Lincecum Rides Padres Hard, Puts Them Away Wet

My Dad sent me the above photo this morning and said simply this: "Lincecum - 13 Ks - wow."

Hard to argue with that assessment.

In more positive news, the minor leagues start tonight! The Padres four affiliates are throwing Wade LeBlanc (Tucson), Anthony Bass (San Antonio), Matt Lollis (Lake Elsinore), and Keyvius Sampson (Fort Wayne) as Opening Day starters.

I sense four victories and many firework displays.

Anthony Bass, Bryan Oland ... And Other Top Padres Prospects

Hitters yesterday, pitchers today. And leading the charge of Padre minor league pitchers through July 1 are two beasts, Anthony Bass and Bryan Oland (that's Anthony pictured above, back in his Wayne St. days).

I know, I know. Latos is probably the number 1 guy. But he was at the top of these rankings last month and I want to mix it up a bit. That's the beauty of compiling arbitrary rankings on your blog: you can do whatever you want.

A few changes this month: (1) only guys with 1.20 WHIP are lower made the list; and (2) the list is divided between starters and relievers. Hence, both Bass and Oland get recognition as the top guy in their respective roles.

To the lists.

Starters

1. Anthony Bass, RHP, Fort Wayne: Anthony probably should be in High A but, regardless, his numbers are hard to ignore: 7-3 1.95 ERA, 59/25 strikeout-to-walk ratio, 1.14 WHIP. He's given up 3 earned runs over his last 8 starts which is ridiculous. He's ready for a move.

2. Mat Latos, RHP, FW/San Antonio: Dominated at the Texas League All Star Game last night. I'm stoked for his first start this September as a Padre. I'm hoping it's against the hated Dadgers and he K's Ethier, Manny and Loney in order. Yep, that's probably going to happen. He is currently 7-1, 1.28, 65/12, .78 on the season.

3. Cory Luebke, LHP, Lake Elsinore/SA: Man, isn't Cory is exactly what the Padres need? A reliable lefty starter, maybe the #3 guy in the rotation, who can strike guys out? Picture him slotted behing Peavy and Latos in a couple years, or maybe as the #4 guy behind Peavy-Latos-Young. That could be a nice veteran-youngster mix. Cory is kicking it at 9-2, 2.31, 84/18, 1.02.

4. Tim Stauffer, RHP, SA/Portland: He was roughed up a bit last night, but the Timmy Stauffer comeback this season has been a heartwarmer worthy of Hallmark. You know the tale: shoulder injury out of college, still managed to fight his way to the majors, major surgery last year, and now back for another go 'round. Stauffer could be that mystery #5 starter on a pennant winner. The guy who had top of the rotation stuff once upon a time but could never realize his potential because of injuries. That would be some kinda nice, to borrow Mark Grant's phrase, if it happened. Not counting last night, Tim is 2-0, 2.17, 21/5, .86 on the year.

Relievers

1. Bryan Oland, RHP, LE: Bryan is a big kid, measuring 6'3" 230. As the Lake Elsinore closer on the season, he's racked up 19 saves to go along with his 3-1, 1.29, 38/11, 1.06. I don't know a lot about Bryan's stuff, but I like his potential.

2. Brad Brach, RHP, FW: A big part of Fort Wayne's success this season, Brad has 18 saves to go along with his 3-2, 1.64, 43/7, .70. He's been basically unhittable lately, giving up only 1 hit in 6 appearances since June 9.

3. Evan Scribner, RHP, SA: When the Padres acquired Evan last season, I thought they were going to move him quickly to the bigs to take advantage of the fact he was unknown to Big League hitters (similar to what the D'Backs have done this season with Daniel Schlereth). It wasn't to be but Evan is at AA now and is pitching well. So far on the season he's 4-1, 2.02, 35/9, .93. I bet he gets a long look in Spring Training.

4. Nick Schumacher, RHP, FW: Like Anthony Bass, Nick is a Wayne St. guy, for whatever that's worth. Not sure what kind of stuff he's got, but you've gotta like his 3-0, 1.08 21/1, .96. That 21-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio is especially choice.

5. Mike Ekstrom, RHP, Portland: Mike has seen a little Big League time this year but hasn't yet been able to stick. He will pitch in the upcoming PCL All Star game, which is nice. Mike is 3-1, 2.08, 30/14, 1.02 with 9 holds.

6. Zachary Herr, LHP, FW: The lefty from Nebraska has watched his ERA skyrocket since earlier this season, but his peripheral numbers are still choice. Must be a bit of bad luck for Zach. He's at 4-2, 4.09, 40/10, 1.15.

7. Eduardo Perez, RHP, FW: I'll be honest, I had not heard of Eduardo until I started looking at stats to compile this post. He is a 21-year old Venezuelan who, in 13 games this season, is 2-0, 3.51, 19/8, 1.17. He may not make this type of list again, but for now, well done, Eduardo.

Mat Latos ... And Other Top Padres Minor Leaguers

Wow. June is flying by and I still haven't posted my top 10 Padre pitching prospects based on performances through May. I did the pitcher rankings through April, and I already ranked the hitters through the season's first two months, but the best pitching performances as of May 31 have so far gone unrewarded.

No longer.

Since I'm well past deadline let me just go ahead and list these beasts without comment. Their stats (through May 31) speak for themselves.

1. Mat Latos, RHP, Fort Wayne and San Antonio: 4-0, 36.1 IP, 38Ks, 8 walks, ERA and WHIP well under 1.00.

2. Will Inman, RHP, San Antonio: 4-1, 3.05 ERA, 44.1 IP, 36Ks, 8 walks, .92 WHIP

3. Brad Brach, RHP, Fort Wayne: 3-2, 1.17 ERA, 23 IP, 31Ks, 5 walks, .70 WHIP, 14 saves

4. Bryan Oland, RHP, Lake Elsinore: 0-1, 1.85 ERA, 24.1 IP, 28Ks, 9 walks, 1.15 WHIP, 14 saves

5. Cory Luebke, LHP, Lake Elsinore: 5-2, 2,88 ERA, 59.1 IP, 52Ks, 13 walks, 1.16 WHIP

6. Jeremy McBryde, RHP, Lake Elsinore: 6-1, 3.04 ERA, 53.1 IP, 55Ks, 13 walks, 1.01 WHIP

7. Ernest Frieri, RHP, San Antonio: 5-2, 3.65 ERA, 44.1 IP, 37Ks, 18 walks, 1.26 WHIP

8. Anthony Bass, RHP, Fort Wayne: 3-3, 2.74 ERA, 49.1 IP, 38Ks, 20 walks, 1.40 WHIP

9. Mike DeMark, RHP, San Antonio: 0-1, 1.82 ERA, 24.2 IP, 23Ks, 13 walks, 1.22 WHIP

10. Zach Herr, LHP, Fort Wayne: 3-1, 3.38 ERA, 24 IP, 32Ks, 5 walks, 1.00 WHIP, 7 holds

I'm already looking forward to next month and the possible appearance of Nick Schmidt.

Until then.

Zach Herr ... And Other Top Padres Minor Leaguers

After the first month or so of the season, here is this humble blog's ranking of the top Padre minor league performers. Yesterday, we ranked the top hitters. Today, we rank the pitchers.

Looking over the list, I'll make a few introductory comments:

1. I'm not a huge fan of the Padres pitching prospects. The big problem is that the guys who were supposed to be the marquee guys - Cesar Carrillo, Nick Schmidt, Cesar Ramos - have succumbed to injury and/or are maxing out at AAA. Lower down the ladder there is intrigue with the likes of Mat Latos and Adys Portillo, but that's more a conversation about the 2012 Padres than anything else. I'd love for Simon Castro to join that group. I really would.

2. Are the Padres ever going to recover from losing Joakim Soria in the Rule V Draft? That was an absolute dagger to the organization. Along with the John Moores divorce and the Khalil Greene regression, nothing has hurt the Padres more than their bullpen failures last season and early this season. You need three solid/stud relievers to win in this league. A Padre bullpen with Soria, Bell and Hoffman (they could have paid him sans divorce) would be better than the current Meredith, Sanchez, Bell situation. Though that is no fault of Heath's. What a monster.

3. Greg Burke should be pitching for the Drinos any minute now. After another bullpen meltdown last night (3 walks Edwin? Really?) the Drinos need to try something new. Burke has earned a shot. (Incidentally, so have his Portland teammates Scott Patterson and Joe Thatcher. Look for a Drino bullpen shakeup in the next few weeks.)

Without further ado ...

1. Zach Herr, LHP, Fort Wayne: Coming out of the bullpen for the TinCaps, Herr has been perfect this season. He is 2-0 with a .45 WHIP and a, wait for it, 0.00 ERA. Add to that his 18 Ks in 11 innings (and 4 holds) and you see why I put a relief pitcher at the top of these rankings. These stats don't even include another perfect inning he threw last night, a little 1-2-3 work in the bottom of the 8th to help preserve the TinCaps 8-7 win. Nice work, Zach.

2. Corey Kluber, RHP, Lake Elsinore: Corey is off to a 3-1 start with a 2.51 ERA, a .94 WHIP and 25 Ks in 28.2 innings pitched. Not bad for another guy almost no national scouting service ever mentions as a legitimate prospect, and who BA dropped out of their top 30 Drino prospects this year. He was a fourth round draft pick in the pivotal 2007 Drino draft (where the Padres had 11 picks in the first four rounds) and is looking to turn a few heads and raise a few eyebrows this year.

3. Greg Burke, RHP, Portland: The Drinos AAA closer, Burke, as I noted above, is due for a call up. I'm ready to see what he's got and I figure the Drinos have nothing to lose. Is he really going to be any worse than Sanchez, Perdomo, Gregerson or Mujica? If he throws strikes I don't see how he could be. Burke is currently sitting at 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA and a .92 WHIP. He's K'd 13 in 12 innings and has 5 saves.

4. Anthony Bass, RHP, Fort Wayne: The Padres 5th round pick last June, Anthony is a sleeper out of Wayne State. He pitched well at short-season Eugene last summer and is continuing that success so far this season. He is 2-2 with a 2.19 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP, and has K'd 20 in 24 innings. I'd like to see the WHIP a bit lower and the Ks a bit higher but I could really say that about any pitcher. Just based on looking at his stats, Anthony seems to know how to pitch. That alone should carry him up to at least AA.

5. Jeremy McBryde, RHP, Lake Elsinore: Arguably Jeremy could have been ranked at the top of the list. His stuff is perhaps better than most guys in the Padre system not named Peavy, Young, Bell, Portillo or Latos. That said, he seems to be a bit hittable (yes, I know he threw a 6-inning, 8 K gem last night, yielding only 2 runs, but hear me out). He is sporting a 3.86 ERA so far which, if my math is correct, is getting close to 4.00. His WHIP is a stellar .79 and he has K'd 20 in 14 innings (remember, this doesn't include last night), but I don't like that ERA. If he continues to lower the number of runs he gives up, I'll be happy to move him up the list.

6. Evan Scribner, RHP, San Antonio: Evan was a nice snake last year in the deal that sent Tony Clark back to the D-slacks. On the season he is 0-1 with a 2.53 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP out of the bullben for the Missions. He's also K'd 14 in his 10.2 innings, and racked up 4 saves. Evan should compete for a Drino bullpen slot in 2010, if he doesn't snake an audition with the big club later this season.

7. Nathan Culp, LHP, San Antonio: Until last night, Nathan was having a strong season. He was 1-1 with a 2.91 ERA and 1.06 WHIP pitching for the AA Missions. One concern was his only 11 Ks in 21.2 innings, and that may have exposed him a bit lat night. Nathan is not much of a prospect but his status as a lefty will earn him some looks this year and next. Especially if he can keep that WHIP in the low 1s.

Okay, so that's the list. Let's hope May is a dominant month up and down the system.

I'm pretty sure it will be.