The Padres finished the month of April with a 14-12 record. After a slow start offensively, they started getting on base and scoring runs. Sean Burroughs showed flashes of brilliance along with the usual youthful struggles. More surprisingly, with a few notable exceptions, the pitching was outstanding.
Triple-A Portland
Vitals
NORTH DIVISION W L PCT GB
TACOMA RAINIERS (SEATTLE) 12 9 .571
PORTLAND BEAVERS (SAN DIEGO) 13 13 .500 1.5
CALGARY CANNONS (FLORIDA) 12 14 .462 2.5
EDMONTON TRAPPERS (MINNESOTA) 10 13 .435 3.0
AVG AB R H HR BB SO SB CS
.244 812 78 198 16 69 193 19 10
W-L ERA H CG SHO SV HR BB SO
13- 13 3.40 171 2 3 9 24 71 163
Overview
Thanks to strong pitching, the Beavers managed to break even in April despite scoring just three runs per game. The 78 runs they scored during the month were last by a pretty healty margin. Portland batters drew walks at just an 7.8% rate (BB/[AB+BB]). Veteran outfielder Pete Incaviglia was released after hitting .122/.200/.146 in 15 games.
Prospect Watch
Hitters
Name Rank AB BA OBP SLG BB SO SB CS
Eberwein, Kevin 30 81 .259 .295 .395 3 22 0 0
Eberwein, who was fighting for a bench job in spring training, has struggled to make consistent contact or hit the ball with much authority. He's played mostly third, but also seen some time at first and in the outfield. If he heats up or if the Padres need a right-handed bat later in the season, he's still a decent bet to see some action in San Diego this year.
Pitchers
Name Rank IP H HR BB SO ERA
Middlebrook, Jason 9 22.1 20 0 11 19 4.03
Despite outwardly decent numbers, Middlebrook hasn't done much to distinguish himself yet at Portland. He's had a couple of okay starts, a couple of not-so-good starts, and one start that was shaping up nicely before he had to be pulled after four innings due to injury. Middlebrook hasn't made it past the fifth inning in any of his five starts, and with the kids at Mobile and Lake Elsinore breathing down his neck, he needs to turn it around quickly if he's to make more than a cameo with the big club.
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Double-A Mobile
Vitals
WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB
CHATTANOOGA LOOKOUTS (CINCINNATI) 16 10 .615
BIRMINGHAM BARONS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 15 11 .577 1.0
MOBILE BAY BEARS (SAN DIEGO) 14 12 .538 2.0
WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX (CHICAGO CUBS) 12 14 .462 4.0
HUNTSVILLE STARS (MILWAUKEE) 6 19 .240 9.5
AVG AB R H HR BB SO SB CS
.247 864 100 213 12 103 192 32 19
W-L ERA H CG SHO SV HR BB SO
14- 12 3.77 223 0 2 7 20 83 222
Overview
To nobody's surprise, the pitching has been outstanding. Despite being tied with Orlando for the fewest runs scored in the Southern League, the Bay Bears scratched out a winning record in April. Mobile batters drew walks in 10.7% of their plate appearances. Right-hander Ben Howard was summoned to the big-league rotation after just four starts.
Prospect Watch
Hitters
Name Rank AB BA OBP SLG BB SO SB CS
Johnson, Ben 5 91 .209 .321 .297 14 33 3 3
Faison, Vince 15 77 .234 .306 .390 7 19 1 2
Castro, Bernie 19 105 .314 .397 .371 12 12 15 8
Johnson has struggled in his first venture above Class-A. He continues to draw his share of walks but isn't making consistent contact or hitting for much power. Give him time; he'll come around.
Faison hasn't quite picked up where he left off at the end of last season, but he's doing better than I'd expected he would in his first exposure to Double-A. His plate discipline has improved (though it still needs work), and he's hitting the ball with some authority. Faison remains a work in progress, but the fact that he's holding his own in the Southern League so far has to be a good sign.
Castro has delivered as advertised, getting on base and running. He'll need to steal bases at a better rate to be useful, but the comparisons to Luis Castillo and Quilvio Veras are looking pretty accurate so far.
Pitchers
Name Rank IP H HR BB SO ERA
Peavy, Jake 2 29.0 19 3 8 36 1.55
Tankersley, Dennis 3 26.2 23 1 11 27 3.04
Howard, Ben 8 24.0 15 2 10 23 1.50
Cyr, Eric 12 23.0 20 2 8 17 1.96
With the exception of one outing, against the Cubs' Mark Prior, Peavy has been dominant. Look for him to be in the Padres' rotation after the All-Star break and for many years to come. With Sean Burroughs now with the big club, Peavy is easily the Pads best prospect, and one of the best in all of baseball.
Like Peavy, Tankersley had one bad start against West Tenn. His past two starts, although not as dominant as Peavy's, have been very good. In most organizations, Tank would be a virtual lock for material time at some point during the season, but with so many good young arms, he may have to wait a while to make his San Diego debut.
Howard started 2002 the way he ended 2001. Improved command has helped him to reach his considerable potential, and he made his big-league debut April 28, pitching five solid innings against Pittsburgh. There is talk that Howard could move to the bullpen when Kevin Jarvis returns from the DL, which wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Look at the way Houston has broken in its young arms the past few years, or the way Earl Weaver did back in the '70s and '80s.
Cyr continues to puzzle me. He hasn't been truly dominant in any of his starts this year, although he has shown flashes here and there. I still have this feeling that he's going to end up as another Mike Remlinger/Alan Embree type.
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Class-A Lake Elsinore
Vitals
SOUTH DIVISION W L PCT GB
SAN BERNARDINO STAMPEDE (SEATTLE) 14 12 .538
HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS (MILWAUKEE) 13 13 .500 1.0
LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO) 11 14 .440 2.5
RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (ANAHEIM) 11 15 .423 3.0
LANCASTER JETHAWKS (ARIZONA) 8 17 .320 5.5
AVG AB R H HR BB SO SB CS
.229 859 119 197 19 78 225 31 20
W-L ERA H CG SHO SV HR BB SO
11- 14 4.05 237 0 0 4 23 92 213
Overview
As with the higher class affiliates, Lake Elsinore has pitched better than it has hit. The Storm are last in the league with a .229 batting average, and only San Jose has scored fewer runs. Storm batters have walked in just 8.3% of their plate appearances.
Prospect Watch
Hitters
Name Rank AB BA OBP SLG BB SO SB CS
Nady, Xavier 4 88 .250 .394 .534 20 26 1 0
Gautreau, Jake 7 69 .275 .346 .377 7 12 1 0
Bozied, Tagg 14 77 .351 .458 .714 16 15 1 1
Bartlett, Jason 16 57 .228 .318 .298 7 15 5 0
Nettles, Marcus 27 93 .269 .346 .301 11 34 8 6
De Los Santos, Pedro -- 39 .282 .364 .333 5 9 7 2
Nady, recovering from off-season elbow surgery, returned to the Cal League, which employs the DH full time, so he could get at-bats everyday. Although he expanded the strike zone more than in 2001, Nady still hit the ball hard and drew his share of walks. Reports have him throwing again and talk is that he may be promoted to Portland within the next few weeks. If he's healthy, Nady stands a good chance to open 2003 as the Pads' left fielder.
After a slow start, Gautreau has started to hit. More importantly, he's looked good at second base. His range isn't great but he has good hands and actually turns the double play pretty well.
Bozied has enjoyed a terrific first month in affiliated pro ball. He's constantly hitting the ball hard (over half his hits are for extra bases) and showing good actions at first base. Bozied even started a game at third and another in right. If he keeps this up, he won't be in the Cal League much longer.
Bartlett, slowed by injuries, didn't do much in April.
Nettles has continued to do what he's done since turning pro, which is to get on base at a decent clip, hit for absolutely zero power, and strike out a lot. He's got tools but he needs to make better contact in order to get the most out of them.
De Los Santos, whom I did not rank among my top 30 Padre prospects, has made quite an impression in his brief stay at Elsinore. He is extremely fast, appears to have a clue at the plate, and can play several positions. And at 18 years of age, he's one of the younger players in the Cal League.
Pitchers
Name Rank IP H HR BB SO ERA
Phillips, Mark 6 21.1 21 3 17 18 5.48
Perez, Oliver 11 25.2 24 0 12 33 3.16
Wiedmeyer, Jason 28 27.2 27 5 6 24 2.93
Phillips has had trouble with his command thus far. He's also lasted five innings in just one of his five starts (well, three starts; the other two were in relief of the rehabbing Tom Davey). All three homers came on April 21 at Bakersfield. With the organizational depth the Padres have, there's no need to rush Phillips. He'll be fine in the long run.
Perez had three very good starts, one start (his first of the year) where he couldn't find the plate, and one other in which he was hit very hard. He's young; he's inconsistent. There's some talk that he may find his way to Double-A before the end of the year.
Wiedmeyer doesn't have overpowering stuff and relies a lot on location. He walked two batters in his first start, and one in each of his past four starts. Like Phillips, Wiedmeyer surrendered three homers in a game at Bakersfield (and like Phillips, it was in relief of Davey).
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Class-A Ft. Wayne
Vitals
EASTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB
MICHIGAN BATTLE CATS (HOUSTON) 18 8 .692
FORT WAYNE WIZARDS (SAN DIEGO) 13 12 .520 4.5
DAYTON DRAGONS (CINCINNATI) 13 13 .500 5.0
WEST MICHIGAN WHITECAPS (DETROIT) 12 14 .462 6.0
LANSING LUGNUTS (CHICAGO CUBS) 11 14 .440 6.5
SOUTH BEND SILVER HAWKS (ARIZONA) 10 16 .385 8.0
AVG AB R H HR BB SO SB CS
.256 814 100 208 5 69 191 21 8
W-L ERA H CG SHO SV HR BB SO
13- 12 3.97 225 0 0 9 11 51 191
Overview
The Wizards are near the top of the Midwest League in batting average but just middle of the pack in runs scored. The pitching numbers look pretty good (and that strikeout-to-walk ratio really is impressive), but only Kane County and Burlington have higher ERAs. Ft. Wayne batters are drawing walks at a 7.8% clip.
Prospect Watch
Hitters
Name Rank AB BA OBP SLG BB SO SB CS
Barfield, Josh 10 101 .307 .333 .337 3 14 6 1
Brooks, Doc 26 31 .194 .324 .323 5 4 1 0
Trzeniak, Nick -- 75 .240 .329 .373 8 24 2 0
Barfield came out of the gate fast but has cooled off of late. And although he's hitting .300, it's pretty empty. Only three extra base hits so far (all doubles), and weak plate discipline. Still, there are positives. Barfield is playing a solid second base, he isn't striking out much, and he's not being overmatched in his first taste of full-season ball.
Brooks missed time early but is now showing the good secondary skills that make him so intriguing. It's only 31 at-bats so we'll check back on him next month.
Trzeniak wasn't listed in my top 30 but given the lack of catching prospects in the system, he's worthy of consideration. He draws walks and has some power. So do Bobby Estalella and Steve Lomasney. Catchers are almost as unpredictable as pitchers in terms of development, so we'll see.
Pitchers
Name Rank IP H HR BB SO ERA
Yoshida, Nobuaki 20 25.1 26 0 5 10 2.84
Germano, Justin 24 36.1 36 2 5 28 2.72
Huber, Jon -- 18.2 22 0 7 17 7.23
Yoshida had one really good start at Lansing on April 16; the rest of his outings have been fairly pedestrian. The lack of strikeouts is a concern.
Germano had a nice April. He was hit hard in his final start of the month against West Michigan, but his other five starts all teetered between good and very good.
Huber had a fascinating month. When he made it out of the first inning, he was tough. Unfortunately, two of his starts saw him exit after recording only one out. Here's the breakdown:
G IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
bad 2 0.2 9 12 11 4 0 0 148.50
good 3 18.0 13 4 4 3 17 0 2.00
Huber is a former (recent) high round pick and he has a live arm. Obviously he needs to cut down on the disastrous outings but he's worth watching.
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