Comments on: What They Need – San Diego Padres: To Start the Rebuilding Already http://umpbump.com/press/2008/07/22/what-they-need-san-diego-padres-to-start-the-rebuilding-already/ In-your-face baseball commentary Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:44:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: R. http://umpbump.com/press/2008/07/22/what-they-need-san-diego-padres-to-start-the-rebuilding-already/comment-page-1/#comment-56280 R. Sun, 27 Jul 2008 07:08:23 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2467#comment-56280 I’d guess that the fly ball pitcher would have a better shot of improving upon that 4.50 ERA to a greater extent the following season as a Padre than the ground ball pitcher would too. I’d guess that the fly ball pitcher would have a better shot of improving upon that 4.50 ERA to a greater extent the following season as a Padre than the ground ball pitcher would too.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2008/07/22/what-they-need-san-diego-padres-to-start-the-rebuilding-already/comment-page-1/#comment-56277 Sarah Green Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:39:38 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2467#comment-56277 It just seems to me that when you play half your games in one park, it would help if your skill set was complemented by that park... ...but I could be biased by years of experience observing Fenway's left field wall. It just seems to me that when you play half your games in one park, it would help if your skill set was complemented by that park…

…but I could be biased by years of experience observing Fenway’s left field wall.

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]]> By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2008/07/22/what-they-need-san-diego-padres-to-start-the-rebuilding-already/comment-page-1/#comment-56279 Paul Moro Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:17:33 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2467#comment-56279 Put it this way - let's say the Padres have two free agent options in the off-season. Pitcher A is an extreme flyball pitcher that was a White Sox. Pitcher B is an extreme groundball pitcher that was, I dunno, a Ray. Both guys had an ERA of 4.50 the prior season and similar K and walk rates and both are looking for similar contracts. Knowing these things, I'd guess that the flyball pitcher would have a better shot of improving upon that 4.50 ERA to a greater extent the following season as a Padre than the groundball pitcher would. It's an oversimplification, to be sure. And what are the odds that there will be two guys who fit the criteria above. But it's a hypothetical that's the clearest way for me to explain my rationale. And I don't have much else to add beyond this. Feel free to disagree. Put it this way – let’s say the Padres have two free agent options in the off-season. Pitcher A is an extreme flyball pitcher that was a White Sox. Pitcher B is an extreme groundball pitcher that was, I dunno, a Ray. Both guys had an ERA of 4.50 the prior season and similar K and walk rates and both are looking for similar contracts. Knowing these things, I’d guess that the flyball pitcher would have a better shot of improving upon that 4.50 ERA to a greater extent the following season as a Padre than the groundball pitcher would.

It’s an oversimplification, to be sure. And what are the odds that there will be two guys who fit the criteria above. But it’s a hypothetical that’s the clearest way for me to explain my rationale. And I don’t have much else to add beyond this. Feel free to disagree.

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]]> By: R. http://umpbump.com/press/2008/07/22/what-they-need-san-diego-padres-to-start-the-rebuilding-already/comment-page-1/#comment-56278 R. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:22:57 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2467#comment-56278 They would thrive in Petco, but most pitchers do. Would these poor flyball pitchers be so much better than the pitchers they go against in San Diego? Because it seems unlikely that they would be much better than the pitchers they go against in most other parks. They would thrive in Petco, but most pitchers do. Would these poor flyball pitchers be so much better than the pitchers they go against in San Diego? Because it seems unlikely that they would be much better than the pitchers they go against in most other parks.

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]]> By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2008/07/22/what-they-need-san-diego-padres-to-start-the-rebuilding-already/comment-page-1/#comment-56261 Paul Moro Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:58:51 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2467#comment-56261 I think we're starting to talk about two different things here. I wasn't referring to your point regarding the one-year contracts in the earlier comment, but I should have. Anyhow, to that point, I do agree with you to an extent. But that's no way to construct an entire pitching staff. I mean, that's what the Pads did with Wolf and Prior, which hasn't worked out that well (not awful, but not well). And I liked those deals when they were done since I like payroll flexibility. But those are very short term solutions. There's certainly no guarantee that there will be guys like Wolf and Prior seeking one-year deals year in and year out. The point that was being made doesn't mean that if similar situations arise for the Pads in the future, that they shouldn't explore it. They'd be stupid not to. But there are pitchers out there who would thrive in Petco. I don't see anything wrong with the team targeting these arms. I think we’re starting to talk about two different things here. I wasn’t referring to your point regarding the one-year contracts in the earlier comment, but I should have.

Anyhow, to that point, I do agree with you to an extent. But that’s no way to construct an entire pitching staff. I mean, that’s what the Pads did with Wolf and Prior, which hasn’t worked out that well (not awful, but not well). And I liked those deals when they were done since I like payroll flexibility. But those are very short term solutions. There’s certainly no guarantee that there will be guys like Wolf and Prior seeking one-year deals year in and year out. The point that was being made doesn’t mean that if similar situations arise for the Pads in the future, that they shouldn’t explore it. They’d be stupid not to. But there are pitchers out there who would thrive in Petco. I don’t see anything wrong with the team targeting these arms.

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]]> By: R. http://umpbump.com/press/2008/07/22/what-they-need-san-diego-padres-to-start-the-rebuilding-already/comment-page-1/#comment-56276 R. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:51:37 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2467#comment-56276 Why would high strike out/ground ball pitchers that don't walk anyone need to take one-year contracts to build up their value? Why would high strike out/ground ball pitchers that don’t walk anyone need to take one-year contracts to build up their value?

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]]> By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2008/07/22/what-they-need-san-diego-padres-to-start-the-rebuilding-already/comment-page-1/#comment-56275 Paul Moro Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:47:16 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2467#comment-56275 So basically what you're advocating is that the Padres go out and get a high-strikeout groundball pitcher who doesn't walk anyone. That sounds easy enough. (Crap, why can't I control the snark?) So basically what you’re advocating is that the Padres go out and get a high-strikeout groundball pitcher who doesn’t walk anyone. That sounds easy enough.

(Crap, why can’t I control the snark?)

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]]> By: R. http://umpbump.com/press/2008/07/22/what-they-need-san-diego-padres-to-start-the-rebuilding-already/comment-page-1/#comment-56274 R. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:31:03 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2467#comment-56274 They could, but he really wouldn't be anything special. He'd be a back of the rotation guy, who they'd take what they can get from, but he wouldn't be anyone that the team tries to rely on. If anything, Petco allows them to take better risks because pitchers are more likely to take a sweetheart one-year deal to come into Petco and build up their value. They could, but he really wouldn’t be anything special. He’d be a back of the rotation guy, who they’d take what they can get from, but he wouldn’t be anyone that the team tries to rely on.

If anything, Petco allows them to take better risks because pitchers are more likely to take a sweetheart one-year deal to come into Petco and build up their value.

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]]> By: Nick Kapur http://umpbump.com/press/2008/07/22/what-they-need-san-diego-padres-to-start-the-rebuilding-already/comment-page-1/#comment-56273 Nick Kapur Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:18:17 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2467#comment-56273 R., everything you say is true. But in actual practice, baseball is never a game of absolutes. Other than the Yankees and sometimes the Red Sox, few teams can afford to just go out and sign the absolute best player available. It's all about maximizing the value you get for your dollar. So while it is true that the Padres play 9 or 10 games in Coors Field, if they can get a bargain basement pitcher who had an ERA of 5.00 last year but who might have an ERA of 4.35 playing half his games in Petco, that is an advantage they should try to exploit. No? R., everything you say is true. But in actual practice, baseball is never a game of absolutes. Other than the Yankees and sometimes the Red Sox, few teams can afford to just go out and sign the absolute best player available. It’s all about maximizing the value you get for your dollar. So while it is true that the Padres play 9 or 10 games in Coors Field, if they can get a bargain basement pitcher who had an ERA of 5.00 last year but who might have an ERA of 4.35 playing half his games in Petco, that is an advantage they should try to exploit. No?

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]]> By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2008/07/22/what-they-need-san-diego-padres-to-start-the-rebuilding-already/comment-page-1/#comment-56272 Paul Moro Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:16:08 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2467#comment-56272 Well, that's all well and good. No argument there. But it's not exactly easy to do anymore. Those have become very valuable skills that get money on the open market. Let's face it, the Padres can't compete financially so they need to keep tapping into undervalued skills. And, obviously, draft well. Well, that’s all well and good. No argument there. But it’s not exactly easy to do anymore. Those have become very valuable skills that get money on the open market. Let’s face it, the Padres can’t compete financially so they need to keep tapping into undervalued skills. And, obviously, draft well.

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