Padres Report - August 3rd

Padres’ Minor League Report

Hitters:

AAA – Paul McAnulty – 0-5; SO
AAA – George Kottaras – 2-3; R, BB, SO
Lo-A – Will Venable --- 2-4; 2B (31)
SS – Michael Epping --- 1-4; HR (2), R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, SO
R – Cedric Hunter --- 2-5; 3B (2), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SO
R – Rayner Contreras --- 2-5; 2B (6), R, 3 RBI, BB, 2 SO
R – Adam Bourassa --- 2-5; 2B (2), R, RBI, BB, SO

Pitchers:

AAA – Brian Sweeney --- 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 4 SO, 0 HR
R – Geoff Vandall --- 1.0 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR – yikes!

Commentary:

I am not Brian Sweeney’s biggest fan. I think he can be useful middle reliever or even a 5th starter. However there are many guys just like him: Clay Hensley, Mike Thompson, to name two… That said, you gotta love seeing him perform as well as he did tonight.

Will Venable is a doubles machine! In 2004 Mark Loretta hit .335/.391/.495 with 47 2B and 16 HR. I don’t think Venable can have Mark’s 2004 level of success for a career (that would be HOF-caliber) but every time I see that Venable has hit another 2B, I think of Mark Loretta and 2004.

I was prepared to write about the end of a very impressive streak; maybe even more impressive than Utley’s now 35-game hitting streak. Going into the bottom of the 6th inning, the Arizona League Padres trailed the Brewers 9-1 And Cedric Hunter had not been on base. Cedric then extended his streak in the bottom of that 6th inning with a walk. He later tripled; knocking in one run. Then he singled in the 9th to knock in the trying run and he also scored the winning run on a walk-off, ground-rule double by Adam Bourassa to win the game 10-9.

Cedric Hunter has begun his professional career by getting on base in EVERY game he’s played. Doing so, Cedric has been among league leaders in several offensive categories:

• 6th in Batting Average
• 1st in hits
• 2nd (tied) in doubles
• 6th in On-Base Percentage3rd in BB (with 23 compared to only 14 SO)

Cedric has accomplished all this an 18 year old. – That is why I ranked Hunter #5 on my Mid-Season Top 15 (16) Padres Prospects.