Baseball in Fort Wayne

Posts Tagged ‘Jake Peavey’

San Diego Padres beat writer, Corey Brock recently posted some mailbag questions and answers. His first discusses one of my all time favorite Wizards, Kyle Blanks, and his future for next season and as a potential trading chip down the line given that Gonzalez has the market on first base in SD:

Blanks had a big season with Double-A San Antonio, hitting .325 with 20 home runs and 107 RBIs to go with a .404 on-base percentage that certainly has many in the organization excited about the 22-year-old. This season came on the heels of a .301-24-100 season with Class A Lake Elsinore in 2007.

I would expect Blanks to begin the season with Triple-A Portland, where he will be tested in a veteran league much like Triple-A newcomers Matt Antonelli, Chase Headley and Nick Hundley were to start the 2008 season. Blanks could also be an attractive trade chip given that Gonzalez is 26 and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere.

Brock suggests that Mat Latos could see a return to Fort Wayne to begin next season (which I think is unlikely given he’s a California Florida kid and April in Fort Wayne is spine-tingling cold).

Among other former Wizards tidbits, he points out that the Padres are pretty happy with Nick Hundley as catcher but may still try to add a veteran presence (such as Brad Ausmus), and Jake Peavy being traded is still a possible scenario if the offer is right.

• Jaun Rincon on His Way Out? – Kelsie Smith (St. Paul Pioneer Press) reports that former Wizards pitcher, Juan Rincon has a feeling he may soon be traded or released. Ricon tested positive for an illegal substance in 2005 and was suspended for 10 games. He pitched well the remainder of the season, but things have gone downhill since 2006. (Hat tip to MLBTradeRumors). According to MLB.com, a roster move in Minnesota will come soon and Rincon looks to be the likely odd man out.
• Josh Barfield Gets Called Up, Gets Hurt – Former Wizards infielder Josh Barfield left Tuesday’s game after the fourth inning with a left middle finger sprain. He is listed as day-to-day. He was 0-for-2 in the game and is hitless on the season after going 0-for-4 in his season debut on Monday’s.
• Torii Hunter Hits Number 200 – I guess if Griffey Junior’s 600th was under the radar and with little fanfare, we shouldn’t expect too much out of Hunter’s 200th. But regardless, he hit it on Monday during the Angels’ series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays.
• Jake Peavy Returns Tomorrow – The Padres’ ace will come off the disabled list and face the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday. Peavy’s last start was on May 14 against the Cubs. But he was shut down when a lingering pain in his elbow persisted afterwards and hasn’t pitched in a live MLB game since.
• Justin Baum Finds His Power Stroke – The 22-year-old third baseman went 4-for-5 with two homers, a career-high seven RBIs and three runs scored Friday (June 6th) as the Wizards rallied past the Lansing Lugnuts, 11-5, at Oldsmobile Park.  Luis Durango was the only other Fort Wayne player with more than one hit.
• Chad Huffman is Padres Player of the Month – The 23-year-old former Wizard was recently selected as a starter for the 2008 Texas League All-Star Game. He hit .357 (35-for-98) with seven doubles, four home runs, 19 RBI, 21 walks and 18 runs scored over 28 games for Double-A San Antonio during May. He put together 10 multi-hit games, including three three-hit games and one four-hit effort. In addition, he tallied a 13-game hit streak from May 4-15, batting .396 (19-for-48) over that span.
• Time to WorryAbout Antonelli - Tom Krasovic (SingonSanDiego) questions whether it’s time to worry about Antonelli who is producing an average below .200 and an equally tragic slugging percentage during his first season at Triple-A Portland; who was the Padres’ first round pick in 2006.