Note: This section will not cover closer Trevor Hoffman, that will be covered in tomorrow's final preview post.
If there is one thing the Padres have an abundance of, it's arms in the bullpen. Both Kevin Cameron and Justin Hampson proved to be pleasant surprises and with another strong showing by Cla Meredith, I am confident middle relief will be covered, no matter who else fills out the pen.
The setup role should be pretty well set too as Heath Bell had an outstanding year last year and seemed to fill in well once Scott Linebrink was traded. Bell should be the closer of the future, but unless he develops Hoffman-like consistency, his effectiveness may run out before he gets a chance.
If the starters can get deep into games with leads, the pen will hold onto most of them. If there is one thing I am not worried heading into this season, it's the pen.
Showing posts with label Justin Hampson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Justin Hampson. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Saturday, October 27, 2007
2007 recaps: Relief pitching
Alright, back to our (somewhat) regularly scheduled programming and on with the recap of 2007.
Along with the starting pitching, the pen was considered a strong point coming into the season and it started out as such. But as the season wore on, it was apparent Bud Black favored certain pitchers in certain situations and sometimes that came back to bite the Padres.
With the exceptions of Trevor Hoffman, Doug Brocail and Scott Linebrink (who finished the season in Milwaukee), the pen was a relatively young group that still had plenty to prove. During the first two months of the season most of those guys came off as unhittable but they couldn't keep the torrid pace up all season.
There are definitely some good parts in the pen. Heath Bell proved to be a steal of a deal, Cla Meredith is a solid situational guy that induces ground balls and new guys and Justin Hampson and Kevin Cameron showed a lot of promise. It will be interesting to see what, if any, pieces are added here in 2008. With all of the guys acquired late in the season, including the Linebrink deal, this could just be a maturation process we are waiting for instead of adding any other pieces.
Heading into the 2008 it appears SD has plenty of pieces in place to make another run at the playoffs but it will take a couple of key additions all around the board to make it a success instead of the near miss it was in '07.
What players/pieces are we in need of? That's what we have the entire offseason to discuss.
Along with the starting pitching, the pen was considered a strong point coming into the season and it started out as such. But as the season wore on, it was apparent Bud Black favored certain pitchers in certain situations and sometimes that came back to bite the Padres.
With the exceptions of Trevor Hoffman, Doug Brocail and Scott Linebrink (who finished the season in Milwaukee), the pen was a relatively young group that still had plenty to prove. During the first two months of the season most of those guys came off as unhittable but they couldn't keep the torrid pace up all season.
There are definitely some good parts in the pen. Heath Bell proved to be a steal of a deal, Cla Meredith is a solid situational guy that induces ground balls and new guys and Justin Hampson and Kevin Cameron showed a lot of promise. It will be interesting to see what, if any, pieces are added here in 2008. With all of the guys acquired late in the season, including the Linebrink deal, this could just be a maturation process we are waiting for instead of adding any other pieces.
Heading into the 2008 it appears SD has plenty of pieces in place to make another run at the playoffs but it will take a couple of key additions all around the board to make it a success instead of the near miss it was in '07.
What players/pieces are we in need of? That's what we have the entire offseason to discuss.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Second half run and the trade deadline
We all should feel good about the fact that the Padres are in first place heading into the second half of the season but I think the one thing that is making me feel even better is what SD did right before the break in terms of the lineup.
With the July 31 trade deadline approaching and a number of teams still in contention, it seems that there may not be a lot of players available for teams looking to add to their lineup. However, SD struck early and while the team is saying it is still looking to make some moves, the Padres won't be as desperate as other teams will be at the deadline, which should prevent Kevin Towers from making a trade out of desperation and giving up too much to try and help the team.
Now don't read that last line as saying Towers makes bad trades, but we all know what happens when the clock winds down an opportunity, sometimes there is a strong urge to impulse buy. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't make a move either.
Because we have such a strong pen and more starters than we have spots in the rotation, Towers should loosen his Vulcan death grip on at least one of them for a good hitter (notice I didn't say power hitter). Scott Linebrink's name has been thrown around an awful lot and usually is around this time but what about other options? Kevin Cameron, Justin Hampson or even Justin Germano could be decent chips because of what they have done so far this year but I think that if Towers is willing to part with anyone, he should consider Doug Brocail. As a veteran lefty, this is the time of the year guys like Brocail make famous and since he had a solid appearance after getting back from the DL, this would be the perfect time to get top value for him. Someone else may need to be included in a deal to get a top bat but that is completely doable.
Now some may ask what I have against Brocail since I have mentioned a few times that he should be gone but just look at his splits this year when it comes to home and road games (5.40/1.61). Any pitcher who can't succeed in Petco needs to go. Alright, enough ranting about Brocail.
Anyways, enjoy the kickoff to the second half of the season as SD opens with NL West rival Arizona. Greg Maddux will get the boys going but let's make sure someone is on pitch watch this time. Maybe we can ask the ump for Little League rules in this game, so we are forced to pull Maddux after he reaches his limit.
With the July 31 trade deadline approaching and a number of teams still in contention, it seems that there may not be a lot of players available for teams looking to add to their lineup. However, SD struck early and while the team is saying it is still looking to make some moves, the Padres won't be as desperate as other teams will be at the deadline, which should prevent Kevin Towers from making a trade out of desperation and giving up too much to try and help the team.
Now don't read that last line as saying Towers makes bad trades, but we all know what happens when the clock winds down an opportunity, sometimes there is a strong urge to impulse buy. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't make a move either.
Because we have such a strong pen and more starters than we have spots in the rotation, Towers should loosen his Vulcan death grip on at least one of them for a good hitter (notice I didn't say power hitter). Scott Linebrink's name has been thrown around an awful lot and usually is around this time but what about other options? Kevin Cameron, Justin Hampson or even Justin Germano could be decent chips because of what they have done so far this year but I think that if Towers is willing to part with anyone, he should consider Doug Brocail. As a veteran lefty, this is the time of the year guys like Brocail make famous and since he had a solid appearance after getting back from the DL, this would be the perfect time to get top value for him. Someone else may need to be included in a deal to get a top bat but that is completely doable.
Now some may ask what I have against Brocail since I have mentioned a few times that he should be gone but just look at his splits this year when it comes to home and road games (5.40/1.61). Any pitcher who can't succeed in Petco needs to go. Alright, enough ranting about Brocail.
Anyways, enjoy the kickoff to the second half of the season as SD opens with NL West rival Arizona. Greg Maddux will get the boys going but let's make sure someone is on pitch watch this time. Maybe we can ask the ump for Little League rules in this game, so we are forced to pull Maddux after he reaches his limit.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Saturday's all right for fighting too
Things we learned in Saturday's 1-0 win over the Cubs:
1. Justin Hampson's role is apparently that of the long reliever who takes over after your starter is ejected early on.
2. Hiram Bocachica may not be a great player anytime soon but his throw out of Ryan Theriot at home in the fifth inning means he was worth picking up on waivers - even if he does nothing else all year.
3. Cubs fans are still paranoid about bad luck and apparently the entire city feels the need to tell everyone not to touch the ball.
4. I would never want to get in a fight with a guy who is 6'10" - and Derreck Lee shouldn't either. If Chris Young had connected, Lee wouldn't have gotten close enough to throw another punch.
5. The score keeper at Wrigley Field is very generous. How do you have two or three scoring opportunities without a hit? Carlos Zambrano took a no hitter into the eighth with a lot of help from the score keeper. I am surprised though, I half expected Marcus Giles' infield single to be ruled an error as well.
6. Is anyone else glad we have Russell Branyan in our lineup? I don't see him play much but when he does play, it seems like he makes an impact. I'm glad he hit his home run in the ninth and it's nice to know we have that kind of insurance on the roster.
Well, those are enough lessons for now. Greg Maddux takes the hill against his former team while the surprising Rich Hill will finish the series off for the Cubs.
1. Justin Hampson's role is apparently that of the long reliever who takes over after your starter is ejected early on.
2. Hiram Bocachica may not be a great player anytime soon but his throw out of Ryan Theriot at home in the fifth inning means he was worth picking up on waivers - even if he does nothing else all year.
3. Cubs fans are still paranoid about bad luck and apparently the entire city feels the need to tell everyone not to touch the ball.
4. I would never want to get in a fight with a guy who is 6'10" - and Derreck Lee shouldn't either. If Chris Young had connected, Lee wouldn't have gotten close enough to throw another punch.
5. The score keeper at Wrigley Field is very generous. How do you have two or three scoring opportunities without a hit? Carlos Zambrano took a no hitter into the eighth with a lot of help from the score keeper. I am surprised though, I half expected Marcus Giles' infield single to be ruled an error as well.
6. Is anyone else glad we have Russell Branyan in our lineup? I don't see him play much but when he does play, it seems like he makes an impact. I'm glad he hit his home run in the ninth and it's nice to know we have that kind of insurance on the roster.
Well, those are enough lessons for now. Greg Maddux takes the hill against his former team while the surprising Rich Hill will finish the series off for the Cubs.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Shipwrecked
The problem with David Wells' performance wasn't the fact that he gave up two runs - it was the fact he lasted only five innings while putting nine runners on base and making only 67 pitches.
I know I have mentioned this before but I will again mention it again - Wells is valuable as a teacher for the younger guys on staff, but he may no longer be starting material. And with Kevin Towers dead set on keeping more pitchers than he needs on his roster, a solution needs to be found for when Clay Hensley comes off the DL. Justin Germano is not going anywhere and it makes no sense that if Hensley is being developed as a starter to send him back to the pen, so the solution seems to be sending down Justin Hampson or Kevin Cameron and finding a spot for Hensley.
Again, I propose the solution of moving Wells to the pen and making him the No.1 option for if or when Hensley or Germano gets in trouble and needs to come out early. It keeps Wells on staff in a position that he can still tutor the younglings, it keeps the younglings in the starting rotation and it gets one of our unused relievers some playing time, even if it is at a lower level.
It also seems to give the Friars the best chance to win. The Padres have lost 4 of the last 6 Wells has started and they can't afford to lose games to the lowly Bucs, especially when the Los Angeles Dodgers are in front in the NL West.
I know I have mentioned this before but I will again mention it again - Wells is valuable as a teacher for the younger guys on staff, but he may no longer be starting material. And with Kevin Towers dead set on keeping more pitchers than he needs on his roster, a solution needs to be found for when Clay Hensley comes off the DL. Justin Germano is not going anywhere and it makes no sense that if Hensley is being developed as a starter to send him back to the pen, so the solution seems to be sending down Justin Hampson or Kevin Cameron and finding a spot for Hensley.
Again, I propose the solution of moving Wells to the pen and making him the No.1 option for if or when Hensley or Germano gets in trouble and needs to come out early. It keeps Wells on staff in a position that he can still tutor the younglings, it keeps the younglings in the starting rotation and it gets one of our unused relievers some playing time, even if it is at a lower level.
It also seems to give the Friars the best chance to win. The Padres have lost 4 of the last 6 Wells has started and they can't afford to lose games to the lowly Bucs, especially when the Los Angeles Dodgers are in front in the NL West.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Money's worth
Is it me or do the Padres seem to give fans more than they pay for at least once a week? At least this time they came out on top in the 12-inning affair down in Florida.
But this can't be good. We've already seen Kevin Towers send Justin Hampson down to Portland while his tired arm recover. And we've seen him recall Hampson four days later to fill the hole Clay Hensley left with his groin injury. We've also seen the bullpen go from stellar in April to average in May because of all of the innings those guys have had to throw between early exits and extra innings.
If the Padres are going to contend this year, they desperately need their pen to come through. But if every guy in the pen is going out every night to throw two innings because the Padres can't put anyone away in nine, the season will get very long, very fast.
But if there's one thing the pen can count on Sunday, it's that most of the guys will get to rest their tired arms as ace Jake Peavy takes the mound to close out the series against the Fish.
But this can't be good. We've already seen Kevin Towers send Justin Hampson down to Portland while his tired arm recover. And we've seen him recall Hampson four days later to fill the hole Clay Hensley left with his groin injury. We've also seen the bullpen go from stellar in April to average in May because of all of the innings those guys have had to throw between early exits and extra innings.
If the Padres are going to contend this year, they desperately need their pen to come through. But if every guy in the pen is going out every night to throw two innings because the Padres can't put anyone away in nine, the season will get very long, very fast.
But if there's one thing the pen can count on Sunday, it's that most of the guys will get to rest their tired arms as ace Jake Peavy takes the mound to close out the series against the Fish.
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