Kevin Towers and the Padres

[DOUGHBOYS]

General Managers in major League Baseball have a lot of similarities to what we do here in fantasy baseball. They try and put pieces of their baseball puzzle together that will put the best product on the field to win.

Kevin Towers, for the most part, has tried to build Padre teams that match Petco Park's dimensions. In what is considered the most pitcher friendly parks in the majors, Towers has always been about arms first, bats, well, we're not gonna score much in this park anyway. So, of course, Towers main addition over the off season was Randy Wolf. Wolf would back up Peavy, Young, and Maddux to make for yet another formidable staff. The only offensive additions were Tadahito Iguchi, a fill in, till Antonelli has enough seasoning at triple A and Jim Edmonds. Edmonds failed miserably, both offensively and covering Petco's large cener field. A bad signing.

Yesterday Towers railed at the Padres, threatening wholesale changes. As I read his comments I kept waiting for one line that showed him taking some responsibility. It never came.

Could he really expect his staff to keep performing above expectations even in a pitchers park? Could he really expect the durability amongst his starters to last? Does he really expect to get more HOF numbers out of Hoffman for another year? Those are just questions about his pitching.

In spring training, one of the Padres best hitters and prospects was Chase Headley. With Kouzmanoff at third, Headley was moved to left field. Headley fielded the position adequately, but not surprisingly was sent to triple A to start the season. Towers used the more seasoning in left field as the reasoning for sending him down. Fans and followers thought it was probably about money and getting an extra year of services from Headley. Fair enough.

The Padres limped through April,battling the Giants for the worst lineup in baseball honors. Deciding to bat Brian Giles first or third should have been a major clue as to how bad this lineup really is. Meanwhile left field is being manned by Scott Hairston and Paul McAnulty...who?

Adequate time has passed for the Padres to secure another year of services from Headley, yet he has not been called up. Luke Carlin was called up to be a backup catcher. Jody Gerut was called up to play center and lead off, whew, that solves the Giles problem! But no Headley.

The worst 3rd baseman in baseball last year, Ryan Braun, has not made an error in left field this year and lets face it, if you can hit, you can play left field. Dave Kingman said that.

A couple of weeks ago Towers said that Headley wouldn't be brought up while the Padres were at a low since fans would see him as a saviour and put more pressure on him. Who's fault is that? Could Headley's lack of being called up be part of Towers ego, not wanting to admit a mistake?

Soon, with the Padres poor record, Antonelli and other prospects could be joining Headley in a call up.

Perhaps before Towers rails at the Padres for their lack of wins on the field, he should look in the mirror and ask himself if he put the best product on the field possible.



[ May 21, 2008, 10:09 AM: Message edited by: DOUGHBOYS ]

[sportsbettingman]

Good stuff, Dan.



Antonelli can't even hit AAA ball. (.189 avg.)



He deserves nothing.



I agree 100% with Headley, though.



I just shake my head watching guys like Luis Gonzalez steal a job with that arm, or Jim Edmonds hang on too long, yet damn ballclubs either feel they still have marketable value or whatever, and he keeps a young player in the minors.



~Lance



Side note...your signature got me thinking how much baseball players act like high school kids.



All the stupid choreographed and practiced :rolleyes: hand slaps...all the neckware (WTF are the plastic hoops?) ...the peer pressure to keep chewing and spitting tobacco...or gum or seeds...like if you're a baseball player...you MUST have a mouth full of something to keep you awake during such a slow paced game.



...and while I'm at it...I also roll my eyes with the "new look" umpire gear (how stupid they look in hockey masks)...and how much freaking fashion design goes into the uniforms and catchers and umpire gear.



Tradition loses out to marketing. :rolleyes:



[ May 21, 2008, 10:53 AM: Message edited by: sportsbettingman ]

[Navel Lint]

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:







...and while I'm at it...I also roll my eyes with the "new look" umpire gear (how stupid they look in hockey masks)... As a former IHSA certified umpire. I don’t blame the men behind the plate wearing extended neck guards. With all the maple bats breaking, it’s only a matter of time before a shard of wood goes flying into the throat area of an ump. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them wear face shields or glasses on a regular basis soon to protect their eyes.

[Navel Lint]

Originally posted by rucrew2:

quote:Originally posted by sportsbettingman:







...and while I'm at it...I also roll my eyes with the "new look" umpire gear (how stupid they look in hockey masks)... As a former IHSA certified umpire. [/QUOTE]I quit umpiring about 12 years ago. I couldn’t listen any more to the about 80% of the kids that thought they were Ted Williams and complained over every strike call. Not for the $26 a game it was back then