Padres Report - July 31

Padres' Minor League Report - July 31, 2006

Hitters:

AAA – George Kottaras --- 1-3; 2B (5), RBI, BB, SO
Lo-A – Will Venable --- 2-4; HR (5), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
Lo-A – David Freese --- 1-3; 2 RBI, BB
SS – Michael Epping --- 4-6; R, RBI, SO
SS – Craig Cooper --- 2-5; HR, R, RBI, BB, 2 SO
SS – Chad Huffman --- 2-3, R, 3 BB, SO
R – Rayner Contreras --- 2-5; HR (2), 2 R, 5 RBI, SO
R – Jeremy Hunt --- 3-4; HR (4), R, 2 RBI, BB
R – Kyler Burke --- 2-5; 2B (1), R, 3 RBI, 2 SO

Pitchers:

AA – Sean Thompson --- 4.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO, 1 HR – yuck
SS – Andrew Miller --- 2.0 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR

Commentary:

I mentioned above that I was pleased to see Kottaras was not traded for a Boone/Randa type 3B. While that sentiment still holds, as I looking through box scores for tonight’s Report, I was reminded that we weren’t able to complete a deal for a top-notch 3B; Ensberg went 2-4 with an HR and BB tonight – I think that shoulder is healthy.

Will Venable doesn’t have (and probably won’t develop) “plus” power but he is showing that he’s all but done with Lo-A baseball. It’s time to challenge him with a promotion to Lake Elsinore.

Sean Thompson just doesn’t excite me. He may get to the bigs, but I think he’s more likely to be a lefty-specialist than even a 4th-5th starter…

It is nice to see Kyler Burke make a return visit to the Report. I got faith in you Kyler, don’t press, keep playing.