Padres MiLB April 10-12 Players of the Day

Ground-rules: you won’t see a too-old-for-his-league non-prospect get an award. The award may not go to the best performance of the previous night, but what I deem the most significant performance of the night…

Friday, April 10, 2009

Minor League Hitter of the Day

Luis Durango (AA): 3-5, R, RBI, 3 SB
Will Venable (AAA): 3-5, 2B, 3B, R, SO
Kyle Blanks (AAA): 3-5, 2B, R, RBI, SO

Minor League Pitcher of the Day

n/a

Other Commentary

Luis Durango can flat out hit. In 4 stops he has had the following batting averages: .378, .367, .305, and .431 (in 143, 300, 334, and 72 AB respectively). He doesn’t hit for ANY power (only 3 HR and 23 2B in 849 AB) but he has serious wheels. He needs to become more proficient at base-stealing and taking proper routes in the outfield, but his contact-ability and plate discipline make him an interesting prospect.

I saw a snide remark about Venable and Blanks going hitless in their 2009 debuts. How do you like them apples?

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Minor League Hitter(s) of the Day

Drew Cumberland (Low-A): 3-4, 2B, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
Luis Durango (AA): 2-3, 3 R, 2 BB,
Kyle Blanks (AAA): 1-3, HR, R, RBI, BB, SO

Minor League Pitcher of the Day

n/a

Other Commentary

Nice to see Blanks put up an early HR.

Cumberland has had 2+ hits in each of his first 3 games.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Minor League Hitter of the Day

Eric Sogard (AA): 2-4, 2 2B, 2 R, BB
Mitch Canham (AA): 3-5, 2 2B, R, 3 RBI
Chad Huffman (AAA): 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, SO

Minor League Pitcher of the Day

n/a

Other Commentary

People wrote off Huffman when he hit .284/.383/.419 last year in San Antonio. However, the San Antonio ballpark is reportedly less hitter-friendly than Petco… To whit, Huffman hit .316/.403/.510 on the road versus .256/.365/.343 at home. I expect Huffman to have quite a season in 2009.

I’m a big fan of both Mitch Canham and particularly Eric Sogard. It’s nice to see him show up on this list early.

I have to admit, I am a little disappointed I don’t have a “Pitcher of the Day” over three consecutive days. But I would rather put deserving performances on a pedestal rather than reward merely “good” ones… As a reminder or for those who are just now finding my blog, I only give a pitcher the award if his hits are fewer than his IP, he has to have a solid strikeout count and without an abundance of walks…

***

With all the negativity surrounding the Padres heading into this season, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Toronto, Seattle, Atlanta, Florida, and St. Louis all have equal or better records than the big league Padres. What should be a surprise is that those 6 are the only clubs who are have records equal to or better than the Padres’ 5-2. Oh, and by the way, the Low-A Fort Wayne TinCaps are 3-0, the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm are 0-4, the AA San Antonio Missions are 3-1, and AAA Portland Beavers are 3-1.