Padres Report - August 27th

Padres’ Minor League Report – August 27, 2006

I am NOT Steve Phillips biggest fan, but Sunday, on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight, he predicted that the Dodgers would win the NL Wild Card (and that the Padres would win the NL West). I am beginning to think the Wild Card WILL NOT come from the West (not with the Reds and Cardinals both ahead of the Padres – and the Padres still two back of the Dodgers – plus the Phillies getting into the Wild Card hunt)… I do think the Padres can come back in the West however.

Alex Gyr has a nice feature piece on Chase Headley over at MiLB.com.

Hitters:

AAA – Terrmel Sledge --- 2-6; HR (22), 2 R, RBI, SO
AAA – Jon Knott --- 5-6; 2 HR (28), 3 R, 5 RBI – hit walk-off HR in 11th
Hi-A – Chase Headley --- 2-5; RBI, SO
Hi-A – Nic Crosta --- 2-5; HR (6), R, 2 RBI, SO
Lo-A – Will Venable --- 0-5; RBI
Lo-A – David Freese --- 0-2; 3 BB, 2 SO
SS – Chad Huffman --- 2-4; 2B (17), HR (9), 3 R, RBI, BB

Pitchers:

Lo-A - Wade Leblanc --- 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO

Commentary:

That’s now 13 HR for Nic Crosta in 382 AB in his first pro season.

The minor league season is just about finished and Chad Huffman is showing why the Padres drafted him in the second round. Chad now has 17 doubles, 1 triple and 9 home runs. That’s 27 extra-base hits (out of 68 hits in 198 AB)…

In the last month I’ve had the same conversation with two people. Once with Paul, an occasional poster and long-time friend who I respect, and once someone within the baseball community… We discussed whether Wade Leblanc has passed Cesar Ramos as the Padres’ top LHP prospect. I’ve all but made up my mind; yes.