Monday, June 29, 2009

High Desert

Lake Elsinore opened a three game series last night in High Desert, which is known for some high-scoring contests. Well, after eight innings last night Lake Elsinore was leading 28-14.

Guess how many home runs Elsinore hit in order to score 28 runs... go ahead, guess.

Exactly one. That's right - one homer, 28 runs. So how does a team score 28 runs with just one homer? 27 hits, 13 walks, and five High Desert errors. That is absolutely nuts. If you thought it wouldn't get crazier in the 9th inning, think again. How about this:

Sawyer Carroll - Home Run
James Darnell - Home Run
Matt Clark - Home Run
Felix Carrasco - 6-3
Danny Payne - Home Run

So, we score 28 runs with one homer over eight innings and then hit four homers in a span of five hitters.

I think Jayson Stark would have a field day with this one.

12 comments:

Gabe Gershenfeld said...

Any thoughts on the agreement with Cox and MLBAM to broadcast games online? Why were the Padres the first team to make this kind of deal? Do you think other teams will follow?

Haha sorry it may be difficult to give a thorough answer to those questions given the complicated nature of mlb.tv and broadcast rights.

But the game sounded fun.

Peter said...

Did the wind play havok with the fly balls, or was it more of a case where "hitting is contageous" and the pitchers couldn't disrupt our timing?

Obviously our pitchers didn't fair well either, they just were on the less-bad side (and got the W).

Ben B. said...

Time for the Storm to get a new kicker. You can't be missing two extra points like that.

Pat Andriola said...

Paul,

Musn't it be hard to analyze your guys's numbers if you know they are being severely inflated by the league's weather and ballpark conditions? Thanks.

~Pat Andriola

Peter said...

Ben B.

the kicker was the star - 3 TD's + 4 FG's

Paul DePodesta said...

Pat Andriola,

It's constantly a battle at every level. Our system, in particular, poses challenges because of the following:

Fort Wayne - Midwest League is a tough place to hit in general

Lake Elsinore - Cal League is a great place to hit, but Storm Stadium is pretty fair and actually tough on RHH

San Antonio - very tough place to hit

Portland - PCL is a great hitter's environment, but Portland isn't like Colorado Springs, Las Vegas, or Salt Lake

San Diego - one of the toughest places in all of baseball to hit

Therefore, our players can go on a bit of a rollercoaster when it comes to the environment, and we have to be mindful of that at every step.

Paul DePodesta said...

Pat Andriola,

Incidentally, High Desert has 6 of the top 10 hitters in the Cal League in terms of average (3 of the top 4 in HR, the top two in RBI, 3 of the top 4 in slugging, etc), so evaluating their own players in that environment is very tough.

sdsuaztec4 said...

Paul,

Just checking, noticed that Lance Zawadski was lifted early last night and is hitting DH tonight? Is he hurt or are they just trying to get Jesus Lopez some ABs?

sdsuaztec4 said...

Incidentally right after I write my previous comment Lance hits a 2 run homer.

G said...

Paul,
Can you comment at all on the international player that was suspended for an age discrepancy? Thanks.

Unknown said...

I've been meaning the last few years to go up to Elsinore with the family and take in a game. I need to get off my butt and do it. Sounds like a great way to build a family memory.

Unknown said...

Paul,
To elaborate on Glen's question, any chance someone in the front office wants to come out and say the way MLB handled the whole thing is a real hose job for the Padres? It seems like the club gets all the penalty here (no money back, losing another year of development for a guy who suddenly doesn't have many anyway, getting stuck because MLB's investigative unit apparently learned how to investigate only AFTER they gave you the greenlight on the kid, etc.)