January 2011

Thank You, #51

Today, Trevor Hoffman decided to retire, according to MLB.com. He was a class act on and off the field, and a great San Diego icon. Trevor had a Hall of Fame career, and was one of the best closers in MLB history. Whenever he entered to save a game, people knew. The “Hells Bells” song as he entered was one of the greatest moments in sports. Here is my tribute to #51.

Timeline/Accomplishments:

1. Drafted by the Reds as a shortstop in the 1989 amateur draft

2. Switched to pitcher mid-year, because of a suggestion by single A manager Jim Lett.

3. Drafted by Marlins in the 1992 expansion draft

4. Traded to the Padres in a deal which involved Gary Sheffield going to Florida.

5. Took over at the closing role in the strike shortened season of ’94, recording 20 saves and having a 2.57 ERA.

6. In the 1995 off-season, he developed his changeup, which became his bread and butter pitch. 

7. In 1998, he recorded 53 saves and took his team to the World Series. The Padres lost that series to the Yankees. He finished 2nd in the CY Young voting that year.

8. In 2005, he recorded his 400th save in a game vs the Cardinals.

9. On September 24, he became the #1 saves leader in MLB history, in a 2-1 win over the Pirates.

10. On June 6th of 2007, he recorded save #500. 

11. The Padres decided not to pick up his $4 million dollar option. He signed a 1 year deal with the Brewers.

12. He had one of the best seasons of his career, putting up 37 saves with a 1.83 ERA.

13. He returned to the Brewers on another 1 year deal in 2010. 

14. Although having a tough year, he got save #600 on September 7, 2010.

15. He retired on January 11, 2011 with a career total of 601 saves.
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Thank you, Trevor, for everything you have brought to the game of baseball.







Although his on the field accomplishments are over, he is expected to sign and have a front office job with the Padres.
A press conference is expected to happen tomorrow at PETCO Park at around 9 AM PT to officially announce his retirement.
Thank you, Trevor, for everything you brought to San Diego!

(photo’s courtesy of sportsillustrated.cnn.com, photobucket.com, flikr.com, gaslampball.com, bleacherreport.com, youtube.com)

Moving On

The Padres off-season was filled with many question marks after a surprising 2010 campaign where they won 90 games and finished 1 game back of the Giants in the NL West. The off-season started off slowly for the Padres, and quickly for everyone else. There were many free agents going to new teams very early, which Padres GM Jed Hoyer did not expect. “This offseason surprised me. I thought we’d be doing most of this stuff in January, but it went quick, and it was expensive. Our shopping got moved up because we moved Adrian.” I have not written an entry in a while, so I am going to examine the Padres moves so far this off-season, with less than a month until pitchers and catchers report.

The first move Hoyer made was dealing Edward Mujica and Ryan Webb to the Marlins for young talented outfielder Cameron Maybin. You can read about this move right Here.
Next, he made a bold, high risk, high reward move by dealing Adrian Gonzalez to the Boston Red Sox for Casey Kelly, Anthony Rizzo, Reymond Fuentes, and Eric Patterson. Yardbarker sums it up best, saying, “The odds of Ad. Gonzalez signing a long term extension in San Diego are about the odds it might snow there this winter.”
Casey Kelly is a young and talented minor league pitcher who was rated the #1 Red Sox prospect in 2010 and the 24th best prospect in major league baseball by Baseball America. He actually turned down a scholarship to play football at the University of Tennessee to play baseball. He played shortstop for the first half of his minor league career, then turned to the other position he was drafted for, pitcher. 
Anthony Rizzo is a good story. He is a cancer survivor who was drafted in the 6th round of the 2007 draft. Last year, he hit 20 HR and drove in 80 RBI’s in AA. He had a chance, if not traded, to make the jump over Lars Anderson as the next 1st baseman for the Red Sox. He was traded and figures to be the Padres starting first baseman in 2012.
Reymond Fuentes is the sleeper in the deal. He is the younger cousin of Mets OF Carlos Beltran. Reymond can play all OF positions, and can fly. He has some wheels. In Single A he hit .270 while stealing 42 bases. He may be 2-3 year away from the big leagues, but if he pans out the Padres have a gem on their hands. 
Eric Patterson was the PTNBL of the deal. He figures to be on the Padres big league club in 2011 as a utility player.
This Adrian Gonzalez deal is interesting. It’ll only be a matter of time until we see who wins this deal. Right now the clear winner is the BoSox. But in a few years, that may be a different story.
The Padres signed Dustin Moseley a few months later, more than likely to replace Edward Mujica in the Friars bullpen. He can make a spot start here and there, and also be a long-relief man if needed.
 
Then, a few days later, the Padres swung a deal for Rays SS Jason Bartlett, who did not figure to be in the Rays’ future plans. Brandon Gomes, Adam Russell, Cesar Ramos, and Cole Figueroa. Ramos and Russell had a few stints with the big league club this past year. Brandon Gomes has good stuff and was probably the key to the deal. Cole Figueroa is a young infielder with not much power but is patient at the plate. He has a decent arm and a good glove. He projects to be a 2nd baseman.
Jason Bartlett gave the Padres what they had been needing for a few years ever since Khalil Greene was traded- a solid defender, a veteran shortstop, and a solid bat. 
The left side of the infield was set with Headley and Bartlett at 3rd base and shortstop respectively. But the right side of the infield was a question mark. 
Hoyer then surprised everyone, agreeing to a 2 year, 11 million dollar contract with the O-Dog, Orlando Hudson. Hudson was coming off a decent year with Minnesota, and was looking for a multi-year deal. The Padres gave him one. The middle of the infield was set. Now, trying to find a first baseman was Jed Hoyer’s main priority.
The Padres offered Derrek Lee 8.5 MM, but he declined, signing with the O’s. Adam LaRoche had signed a deal with the Nationals. First baseman/s were going off the market quickly. Jed Hoyer decided to sign Brad Hawpe, who was coming off a down year, for around 2.5 MM. Hawpe had been a 1st baseman originally, but had to play OF because Todd Helton was blocking him at 1st base. He had always wanted to be a starter at 1st base, and he got his chance with the Padres.
Just today, the Friars have locked up Jason Bartlett thru 2012 on a 2 year deal. The middle infield will be together for a while, it everything goes according to planned.
On a non-baseball note, did anyone else see my Packers ballin yesterday! Go Pack Go!!!!
-John
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