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Quarantined Friars: The 2008- San Diego Padres https://www.mlbppworld.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=11047 |
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Author: | GoTwins24 [ Thu May 14, 2020 6:19 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Quarantined Friars: The 2008- San Diego Padres |
Padres Send Giles, Barrett, and Gerut to the Twin Cities in Exchange for Harris, Kubel, and Redmond In their third trade of the season, the Padres sent fan-favorite Brian Giles to Minnesota. While this may not be a popular move, it makes sense given the direction of the franchise. Of the players the Padres have traded away, three were near the age of 40. In exchange for these players, they received much younger talent. As was the case in the Oakland trade, the players acquired in this trade will provide an immediate impact in the lineup. Brendan Harris has had a solid season, carrying an OBP of .354, to go along with 10 home runs. Jason Kubel hasn't been as strong as expected, and it appears that Minnesota was finished waiting for him to live up for expectations, instead acquiring a proven contact specialist. The main confusion from the trade stems from the swap of Michael Barrett for Mike Redmond, who is four years older. This could be a mere salary shed, as the Padres' payroll now stands at $70,000,000. This could be an anticipation of a major move in free agency, or it could be to give them more leeway in contract negotiations. Either way, the Padres once again got much younger with this move. |
Author: | GoTwins24 [ Thu May 14, 2020 11:57 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Quarantined Friars: The 2008- San Diego Padres |
In Likely Last Trade of Season, Padres Send Tony Clark to the Bronx In yet another move, the Padres have traded veteran Tony Clark to the New York Yankees in exchange for Phil Hughes. The Yankees currently have Jason Giambi at first base, but Tony Clark will most likely slide in as their DH. It may seem questionable for them to give up a promising 25-year-old starter in exchange for a 36-year-old designated hitter, but Hughes has struggled in his short career so far, so much so that the Yankees were willing to give up on him so soon. As for the Padres, they gave up a player they rarely used, as Adrian Gonzalez has not needed many rest days. Phil Hughes is another young addition to the rotation, who can make up for the uncertain players selected in the draft. Hughes will likely make his first start in a crucial series against the Diamondbacks. |
Author: | GoTwins24 [ Fri May 15, 2020 5:39 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Quarantined Friars: The 2008- San Diego Padres |
July 30, 2008: Dan Haren Freezes Padres Bats as D-Backs Avoid Sweep Dan Haren made sure this tweet did not come true in a masterful performance against an impatient Padres offense. The Padres have made great strides on offense in the summer months, but Dan Haren reversed this all in one night. It seemed to be a blast from the past, as Haren kept his pitch count extremely low in the shutout. The Padres only mustered 3 hits but hit into multiple double plays, meaning Haren nearly faced the minimum. Haren outshined Jake Peavy, who was outstanding, but not as dominant as Haren. The Padres would have preferred a sweep, which would have brought them to only 6 games out of first, but they close the month of July only 5 games out of first. With a series against second-place San Francisco and two more against Arizona, the Padres have the potential to go on a miraculous run, but they cannot embarrass themselves like they did tonight. |
Author: | GoTwins24 [ Fri May 15, 2020 6:36 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Quarantined Friars: The 2008- San Diego Padres |
July 2008: Padres Soar to Best Record of Season After a drastic restructuring of the roster, the Padres won 15 out of 25 games in July, including a 5-1 record against the first-place Diamondbacks. The team also won a 15-inning thriller against the Pittsburgh Pirates, which will most likely be the most memorable game of the season. The addition of Jack Cust has worked wonders as Cust has hit 20 home runs in a Padres uniform, many coming in key situations. Pairing him with Gonzalez has dramatically increased the lineup's fear factor. After the trades, there are no major weak spots in the lineup, although Josh Bard, Chris Denorfia, and Jason Kubel have been struggling as of late. If the Padres are to make a miraculous second-half run, they will most likely need to win around 20 games in August, which may prove to be too hefty of a task. Still, the outlook of this team is much better than it was in May. Pitching Stats: Batting Stats: Team Pitching Stats: Team Hitting Stats: Monthly Records: MLB Standings: MLB Batting Leaders: MLB Pitching Leaders: Projected Record: 78-84 (Pythag Record: 54-55) |
Author: | GoTwins24 [ Sun May 17, 2020 6:03 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Quarantined Friars: The 2008- San Diego Padres |
August 15, 2008: Padres Drop Third Straight as Chris Young Implodes in Seventh After a red hot start to August, the Padres have hit a wall, dropping their third straight game. Like many of their past few games, the Padres could not hold on to a small early lead. Chris Young was perfect through four innings but then gave up a tying home run to Pat Burrell. He rebounded nicely until the seventh, where he imploded for four additional earned runs. The Padres loaded the bases in the ninth but failed to plate any runners, falling 5-2. The Padres recent struggles can be attributed to poor offensive output, with hitters like Adrian Gonzalez, Khalil Greene, and Chris Denorfia struggling. In addition, there are some managing concerns, with starting pitchers remaining in games for too long. This occurred with both Jake Peavy and Chris Young against Milwaukee and Philadelphia. The Padres have the best bullpen ERA in the majors, and they need to be more creative with their relief pitchers. While there was a chance this team could make it to .500, those chances appear to be slim. |
Author: | GoTwins24 [ Sat May 23, 2020 1:01 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Quarantined Friars: The 2008- San Diego Padres |
Mid-August Update: Friars Stumbling When the Padres started August with a 6-4 monthly record, some believed they may be able to not only get to the .500 mark, but also claim a miraculous Wild Card berth. This feat would be challenging, as several teams stand in the way, leaving no room for error. After a strong start, the Pads fell back to earth, losing three straight against Milwaukee (2) and Philadelphia (1). The offense has stagnated, with Adrian Gonzalez failing to hit a home run since mid-July. The team has gotten early leads, but they have failed to score insurance runs, putting immense pressure on their pitching staff. If the Padres are to reach the .500 mark, they're going to need a more consistent offensive output, which they have gotten close to before, but have failed to turn in to a long term trend. Pitching Stats: Batting Stats: Team Pitching Stats: Team Batting Stats: NL West Standings: Monthly Records: Projected Record: 76-86 (Pythag Record: 59-63) |
Author: | GoTwins24 [ Sun May 24, 2020 10:04 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Quarantined Friars: The 2008- San Diego Padres |
August 31, 2008: Maddux Shines, But Pads Waste a 15-K Performance in Another Loss In the last game of a brutal month of August, the Padres fell to the Colorado Rockies in extras. The loss was despite another brilliant performance from Greg Maddux, who struck out 15 batters through nine innings. Adrian Gonzalez finally snapped his home run drought, ensuring that he would not finish the month homerless. Like usual though, the Padres failed to add any insurance runs, and a two-run home run from Troy Tulowitzki took the lead right back. The Padres would not lay down as Greg Maddux, who has been surprisingly excellent at the plate this year, drove in the tying run with a single in the 7th. The game went to extras, but Heath Bell could not hold the Rockies down, allowing a run. Brian Fuentes has dominated the Padres in 08, and he did so again tonight, securing a Colorado sweep. The loss capped off a disappointing month of August, one in which the team went 12-15 with another negative run differential. As the roster expands, the team will likely grant playing time to several young players. |
Author: | GoTwins24 [ Mon May 25, 2020 3:38 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Quarantined Friars: The 2008- San Diego Padres |
End of August Update: Padres Struggle Through Worst Month Since April After a strong start to the summer, the Padres struggled through the dog days of August, finishing with a monthly record of 12-15. Several players, especially Adrian Gonzalez, failed to have the same impact they did earlier in the summer. Gonzalez only hit one home run this month, which came on the last night of the month. Khalil Greene also struggled in terms of power, failing to hit a home run in the second half of the month. On the other side, the team's starting pitching was stellar, with Greg Maddux having one of the best months of his long career. Phil Hughes held a permanent rotation spot for the first time of his career, and he impressed evaluators with a complete-game shutout in the last week of the month. James Shields, the other addition to the rotation, has not had such good fortune, struggling with many poor performances in the month. With the rosters expanding to 40, it is uncertain how the Padres will approach the upcoming month. Will they call up promising rookies Aaron Albion and Ricardo Alvarez, or will they continue to field the same lineup? Many experts advocate for the former since the Padres are much closer to the bottom of the NL than the top. If they continue to fade out, they can secure a top-10 draft pick, which will help them on their path to rebuilding the roster. Pitching Stats: Batting Stats: Team Pitching Stats: Team Hitting Stats: MLB Standings: MLB Pitching Leaders: MLB Hitting Leaders: Monthly Records: Record Projection: 75-87 (Pythag Record: 66-70) |
Author: | GoTwins24 [ Wed May 27, 2020 5:59 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Quarantined Friars: The 2008- San Diego Padres |
September 15, 2008: Padres Win Fifth Straight in Extra Inning Thriller Heading into tonight, the Padres had been embarrassed by the Rockies all season, especially at Coors Field. The last time Roy Halladay took the mound against them, he carried a no-hitter through 8.1 innings. Tonight's game was a different story, however, as the Padres' offense took full advantage of an advantageous environment. In the top of the first, Kevin Kouzmanoff drilled a home run to straightaway center. Later, Jack Cust did the exact same, hitting his 44th and 45th home runs of the season. The Rockies fought back, scoring two off Jake Peavy, but they were unable to get the tying run in. This was the case until the ninth when Clay Hensley put the tying run at third base. Scott Podsednik, no stranger to clutch hits, drilled a game-tying single. Following this, Hensley rebounded to strike out Todd Helton. In extras, relief ace Cla Meredith hurled three scoreless innings, setting the stage for the Padres offense in the 13th. With two outs, Kevin Kouzmanoff crushed his second home run of the game, which proved to be the game-winner. With their fifth win in a row, the Padres are officially on their greatest winning streak of the season and currently stand at 73-77 with 11 games remaining. If they win 9 of those games, they will somehow finish over .500 in a season that seemed destined for a last-place finish. |
Author: | GoTwins24 [ Wed May 27, 2020 10:47 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Quarantined Friars: The 2008- San Diego Padres |
Mid-September Update: Padres Save Best Month of Season for Last After an under-.500 month of August, the Pads have won 11 of 17 games in September. Depending on how you view things, this could either be a positive or a negative trend. On the positive side, the Padres are showing signs of potential for a stronger season in 2009. Jack Cust, Adrian Gonzalez, and Kevin Kouzmanoff will all be returning, and Aaron Albion and Ricardo Alvarez will most likely debut at some point in the season. Jake Peavy had an up-and-down season, but is currently among the top-ten in ERA leaders. It remains to be seen whether the team will bring Greg Maddux back if he decides to pitch for another season. The Padres have gotten drastically younger, but Maddux inflates their average age. On the negative side, the Padres will most likely not accomplish a top-ten draft pick, which may have devastating consequences. Their draft was criticized for weak frontline talent, and a low draft pick will certainly not help this perception. It also remains to be seen whether the team will make drastic changes to their staff. Bud Black has been criticized for questionable managerial decisions, like leaving pitchers in too long or refusing to give playing time to certain players. The team may look to change their offensive approach, as they were dead last in the league in on-base percentage, as well as dead last in the division in runs scored. Despite these uncertainties, team morale has soared thanks to A-Gon reaching the 50 HR mark, and Jack Cust nearing this mark as well. If the Padres finish 7-2 in their last 9, they will finish the season over .500 despite never being over .500 at all during the regular season, quite the feat for a rebuilding team. Pitching Stats: Batting Stats: Team Pitching Stats: Team Hitting Stats: Standings: MLB Pitching Leaders: MLB Hitting Leaders: Month Stats: Record Projection: 80-82 (Pythag Record: 76-77) |
Author: | GoTwins24 [ Fri May 29, 2020 12:25 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: Quarantined Friars: The 2008- San Diego Padres |
September 28, 2008: Padres Close 2008 Season With a Win, Finish 81-81 Today's game was significant for the Friars as a win would lead them to a shocking .500 finish. For a team that was 10 games under for nearly the entire season, an 81-81 finish would definitely be an accomplishment. To reward Mark Prior's loyalty in accepting his demotion to the bullpen, the Friars granted him the start in the final game of the season. Prior rewarded them with an 8-inning performance, though he was running on fumes in the ninth. The Pirates went up 2-0 early, but Jack Cust took the lead right back with a 3-run home run, remarkably his 51st of the season. Cust has been the pickup of the season for any team, and the Pads would be much worse this season without him. Jason Kubel and Josh Bard, unlikely sources of power, padded the lead with home runs of the own. In the ninth, Prior and the Padres nearly allowed the Pirates to make a 5-run comeback, but Clay Hensley shut the door with an inning-ending double play, stranding the tying run at third. The dramatic finish put an end to a surprisingly exciting conclusion to the season, leaving Padres fans craving more consistent play in 2009. If the team stays sharp and makes the correct offseason additions, they can once again challenge the Diamondbacks for the NL West crown next season. |
Author: | GoTwins24 [ Fri May 29, 2020 2:32 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Quarantined Friars: The 2008- San Diego Padres |
2008 Season Recap: Padres Miss Playoffs, Accelerate Rebuild The San Diego Padres finished a whirlwind 2008 season with an 81-81 record, which would have been disappointing if you were told this at the beginning of the season. Yet, if you were told in June, this would seem like a miracle. For much of the season, the Friars seemed destined for a tanking season. If the team kept the roster the same as the Opening Day roster, this may have been the case, but several trades helped the Padres turn their season around. Jack Cust was by far the best acquisition, batting over .300 with 51 home runs. In addition, Phil Hughes was a solid starter, turning his season around with 2 complete games. The numerous moves lowered the average age of the roster dramatically, brightening the team's future. The team may have a case to have both the NL MVP (Adrian Gonzalez) and the NL Cy Young (Greg Maddux), but if voters favor team success, these two deserving players may be robbed of deserved awards. The NL West was a fairly competitive division this year, with no teams losing less than 80 games. The Diamondbacks won their second straight division title, but the Friars fared well against them. The D-Backs are not world-beaters, and so the Padres may be a few key additions away from catching them. In the offseason, the Padres are rumored to be targeting a power-hitting catcher to replace Josh Bard, who was average at best this season. They are also rumored to be looking into the starting pitching market as Greg Maddux's future is uncertain, and Chris Young pitched poorly in the second half. If they are able to make strong additions in these positions, they may be able to become legitimate contenders for the foreseeable future. Pitching Stats: Batting Stats: Batting WAR Leaders: 1. Adrian Gonzalez- 5.5 2. Jack Cust- 4.3 3. Khalil Greene- 2.4 4. Brendan Harris- 2.1 5. Josh Bard- 1.2 6. Chris Denorfia- 1.2 Pitching WAR Leaders: 1. Greg Maddux- 7.4 2. Jake Peavy- 5.6 3. Heath Bell- 3.3 4. Clay Hensley- 2.7 5. Cla Meredith- 2.2 6. Chris Young- 2.0 7. Phil Hughes- 1.9 Team Pitching Stats: Team Hitting Stats: MLB Final Standings: Playoff Picture: MLB Pitching Leaders: MLB Batting Leaders: Team Records: |
Author: | GoTwins24 [ Fri May 29, 2020 3:25 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Quarantined Friars: The 2008- San Diego Padres |
2008 Season Ends With Yankees Claiming 27th Title The New York Yankees turned off the lights on the House That Ruth Built with a dramatic World Series victory over the Houston Astros. Jorge Posada was the hero in what could be his final MLB season, driving in three runs in the final game against Houston. The Astros made a shocking run to the Fall Classic, heating up in September to grab a final Wild Card spot. They then shocked the powerhouse New York Mets in just four games and easily handled the Arizona Diamondbacks to reach the World Series for the second time in four years. On the other side, the Yankees reached the Fall Classic by avenging their defeat to Cleveland in last year's ALDS, and then avenging their defeat in the 2004 ALCS with a 4-2 ALCS win over Boston. While they trailed 3-2 in the Series, they stormed back with a power surge to shock Roy Oswalt and the Houston Astros. After the Series, the Yankees continued to be rewarded as Alex Rodriguez won both the AL MVP and the Hank Aaron Award. One-time Yankee Javier Vazquez also won the American League Cy Young. In the NL, Albert Pujols accomplished the exact same feat as A-Rod, winning both the MVP and the Hank Aaron Award. As for the NL Cy Young, Zach Duke won the award in shocking fashion, with just a few more votes than Greg Maddux. This was a major disappointment for Padres fans, who believed Maddux was a guaranteed Cy Young winner this year. As a consolation for Friar fans, Khalil Greene, Tadahito Iguchi, and Josh Bard won Gold Gloves for their fielding efforts this season. Greene's award was well-deserved, although Josh Bard's title related more to pitch-framing than throwing runners out, as he carried a sub-50% CS rate. In 2009, the Padres have a good chance to feature many more award winners than they did in 2008, as Jack Cust will have a qualifying season with the team. |
Author: | GoTwins24 [ Fri May 29, 2020 11:57 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Quarantined Friars: The 2008- San Diego Padres |
2008-2009 Free Agency Recap: Padres Make Multiple Free Agent Signings, Transform Roster In a much anticipated free agency period, the San Diego Padres made several significant signings, addressing several positions of weakness. In their first move, they added veteran reliever Kerry Wood to what was already an elite bullpen in 2008, reuniting him with former Cub teammate Mark Prior. Wood is additional security in case either Heath Bell, Cla Meredith, or Clay Hensley regress after strong 2008 seasons. Next, they added troubled started John Lackey, who completely imploded in 2008, finishing with an ERA higher than 7. Despite these struggles, Lackey finished third in Cy Young Voting in 2007, so the potential for a strong season is still present. With pitching coach Darren Balsley coming off an impressive coaching campaign, there is hope for a rebound campaign. On the offensive side, the Padres added Orlando Hudson, who adds not only impressive hitting acumen, but also strong baserunning, which the Padres desperately needed after a record-low stolen base total. Hudson was a key part of the Diamondbacks' division title, so adding him carries the benefit of subtracting from a division rival. In their last impact move, the Padres added Milton Bradley, who will platoon with Jason Kubel in right field. Lastly, the team added veteran catcher Vance Wilson to fill in for the departed Mike Redmond. Ultimately, while there were no frontline additions like Adam Dunn, Chipper Jones, or Pedro Martinez, the Padres will be a playoff contender in 2009. Kerry Wood Stats: John Lackey Stats: Orlando Hudson Stats: Milton Bradley Stats: Vance Wilson Stats: AL Free Agency Recap: NL Free Agency Recap: Feel free to post your Free Agency grades below! |
Author: | GoTwins24 [ Sat May 30, 2020 12:39 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Quarantined Friars: The 2008- San Diego Padres |
BREAKING: Padres Acquire Victor Martinez from Cleveland in Blockbuster Trade In free agency, the Friars did not add a frontline catcher who they were rumored to be targeting, evidence that they were working on a major deal. They achieved just that following the Winter Meetings, acquiring star catcher Victor Martinez from the Cleveland Indians. In exchange for V-Mart, the Padres sent James Shields to Cleveland. Shields only spent six disappointing months in San Diego in which he was entirely removed from the rotation. Yet, Cleveland may see some potential in Shields, so much so that they were willing to trade their 31-year old catcher for him. It was a questionable decision on their part, but it will pay dividends if Shields finds his stride. As for the Padres, it is a low-risk move on the field, as Martinez is a near-guaranteed 20 HR, .330+ OBP hitter. In addition, he has the same defensive ratings as Josh Bard, who won a gold glove in 2008. This move is a clear indication that the Friars are prepared to compete again in 2009 after a series of rebuilding moves in 2008. The NL West is officially on high alert. |
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