Padres Report - August 31st / Dripping with Irony

Padres’ Minor League Report – August 31, 2006

So, despite my insistence that the Padres wouldn’t trade George Kottaras caliber prospect for a one-month rental like David Wells, the Padres did in fact trade Kottaras for Wells.

I’m in the process of ranking the Padre prospects right now, and it wasn’t close. Kottaras was going to be the Padres top prospect. However, after initial frustration, I’ve come to the opinion that if the Padres are able to get deep into the playoffs, this might end up being worth it.

Dripping with Irony

The irony in all this is that Kevin Towers’ former protégé, now GM of the Boston Red Sox, Theo Epstein, just turned the tables on his former boss.

In early May, then-Padres backup catcher Doug Mirabelli was wearing out his welcome in San Diego while the new backup catcher in Boston, Josh Bard, was letting Wakefield’s knuckle-balls roll around behind home plate before picking them up. The Padres had just acquired Mirabelli, Tim Wakefield’s personal catcher, the previous off-season from the Red Sox. …You know the story…

Well, with Bard not working out as Wakefield’s caddy, Boston came calling wanting to switch catchers. Towers, knowing that an effective Wakefield could hinder New York’s playoff chances, asked the Yankees if they wanted to get into the bidding and block Mirabelli’s return to Boston. Having an offer in hand from New York, Towers was able to acquire Cla Meredith in addition to unloading Mirabelli for Bard.

Now, nearly four months later, Epstein gets a call from Towers inquiring about the price tag for his 43yr old portly, oft-injured, but still effective lefty who is no longer needed in Beantown. Epstein promptly dials up the Dodgers GM, Ned Colletti, who graciously helps drive up Wells’ price tag. And now you know the rest of the story.

Hitters:

AAA – Ben Johnson --- 2-4; HR (7), R, RBI
AAA – Paul McAnulty --- 2-4; 2B (31)
AA – Colt Morton --- 3-4; 2 2B (10), HR (6), 2 R, 3 RBI, SO
AA – Matt Ekstrom --- 1-3; 2B (2), 3 RBI, 2 SO
Lo-A – Matt Antonelli --- 1-3; 3B (1), 2 R, BB, SO
Lo-A – David Freese --- 1-4; HR (8), R, 4 RBI, 3 SO
R – Rayner Contreras --- 2-5; SO
R – Kyler Burke --- 2-4; R, 2 SO

Pitchers:

AA – Mike Ekstrom --- 8.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR
Lo-A – Greg Burke --- 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO, 0 HR
SS – Aaron Breit --- 4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR
R – Pablo Menchaca --- 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO, 0 HR

Commentary:

A bases-loaded, 3-RBI double by starting pitcher, Matt Ekstrom in the 2nd got the scoring started for AA Mobile. Nice.

Congrats to the AZL Padres for their Arizona League Championship!