News and rumblings from around the NL West…
- Josh Thole suffered a “significant” hamstring tear that Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo expects will sideline the catcher for the season, Lovullo told reporters (including Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic). Thole is getting a second opinion on the injury and surgery is a possibility. The veteran catcher was in Arizona’s camp on a minor league deal battling for the backup role, though signs pointed to Thole starting the year at Triple-A.
- While the Giants have many homegrown stars on their roster, the team has been strangely unsuccessful in their attempts to draft and develop everyday outfielders, Carl Steward of the Bay Area News Group writes. Marvin Benard (a 50th round pick in 1992), was the last Giants draftee to play as a full-time starting outfielder for more than one season. Part of the issue is that San Francisco has acquired so many notable outfielders in free agency and trades, ranging from Barry Bonds to Hunter Pence. “There are things that you do that de-emphasize young players at those outfield positions,” GM Bobby Evans said. “At the same time, I still think you should require opportunity for these guys to break through. It may be an area where we haven’t emphasized it as much because we’ve had other options from other sources. I just think it’s harder to patient sometimes with outfielders because there are so many other alternatives in terms of the free agent market and trades.” Jarrett Parker and Mac Williamson are looking to break the “curse” as the two youngsters battle for the left field job this spring.
- The Padres have so many prospects in camp after their international spending splurge that some players (including highly-touted Cuban lefty Adrian Morejon) have been used in simulated games since they don’t have enough roster space for proper minor league games, ESPN’s Keith Law writes in his latest subscription-only piece. Law provides an in-person analysis of several Padres and Dodgers prospects, with particularly good reviews given to Morejon, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Dodgers righty Walker Buehler.
Back in the days giants home grown outfielders willie mays, bobby bonds, George foster, Dave Kingman, Garry Matthews, Gary Maddox
Span has looked terrible…… Center fielder could be our problem…..
he hasn’t looked terrible in spring, regardless though this is his last year so we may end up seeing slater or someone in CF next year unless a trade or signing happens
Actually he has two years left plus a $4MM buyout for 2019. I doubt he still has the starting gig next year though.
they could just move him to left?
So many prospects
They created simulated games.
Never in my life has the padres had so much talent at once
Remember, these are the Padres we’re talking about. When is the last time they successfully developed a home-grown talent that hasn’t either flamed out or been traded before becoming relevant? Damn, I’m jaded.
Um Sean Burroughs?
Flamed out, became homeless, used hard drugs, eating out of trash cans, and could only hit singles
Jake Peavy is probably the answer here. Maybe Hoffman but they traded for him in the low minors.
Thoughts and prayers.
These aren’t “the same” Padres.
Different personnel at every step of the ladder of development.
Those of us “Ol time ” Padre fans certainly understand the skepticism…..but hope things re finally different.
Things are different now with Preller around. He’s shown that he is set on having the team start from the bottom with the hope that they can become a solid contender in the years to come.
And I agree that Jake Peavey was probably the last truly successful “homegrown star” the Padres had. What is also surprising (and pretty pathetic) is that I believe the last time a Padres first-round pick ended up becoming an everyday major league regular player was Tim Stauffer when he was picked back in the early 2000s. That’s a lot of drafts they screwed up on.
Chase Headley was very good, but Padres fans are too dumb to admit that
Resources are finite. Developing pitchers, which is what the Giants focus on, requires large numbers of prospects due to the rates of both failure and injury at the position. Next in priority are catchers and infielders. It’s hard to argue with the Giant’s philosophy, given their success.
While I agree with that assessment, outfielders are typically the easiest position to develop due to the defensive requirement, or lack there of, (hence why when there is no room for a stud prospect they get put in the outfield.) look at the Pirates for example. They have stud outfielders, a plethora of young stud pitching, and a group of promising infielders. Granted they were bad for many years and that’s why they were able to grab most of those players, but it can all be done, especially with the Giants infield basically set.
Luck is a big part of it. If any team, the Pirates or whomever, have stud prospects among pitchers infielders, and outfielders, it’s because they’ve been lucky, and had high draft picks over a number of years. The majority of prospects don’t have much of an MLB career, so stud prospects across the board defy statistical probability. And if outfielders are the easiest to develop, they’re also the easiest to supplement from outside. So I still think the Giant’s model is the best.
Preller and the Pads are favoring the quantity-over-quality approach.
I’m not sure how you came to that conclusion. They are vastly valuing both.
It looks to me as if their doing the quality and quantity approach
Quantity * quality = success
Isn’t a “simulated game” a description of what the Padres have been playing during the regular season for the past 10 years or so?
I’d consider it to be more of a comedy routine.
Odds are the Padres will have to be good someday, but I’d still take 2 to 1 on them stinking in three years.
It worked for the Royals,Rays,Astros,and Cubs…..but because it’s the Padres they will just continue to suck?
Good luck with that thinking.
There problem the last 20 years is they always tried to compete with a low payroll and brought in just enough guys to compete…..but still not win,and then draft in the teens.
But the two times they had top 5 picks they screwed the pooch(Bush/Tate).
Not gonna happen this time.
Friends we are in for the dark days:
RF: Hunter Pence (thank god)
CF: Denard Span (well….hasn’t really lived up to any part of his contract.)
LF: Jarrett Parker/Mac Williamson (Sorry I don’t have confidence in either one)
Gorkys Hernandez? He should be enjoying whatever time in Sacramento he can.
I’m nostalgic. I had prayed and prayed and prayed that Michael Morse would make the team. Maybe he’ll accept a rehab assignment and come back as a right handed bat off the bench.
Why in the name of Damon Minor was Jimmy Rollins invited to camp? There’s a major major log jam right now and I don’t see it clearing this year. We blew our wad on Melancon. GREAT. We can close games. IF we can get to the point to close games.
Pack your bags Federowicz I think there’s a Korean team that could use a catcher. Ask Brett Pill for his suggestions.
Giants need to get Cain’s money off the books as soon as possible (who should be the most expensive middle reliever in the game.)
MAJOR MAJOR issues this team has:
NO RIGHT HANDED BAT IN RIGHT FIELD WITH POWER
5th Reliever
Strong Utility Man
CENTERFIELDER
I love this team. I bleed black and orange, but I have a feeling this season is a wash and maybe when some money becomes available then we can go after some missing pieces. (Am loving Arroyo as the third basemen once Nunez goes….)
BTW…….IF THEY DONT LOCK UP BUMGARNER I AM BURNING AT&T PARK TO THE GROUND>