Padres MiLB May 21, Players of the Day

Hitter(s) of the Day

Drew Cumberland (Low-A): 2-5, 3B, R, RBI, SO
Jaff Decker (Low-A): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SO
Logan Forsythe (High-A): 0-1, 2 BB, HBP
Craig Cooper (AA): 3-4, 2 2B, SO
Matt Antonelli (AAA): 2-5, SO, SB
Will Venable (AAA): 2-4, 2B, R, SO
Chad Huffman (AAA): 1-3, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB

Pitcher(s) of the Day

Stiven Osuna (Low-A): 6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR
Brad Brach (Low-A): 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO, 0 HR
Wynn Pelzer (High-A): 7.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 10 SO, 0 HR
Ernesto Frieri (AA): 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR

Commentary

What a day…

As I’m sure you’ve heard, the Padres agreed to a trade that would send Jake Peavy to the Chicago White Sox for (reportedly) Aaron Poreda, Clayton Richard, and two other pitchers. Jake Peavy exercised his right to veto the trade and will remain with the Padres.

Several of you have asked for my take on things, here’s the version that fits here: I would love to add Aaron Poreda to the system (LHP who throws 95+) and obviously it would be interesting to know who the other two pitchers would have been, but it’s rarely beneficial to trade away a true ace. I’m not trying to ride the fence – I can see the upside of both results.

Speaking of trades, Jody Gerut was traded to Milwaukee for Tony Gwynn Jr. The Padres will save at least $1m on the deal.

Mike Adams, yes that Mike Adams, pitched a scoreless inning (he actually started the game) with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts in San Antonio Thursday night.

Cubs prospect, and once-rumored future-Padre, Josh Vitters is getting tons of love for his hot start (.357/.385/.593) as a 19 year-old in the Midwest League (and deservedly so). But how about Jaff Decker? Decker has much better plate discipline and they have very similar HR rates (Vitters has 8 HR and is hitting 1 every 17.5 AB – Decker has 5 but is hitting 1 every 15 AB). Now Vitters does play a tougher defensive position (3B vs. corner OF) but Decker is easily every bit the hitter that Vitters is. So far this season, Decker is hitting .320/.490/.613.

I’m not certain Craig Cooper is a real “prospect” but he’s quite versatile and athletic and has always put up solid statistics:

College (Notre Dame):

Fresh: .303/.397/.385
Soph: .360/.441/.617
Junior: .325/.446/.502
Senior: .425/.522/.654

Professional:

Eugene (SS): .320/.418/.485 (60 games in 2006)
Ft. Wayne (Low-A): .333/.423/.476 (6 games in ’06)
Lake Elsinore (High-A): .317/.423/.476 (124 games in ’07)
San Antonio (AA): .282/.354/.407 (121 games in ’08)

So far this season Cooper is hitting .371/.438/.517 (38 games)

As to his athleticism and versatility, Cooper played some CF in college and reportedly plays an above-average 1B (though when I saw him Lake Elsinore he looked rough) and can play either corner OF.

Kyle Blanks will be okay, but he has gotten cold. In his last 10 games (going into Thursday’s action) Blanks is hitting .111 with 16 strikeouts in 36 AB. He went 1-3 Thursday night with a walk.