Padres MiLB May 15-17, Players of the Day, Weekend Edition

Friday, May 15, 2009

Hitter(s) of the Day

Jaff Decker (Low-A): 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB
Allan Dykstra (Low-A): 3-5, 3B, R
Logan Forsythe (High-A): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB

Pitcher of the Day

n/a

Commentary

Decker is batting .316/.513/.649 as a 19 year old - one of the younger players in the Midwest League. Decker threw 93 mph off the mound in high school. He’s a legit right-field prospect.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Hitter(s) of the Day

Allan Dykstra (Low-A): 2-4, 2B, R, HBP
Chad Huffman (AAA): 2-2, HR, R, RBI, 2 BB

Pitcher of the Day

Wynn Pelzer (High-A): 6.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 10 SO, 0 HR

Commentary

The Fort Wayne TinCaps took a 2-2 tie into extra innings Saturday. Brad Brach pitched his second scoreless inning to keep the score tied in the top of the tenth. Then (from the MiLB.com recap):

- Jeudy Valdez grounds out, shortstop Reynaldo Navarro to first baseman Nelson Gomez.
- Jaff Decker singles on a ground ball to center fielder Alberto Diaz.
- Pitcher Change: Bayron Zepeda replaces Justin Mace.
- Sawyer Carroll singles on a line drive to left fielder Brendan Duffy. Jaff Decker to 2nd.
- Allan Dykstra hit by pitch. Jaff Decker to 3rd. Sawyer Carroll to 2nd.
- Matt Clark strikes out swinging.
- James Darnell walks. Jaff Decker scores. Sawyer Carroll to 3rd. Allan Dykstra to 2nd.

(I don’t like to give “Hitter of the Day” awards to multi-hit performances unless they include something extra: multiple walks, stolen bases, and/or extra-base hits. Decker and Darnell each could have made today’s list but I felt this recap might be better way to acknowledge their contribution - especially given the team effort on the win.)

Pelzer went off!

He’s been on this list a couple times but with the hot start Latos is having as well as some of the system’s hitters, Pelzer’s flying a bit under the radar.

Pelzer’s season stats:

5-1, 3.79 ERA, 38 IP, 31 H, 13/41 BB/SO ratio, 2 HR allowed

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Hitter of the Day

Mike Baxter (AA): 3-4, 2 2B, R, RBI

Pitcher(s) of the Day

Anthony Bass (Low-A): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO, 0 HR
Will Inman (AA): 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO, 0 HR

Commentary

Eric Sogard returned to action today going 0-3.

Mikey’s famous!

Seriously though, Baxter is really having a nice year. He’s hitting .329/.380/.483 and has 18 XBH (39% XBH rate).

Cesar Ramos again did not make my list (any time a pitcher walks more hitters than he strikes out that will automatically exclude him from my list). But he did pitch 5.1 innings and allow only 1 run (5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR). But if we look at Ramos’ season so far it’s actually quite interesting. So far Ramos has made 8 starts. On April 25th (Ramos’ 4th start) he allowed 6 earned runs. In his next start he allowed 3 earned runs. In every other start he allowed 2 or fewer earned runs. Overall he is sporting a 3.27 ERA over 44.0 innings. His peripherals are not quite as nice. He has allowed 1 more hit than innings he’s pitched for a .266 BAA and he’s walking nearly as many hitters as he’s striking out (19 to 24). What do we make of Ramos? Is he another Mark Buehrle? Or is another pitcher with too few strikeouts who won’t cut it at the big league level?

Last year, Inman just about removed himself from prospect status when he walked 71 in 135.1 innings. So far this year, Inman has walked 8 in 44.1 innings. Welcome back Will.