington Castillo and backup George Kottaras, so it appears that Baker will open the season with AAA Iowa barring an injury to one or both of them.
I hope Baker has a great birthday and finds his way back to the bigs this season. Maybe he'll even get a card released this year. It's something for him to keep in mind when he's blowing out his candles today.
Alex Kantecki jumpstarts catcher week with an overview of the position, including his thoughts on AL-only/NL-only leagues and draft strategy.
Today is an exciting day at Fake Teams, as Ray and the gang start to roll out preseason rankings by position, player profiles and much, much more. Each week will begin with an overview of a new position, followed by a jam-packed schedule dedicated to all things at that week's position. As a new feature, we're very excited to bring you Daniel Schwartz's personal projections and auction values from Rotobanter, providing you with yet another tool to help dominate your draft.
As Ray outlined in an earlier post, here is the schedule for catcher week, which includes the final two installments of the 2014 Minor League Keeper Thoughts for the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants (if you haven't followed along, you're doing it wrong, but can catch up by clicking here):
2012 was Buster Posey's year, but a funny thing happened in 2013: Six catchers -- if you include Cleveland's Victor Martinez -- topped the former king of backstops, throwing a giant curveball slider in the dirt into the draft strategy at the catcher position. Instead, it was a 31-year-old Yadier Molina who led the way despite an underwhelming 12 home runs. Compared to 2012, the top tier of catchers was a much closer bunch. Wilin Rosario opened eyes in Colorado with a surprising mix of average and power, Jonathan Lucroy stepped up in the absence of a suspended Ryan Braun, Martinez produced quietly in Mo Town and Mike Napoli did his usual swing-hard thing en route to a catcher-leading 23 long balls (unfortunately, neither Martinez nor Napoli will call catcher their home in 2014).
The offseason has provided plenty to look forward to at the catcher position in 2014. After signing a five-year, $85 million contract, Brian McCann will play half of his games in hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium, a big step up from Turner Field in Atlanta. Joe Mauer is abandoning the dish and moving to first base full time, which should lead to an increase in playing time. And with Yan Gomes taking over everyday catching duties for the Indians, Carlos Santana is preparing to play third base for the first time since 2006. Really. He is.
This year's biggest advantage at the catcher position will come from players with catcher eligibility playing at non-catcher positions (ala Mauer). The majority of these players reside in the American League and their ability to collect extra at-bats -- and extra counting stats -- will be a huge difference maker. The best example from last season is Napoli, who played exactly zero games at catcher and finished top five at the position.
The Great Divide (AL/NL)
The official Fake Teams catcher consensus rankings will be coming out shortly (in two posts of 15, with the first in a matter of hours and the second on Wednesday), and there isn't a significant advantage for either league. Overall, the National League leads by the slimmest of margins, 16 to 14, but the AL does stake claim to six of the top 10.
Posey is still the cream of the crop in the Senior Circuit, of course, but NL-only leaguers need not worry, as the middle-tier of catchers is littered with several impact bats, including Wilson Ramos, Miguel Montero and Evan Gattis. And that's after a talented group of catchers with clear top-10 upside (the aforementioned Molina, Rosario and Lucroy).
McCann's switch from the NL to the AL is a big boost to his value and a big win for AL-only leaguers, as optimistic forecasters are calling for 30 home runs in New York; 25 is a much safer number to lean on, but there's no denying McCann's change of scenery as one of baseball's biggest offseason value boosters in fantasy.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia moves from the AL's Boston to the NL's Miami and clearly loses values as a result. I don't need to tell you about the titanic-sized gap in talent and offensive production between the two ball clubs, so don't go nutty for Salty.
The Draft Strategy
Drafting catchers is always a dicey proposition, as the position lends itself to injuries, decreased playing time and, in the worst-case scenario, a lost season. That could change in 2014, however, as the league voted to ban home-plate collisions in an attempt to ensure the safety of home-plate defenders everywhere.
In standard mixed leagues (12 teams), there's no real need to reach for your catcher on draft day, but I don't suggest standing on the sideline for too long, either. The earliest I'd consider taking one is in the fifth round, but you'll risk missing out on Posey and Mauer if you do. Consider waiting until the top tier of catchers is about to run dry and select one from the group of Molina, Rosario and Lucroy.
If you play in a two-catcher league, the last thing you want is to end up with a one-two punch of J.P. Arencibia and Ryan Doumit (no offense, guys). That's why I think it's in your best interest to spend more loosely in this format. Otherwise, you'll be kicking yourself when setting your lineups each week. You don't have to go all out in your pursuit of a no. 1 catcher, but it should at least be a higher priority if you're rostering two catchers.
As an overall strategy, I think it's silly to be the one owner who refuses to draft a catcher before everyone else secures theirs. I see this happen all of the time and there's simply no benefit in waiting for other teams to decide your fate at catcher. There's value to be had at every position, catcher included, so don't be the team who refuses to spend any more than $1 or $2 at the catcher position. If you do and I play with you, I will mock you.
The New Kids on the Block
According to the most recent NFBC mock data, Travis d'Arnaud will be the highest rookie drafted at the catcher position in 2014. The Mets acquired the former no. 1 organizational prospect from the Blue Jays in the trade that sent Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey to Toronto, and the 24-year-old backstop struggled to the tune of a .202/.286/.263 slash line and one home run in 31 games. Brian Creagh will provide a full player profile on d'Arnaud on Tuesday, but, on the whole, I tend to avoid first-year catchers in re-draft leagues, even if their prospect stock is high. That said, if you play in a deeper league, I can see the attraction and might budge accordingly.
With Jesus Montero no longer in the picture (behind home plate at least), Mike Zunino is set to take over as the full-time catcher in Seattle. He struggled in his big-league debut, hitting .214/.290/.329 with five home runs and a 25.4 percent strikeout rate. Zunino can provide some nice pop, but at what cost in batting average?
What's Next?
In short ... a lot. I've already provided you with the schedule for catcher week above, as the FT staff works hard to provide you with one-of-a-kind preseason coverage. In two short hours, we'll unveil our top-15 catchers for 2014, and, as I have the privilege of previewing posts prior to publish, I must applaud the work done by Ray and Jason Hunt -- they truly went above and beyond. So sit back, relax and enjoy all of what's coming this week and beyond. And, as always, we welcome all feedback, both good and bad (but mostly good).
