Apr 29, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; San Diego Padres right fielder Chris Denorfia (right) celebrates with shortstop Everth Cabrera (left) after both scoring runs against the Chicago Cubs during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Padres lose the first road game at Wrigely Field against the Chicago Cubs 5 – 3, and it is just my luck that I’m writing on a loss again.  But despite the downturn, overall for the last week, I’ve seen many incremental improvements from the Padres, and with my rose-tinted glasses I’m happy again.  Well at least as much as possible.

The Padres strikeout 14 times, and leave 10 runners on base against the Cubs.  Also, Padres only hit 1-10 with RISP, which points a bit to execution issues, but also to bad luck.  Clayton Richard goes 5 2/3 innings, and gives up 5 earned runs.  They say hindsight is 20-20, but I wonder if it would have been better off to pull him after 5.  Clayton came up to hit in the 6 inning after the Cubs pulled their starter, former Notre Dame wide receiver and Brady Quinn compatriot Jeff Samardzija - it would have been good timing.  Instead Clayton scuffles a bit in the 6th and is pulled after giving up the tie and an RBI hit Cody Ransom.  If you recall, Cody filled in for Chase Headley as the Padres opening day starter at 3B.  He had an excellent game, going 2-4 with 2 RBI and HR, and also gets a barehanded defensive play against the Padres.  It is strange how players seem to excel against former teams, but that’s the way baseball works.

Regardless the Padres battled, and continued to put pressure on the Cubs and their bullpen throughout the rest of the game, loading the bases with less than 2 outs in the 7th, and putting another 2 runners on base in the 8th, but no break through.  Credit the Cubs bullpen as well as they battled their way out for a win.  The Padres kept themselves in a position to come back, and that’s a positive - just no break through.

Some of the positives I saw for the Padres, include the pitch selection and patience by Carlos Quentin.  Although he struck out 3 times, he also drew 2 walks, and also led the Padres in terms of pitches seen with 25 for the game, wearing out the opposing pitchers.  Everth Cabrera also performed well, going 3-4 with a walk and scoring 2 runs, including a heads up play taking home on a wild pitch in first.  Overall, I’ve been very satisfied with Everth’s play so far, and he’s establishing himself as a reliable top of the order place setter.  His speed gives him some pop on paper, as he can stretch borderline doubles.  His OBP has been > 0.350, and he’s great at taking pitches and being a pest.  I’ve watched him make regular random use of the bunt as an offensive weapon in his repertoire, keeping infielders off guard and uncomfortable.

Currently, the Padres are sitting at 9-16, and on the outside looking in.  So far, I feel better about the hitters than the pitchers.  I feel better about the bullpen than the starters.  Chris Denorfia?  Awesome, he’s been performing like he could be an everyday hitter.  Will Venable?  His overall slash line is curently 202/280/353.  Against LHP, he’s at 182/250/364 and against RHP, he’s 222/300/370.  In a tiny sample set, right handed hitter Kyle Blanks is hitting 455/500/727 against LHP.  I would like to see Dino shift to everyday CF, and Blanks/Venable platoon in RF while Maybin is recovering.

Another platoon that could help when Logan Forsythe comes back is at 2B.  I’m still sold on Jedd Gyorko and I’m sure he’s going through a growth process, but at the same time, a player can still grow in space and Jedd does seem to struggle a bit, especially in big situations.  Strangely, as right handed hitter, he’s shown early struggles with lefties.  His splits show that against RHP, he’s at 270/319/333, but against LHP, there’s a sizeable drop off at 182/308/273.  As rookie, there appears to be a large amount of variability in his numbers regarding splits, including home and away, which could be a sign of constant adjustments and growth and change.  Although Buddy Black has been using the term “small sample size” to explain the bad early results - in statistics, 100 data points is a pretty solid set to establish a pattern for normally distributed data.  See Central Limit Theorem.  Logan Forsythe’s 2012 splits were 384/465/545 against LHP, and 222/284/319 against RHP.  Teaming Logan and Jedd at 2B will allow them to get good match-ups initially and help both of them grow and the team.

Gyorko might have to transition back to third base with Headley sidelined. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

As I am sure all of you know, San Diego’s star third baseman Chase Headley broke his thumb when he tried to disrupt a double play against the Angels.  The N.L. leader in runs batted in last year is projected to be out for four to six weeks, and the Friars will begin the 2013 campaign without their #3 hitter and 2012 Gold Glove Award winner.

So what can San Diego do in the mean time about their “third base situation” until Headley returns?

The way I see it, the Padres might have to employ a “third baseman by committee” until Chase can return to the lineup at full strength.

At least to me, the most logical choice to fill in for Headley at the “hot corner” is Rookie Jedd Gyorko.  A third baseman in college at West Virginia, Gyorko also played the position full-time until he started to receive reps at second base at the Double-A level.  Although Jedd has essentially won the starting second base gig over the last month, the team could look to transition him back to third base until Chase returns to the lineup healthy.  I for one would not mind seeing Gyorko take extended big-league reps at Headley’s spot, especially due to the fact Chase could be traded in the very near future and Jedd is more than likely to be his “heir apparent.”

When he played at the University of Arkansas, Logan Forsythe was actually a third baseman.  In fact, the former Razorback was moved to the middle infield primarily because of Headley’s presence.  Luckily for Logan and the Padres, he has taken at least logged some experience at the third base position over his short big league career (30 games combined between 2011 and 2012).  Forsythe’s transition to third would allow for Gyorko to stay put at second and gain more experience at the position too.  Of course for the versatile Forsythe to fill-in for Headley, he must find a way to stay healthy himself.

If Gyorko and Forsythe do not interest the Padres as “fill-ins” for Headley over the next month, then San Diego could ask the “Little Ninja,” Alexi Amarista, for help.  While Amarista has almost no experience at third base (8 games at the minor league level last year), his athleticism, quickness, and versatility could make him a viable ”fill-in” option if Gyorko or Forsythe need time off, or are playing other positions.  To his credit, Alexi has enjoyed a strong spring at the plate.  Overall, Alexi has logged a .340 batting average in 53 at-bats, scored 12 runs, clubbed 4 doubles, 2 home runs, and driven in 9 rbi’s.  Even if Gyorko moves to third base, Amarista could see quite a bit of time at second base, especially against right-handed pitching.

Final Thoughts

I hate to be a “Negative Nancy,” but Headley’s absence through the season’s first month will likely sink the Padres.  While a division and postseason berth cannot be won in April, it can definitely be lost if a team absolutely tanks to begin a season.  I’m sure we all recall how San Diego’s offense struggled without Carlos Quentin last year.  I also remember how the Padres were 20 games under .500 in the middle of June as well.  No matter how awesome the Friars were down the stretch last year, their putrid performances in April, May, and June obliterated any postseason hopes for them.

I will be anxious to see how well Headley’s replacement, or cavalcade of replacements, fill in for him in his absence.  But I for one do not hold out much hope that San Diego’s lineup will be nearly as potent without Chase or Yasmani Grandal over the first month/month and a half of the year.

Stats Courtesy of: Baseball Reference

Cabrera sidesteps hippos in his off-season training.
Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Well here you have it folks. In an off-season where fans yearned for trades, free agent signings or any sort of news regarding the Padres,  has now turned the stagnant front office into a PR machine, answering questions about PED’s, lack of money being spent and complacency. How’s that for some juicy action.

Yesterday, Everth Cabrera and Faustino De Los Santos, who was claimed off waivers from Milwaukee Feb. 6, were listed on the client list of the now-closed Biogenesis of America, an anti-aging clinic in Florida under investigation by Major League Baseball for providing players with banned performance-enhancing drugs. This comes on the heels of Yasmani Grandal apologizing to his team for testing positive for PED’s received from the same clinic.

But not all is bad at Petco Park. Cabrera and De Los Santos names appearing on the client list does not prove use or possession (possession also constitutes a 50-game suspension) of PED’s therefore they may not be punished unless proof can be found. Bud Black met with both players and had different reactions after both meetings.

Cabrera met with Black twice, one of those meetings included Josh Byrnes. Black stated, “we’re satisfied with what we heard” and believes the issue serves as a minor distraction but “will resolve itself in a positive way.”

Cabrera also stated he is “surprised” and disappointed by the news of his name being reported. Black is a pretty straight shooter. I like the guy. I think most fans like him. In reading his comments about Cabrera, assuming everything Cabrera told him is true, I feel like Cabrera’s bigger concern will be getting his OBP up rather than dealing with this issue.

As for De Los Santos, I’m feeling way less optimistic. After Black spoke with him, he failed to comment on the meeting or its content. Maybe De Los Santos was straight with him and told him the bad news being suspected. Regardless, if he is suspended, our pitching depth is only taking a slight blow. If Cabrera is suspended, there are still enough resources with Gyorko, Forsythe and Amarista rotating at short and second base.

Steroids exist in all sports but the light shines the brightest in baseball. If MLB was really bothered by the usage, they wouldn’t apply a 50-game slap on the wrist to the convicted. If any sport wanted to rid its athletes of cheaters, they would apply lifetime bans for PED violations. Do that and see how many players will continue to buy illegal supplements from shady clinics.