Padres Report - August 26th

Padres’ Minor League Report – August 26, 2006

The end of an era… And another pitcher jumps up and grabs my attention.

Hitters:

AAA – Terrmel Sledge --- 2-5; HR (21), R, RBI, BB, SO
Hi-A – Nic Crosta --- 2-4; SO
Lo-A – Will Venable --- 0-4; 2 SO
Lo-A – David Freese --- 0-4
SS – Matt Antonelli --- 0-1; 2 R, 4 BB
SS – Chad Huffman --- 1-2; 2 RBI, BB
R – Cedric Hunter --- 0-5; 0 BB
R – Kyler Burke --- 0-5; 4 SO

Pitchers:

AA – Jack Cassel --- 9.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 SO, 1 HR
SS – Aaron Breit --- 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO, 0 HR
R – Pablo Menchaca --- 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 7 SO, 0 HR

Commentary:

I’ve not hid my opinion from anyone, I don’t think Jack Cassel is a prospect. But any complete game, 1 run, 10-strikeout performance deserves a place in my report. Way to go Jack!

Aaron Breit is doing his best to make me look good…

The end of an era… The Arizona League Padres have played 53 games (going 35-19 - .660 winning rate), Cedric Hunter had played in 49 of those games. In his first 48 games Cedric compiled the following: he hit .378/.473/.495, with 17 going for extra bases (12 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR), a 37/20 BB/SO ratio, he scored 45 runs while knocking in 43, and he stole 15 of 20 bases… And maybe most impressively, Cedric was on base in EVERY SINGLE GAME. Every game! Cedric’s professional career began with a 48-game on-base streak. I would bet that feat has never happened before… I’m excited to see what Cedric does with the last few games he has in this, his first professional season…

Pablo Menchaca a 6’4” righty, who will turn 19 on Nov. 28th, has flown beneath my radar this season. After tonight’s gem, Menchaca lowered his ERA to 3.35 with 52 hits allowed, and nine free passes versus 39 strikeouts. You’d like to see fewer hits and more strikeouts, but he also has a 1.51 groundout/flyout ratio. Experts have said the Padres scout Mexico better than most clubs. Menchaca, who hails from Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico, can be added to the growing list of prospects the Padres have mined out of Mexico.