Everth Cabrera's bat flip and a Headley question

What a great still. Everth Cabrera comes up with the bases loaded and pounds the first pitch he sees, plating Yasmani Grandal with the winning run last nigh against the Reds.

 I love the confidence from ECab here -- look at that bat flip! He knows something that nobody else does . . .


Look at all those folks still sitting behind the plate. Must be the food coma that comes along with the price of a Sony Home Plate Club ticket.

I just found out the result of this game so I'm kind of excited. Waking up and watching the highlights on MLB is becoming my sad Time Warner Cable induced reality. I am adapting.

Glad to see that Latos pitched well without getting the win. He had a great quote that showed some maturity after the game:

"The rotation, everyone, has been pitching real well. It's baseball," Latos said. "I went out there in Cleveland and gave up seven runs and the team scored seven runs to back me up. Today was a grind offensively and defensively and pitching. Things didn't go our way today."

For a guy who always gets his maturity questioned that's a good quote. It's got your standard cliches but he also notes how his offense picked him up when he shit the bed in Cleveland. Good for him.

***

A Headley Question

When people complain about Chase Headley they often cite his the following: he's terrible at turning water into wine, doesn't get clutch hits, he's more a false prophet than Savior, and he Ks too much.

Chase Headley does K a lot. Last night he went 1 for 3 with a walk, though strikeout was the mode by which Mat Latos retired Headley each time last night. Headley has now struck out 81 times in 356 PAs. That's one strikeout for every 4.4 PAs. Those are brutal numbers to look at but we can't dismiss his 50 walks and .374 OBP. Those numbers are good and they matter.

My question: Who does Chase Headley compare to in terms of ability to draw walks with a discerning eye but who also swings and misses with great frequency?

We have to keep in mind that there are plenty of guys who strikeout and walk with great frequency. They are called power hitters. Headley has 8 HRs and will likely finish with a career high this season but the total certainly won't be enough to qualify as power hitter.

Here's who I think of first: switch hitting Red Sox infielder, Mark Bellhorn!

Mark Bellhorn was the most frustrating guy to watch hit. He was brutal as a Padre but I'm thinking more of his time with the Red Sox. That was a guy who could get a walk but boy did he flail at pitches. In 2004 he came to the plate 620 times and K'd a whopping 177 (1K/3.5PA) of them while hitting a respectable17 HRs. But he also walked 88 times which led to a .373 OBP. I find these strikeout and walk totals to be such a strange dichotomy.

Who is Chase Headley? Will it even matter to Padres fans in a month?

19 Reasons: Let's talk about #balls

Right before the start of the 2011 season San Diego Padres pitcher Mat Latos signed three baseballs, to be auctioned off for charity. He signed them, "I Hate SF!"

It. Was. Awesome! Then San Francisco Giants fans completely melted down over the whole affair and it became even more awesome. 'Twas our own personal nirvana.


The #balls affair was an epic prelude to a season which, unfortunately, failed to deliver. Mat Latos missed the opening series against San Francisco and a lifetime passed before his spot in the rotation matched up with the Giants. By the time a showdown did occur reality had set in. The 2011 Padres were not a good team and any illusions of contending for the division had long since passed.  But boy did the #balls episode kick things off right.

RJ's Fro made t-shirts to commemorate the dust-up, emblazoned with what had become the rallying cry of Padres fans on twitter: #balls. One simple word that continued to pop up through out the season. But what made #balls so great was that it brought fans together -- Padres fans still suffering from a bitter 2010 late-season collapse to the Giants. Amazingly, #balls became the catharsis I needed as a fan of the Padres.

I also loved that the cute little Padres who never make headlines suddenly had a player that others hated. Not just because he spoke his mind but because he was really good. And could make you look stupid with bat in hand.

Little pissing contests, like the "I Hate SF" #balls story, help to build great rivalries. The Padres and the NL West will miss Mat Latos. Though it pains me to say it, I'll miss former Giants pitcher Jonathan Sanchez, and all the crap he talked. I loved hating that guy. And I'll venture a guess that Giants fans might say the same about Mat Latos.

I'll miss the guy too. I always felt like something big might happen each time he took the hill. Best of luck to him in Cincinnati where I hope he  wastes no time signing a few baseballs, "I Hate St.L!"

This all begs the question: With Mat Latos gone have our #balls gone with him?

I'd like to think that the spirit of #balls will continue. An us-against-them type of irreverence that is essential for teams like the Padres who attempt to do battle on very uneven terrain. For success in such a rough and tumble world one needs #balls.

#balls

Mat Latos and Tri-Tip: Part 2

When we last met I had mentioned the disappointment of a cold tri-tip meal. But such a meal would not deter me from giving a reasoned assessment of the Mat Latos trade. On Saturday night I had some reading to do.

Whether it's a porterhouse, a t-bone, a fillet, or tri-tip everyone has their preference of meat. It's all good, really. But each person has their preference. What we choose could be a matter of affordability or it might be a matter of insider information. What is the eating establishment known for, their specialty? This often determines the choice in meat.

There's no shortage of varied opinion and preference on the Mat Latos deal and experts in the field quickly weighed in on the blockbuster move . . .

The following excerpts were worth noting for their lack of consensus:

"The San Diego Padres swap quality for quantity in a building move that helps them but doesn't entirely add up for me." ~Keith Law

"The most lopsided trade I've witnessed in recent memory as the Padres swindle the Reds in the 5-player trade that lands Mat Latos in Cinci" ~Jim Bowden (former General Manager)

"That's a lot of talent for a very good pitcher. No clear winner at this time." ~Kevin Goldstein

What did Keith Law mean? What didn't add up for him? If you're an ESPN insider you can pay to find out but that snippet gives pause to those who may want to declare the trade a success without a game having been played. Jim Bowden on the other hand leaves nothing to the imagination while Kevin Goldstein gives the more measured response.

These are but a few of the opinions out there, opinions that are shaped by what people value in a player. Some prefer the rare commodity, a potential number one starter, while others appreciate the quantity and perceived quality of young talent. Josh Byrnes and Walt Jockety each have their preference.

On Saturday night I had no choice in meat, just tri-tip, a scenario with which I was perfectly fine. Tri-tip is that little triangular part on the bottom portion of Bottom Sirloin, denoted in pink on our trusty steer. It's a choice cut of meat, loved along the central coast of California but often an afterthought elsewhere. The tri-tip is a hidden gem, as is its preparation in the Santa Maria style of barbecuing. It remains a secret to most; Kansas City, Texas, and North Carolina often the first places associated with barbecue.

Why was a potential #1 starter in Mat Latos shopped? Why did Josh Byrnes do it when so many thought the young hurler would be a cornerstone of the rotation moving forward? The clear reason is that Jockety overwhelmed Byrnes with an amazing offer. Let's phrase it another way and see how you like the trade: Mat Latos was traded for a 28 year old former all star pitcher and three 1st round draft picks*. It sounds . . . beautiful when described in such a way.

Mat Latos is like the tri-tip served at at a Santa Maria backyard barbeque. He was traded for three cows, about to go to slaughter,  that will provide enough tri-tip to feed the paying customers at PETCO Park and the homeless denizens of the East Village. Eat-up, San Diego.

What about the latent reasons for this trade? Mat Latos was chosen in 2006 as a draft and follow after he had tumbled to the 11th round. Mat Latos fell to the 11th round of the draft because of issues concerning his mental make-up and maturity issues. Hey, what 17 year old doesn't have some growing-up to do? But when you're doling out millions of dollars it makes sense to use caution. Whatever the case may be, Latos signed, and as his pitching acumen developed the questions of maturity continued to follow him.

Cows don't have make-up issues.

As Mat Latos began to experience success in 2010 the consensus seemed to be that he had matured a great deal, with a notable exception. So why trade him, Mr. Byrnes? Was there something beneath the surface, unknown to so many?

On Saturday, Dan Hayes of the North County Times wrote the following:

Still, one source said the Padres had "a ton" of concern about Latos' mental makeup. Latos said in a conference call that he was shocked by the trade, saying the Padres' front office didn't give him the impression that he would be traded.

Byrnes said the Padres made the trade because of the package of players the Reds offered in return for Latos.

Could the on going issues regarding his mental make-up be the reason for his departure? Likely so, after reading the Hayes piece and listening to commentary from others. But I also think Byrnes was bowled over with the offer. Teams like the Padres need to make the 4 for 1 deals. They don't come along often enough.

This convoluted analogy has left you and I confused. Where do I stand, you ask? While I would have liked to have seen a contract extension in Latos' future I understand why they made the move. I love that they got two players who are ready for the 25 man roster and two that aren't far off. I'm also kind of excited to see what becomes of Anthony Rizzo.

And I love Tri-tip that is served hot. Santa Maria!


*I apologize for the lack of citation. I'm pretty sure I read a tweet from an analyst who framed the trade this way but I've read so much I have no idea where it came from.

Tom Garfinkel Wants Peter Gammons' Head On A Stick

After Peter Gammons' article on MLB this morning and the subsequent Twitter chatter across San Diego a dialogue began to run through my mind. A dialogue between Hall of Fame baseball writer Peter Gammons and Padres' COO and President, Tom Garfinkel. An imaginary dialogue.

Or was it . . .
Tom Garfinkel: Hey Pete. Good Morning.

Peter Gammons: Good morning Tom. Hey, let me turn down my 8-track. Just listening to some Buddy Guy.

TG: Yup. Take your time.

PG: Alright . . . hey, thank you for the access yesterday morning. Those tidbits on Mat Latos were gold.

TG: Yeah. That's what I was calling about.

PG: Oh yea. What is it?

TG: As I was eating breakfast this morning I read through your column at MLB.

PG: How did it come off? 

TG: Well. I'm not gonna lie. I do have a gripe.

PG: Look Tom. The information about Latos and his Tattoo before game 162 in 2010 was provided by your media relations department. Was this information inaccurate?

TG: No, no, no . . .

PG: Just stop! I understand that Twitter is full of useless little twits that parse everyone's words but what do you want me to do? You wanted Latos to look like he was a shaky employee. I framed it in such a way. You wanted Latos to look like his priorities were elsewhere. I did it. I'm a Hall of Fame writer, Tom. What more do you want from me. The Padres look like geniuses right now. WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!?!

TG: No. Peter. I think there's a misunderstanding.

PG: What!?

TG: We're the Padres, Peter. Not the Friars. We're the San Diego Padres. The title of your article says, "Depth Accelerating Friars' Return To Contention". We'd just prefer that you call us the Padres.

PG: What?

TG: It's just that we'd like you to refer to our name correctly.

PG: The Padres. Not the Friars? 

TG: The Padres.


PG: You don't like the Friars?

TG: I wouldn't say I dislike it. We're the Padres. We should refer to ourselves as the Padres. Friars is part of our history. But in formal settings, in the broadcast booth, in releases, we should be the Padres.

PG: OK. I can do that.

TG: Thanks, Peter. I loved the article. Have you had breakfast yet?

PG: ( . . . silence . . )

Mat Latos Became a Red and The Tri-Tip Was Cold

The other day I finally ponied-up for a Baseball Prospectus subscription. I'd been meaning to do it for sometime and now that it's the only place to read Ducksnorts it has become even more imperative.

It was Kevin Goldstein's publication of his top eleven Padres Prospects however,  that forced my hand. Goldstein's overall evaluation was that the Padres have accrued tremendous depth at their minor league levels. Awesome! Is there anything better than spending money and having an expert tell you what you want to hear? I felt like I was in . . . Las Vegas.*

I did leave the reading of this article with concerns, though.


While the system has depth it lacks superstars on the horizon. Sorry. I'm greedy.

The projections for starting pitchers also caught my eye. Reports of Erlin, Weiland, and Kelly all sounded good, with big league arrival times coming sooner than later but they all project as #3 starters.

Sorry. I'm greedy. And I want more.

The only thing that assuaged my concerns was the notion that the Padres already had an ace in the fold in the form of Mat Latos. With Latos as the #1 perhaps the inclusion of three # 3 starters could still do the trick. Happy again was I.

Almost immediately I began to hear rumblings of a Latos trade.

This didn't make sense to my simple mind. With no stud in the system, why do it? The only thing I could think was that the FO thought Latos was a bad gamble moving forward. Kind of understandable I suppose. There have always been the maturity questions. Issues of the head, coupled with the propensity for pitchers' arms to fall off their bodies, could be reason enough to move the talent. I also thought it was more an issue of the Padres listening rather than actively shopping him. Whatever. I am simple.

Yesterday I went to eat tri-tip, an annual tradition. Before I could even get to the dinner table to find that the tri-tip was cold and undercooked, I got out of the car and checked my phone. Mat Latos was no longer a Padre. I was genuinely surprised. By both the undercooked tri-tip and the departure of Latos. Tri-tip needs to have the edges charred just right. The edges weren't charred just right, though. And Latos was gone. I couldn't make sense of it all.

 Fans generally react poorly to such news, especially Padre fans who have seen players in recent history leave for unknown quantities. There were those who expected me to absolutely tEAR ThE INTerrrNETS aPArt!

I opted for a more measured response. For the most part, I decided to wait. And I decided to read...

(Part II)

*Read between the lines.

Don't Get Defensive

Yesterday's game was tough. Mat Latos looked good and then he gave up a 3-run bomb to David Wright. Jason Bartlett couldn't get the job done with the bases loaded at 4-0 and then the Padres Bullpen* imploded.

But this game was not without three absolutely awesome defensive plays. Mets pitcher Dillon Lee made a sick behind the back stab, wheeled and turned it into a 1-6-3 double play and Kyle Blanks made a fantastic, fully extended leap to rob a HR from Lucas Duda in the 9th. But the play of the game was this clever maneuver by David Wright:

 

This was a great physical play by David Wright but the highlight was his baseball IQ. Conversely, I don't blame Cameron Maybin at all for getting caught as David Wright had already shown during this series that he could make that same dive and complete a throw to first. I love the intelligent plays.

*The 2010 bullpen was known as The Penitentiary--because they had the NL on lock down! But that has clearly changed in 2011. Mike Adams is gone to Texas and we see walks and runs like never before so perhaps a new nickname is in order. How 'bout The Parole Board-- because they set runs free!

Runs scored and bad jokes... horrible that it's come to this.

Movie Quotes, Bullpens, and Mat Latos

In the 1992 film, Unforgiven, William Munny (Clint Eastwood) has the opportunity to avenge the death of his friend Ned (Morgan Freeman) when he enters Greeley's Tavern on a rainy night. Munny exacts his revenge by shooting down nearly every man who has gathered at Greeley's, the place that adorned itself with the body of his friend Ned.


This climactic scene ends with Willliam Munney hovering over the Sheriff of Big Whiskey, Little Bill Daggett, who has already been shot in the belly. Their exchange is a memorable one:

Little Bill: I don't deserve this... to die like this. I was building a house.
Will Munny: Deserve's got nothin' to do with it. 

And then William Munny pulls the trigger.

I often see people talk about players/teams and how they did or did not deserve a certain outcome and I nearly always recall this quote from Unforgiven. I guess the modern day equivalent might be It is what it is.

Which brings me to last night where I first eluded to Unforgiven and its characters, Will Munny and Little Bill Daggett

Little Bill Daggett (Padres starting pitcher Mat Latos) was building a house (7IP 4H 2ER 1BB 5K) and then he was shot in the face (by Josh Spence: A.K.A. a Mike Adams depleted bullpen).

Mat Latos deserved better. But it is what it is.

We knew Mike Adams was a vital cog in the machine that was the PENitentiary--the all important bridge to the 9th and Heath Bell. And now we see it in action as the last three Padres losses have been due in part to meltdowns during the 8th inning.

Someone will eventually step forward, I am confident of this. Will this pitcher be as good as Mike Adams? No. And I am confident of this.

What happens next year without a steady 8th inning set-up man AND no Heath Bell in the roll of closer? I am in no way advocating that the Padres SHOULD give 20% of next year's payroll to a guy who will pitch less than 75 innings. . . but there is another issue to consider. How will a predominantly young pitching staff, and young team for that matter, be affected psychologically by a bullpen who cannot finish off strong efforts from the starting rotation?

(This post started with a bang, no pun intended. The ending has some issues...)

For the life of me I cannot recall where I heard about the idea that it was ACTUALLY worth having a strong bullpen (specifically a closer) even on a bad team.

The idea being that, when you are a bad team (or a very young team), and you do have a lead late in the game they become MUST win games. Psychologically those teams will never get over the hump if they cannot win the games they are supposed to win. Thus the need to have a strong bullpen... even IF your team is bad (or young in the case of the Padres... although the Padres are kind of bad too).

Don't we see this in action all the time? As much as winning seems to beget more winning we see the same from losing ball clubs. The idea above may have been expressed by a GM in the process of building an expansion club or I read it in a book or a blog... but it makes sense. Does it make sense to commit roughly 25% of your payroll to the bullpen so that the entire club feels better about itself 50% of the time instead of 47% of the time? Probably not.

At this point I'm just typing out loud. . . and you don't deserve that.

Matt Cain And Dustin Mosely Are Like The Same

Well not really.

They do have one thing in common though. Their respective teams give them very little run support. Just look at that photoshop... it says it all right there.

Matt Cain seems to always pitch well against the Padres but with little reward for the effort. No decisions and losses always mount when pitted against San Diego. I'm glad it is this way.

I recall watching Cain dominate the Padres back in August of 2007 only to be chased by a Geoff Blum single and then a Rob Makowiak double* in the 8th inning of a shutout. Leaving with a 3-0 lead and runners on 2nd and 3rd, pinch hitter Scott Hairston promptly deposited a 3 run bomb off the Western Metal Building. It was awesome. Hairston would later hit a walk-off HR in the 10th to win it for the Padres. Scott Hairston was a great pick-up in 2007 and I'll always remember him fondly. I will also remember that Matt Cain ALWAYS gets dealt a bad hand against San Diego.

But just how bad...

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

I	Year	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GF	CG	SHO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	WHIP
	2005	0	0		3.00	1	0	0	0	6.0	3	2	2	0	6	1	2	0	1.500
	2006	3	0	1.000	1.33	4	0	0	0	27.0	12	4	4	1	14	1	29	0	0.963
	2007	0	3	.000	2.41	6	0	0	0	41.0	24	13	11	5	10	0	42	1	0.829
	2008	0	2	.000	5.82	4	0	0	0	21.2	28	15	14	3	10	1	21	0	1.754
	2009	1	1	.500	2.84	3	0	0	0	12.2	19	4	4	0	1	0	12	1	1.579
	2010	1	3	.250	5.28	5	0	0	0	30.2	33	18	18	6	14	3	24	0	1.533
	2011	0	1	.000	6.43	1	0	0	0	7.0	7	5	5	0	1	0	6	0	1.143
	Career Total	5	10	.333	3.58	24	0	0	0	146.0	126	61	58	15	56	6	136	2	1.247

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/17/2011.

After dominating the Padres in 2006 with a 3-0 record and a 1.33 ERA Matt Cain has gone 2-10 against the San Diego Padres while seeing peripheral stats like K/9 decrease and WHIP increase. I'm not saying he doesn't still dominate Padre hitters but since his early conquests he misses from time to time (think this year and the season ending series in 2010).

Matt Cain always has the ability to go out and shut a team down but something just doesn't click when he plays against the Padres. This is something I can live with.

Today it's Mat Latos versus Matt Cain. It should be a legitimate pitchers duel

* Rob Makowiak is one of my favorite July 31st pickups of all time. He was no Joe Randa... but who is? Kevin Towers gave up a player you've never heard of so don't feel too bad about the deal.

Trying to remember the 2010 Padres: Game 10 (the most memorable of all games)

I went to 18 baseball games in 2010. Two involving the Lake Elsinore Storm and 16 featuring the Padres. My mind ebbs and flows. If only I had a sure fire way of remembering everything...

For series explanation and previous installments [go here]

GAME 10 of 18
July 29th, 2010
Padres v. Dodgers @Petco Park
(Thursday/ Upper Reserved Section 317... but we sat in the Park at the Park)

WHAT I THINK I KNOW...

On July 29th the time had come. Daughter #2 was about to go to her first Padres game while Daughter #1 was getting her second game. For this treat we offered the Los Angeles Dodgers to the baseball gods. Mat Latos was on the hill for the Padres and I think it was that crazy headhunter for Los Angeles.

***
My buddy Al met the Mrs. and I, along with daughters in tow, at the Park at the Park. We picnicked in the shadow of the greatest Padre of them all, taking pictures, running through the grass and watching as much baseball as little ones will permit.

***
The game extended to a precarious length for children accustomed to a structured bed time routine but we pressed on determined to see a regulation 9 innings. We agreed to leave if it went to extras.

***
Something told me that 9 innings was all it would take and if we could just make it we'd be rewarded. I believe it was Oscar Salazar who would eventually knock home the winning run in the bottom of the 9th and it was there at the Park at the Park that we celebrated a walk-off win dancing to the sounds of Macy Gray playing over the PA system.

Source: A child's first game... and a ticket stub.

RESEARCH SAYS...

The Padres won 3-2.

Mat Latos surrendered two runs as did Dodgers' starter Vicente Padilla (aka Headhunter). Latos (5IP) and Padilla (4IP) had unspectacular starts and did not factor into the decision.

The Padres bullpen pitched 4 scoreless innings giving up only 1 hit and striking-out 6 batters. The relief effort featured Joe Thatcher (1IP), Ryan Webb (1IP), Luke Gregerson (1IP), and Heath Bell (1IP).

***
Heath Bell worked a scoreless 9th and was credited with the win, improving to 5-0. Dodgers' reliever George Sherrill recorded only 1 out in the 9th inning getting the loss (1-2).

***

In the ninth inning Scoot Hairston singled and was sacrificed to 2B by a Tony Gwynn Jr. bunt. Oscar Salazar battled George Sherrill in an 8 pitch AB in which Salazar was victorious, driving a game winning single up the middle to plate Hairston.

***
Padres win. So much beauty in the world...

Attendance: 42,075. Sellout.


NOTABLE OMISSIONS...

Game time: 3 hours and 10 minutes

***
Throwback Thursday. Brown and Yellow '78s

***
Adrian Gonzalez went 2 for 4 lifting his average to .297. Adrian had a notable AB against Dodger reliever Hong Chih Kuo in the 7th inning. I believe that the statistic during this AB was that Kuo, a lefty, had not surrendered a hit to a left handed batter all year... or maybe something ridiculous like the previous 30 ABs. Whatever the exact statistic, the fact remains that Kuo held leftys to an average of .095 in 2010... which is crazy.  Adrian banged Kuo for a single.

***
Chase Headley: 1 for 2 with 2BBs. 1 R/1RBI.

***
When Oscar Salazar knocked the game winner he was pinch hitting for Everth Cabrera. Salazar's .237 avg. for Cabrera's .199. Makes sense.

***
Before the start of this game the Padres acquired SS Miguel Tejada for  minor league pitcher Wynn Pelzer.

***
The Padres moved to 60-40, 20 games above .500 for the first time in 2010

***
The win pushed them 7 games ahead of the Dodgers and 3 1/2 ahead of the San Francisco Giants.

***
Check out this video and sound taken from a fan in attendance... awesome!

***
Listen/watch to the audio/video at the Padres link below. Vin Scully gives the call on Salazar's game winning hit.

Source: Baseball Reference and Padres.com

LASTING IMPRESSIONS...

The whole reason I started this series was because I couldn't remember the first game I went to as a kid with my dad. This particular game, during a pennant race and against the rival Dodgers, turned out to be the very first game for the daughter. She won't remember it. But if she ever asks, there are pictures, ticket stubs, video, and this modest piece of writing to document when and where it happened.

***
I love walk-off wins. The last three write-ups I've done have all been Padres wins where the winning run was scored in their final AB (1 walk-off and 2 in the 8th).

***
Macy Gray's So Much Beauty In The World has grown on me. While I would prefer Pennywise's Bro Hymn, Gray's song has come to signify wins in San Diego. That's always good.

***
There are only 8 games left to catalog in my 2010 season and since I've recapped 8 Padres games (2 Storm) it's probably time for a mid-season review. I'll save it for Wednesday.

Great Moments In Bulletin Board Material History: Mike Tyson to Mat Latos

Out of curiosity I took a look at the daily blog of Giants beat reporter Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News. I wanted to see if the Latos #balls story had any legs at the Giants' Spring Training camp in Scottsdale, Arizona. Here's what I found:

The other day, I linked to a story about the “I hate SF” balls that Mat Latos autographed for charity. Well, the news found its way into the Giants clubhouse. As I walked through the room today, I noticed a photocopy of the internet photo on one of the tables.

Do the World Champs need bulletin board material? Well the #balls photocopy was on a table and not a bulletin board... so I guess not... but that is neither here nor there.

I bet the photocopy existed more for the sake of illustrating how the Giants will be a marked team this year rather than motivation to beat Latos and the Padres. In his video blog, Baggarly seemed to suggest a lightheartedness on behalf of the Giants regarding the incident as well. For material to be considered truly Bulletin-board-esque I think it has to be something like this... of course this would definitely do it.

But if the Giants were using it as motivation that would be great too. Then we'd know the Padres have entered their heads.

Any other Great Moments In Bulletin Board Material history? Throw 'em in the comments section.

Why The Mat Latos Hullabaloo Is A Good Thing

Mat Latos autographed three baseball with the inscription, I hate SF! These balls were to be sold with 50% of the proceeds earmarked for charity. San Francisco Giants fans were uproarious at the young ace's behavior and a firestorm between fans ensued via Twitter at the prompting of RJ's Fro and Splashing Pumpkins. Earlier this afternoon the story went national.

This is a good thing. Allow me to explain...

Fans are always critical of the players who play the game. It's what fans do best and we pay our hard earned money so by-god you better believe we're going to let 'em have it when we feel it's warranted.

What do we complain about the most? We accuse players of not caring when we see them smile during a losing effort. We condemn them when we get even an inkling that they don't care as much as we do about the outcome of a game. We volley claims of disloyalty when a player holds out for that last penny during negotiations and demonstrates a willingness to defect to an arch-rival to get it.

We get mad at these athletes because that's not how we would play the game. Their passion doesn't quite match-up to what we fans bring to the table.

So along comes Mat Latos with his 96 mph fastball and a rapid ascension to the top of the Padres pitching staff. He nearly throws a no hitter against the World Series Champion San Francisco Giants in 2010 and dominates their line-up on a few other occasions. When the Giants revamped their line-up through the course of the season, young Latos felt compelled to judge the Giants as a collection of players rather than a team like the Padres. That revamped team would go on to defeat Latos 3-0 in game 162 bringing an exciting but overachieving Padres season to an abrupt end.

Nearly five months later Latos signs a few balls for a charitable endeavor and goes on the record as hating the San Francisco Giants. Does he really hate the Giants? Hate is generally reserved for corrupt political ideologies, strong-man dictatorships and late 90s boy bands... not sports teams. Oh, we say we hate our rivals but all that really means is we just really, really dislike the opponent. We call it hate but it's not. Hate burns too much energy.

Could we say that Latos is not a fan of the team who ended his season in October? I think that's fair. So what's the problem? Latos is showing a passion for the game and a general disdain for losing which seems some what rare in sport today. With the transient nature of sports, due to free agency, we rarely see players stick around long enough to develop a dislike for the rivals they compete against.

The players of yesterday, who we all tend to glorify, did not have the luxury of free-agency and the promise of riches at contract's end. They scratched and they clawed to stomp their rivals into the ground and win games because if they didn't it could mean the loss of their job. For the ball players of yesterday, the consequences of not caring passionately about each and every game were to return to their winter jobs... for the rest of their lives. Today's player would scoff at the notion of needing to secure a second source of employment.

With the whole balls affair, Mat Latos has shown that the Giants are very much on his mind in 2011... and I don't know if there are too many better ways of showing that you give a crap than that.

We are beginning to see a rivalry manifest itself in the form of the Padres and Giants... something I never could have imagined up until last year. The Giants, with the exception of Barry Bonds, were in my view a fairly innocuous bunch; fans and players alike. But that began to change last year.

I began to hate the Giants because of their own pitching version of Mat Latos; the young and polarizing Jonathan Sanchez, who actually did throw a no-hitter against the Padres a couple years back. Like Latos, Sanchez is a fine young pitcher who is neither afraid of hitters or opening his mouth to give a sound bite. I hate him.

But let me tip my hat to Jonathan Sanchez... he put himself out there with some of his comments last season and showed a supreme confidence in his team to overtake the Padres... and that folks, shows Jonathan Sanchez also gives a crap.

While it pains me to compliment Jonathan Sanchez, as it would pain Giants fans to compliment Latos, I take solace in knowing the following heading into the 2011 season:

• Despite a late season collapse the Padres defeated the Giants 12 times in 18 games last year. It's no World Series Championship but it's our only good leg... and I'm gonna stand on it.

• Fully aware of the Giants true rivalry, I like the back and forth that has developed between both players and fans during the last year.

• Mat Latos gives a crap.

Let us also not forget the auxiliary benefits that are sure to come from the #balls episode: recognition. On the other side of the Rocky Mountains where discussion is usually reserved for Philadlephia, Boston and New York, national media outlets are discussing the upstart team that was forced to deal its star first baseman... and wait for it... the World Champion San Francisco Giants. Sorry Giants, but all I keep hearing is how the Phillies and Red Sox are the chosen ones... and that's not really fair. It's true what they say about bad publicity (that there's no such thing) so let's go ahead and soak this up and call it a win for shaking up the talking points for Baseball Tonight and the MLB Network.

Gaining recognition for teams out west is a nice aside but it all comes back to players like Mat Latos and Jonathan Sanchez showing genuine care for the game, their team and their city. 

If there were only more players who convinced fans on a daily basis of their burning desire to compete... that little something that says they give a crap...it would go a long way towards restoring our faith in the modern game.

Trying to remember the 2010 Padres: Game 8 (the pitching heavyweights)

I had a schedule for the "Trying to remember..." series that dictated the completion of two game synopsis per week prior to the start of the 2011 season. Last week I only wrote one. I was busy but even more than that... game 8 needed to be discussed during the same week as game 9.

Why? Same opponent in back to back days... let's FLY!!!

For series explanation and previous installments [go here]

GAME 8 of 18
July 2nd, 2010
Padres v. Astros @Petco Park
(Friday/Field Box Infield 108)

WHAT I THINK I KNOW...

The Padres defeated the Astros in what was a great pitching match-up between Mat Latos and Roy Oswalt. Final score 3-2 or 4-3.

***
I believe Latos got the win after being lifted in the bottom of the 8th for a pinch hitter when the Padres were down by one. They scored 2 runs and took the lead after Tony Gwynn Jr. (?) and David Eckstein (?) helped scrape together a couple runs. Or something like that..;

***
Heath Bell entered to get the save in the 9th.

***
Both Latos and Oswalt were superb in their efforts.

I am near certain that it was Latos that faced Oswalt. Pretty sure that I already had tickets for the Saturday night game (Friarhood event) which leads me to believe that I told the Mrs. that I ABSOLUTELY HAD TO GO AND see this epic pitching duel. The higher priced ticket I purchased also leads me to believe that I wanted the close up view of potential greatness.

***
My buddy Al and I attended this game together.

Source: A desire for an epic pitchers' duel... and a ticket stub.

RESEARCH SAYS...

The Padres won 3-0. Latos got the win and improved to 9-4. Latos pitched 8 shutout innings (7K/7BB) giving up 4 hits. In a word he was... ridiculouslyawesomeandoverwhelminglydominant.

***
Roy Oswalt was fantastic as well in receiving a no decision that night. Oswalt went 7 shutout innings (7K/2BB) giving up 3 hits. He left the game after 7 innings and a 0-0 tie.

***
So I was wrong about the score which is cool. It's nice to remember a game as a pitchers' duel only to look back and find out it was an even more outstanding performance from each pitcher. Latos would show why he was one of the up and coming young pitchers in the league and Oswalt would show why contenders would be clamoring for his services within a few short weeks.

***

Tony Gwynn Jr. would start the two out rally in the 8th inning with a single to LF. David Eckstein would drive him home with an RBI double for a 1-0 lead and all the runs the Padres would need. For good measure Scott Hairston drove in 2 more runs to hand a comfortable 3-0 lead to Heath Bell who would enter in the 9th.

***
Heath Bell recorded his 22nd save on 13 pitches after striking out 2 Astros.

Attendance: 30,691. Friday night and fourth of July weekend with Latos and Oswalt pitching... still lacking in believers.


NOTABLE OMISSIONS...

This game was recorded in a blistering 2 hours and 17 minutes. Nice.

***
The first three batters in the Padres line-up (Gwynn, Eckstein, Gonzalez) scored the game's only three runs. None of these gentlemen are Padres anymore. Does this mean anything?

***
The two Padres pitchers (Latos and Bell) who combined to record a 4 hit shutout with 9 Ks and 0BBs will both be pitching for San Diego in 2011. Does this mean anything?

***
The Padres won without stealing a base but it wasn't for a lack of trying... Yorvit Torrealba was gunned down in the 7th after getting on via walk. Yorvit?

Source: Baseball Reference and Padres.com


LASTING IMPRESSIONS...

I love a good pitching contest and I'm glad I got out to see Mat Latos and Roy Oswalt get after it. I think it was 2005 or 2006 when Jake Peavy and Roger Clemens were scheduled to pitch and I didn't make it down to the park to watch it... as you can see, I still think about it. If you're a baseball fan you have to get to games where the pitching heavyweights square off because you never know what you might see.

***
David Eckstein is pretty amazing. He has no business coming up so big with such frequency yet he does. I wish he would just sit on the bench and pinch hit for the Padres this year... but for free.

***
Might have been my first time seeing Mat Latos pitch in person. He's pretty good.

***
Watching a left handed stroke is generally a sweet thing to witness (Ted Williams, Will Clark, Don Mattingly, Tony Gwynn, Josh Hamilton, to name but a few).

Lance Berkman however is the ugliest lefty I have ever seen. His righty stroke is horrible too. I cannot stand watching Lance Berkman play the game of baseball. Lance Berkman is the worst.

***
I'll be back on Wednesday from Ground Control for some more Astros.

2010 MLB Predictions: where I take stock of my stupidity

Today's sweep of the Giants has left the Padres with a 22-12 record and given me cause to reevaluate my preseason prediction of 83 wins. Things have changed......and not just because Mat Latos threw a CG 1-hitter to close out the Gigantes......it is much, much more than that.

Ancient Bud Black Mind Tricks

Among all of MLB's managers, Bud Black is the only one who is a former hurler. There must be a valid reason for such a case.

Could it be that he knows how to use psychology to cajole pitchers in to doing what may seem to be against their perceived self-interests? Let us call these the Bud Black Mind Tricks.....if he indeed is versed in this ancient art.

Last week, the Padres Trail, posted a column about the Mat Latos/Wade Leblanc "5th starter issue" which was then debated thoroughly in a thread at Gaslamp Ball.

THE PREMISE: what should happen with the two young pitchers once Chris Young returns from the disabled list?

At the time of the posting LeBlanc had been pitching lights out and then went on to get the win after pitching 6.1 innings of scoreless ball. Did Latos meet the challenge? He went on to pitch 6 innings of 2 run ball and got hung with the loss (both runs came on homers). Not a bad outing but also not on par with LeBlanc. What to do, what to do....... (click "Read More" to continue)

My position last week was that I wanted to see CY come down with a mystery ailment to keep him on the DL so that both of the youngsters would remain in the rotation (my wish may have been granted as CY got shelled in a rehab assignment this weekend and is headed for an MRI......although I don't really want him to be hurt.....I just want the reins pulled back a bit so he's healthy in the long run and that our young fellas get to prove themselves in the short-run, which of course would be beneficial to the organization in the long-run.......this was far too long for a parenthetical explanation, no?). My position has altered slightly with certain caveats (Young's health and the performance of each of our youngsters in question).


Today my belief is that Mat Latos needs to stay up top where he can continue to be mentored by Darren Balsley. But we also know that Wade LeBlanc, who is on the hill tonight against The Purple Mountain's Majesty, will pitch shut out ball tonight thus making the question of the 5th spot in the rotation even more convoluted........or is it?

We know that Mat Latos, while possibly a future staff "#1", is having his innings closely monitored similar to last season a la the Verducci Effect. If his innings are to be restricted it could be detrimental to the Padres if they are in contention for the division or the wild-card come September. Would you want to shut down one of your regulars in the heat of a pennant race (rhetorical question/parenthetical probably not even needed)?

Bud Black must earn his money here. Latos is a big stud who must be handled carefully. A demotion to Portland could wreak havoc with his delicate ego and a demotion to the bullpen cold yield similar results......use your mind tricks, Bud Black......Latos' mind is young and malleable:

 

BUD BLACK: The managerial great, Earl Weaver, declared that the best spot for a rookie is in long relief (his 8th Law of Managing). Many great pitchers have worked out of the 'Pen and later enjoyed grand success as a starter. In fact Johan Santana won the Cy Young the year after leaving the 'Pen. But most importantly.....young Latos.....this move ensures that you will be contributing to the ball club in meaningful games down the stretch rather than picking splinters next to Balls.
MAT LATOS: (nods his head)
BUD BLACK: "You will go to the bullpen, Mat Latos."
MAT LATOS: "I will go to the bullpen, Bud Black."

(If Bud Black can employ some genuine Jedi Mind Tricks then the above explanation by Bud probably isn't needed. It is needed however in the context of giving proper credit to the person, Geoff Young of Ducksnorts, who provided a more precise rationale for such a move with Latos---parenthetical explanation, while very long, was required).

This entire post is probably moot though, as we all know Chris Young will be spending more time on the DL anyways.

Started-me-a-wonderin': The San Diego Padres and Yunel Escobar

After turning on the Padre game in the 8th inning, (EST start threw me) I saw Atlanta shortstop Yunel Escobar make a play and it started-me-a-wonderin'.

The Padres almost dealt Jake Peavy for Escobar and a few others back in November. I wasn't really in favor of the deal at the time for a couple of reasons:

1. I was delusional; not fully grasping the financial plight a divorce could bring on our club.
2. I didn't know too much about the players involved and really didn't want to do the research; laziness and a state of delusion conspiring together.

Today Yunel Escobar is hitting .303/.370/.452

The Wonderin':

1. Would the haul from the Jake to Atlanta trade in November of 2008 have been more beneficial than Jake to the Sox in July of 2009?
2. Would we have taken Everth Cabrera in the December, 2008 Rule V Draft had we traded for Escobar back in November (I think yes because ECab was a 2B)?
3. If we did take ECab would he have seen any playing time---being blocked by Escobar at SS and the Great Eckstein at 2B---may he have been returned to Colorado because he wasn't crackin' the line-up?
4. How would the Padres look with Escobar at SS and Cabrera at 2B?

Some of my wonderment is unknowable (2 & 3) but feel free to speculate and discuss, it may be fun.

The remainder of my reverie won't be revealed for a while (1 & 4) although if someone wants to look up the 2009 stat lines for the players and then draw some comparisons, I'd be stoked if you did.......by the way the Padres won in the 12th; Latos 7 shut out innings.