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Friday, February 06, 2009

Matt Bush designated to clear room for Floyd

Who would have thought a guy named Bush would fail to live up to expectations?

If Matt Bush, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, is to make it to the Major Leagues, it won’t be with the Padres.

“The Matt Bush era is probably over,” San Diego general manager Kevin Towers said on Thursday.

The 22-year-old Bush was designated for assignment on Thursday to make room on the 40-man roster for outfielder Cliff Floyd, who agreed to a one-year contract worth $750,000.

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 06, 2009 at 03:52 AM | 72 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
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1. Sean McNally Posted: February 06, 2009 at 05:03 AM (#3069095)

Move over Steve Chilcott and Brien Taylor....

For reference... No. 2 in 2004 was Justin Verlander... No. 2 Mike Kelly in 1991 (No. 13 was Manny Ramirez) and No. 2 in 1966 was, of course Reggie.

2. Sam M. Posted: February 06, 2009 at 05:13 AM (#3069103)

“The Matt Bush era is probably over,” San Diego general manager Kevin Towers said on Thursday.

And a bright and shining time it was, too. When men were dashing and handsome, and women all wanted to be like Jackie.

Don't let it be forgot
That once there was a spot
For one brief shining moment that was known
As Camelot.

Ah, Mattie. We hardly knew ya'.

3. cabintwelve Posted: February 06, 2009 at 05:16 AM (#3069107)

The Matt Bush era is probably over,” San Diego general manager Kevin Towers said on Thursday.

San Diegan's everywhere are crushed.

4. Robert in Manhattan Beach Posted: February 06, 2009 at 05:23 AM (#3069113)

It was a ridiculous pick at the time. It's nice to see the organization rewarded appropriately.

5. 6 - 4 - 3 Posted: February 06, 2009 at 05:26 AM (#3069114)

Not that it really matters, but the Padres probably could have kept him in their system for at least another year if they hadn't added him to the 40 man roster last November. While he would have been exposed to the Rule 5 draft, it's unlikely that any team would want to keep him on their active roster all season. Now, he'll have to clear waivers, placed on the 40 man roster, and if claimed can be optioned down to the minors.

6. Cooper Nielson Posted: February 06, 2009 at 05:46 AM (#3069120)

Move over Steve Chilcott and Brien Taylor....

For reference... No. 2 in 2004 was Justin Verlander... No. 2 Mike Kelly in 1991 (No. 13 was Manny Ramirez) and No. 2 in 1966 was, of course Reggie.

In the Yankees' defense, Taylor looked every bit the No. 1 draft pick until the bar-fight injury. Matt Bush, not so much. :-)

7. SABRJoe Posted: February 06, 2009 at 05:59 AM (#3069125)

I just can't believe Bush was even on the 40-man roster. I mean, who would have taken him in the Rule 5 draft, knowing he would have to remain on the 25-man roster all year, especially having pitched only 7 2/3 innings in total and coming off TJ surgery and missing the entire 2008 season???

8. Rocco's Not-so Malfunctioning Mitochondria Posted: February 06, 2009 at 06:11 AM (#3069130)

coming off TJ surgery and missing the entire 2008 season

That's why. A team could have taken him, stashed him away on the 60-day DL most of the year, and then kept him on the 25-man for just over the first month of 2010 and optioned him to the minors.

He would have been a minor league free agent after this year if he wasn't put on the roster anyway, and it's not like he'll be in a significantly different position a year from now.

FWIW, the other half of the same coin is basically the same rationale why the Rays left Josh Hamilton unprotected.

9. Foster Posted: February 06, 2009 at 06:21 AM (#3069136)

Uhhh....

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/feb/05/padres-bush-hot-water-relea/?padres

A witness, who requested his name not be used because of the ongoing police investigation, said Bush was drunk, threw a golf club into the dirt, picked up and threw a freshman lacrosse player and hit another one. Bush also yelled "I'm Matt (expletive) Bush," and "(expletive) East County," before driving over a curb in his Mercedes when leaving the campus, according to the witness.

10. Foster Posted: February 06, 2009 at 06:22 AM (#3069138)

And really, does "I'm Matt ######' Bush" carry a lot of weight?

11. Obama Bomaye Posted: February 06, 2009 at 06:26 AM (#3069141)

"I'm George ######' Bush! Shock and awe, #######!"

12. Foster Posted: February 06, 2009 at 07:04 AM (#3069152)

"I'm George ######' Bush! Shock and awe, #######!"

The Will Ferrell as GWB show on Broadway was pants-pissing funny, if anyone's in New York or coming here soon.

13. Jeff K. Posted: February 06, 2009 at 07:18 AM (#3069156)

picked up and threw a freshman lacrosse player

BUSH ANGRY

BUSH NOT LIKE LACROSSE

14. Gromit Posted: February 06, 2009 at 12:47 PM (#3069191)

Dude! Look in the mirror. You just got dumped for modern day Cliff Floyd. Get your act together.

(btw, when did lacrosse players become so ubiquitous that you could throw one and hit another one)

15. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: February 06, 2009 at 01:33 PM (#3069210)

he's attacking minors? (these were preps he attacked, not college kids.)

16. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: February 06, 2009 at 01:41 PM (#3069213)

A witness, who requested his name not be used because of the ongoing police investigation, said Bush was drunk, threw a golf club into the dirt, picked up and threw a freshman lacrosse player and hit another one. Bush also yelled "I'm Matt (expletive) Bush," and "(expletive) East County," before driving over a curb in his Mercedes when leaving the campus, according to the witness.

I thought you must have been exaggerating for a chuckle but this is cribbed directly from the news article. Wow.

17. 6 - 4 - 3 Posted: February 06, 2009 at 02:12 PM (#3069238)

Wow, that's RDF.

How much was his signing bonus from the Padres five years ago? Between his legal bills and the Mercedes (and whatever other frivolous things he might be into), it wouldn't surprise me if he's close to broke at this point.

18. RJ in TO Posted: February 06, 2009 at 02:15 PM (#3069242)

How much was his signing bonus from the Padres five years ago?

$3.15M, according to wiki.

19. Brian White Posted: February 06, 2009 at 02:41 PM (#3069261)

especially having pitched only 7 2/3 innings in total

They converted him to a pitcher? Huh. Somehow I totally missed that. Given the way he hit, I guess its understandable.

20. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: February 06, 2009 at 02:50 PM (#3069266)

Some people liked him better as a pitcher even on draft day.

21. Jeff K. Posted: February 06, 2009 at 03:09 PM (#3069294)

I thought the whole point of the "dumb draft pick" was that they chose him as a pitcher instead of in the field (SS, right?)

22. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: February 06, 2009 at 03:17 PM (#3069300)

I thought the whole point of the "dumb draft pick" was that they chose him as a pitcher instead of in the field (SS, right?)

He didn't start pitching until 2007. I thought the point of drafting him was that the local kid would sign for less.

23. billyshears Posted: February 06, 2009 at 03:17 PM (#3069301)

The Will Ferrell as GWB show on Broadway was pants-pissing funny, if anyone's in New York or coming here soon.

Seconded.

It's amazing this was the guy who was picked because he had good character. Both of them.

24. Scott Fischthal Posted: February 06, 2009 at 03:23 PM (#3069309)

I thought the whole point of the "dumb draft pick" was that they chose him as a pitcher instead of in the field (SS, right?)

No, you're thinking of the Pirates' insane draft of John van Benschoten, a big time collegiate power hitter, as a pitcher.

25. JoeHova Posted: February 06, 2009 at 03:29 PM (#3069313)

The Will Ferrell as GWB show on Broadway was pants-pissing funny, if anyone's in New York or coming here soon.

They're going to be showing that on HBO starting March 14th. I'm not a huge Ferrell fan but I do like his George W. Bush so I'm looking forward to it. I remember some of his videos as Bush back during the 2004 election were really funny.

26. McCoy Posted: February 06, 2009 at 03:40 PM (#3069328)

I'm glad they are going to show that on HBO, I was going to go but the prices for the show are really high.

27. Van Lingle Mungo Jerry Posted: February 06, 2009 at 03:45 PM (#3069334)

Best SNL political impression? (And I mean best in the sense of both accurate and funny, i.e., Chevy Chase as Gerry Ford might have been funny, but he wasn't even trying to look or sound like the president.) I'd say Ferrell-as-W, Carvey-as-Perot and Hartman-as-Clinton are the top three. I remember Ackroyd doing a good Nixon too. ("Get on your knees, Jewboy!")

28. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: February 06, 2009 at 03:48 PM (#3069339)

I thought the point of drafting him was that the local kid would sign for less.

Yup (instead of Stephen Drew), though they always were high on him.
BA had Bush as the #8 prospect in the draft (Weaver, Niemann, Drew were the top three, Pedroia was #53) - liking his glove (which maintained good reviews as a pro), but not sold on his speed or bat.

29. Steve Sparks Flying Everywhere Posted: February 06, 2009 at 04:03 PM (#3069356)

The Padres were stupid not to have voided his contract after he got into a fight at a bar, a few days after they drafted him. I remember Towers saying the Padres were thinking about it but ultimately decided not to.

The area scout who watched Bush obviously didn't do his job when reporting on the kid's makeup. I'm sure there were red flags all around him, yet they picked him anyways.

Hopefully the Padres learned their lesson.

30. FBI Regional Bureau Chief GORDON COLE!!! Posted: February 06, 2009 at 04:08 PM (#3069361)

I thought the whole point of the "dumb draft pick" was that they chose him as a pitcher instead of in the field (SS, right?)

Is it just me, or do these high drafts of players who could go either pitcher or non-pitcher at the time they were drafted (I'm thinking Bush and VanBenSchoten and maybe Kieschnick here) never pan out? Well, there's Olerud, but I can't think of any others.

31. FBI Regional Bureau Chief GORDON COLE!!! Posted: February 06, 2009 at 04:10 PM (#3069363)

Half a glass of Coke to Scott.

32. Gambling Rent Czar Posted: February 06, 2009 at 04:37 PM (#3069392)

Hopefully the Padres learned their lesson.

Don't you count on it.

The friars have pick three in a few months. What are the chances that the pick will be a head scratcher? I'd say you can count on it. Last summer, the friars drafted an injured 1B out of college, first round(Dykstra). Nevermind the padres minor league system is backed up three to four deep at corner infielder. They have no middle infielders to speak of, and they just traded away their lone middle infielder for bullpen help, and are discussing trading their Ace pitcher for .. ... yep you guessed it, more corner infield help. (Vitters).

learned their lesson. yeah right.

33. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 06, 2009 at 04:51 PM (#3069417)

Is it just me, or do these high drafts of players who could go either pitcher or non-pitcher at the time they were drafted (I'm thinking Bush and VanBenSchoten and maybe Kieschnick here) never pan out? Well, there's Olerud, but I can't think of any others.

I seem to recall Zach Greinke possibly being drafted as a shortstop. I'm pretty sure there are a lot of success stories (wasn't Mark Kotsay being considered as a pitcher?). Darren Dreifort I believe was nearly made into an outfielder and he ended up having a few decent years .And then there are guys that actually did play a position in the minors, then switch to pitcher like Trevor Hoffman and Dave Stieb.

34. akrasian Posted: February 06, 2009 at 05:05 PM (#3069439)

Most teams preferred Loney as a pitcher instead of a hitter. Another Dodger prospect, James McDonald, could have been either a first baseman or a pitcher - BA has him as the Dodgers' #2 prospect, and he should make the team out of spring training.

35. Crispix Attacksel Rios Posted: February 06, 2009 at 05:09 PM (#3069449)

I thought James McDonald had already made the team. He pitched 5.1 scoreless innings in the playoffs, for gosh sakes.

And...wow, did not realize he had only pitched 6 innings in the regular season. (also scoreless, by the way)

36. Yeaarrgghhhh Posted: February 06, 2009 at 05:16 PM (#3069458)

Is it just me, or do these high drafts of players who could go either pitcher or non-pitcher at the time they were drafted (I'm thinking Bush and VanBenSchoten and maybe Kieschnick here) never pan out?

I think Markakis was more highly regarded as a pitcher when he was drafted. The Orioles decision to use him as a hitter was somewhat controversial IIRC. That's worked out pretty well.

37. akrasian Posted: February 06, 2009 at 05:16 PM (#3069459)

He was a September callup, but everybody would be very surprised if he didn't make the team out of spring training this season.

38. JPWF13

Posted: February 06, 2009 at 05:18 PM (#3069463)

Is it just me, or do these high drafts of players who could go either pitcher or non-pitcher at the time they were drafted (I'm thinking Bush and VanBenSchoten and maybe Kieschnick here) never pan out? Well, there's Olerud, but I can't think of any others.

Owings could still pan out- one way or the other (or does 3rd round not count as "high"?).

I believe Dave Winfield pitched in college- but that's gong back a way...

39. Crispix Attacksel Rios Posted: February 06, 2009 at 05:20 PM (#3069466)

Those guys who drafted Dave Winfield to play basketball, football, hockey and World Team Tennis screwed up, though.

40. Golfing Great Mitch Cumstein Posted: February 06, 2009 at 05:22 PM (#3069469)

As a Red Sox fan I will always remember Frankie Rodriguez as a player drafted without a fixed position. They did it again last year with Kelly. He is going to pitch until he hits his IP limit then play SS.

Looking back, is the 2004 draft a disappointment? All those college pitchers and none has broken through.

41. rlc Posted: February 06, 2009 at 05:37 PM (#3069494)

I think Markakis was more highly regarded as a pitcher when he was drafted.

Adam Jones as a position player seems to be working out OK, too.

The plurality of draftees played SS in high school because each was the best athlete on his team. This usually meant he had the best arm on the team, and so he would naturally pitch as well. Some number of these guys are good enough to be prospects at both positions; I'd guess they seem to "never pan out" only because most draftees never pan out.

42. Cris E Posted: February 06, 2009 at 05:44 PM (#3069508)

Twins top 08 pick Aaron Hicks was a two way guy when drafted and had a very good first year in CF. I think BA has him as their top minor leaguer right now. The Cards are thanking their lucky stars that Ankiel had some OF and hitting skills after he burst into flames as a pitcher. There are lots of others that jump back into pitching when the whole hitting and fielding thing doesn't work out, though not necessarily high profile draft picks.

43. FBI Regional Bureau Chief GORDON COLE!!! Posted: February 06, 2009 at 07:48 PM (#3069661)

Thanks for the responses. I was not aware Markakis was so well thought of as a pitcher, in particular.

44. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: February 06, 2009 at 07:56 PM (#3069671)

The Padres were stupid not to have voided his contract after he got into a fight at a bar, a few days after they drafted him. I remember Towers saying the Padres were thinking about it but ultimately decided not to.

That would have been a terrible idea. Why make the #1 pick a FA?

Winfield was an outstanding pitcher for the University of Minnesota.

The Cubs preferred Jason Dubois as a pitcher when they tabbed him, an injury caused them to play him in RF. (I liked him better as a hitter, personally, but I guess he didn't pan out.) Brandon Inge could have gone as a pitcher, but I don't think that was considered too seriously.

I haven't looked at it systematically in a few years, but I'd previously found that college two-way guys tended to be underdrafted - I don't believe that that has changed.

45. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 06, 2009 at 08:10 PM (#3069684)

Mark Mulder was a pretty good college hitter IIRC, although I don't think there was much debate as to what he'd be as a pro, since I don't think he had a position other than pitcher and DH.

46. MM1f Posted: February 06, 2009 at 09:06 PM (#3069746)

Some number of these guys are good enough to be prospects at both positions; I'd guess they seem to "never pan out" only because most draftees never pan out.

And because you hear about it more when a guy who could've pitched or hit fails at one. You hear the "what ifs". No writes "what if" stories about Nick Markakis, LHP because it doesn't matter.

Tim Hudson was a stud CFer at Auburn.

Matt Wieters could've been an early pick had he only pitched in college.

Most teams liked Adam LaRoche as an LHP out of JUCO, he signed with the Braves cos they'd let him hit

47. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: February 06, 2009 at 09:16 PM (#3069753)

I need a Matt Wieters GT jersey. (sob, we miss the big fella)

48. You can keep your massive haul Posted: February 06, 2009 at 09:26 PM (#3069760)

Mark McGwire pitched in college too.

49. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: February 06, 2009 at 09:29 PM (#3069764)

The Cubs preferred Jason Dubois as a pitcher when they tabbed him, an injury caused them to play him in RF.

They recently moved former first rounder Ryan Harvey from OF to the mound. He needed TJ surgery after only a dozen innings or so.

Carlos Marmol was never draft eligible but he's another guy who started out as position player. He was a catcher, then moved to the outfield and finally became a pitcher. It's hard to fathom how a guy with his arm, funky wrist action and total-absence-of-projectibility-as-a-power-hitter physique started out in the field. I suppose the decision might not have been so obvious when he was 16, 17 or whatever.

50. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: February 06, 2009 at 09:41 PM (#3069775)

P Randy Wells (on the Cubs 40-man) started off as a catcher as well.

51. Moses Taylor loves a good maim Posted: February 06, 2009 at 09:49 PM (#3069783)

So did Juan Mateo in the Cubs system (is he still there?) Quite a few C to P in the Cubs system recently, interesting.

52. CraigK Posted: February 06, 2009 at 10:05 PM (#3069793)

Jason Motte (RHP), STL, started off as a catcher in the minors.

53. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: February 06, 2009 at 10:11 PM (#3069799)

Mateo imploded with the Cubs (in the minors) last season, got cut, ended up w/ Pittsburgh (AA) for whom he pitched quite well. He re-upped w/ them as a minor league fa.
I think the Cards might move Jason Motte's soulmate, Matt Pagnozzi, to the mound sooner or later as well.
There's been loads of C->P or SS->P moves. I think Percival (C) and Hoffman (SS) might be the most famous ones involving active players...

54. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 06, 2009 at 10:13 PM (#3069804)

Former reliever Felix Rodriguez was a catcher I believe.

55. flournoy Posted: February 06, 2009 at 10:32 PM (#3069821)

Most teams like Ryan Klesko as a pitcher when the Braves drafted him (5th round 1989) to play first base.

56. booond Posted: February 06, 2009 at 10:57 PM (#3069834)

Rafael Betancourt, Troy Percival and Tim Wakefield

57. Sleepy was just “inspecting the bunker”, y’all Posted: February 06, 2009 at 11:22 PM (#3069847)

Colby Rasmus was also a pitcher in high school, with a 94 mph fastball. The yankees were going to draft him at #17 as a pitcher but he told them he wanted to be drafted as a CF and so he fell to the cardinals.

Of course, he hasn't exactly panned out yet...

And of course, skip schumaker pitched in college as well (the cards have some awesome arms in their OF!)

58. RobertMachemer Posted: February 06, 2009 at 11:33 PM (#3069854)

If I remember correctly (and I may not), Ron Mahay was originally a position player.

59. You can keep your massive haul Posted: February 06, 2009 at 11:43 PM (#3069857)

I heard that Babe Ruth guy could pitch...

60. FBI Regional Bureau Chief GORDON COLE!!! Posted: February 06, 2009 at 11:49 PM (#3069859)

And of course, skip schumaker pitched in college as well (the cards have some awesome arms in their OF!)

In '07, they probably had a better collection of relievers scattered among their system's outfields than they did in the major league pen.

61. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: February 06, 2009 at 11:54 PM (#3069864)

Bobby Thigpen was a pretty good hitter on the Will Clark/Rafael Palmeiro Mississippi State team, but I don't know if he was ever a hitting prospect.

Also, I don't remember Thigpen being on the 1993 Phillies at all.

62. rr

Posted: February 07, 2009 at 12:20 AM (#3069877)

"I'm Matt (expletive) Bush,"

This is awesome. Next big political thread, I am going with "I'm robin ####### red" if I get worked up.

Matt Bush:Ryan Leaf

63. rfloh Posted: February 07, 2009 at 12:27 AM (#3069884)

Matt Bush:Ryan Leaf

Was the Leaf pick, at the time he was drafted, considered the same way Bush pick was: as an overdraft by a cheap team.

64. rr

Posted: February 07, 2009 at 12:31 AM (#3069888)

Was the Leaf pick, at the time he was drafted, considered the same way Bush pick was: as an overdraft by a cheap team.

No. Leaf was IIRC considered to be just below Manning and therefore the right choice. But, like Bush, he was combination of a poor health, terrible performance, and almost comically pathetic outbursts of anger--IOW, a joke. I live in San Diego and fans here often think of them together.

65. Golfing Great Mitch Cumstein Posted: February 07, 2009 at 12:45 AM (#3069894)

Wakefield switched to knuckling after failing as a 1B. I have never read that he was ever considered a pitching prospect before washing out and trying the knuckleball.

66. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 07, 2009 at 12:56 AM (#3069900)

I still remember being absolutely convinced Ryan Leaf was going to be a star and Peyton Manning was going to be a huge bust. My college roomate and I both thought Manning was getting hype because of his name and we saw a lot of Tennessee games where it seemed all they ran were WR screens. Leaf meanwhile, just looked like a QB. Great size, great arm. Little did we know he had a two cent head.

67. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: February 07, 2009 at 01:03 AM (#3069905)

Wakefield switched to knuckling after failing as a 1B. I have never read that he was ever considered a pitching prospect before washing out and trying the knuckleball.

He wasn't (to my knowledge).
Mahay event made the majors as an OF, with the Red Sox - one of the first scabs to make the bigs, IIRC.
Andy Tomberlin was a rare guy who went the other way - P to OF.
I've seen a lot of Bush/Leaf stuff the last day or two.

Babe who?

68. rr

Posted: February 07, 2009 at 01:16 AM (#3069910)

Leaf meanwhile, just looked like a QB. Great size, great arm. Little did we know he had a two cent head.

Neither did the Chargers. For all his PR/endorsements/hype/TV appearances/all the BS about him etc, it is clear that Manning is and has always been extremely serious about winning football games--and both the mental and physical aspects of doing that.

69. Golfing Great Mitch Cumstein Posted: February 07, 2009 at 01:16 AM (#3069911)

Speaking of scabs, is Millar the last one? I seem to remember another passing through Boston in the last few years.

70. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: February 07, 2009 at 01:24 AM (#3069917)

Speaking of scabs, is Millar the last one? I seem to remember another passing through Boston in the last few years.

Brendan Donnelly played last year, but I don't think he's signed for this year.

71. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 07, 2009 at 01:28 AM (#3069921)

Speaking of scabs, is Millar the last one? I seem to remember another passing through Boston in the last few years.

Matt Herges signed with Cleveland. Jamie Walker is with Baltimore.

72. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 10, 2009 at 09:30 PM (#3073591)

Matt Bush traded to Toronto for a PTBNL.

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