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ROSTER SHAKEUP, PHASE 2 posted 5/12/08 by Jason Martinez Unlike 2007, when the Padres improved an already strong bullpen by adding Heath Bell and Royce Ring before the season started, the Padres did not focus on improving a bullpen that they believed was still among the best in baseball. After an outstanding major league debut, they felt Joe Thatcher would be the bridge to Heath Bell leading to the 8th inning. No need to upgrade the bullpen then, right? They were wrong. Thatcher, 26, is now in AAA after getting off to an 0-4 start. I believe he still has a bright future ahead of him, though. For the first time in his professional career, he struggled. It happens. Hitters make adjustments. He needs to go to AAA, make adjustments, and come back as good as he was in 2007. That's baseball. Now, 38 games into the season, the front office is scrambling to try and fix a bullpen that was, until recently, the worst in baseball. Replacing Thatcher on the roster is journeyman right-hander Bryan Corey, who pitched a scoreless inning to close out Sunday's win over the Rockies. He looked good with a five-run lead. The true test will come when the game is on the line, which happens quite often in Padre land. Corey, 34, who throws in the low 90's with good movement, has a chance to be successful at Petco Park. In a move made after Sunday's game, the Padres designated Callix Crabbe for assignment and are recalling infielder Edgar Gonzalez. The 25 year-old Crabbe, who had been playing sparingly, lost a golden opportunity to impress the coaching staff when he made two errors in a start against Atlanta last Thursday that led to three runs. His fate was sealed. I'm guessing they made up their minds after Thursday's game but waited until Sunday to save the kid some embarrasment. If that was the intent, it was a classy move. Gonzalez, 29, has finally made it to the big leagues after playing parts of nine seasons in the minor leagues, compiling a career batting average of .297 with 64 homers in 880 games. He was batting .304 with 4 home runs for Portland prior to Sunday's double-header. He'll join his brother, Adrian, along with the rest of his Padre teammates Monday in Chicago. Nice story. He gets to play with his little brother and make his major league debut with his hometown team, in Wrigley Field. It really can't get much better than that. MINOR LEAGUE REPORT Inman could find himself in Portland before season's end posted 5/11/08 by Jason Martinez Still just 21 years of age, there probably is no reason to fast-forward Will Inman's ascent to the major leagues. But if he continues to dominate on every minor league level, there really isn't a reason not to move him quickly. Inman started his career by breezing through rookie ball, A ball, and A+ ball for Milwaukee, going 20-5 with an unbelievable 1.75 ERA with 291 strikeouts in 236.1 innings. After a promotion to AA midway through last season, the right-hander struggled for the first time in his professional career. He was traded to the Padres after going 1-5 with a 5.45 for AA Huntsville. He was better with the Padres, but not close to the pitcher he was prior to his promotion to AA. So far in 2008, he is showing the Padres why he was among the top prospects in the Brewers organization before last season. Off to a 4-1 start, Inman has not allowed an earned run in five of his eight starts, while holding the opposition to a .187 batting average. More stats that confirm his dominance: 1 HR allowed, 29 H, 44 K, in 43.2 IP. His walk total is a bit high at 18, but it hasn't made much of a difference. If he can keep it up, look for Inman to get his chance to pitch in Portland before the season's end and depending on how the season is going for the Padres, it wouldn't be out of the question for him to get the call this season. One scenario could have a struggling Padres team trading starters Greg Maddux and Randy Wolf at the trading deadline, which would open the door for a few guys, including Wade LeBlanc, Josh Geer, Cesar Ramos, and Inman. OTHER MINOR LEAGUERS WHO COULD BE PROMOTED TO A HIGHER LEVEL THIS SEASON: AAA: All - If the Padre continues to struggle, they could have as many as 10-12 Portland Beavers join the club at some point this season. AA: Inman, RHP - see above Greg Burke, 25, RHP - 1.67 ERA, 27 IP, 27 H, 4 BB, 33 K in 13 games Brett Dowdy, 26, IF - .353 BA, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 4 SB Chad Huffman, 23, OF - .333 BA, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 10 2B, .430 OBP Neil Jamison, 24, RHP - 1.61 ERA, 22.1 IP, 19 H, 8 BB, 14 K in 18 games Hi A: Eric Sogard, 21, 2B - .386 BA, 0 HR, 21 RBI, 16 2B, 29 BB, 13 K, .494 OBP To read the rest of this story, click here. |