Posts Tagged ‘Scott Hairston’

Padres’ GM Hoyer not satisfied and pulls trigger on another deal….

Sunday, August 1st, 2010

An legit big bat is coming to San Diego, it’s about time !! Many of us loyal season ticket holders have been waiting for this day to come. Thank You ! Padres’ GM Jed Hoyer. It has been years since the last big bat arrived in San Diego (Greg Vaughn in 1996). Joining the Padres on Sunday will be OF Ryan Ludwick and he will bring the much needed protection behind Adrian Gonzalez. Let me repeat this San Diegans, the Padres Front Office is very serious about winning the division and going deep into the post season. Remember “We Believe“, that is the motto for the 2010 Padres season. Now, I wonder who will have to be removed from the 25 man roster to accommodate Ludwick ? Let’s take a look at the personnel in question, based on my perspective.

  1. OF Tony Gwynn Jr. This past week Gwynn has come up in critical key situations and strike out looking. Tony is currently hitting at .217 and offensively is regressing very rapidly. Sure, he has a great glove and dynamic speed. Though, I am sure Luis Durango can do the same and better. Gwynn Jr. is a good candidate to be sent down if he has options.
  2. OF Chris Denorfia. As with Cunningham, Denorfia has options but has heavily contributed this season. In fact, Denorfia has been hitting the long ball in July and provides speed as well. A demotion to the minor league does not make any sense but the same could be said for Cunningham.

In terms of pure production overall, I would have to say that Tony Gwynn Jr. is on the bubble. But, just like with the US Economy the bail-out packages are not the best interest for the American public, debt on top of debt impedes the Economy. In baseball terms, a demotion for Denorfia is highly probable and it will not make any sense baseball wise.

Playing left field has been an adventure as of late….

Padres’ OF Scott Hairston has been facing the demons from the outfield the past 2 out of 3 games in left field. On both occasions, Scott has allowed the ball to dictate his awful approach to it. Both times, Scott hesitated and made two critical errors which led to runs for the opponents. Could you have said, Ludwick is arriving just in time ? Perhaps, Will Venable will be starting in Center or Left on Sunday against the Marlins.

Alright Padres Fans, it’s time to close out this post. A blues music video by Eric Sardinas titled “I Can’t Be Satisfied” is dedicated to both Tony Gywnn Jr. and Scott Hairston. How come? Well, Gywnn for striking out way too frequently in key situations with runners in scoring position, and Hairston for his “Barnum and Baily Circus Routine” in left field.

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The New Kids on the Block…..

Saturday, May 1st, 2010

As April closes, the Padres are in FIRST PLACE in the National League West Division. Yup ! You heard that right Padres Fans ! With all due respect, I take my hat off and congratulate Ex-Padres CEO Sandy Alderson and Ex-Padres Baseball Operations Grady Fuson. These two people laid down the foundation and literally built up the farm system from ground zero. A few journalist who covers baseball fail to acknowledge this and give credit to former GM Kevin Towers. I disagree completely, though I will admit Kevin Towers did make some trades, most notably the Jake Peavy and Scott Hairston which brought in a handful of pitchers. Fox Sports baseball analyst Ken Rosenthal had alluded that Kevin Towers had built this team. If Rosenthal had did some homework, he would have found over the course of 15 years, Towers was never known for his farm system.

May is here and things are going to get even more interesting. So far the Padres are making news around the league and some players have been on ESPN and MLB Network highlights. According to Fox Sports Baseball Power Rankings, the Padres are 8th and if you don’t believe me check this out here. I still believe this Padres team will end up the NL Wild-Card entry. The style of baseball they play can legitimately be successful in any ball park. This team reminds me like those St. Louis Cardinals, that Whitey Hertzog had with the rabbits (Vince Coleman, Ozzie Smith, and Willie McGhee) and Bomber (Jack Clark). Though, our Padres version has more power with Adrian, Kyle Blanks, Will Venable and Chase Headley.

Player of the Month – April

This is a tie between LHP Wade LeBlanc, 3B Chase Headley, and RHP Tim Stauffer. All three players had a profound affect on the Padres record during April. LeBlanc, substituting for Chris Young has been very impressive and surely earned a starting spot in the rotation. As I had mentioned before on a previous post, the Padres are going to make a move or two before May. Well May is here, give and take a week or so, the move is coming. Headley has assumed the clean-up spot and providing great protection for Adrian Gonzalez. Not only that, Headley has driven in runs when the opposing pitchers have walked Adrian intentionally. As for Stauffer, his value continues to skyrocket just like a few silver junior mining stocks are doing at the moment. Stauffer has provided the Padres outstanding long relief and has been vital in keeping the staff fresh. Kudos to these three players, and Padres fans, let’s give them a round of applause during the games when these player names are announced.

As I close out this post, and the Padres are creeping up on the so called experts charts, here’s a song titled ‘The Creeper’ by Blues artist James Cotton. Let’s Go Padres, send out a signal MAY DAY !…THE PADRES ARE FOR REAL !!…

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Padres’ GM Hoyer makes his moves…..

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

We all have been waiting for Padres’ GM Jed Hoyer to make his first transaction and he did so, in trading 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff and minor leaguer 2B Eric Sogard for OF’s Scott Hairston and Aaron Cunningham. I like the move in so many ways:

  • This allows Chase Headley to start the season at 3B, his natural position. I feel Headley is a better hitter behind Adrian Gonzalez than Kouzmanoff. If my memory serves me right, Kouzmanoff struggling enormously hitting behind Gonzalez last year and stranded so many runners in scoring position.
  • OF’s Kyle Blanks and Scott Hairston bring more POP to the line-up and I predict they will out perform Kouzmanoff this year, averaging wise, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and stealing-wise. This is not a knock against Kouzmanoff, but Blanks and Hairston are better fits for Petco Park.
  • Adding Aaron Cunningham, I feel will provide Padres’ Mgr Buddy Black more flexibility in terms of playing all outfield positions.

The other transaction involved the free-agency signing of P Jon Garland and PH/OF Matt Stairs. Let’s take a closer look at these two acquisitions:

  • In Matt Stairs, the Padres’ are getting a legit threatening PH off the bench with power. In addition, Stairs will be stability and leadership to the clubhouse as he won a Championship with the Phillies.
  • In Jon Garland, another player who won a Championship with the Chicago White Sox and been in the playoffs with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. I see Garland having a huge impact on the pitching staff and don’t be surprise to see him win around 13-16 games with the Padres. Garland might end up leading the Padres staff if Chris Young is dealt away mid-season.

Being a Padres season ticket holder for 13 years now, I see Ownership, Front Office, Coaches and Players all having Pride and Joy of being members of the Padres Franchise. Since we are on this subject, this leads us to the video of the day by the late Stevie Ray Vaughn song called ‘Pride and Joy’

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Is it worth watching anymore?…..

Sunday, June 14th, 2009

I am back to posting after taking leave due to the fact I had sustain an elbow injury to a nerve. In that time span, I have seen the Padres have a winning and losing streak. People had asked me what do I think about the Padres last winning streak and my response was “This streak resembles much like the Market’s Bear Rally. It’s just a mirage of what’s head of us –storm and turbulence–”. The latest set back of Jake Peavy along with Scott Hairston, has set the tone for the rest of this season. This team is out of it and all fingers are now pointing towards Padres’ GM Kevin Towers. Everything has occurred under his tenure with the Padres and time has come to hold someone accountable for this. This is surely not General Motors, Wait a Minute ! Maybe it is and Padres fans are paying out their pension plans. Hahahaha…Hey Padres fans, most of you hated Sandy Alderson and who’s next for this latest debacle? Let me hear your thoughts, don’t be shy. Who should be accountable for this ? Sound off. Remaining status quo is unacceptable in any failing organization/company, unless it’s the government and we won’t go there.

As a long time season-ticket holder, I am entertaining thoughts of raffling off my remaining season tickets for 10.00 per game. I will most likely entertain 20 bids per each raffle. Not bad, considering they are toyota terrace seats and in this economy, hell it’s a deal ! Stay tuned for more details later. Otherwise, let’s hope this organization’s Front office wises up, otherwise this Bear Padre Rally can only last so long.

Ahh, it’s Dangerous now, both economically and baseball wise for San Diegan’s. Here’s the Ying Yang Twins song called ‘Dangerous’

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The Comeback Kids at it again, this time in Philly…..

Friday, April 17th, 2009

Hey Padres Fans ! How about them Padres !! Come on give it up ! How about them Padres !! What a game tonight in Philadelphia as the Padres came from behind and pulled out a win by the score of 8 – 7 over the defending World Champions Phillies. Padres P Chris Young had an awful game but the bullpen and offense came through to get CY off the hook. I was very impressed with Padres’ RP Luis Perdomo with the two shutout innings that set the tone for the rest of the game. Hats off to Padres’ GM Kevin Towers and the scouting department as they have put together some flame-throwers in the pen. The offensive attack was keyed by several players tonight, CF Scott Hairston 3 – 5 with a homer and 4 ribbies, LF Chase Headley 3 – 5, 2B David Eckstein 2 – 4, and RF Brian Giles 2 – 5. Way to go Padres ! Show ESPN (aka Eastern Sports Programming Network) that there is a team on the west coast that can play some baseball.

Player of the Game
CF Scott Hairston, by going 3 for 5 with a homer and 4 rbi’s. Hairston’s double in the top of the 8th inning was the key as Scott knocked in the tying and eventual winning run.

The Deer in the Headlights
3B Kevin Kouzmanoff continues to struggle tremendously with runners in scoring position. In the top of the 9th inning, the sacks loaded with no outs on the board Kouzmanoff weakly popped out down the 1st baseline to Phillies’ 1B Ryan Howard. From the couch, it appears Kouzmanoff is not relaxing when there are runners in scoring position. Take a step out of the box and exhale Kevin, we are gonna need you eventually.

A most befitting music video tonight is a message to the New Yorker’s and Philadelphian’s, ‘Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag’ and ‘I Feel Good’ by James Brown. As those songs represents the Comeback Kids feelings so far on this eastern roadtrip.

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Blanco es muy caliente !……

Saturday, April 11th, 2009

On the eve of Easter Sunday, the Padres defeated Giants 6 – 3 and Jake Peavy went 8 1/3 innings to register his 1st win of the year. Padres’ C Henry Blanco got the Padres out in front with a solo blast in the 3rd inning and reconnected again with another solo blast in the 5th inning. In the bottom of the 6th inning, Padres’ 1B Adrian Gonzalez ripped a 3-run double to right center that blew the game wide open. Later on in the game, Padres’ LF Chase Headley blasted a deep solo shot to center. Padres Win ! and Big MO continues to hang around Petco Park for another night.

You got to be kidding me !
This weekly award goes to Padres’ CF Scott Hairston, for his base running blunder against the Dodgers on Tuesday 7 April. The Padres had Hairston on 2nd base with David Eckstein at bat. Eckstein hit a weak grounder between Dodgers’ 1B James Loney and 2B Orlando Hudson, which Hudson ranged to his left to field the ball and glove tossed it to Loney at first base to record an out. Though, on the same play Hairston had rounded 3B and was far down the line when Hairston just frozed. It appear to be that Scott Hairston was in quick drying cement and Loney fired the ball to Dodgers’ C Russell Martin, who had eventually run down Hairston for the 3rd out. After further review, it had appeared that Hairston perhaps had forgotten how many outs there were. Why would he had froze dead in his tracks ? Maybe to induce a run-down to allow the runner to advance to 3rd base. Anyhow, Hairston’s blunder clinches the award for the week of 6 April 09.

Speaking of Blunders and Bloopers, here is a great video !

Player of the Game
This is a no brainer ! It goes to Padres’ C Henry Blanco as he collected three hits including two solo blasts that put the Padres ahead each time.

For tonight’s music video theme, as the Padres won on Saturday Night in downtown. At the various clubs in the Gaslamp Quarters many patrons will be dancing away while they celebrate. Here is a hot song by Chris Standring titled ‘Miss Downtown Sugargirl’.

Have a wonderful Easter Sunday Padres Fans ! Keep up the faith !

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What was that wet stuff falling from the Southern California skies during the Padres game ? Rain !…..

Friday, April 10th, 2009

Rain, lightening and thunder rolled across San Diego County on Friday night while the Padres and Giants went at each other in Petco. In fact, there was a 51 minute rain delay at the game ! Yes a rain delay ! I guess mother nature is preparing the Padres for the upcoming eastern road trip through New York and Philadelphia.

Back to the game, the Padres scored three times in the bottom of the 1st inning. Evidently, the Big MO had carried over from the previous day comeback win against the Dodgers. Padres’ P Shawn Hill threw rather well and kept the Giants off balance for the first 5 innings. The Padres did turn in a great double-play with the bases loaded in the top of the 6th, when Adrian Gonzalez went home and Nick Hundley threw back to first for a 3-2-3 double-play. Big MO had returned again, in the top of the 8th when Padres’ CF Scott Hairston leaped into the air and caught a drive by Giants’ C Bengie Molina to robbed a homer. In the bottom of the 8th inning, Scott Hairston hit a blast to deep center for a 3-run homer as the lead grew to 7 – 2. The Giants did put up a run in the top of the 9th inning and the final score was 7 – 3, Padres Win !

Player of the Game
Padres’ CF Scott Hairston, as he robbed Giant’s C Bengie Molina of a two run homer and in the bottom of the 8th, Scotty banged out a three run homer to seal the victory.

A perfect video to mark this post, is a song by Trent Summar titled ‘It Never Rains in Southern California’, Good Night Padres Fans !

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Adrian, Edgar, and Scott….Welcome back home !

Saturday, March 14th, 2009

Padres players Adrian Gonzalez, Edgar Gonzalez and Scott Hairston have returned home as representatives for Team Mexico in this 2nd round. Mexico takes on Korea Sunday Night at Petco Park and this will be a well fought game. The Cubans will battle the defending champions Japanese team in the early contest on Sunday. This game is the rematch of the 2006 WBC Classic, talk about a thriller in the making. I want to hear you readers, what two teams will survive this bracket and head up the 5 fwy to Los Angeles for the finals ? Don’t be shy, post a comment or two.

My expectations are Cuba and Japan will move on forward. I feel the shaky pitching staff performances of Mexico is the major impedament holding Mexico from going to the finals. Though, I could be wrong and watch Adrian Gonzalez carry the team on his back as he has done for the Padres.

Back in Peoria, the Padres signed Chris Snelling the outfielder from Australia’s team in the World Baseball Classic. This acquisition adds more depth to the outfield position where I feel that isn’t necessary. Considering if you take into account, Snelling is another lefty in the box. The Front Office should focus more on pitching as the latest shell shocking on Friday when Chicago White Sox bomb Padres 15-4. In that contest, Cliff Floyd went deep and provided some good highlights for those who were in attendance.

Since we are on the subject of being hammered by the Chicago White Sox, I think some of us fans should take some shelter or better yet, probably some Padres pitchers too. Here’s a classic by the Stones…..

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