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Sunday, March 23, 2008

MLB.com: Padres option top prospect Headley

It’s Jody Gerut time.

In deciding to option their top Minor League prospect, Chase Headley, to Triple-A Portland, the Padres haven’t given up hope that the former third baseman can make the conversion to left field.

They just want to give the 23-year-old a little more seasoning in the outfield, and that’s why the Padres on Sunday sent Headley to Portland, even though his hot bat this spring made it increasingly tempting to put him on the 25-man Opening Day roster.

Headley hit .349 in 43 at-bats with three doubles and a triple, and he led the team in home runs (four) and RBIs (14) in 23 games. Headley had a single in his only at-bat in Sunday’s 7-3 loss to the Cubs at the Peoria Sports Complex.
...
With Headley going to Portland and Jim Edmonds likely headed to the disabled list with a strained right calf, it appears that non-roster invitee Jody Gerut will start Opening Day in left field against Houston on March 31, with Scott Hairston starting in center field.

Jim Furtado Posted: March 23, 2008 at 10:01 PM | 15 comment(s)
Related News: General, San Diego

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1. With 17th Pick, From LA, 1k5v3L KcoLLoP Posted: March 23, 2008 at 10:09 PM (#2718134)

I approve.

2. David Nieporent (now, with child) Posted: March 23, 2008 at 10:12 PM (#2718137)

I guess they can't sign Bonds, because they don't have room for him with Headley on the roster.

3. With 17th Pick, From LA, 1k5v3L KcoLLoP Posted: March 23, 2008 at 10:17 PM (#2718141)

I'm glad Nieporent is not the Padres' GM.

4. Sidd [bleeping] Finch (SuperBaes) Posted: March 23, 2008 at 10:25 PM (#2718150)

Gerut-Hairston-Giles in the outfield; will any other team have such a horrible offensive threesome on starting day 2008?

5. Harold Reynolds: An Erotic Life (AG#1F) Posted: March 23, 2008 at 10:40 PM (#2718154)

Gerut-Hairston-Giles in the outfield; will any other team have such a horrible offensive threesome on starting day 2008?

Your contenders are:
Emil Brown-Chris Denofria-Travis Buck

Chris Duncan-Rick Ankiel-Ryan Ludwick

Dave Roberts-Aaron Rowand-Randy Winn

I think San Diego wins, but they barely beat Oakland.

6. Dan Posted: March 23, 2008 at 10:59 PM (#2718159)

Emil Brown-Chris Denofria-Travis Buck

Pretty sure the A's will be starting Cust in left.

7. Walt Davis Posted: March 23, 2008 at 11:13 PM (#2718164)

I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that Gerut-Hairston-Giles is pretty stinky defensively too.

Duncan-Ankiel-Ludwick? Really? That's just an odd combination of players.

Did something happen to all the OF in this country? Out of that gaggle in #5 (12 OF in total), the only 3 who seem like legit starters to me are Giles (and maybe not him), Buck and Rowand.

Why in the world don't the Padres grab Lofton?

8. BeanoCook Posted: March 23, 2008 at 11:50 PM (#2718177)

Ankiel is going to be/already is a plus offensive and plus defensive center fielder.

9. Sydney_dave Posted: March 24, 2008 at 01:15 AM (#2718209)

Ankiel had a 120 OPS+ last year.

Duncan's career OPS+ is 125; Ludwick is 98 (in 2007 he had a 110 OPS+).

I think by season's end the Cards will have far from the worst OF in baseball, especially with Rasmus on deck.

Dave

10. Arva Posted: March 24, 2008 at 08:50 AM (#2718269)

I don't understand the hate for Chris Duncan. He's not a star, but he's abit above average offensively in LF (though below average out there) and incredibly cheap. Yet, no one seems to think he's a legit LF. Ludwick is a minor league guy who, if he were playing for the A's (the org that drafted him), people would call him a free talent find. He's probably about average or a little below in RF, far from disasterous (I'll take him over Gerut, Brown, Roberts, Winn, at at his price, Giles). Ankiel is a question mark, as I expect him to hit something like .220 .280 .400 with 30-40 HRs. He's a two tool player, with legit power and a cannon arm. But at his strike out rate, he looks like a bench player at best. If he cuts that K rate down, he might put up a .280 .300 .550 with 50 HRs, but I don't think its a likely scenario based on his minor league numbers. That's not mentioning Rasmus, who the team sent down to delay arbitration.

Cards aren't winning anything this year, unlike the Padre's, who are supposed to be contenders. The Cards have a lot of real problems (Pujol's Injury, SS, 2nd, every starter after Wainwright and Lohse, bullpen, bench, lack of minor league depth), but the outfield's not realy one of them, as its probably around average (O+D) as a unit, better than that with Rasmus.

11. Gromit Posted: March 24, 2008 at 09:03 AM (#2718278)

Gerut? Gerut? Let Headley get his "seasoning" while with the Pads. At least he can hit.

12. bunyon Posted: March 24, 2008 at 09:15 AM (#2718280)

Gerut-Hairston-Giles in the outfield; will any other team have such a horrible offensive threesome on starting day 2008?

The Dbacks have Webb-Owings-Johnson. That's about even.

13. Sidd [bleeping] Finch (SuperBaes) Posted: March 24, 2008 at 08:15 PM (#2718980)

Gerut-Hairston-Giles in the outfield; will any other team have such a horrible offensive threesome on starting day 2008?

The Dbacks have Webb-Owings-Johnson. That's about even.

I'd take Owings as an outfielder over any of those other five.

14. Dan Posted: March 24, 2008 at 08:37 PM (#2718995)

I played Micah Owings in RF for a game I played as the Dbacks in MLB 08 The Show.

15. Gambling Rent Czar Posted: March 24, 2008 at 08:47 PM (#2719003)

all to save a dime.

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MLB.com: Padres option top prospect Headley

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