Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Quick Response

Rather than try to keep up with each comment, I just wanted to provide a quick post regarding Petco's home/away splits.

One thing to think about, and it was briefly touched upon in one of the comments, is that BOTH our home splits and our away splits tend to the extreme. I already touched on our home splits in yesterday's post. Consider this about our away splits:

1) We play zero away games in Petco - already established as a pitcher friendly ballpark.
2) We play 18 or 19 of our away games in Coors and Chase - two of the most hitter friendly parks in the game.

I'm not going to get into the fine details for a few reasons, including the possible boredom that could ensue. However, I thought it was worth mentioning.

22 comments:

Vince said...

Paul, I just wanted to thank you for starting such a great and honest blog. Keep up the good work, and I hope other people in baseball follow in your footsteps!

Unknown said...

Paul - how could management go into the season with the notion that the Padres OF could compete with the other rivals. Colorado and LA have 4 very good OF's while AZ has 3 solid ones. How is management going to address this area in the short and long-term?

Chris Playo said...

I'm not a Padres fan, but so far this is a really great blog. Keep up the good work.

arodandjeter said...

I would just like to thank you for allowing outsiders to see what happens inside a Major League front office. I was wondering if you have any advice for an aspiring GM from England?

D4P said...

"Colorado and LA have 4 very good OF's"

LA has 2 good outfielders (in Kemp and Ethier), and 2 overpriced and overrated outfielders in Jones and Pierre.

Anonymous said...

Another topic I'd like to hear your opinion on (in addition to my previous question regarding Estes) is why the Padres insist on sticking to slot in the draft. It seems to me that this is a rather large competitive disadvantage, one that a small market team can't afford to cause itself. Am I wrong in believing this?

notsellingjeans said...

An argument for sticking to slot would be the negative ripple effect of paying above slot in future drafts.

One a prospect and agent have a track record of the drafting team going above slot for the same pick the previous year, they have some additional negotiating leverage.

Point being, if the Padres paid $1 million above slot for their first-round pick this year, they might be setting themselves up to lose negotiations with agents in future years.
It's far easier to simply say "we don't go above slot" and stick to it.

As an A's fan who has been at times frustrated by that approach, I agree that you lose some talent that way. But I can see why poor and middle-class teams do it.

It's probably a case-by-case basis. Would the Padres have paid "over-slot" for Porcello, if he were only 2.5-3M? Possibly - we don't know, and it's the kind of thing Paul probably can't tell us. But they weren't willing to pay the rumored bonus of $7M or more, so they - like every team that drafted before the Tigers - passed. It's not like the Padres didn't like Porcello - they just didn't like him at that price. I'm sure that with Paul in their front office they some type of complex algorithm that helps them calculate how much they are willing to pay an elite pick that falls (and every pick, for that matter).

Unknown said...

DP4 - is Giles not an overpriced, overrated OF? Whose OF would you rather have, Pads or Dodgers?

Unknown said...

Paul - is their a website that tracks number of guys LOB? How would Khalil stack up against all players?

Tom said...

Draft bonuses aren't determined by an arbitrator looking at precedents. An agent would probably use past over-slot bonuses as a negotiation tool, but there's nothing that makes the team give in.

It's usually obvious beforehand which players will sign for slot. Not many college juniors pass up slot offers.

Chris Bauer said...

Bosnia, please don't ruin this for the rest of us.

Anonymous said...

notsellingjeans, I'm familiar with some arguments for it. I'm interested to hear the Padres' reasons.

Bosnia, Giles is not overrated or overpaid. If you think that he is, you should really reconsider your method of coming to those conclusions.

Howard Lynch said...

Paul, I'm with intentionalblogonballs.com in wanting to hear your perspective on why the Padres have a policy to follow the MLB "slot" guidelines. It seems a complex issue which fans would benefit from being refreshed on the reasoning behind.

Unknown said...

How is Giles not overpaid? He made $10 million in 2007 and drove in 51 runs? McNaulty could have put up the same numbers and made $200k.

Whenever they need a big hit, Giles looks at 4 pitches and lumbers down to 1b. What a joke. Jason Bay would look great in LF.

Anonymous said...

Bosnia, are you seriously quoting RBI to prove a leadoff hitter was unproductive? That doesn't make sense. I guarantee you McAnulty could not put up the same numbers Giles did. As for your complaint about Giles drawing walks instead of flailing at pitches out of the zone, I'm afraid I don't even know where to begin.

thepadfather said...

paul, i haven't heard anything on caesar carrillo lately how is his rehab coming along?

Unknown said...

Hahah, I'm glad you enjoy having Giles around. Enjoy last place!

Paul DePodesta said...

Cesar is currently pitching in games in extended spring training. He has had two outings so far - both just one inning. He is scheduled for 2 innings this weekend, so he's doing well and on his way back.

axion said...

Wow Bosnia, indict the man over something that happened two years before he was even here, why don't you?

Unknown said...

Paul - why hasnt Tim Stauffer panned out the way the organization expected? (Can you talk about minor leaguers?)

I appreciate the time and energy you devote to this blog.

Unknown said...

Axion - I agree it's not Paul's fault for the Giles deal. BUT, management is accountable for not bringing in a couple outfielders who are younger and can hit. Carlos Quentin was had for basically nothing from AZ.

Anonymous said...

Bosnia, do you think they would have been as willing to part with a top prospect in the division?