Godspeed, Todd Walker & Greg Maddux...

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

He's at 3B!! Any reviews?

 

I just tuned in...and he just made an error.

 

He scored the only run, but he just made a low throw that pulls the first baseman off the bag.

 

The announcers said it was his second throwing error tonight.

 

I've been watching. He threw the first one into the dugout.

Edited August 3, 2006 by RonnieWooWooSanto

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

And the error does cost a run as Wily Teveras singles to score Ausmus.

[Laura]

Gameday shows him in the lineup at 3B but still has him as at 2B in the play-by-play

 

 

Biggio grounded out to shortstop.

Taveras singled to center, Ausmus scored, Backe to second.

Backe singled to left center, Ausmus to second.

Ausmus safe at first on 2nd baseman Walker´s throwing error.

Everett flied out to center.

Wilson lined out to second.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

Gameday shows him in the lineup at 3B but still has him as at 2B in the play-by-play

 

 

Biggio grounded out to shortstop.

Taveras singled to center, Ausmus scored, Backe to second.

Backe singled to left center, Ausmus to second.

Ausmus safe at first on 2nd baseman Walker´s throwing error.

Everett flied out to center.

Wilson lined out to second.

 

He's playing third. His throws looked awful.

 

Their plan is that he will only face righties when playing 3b and occasionally give Barfield a rest at 2b.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Does Walker have a third basemen's glove?

[Laura]

When Bellhorn is your defensive replacement at 3B, it's not good.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

Here's a some quotes from MadFriars.com in regards to Todd Walker at third base tonight.

 

I know he hasn't been here long...but damn...that Walker dude SUCKS. Put Belhorn (or Leone) back in there & be done with it.

 

Two chances, two throws, two errors. Ot oh

 

THAT'S IT, I'M DRIVING OFF THE CORONADO BRIDGE!!!!! IT'S BEEN FUN FELLAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

How ugly will clubhouse morale be if we start losing games because of poor defense at 3rd? I know this is just 1 game, but yikes! The defense for offense trade might be a wash considering Walker isn't a big bat, which means all in all we lost a promising minor leaguer and probably some team morale right at the time when it's needed. As much as KT has helped improve the team in the offseason and throughout the year, it likely WILL be on him if the Padres crack and wind up losing the division and miss the playoffs. Here's hoping we at least pull this game out...get some grounders to the rest of the infield, Woody!

 

A terrible throw to first by Walker. If this continues, we're in trouble.

[rocket]

That should be expected since, you know, he isn't a 3rd baseman.

[Laura]

That should be expected since, you know, he isn't a 3rd baseman.

 

I feel sorry for him. People complained about his defense at 2B, and then he's put in at 3B the second game after he shows up in SD.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

Now 33, Walker said yesterday he “wouldn't be human” if he said he didn't have some reservations about playing an unfamiliar position for a new team in the middle of a pennant race.

 

“There's going to be an adjustment period,” he said. “Hopefully, the people are patient. But at the same time I expect a lot of myself, so I'm going to give it everything I've got.”

 

Walker did some extra work at third base before batting practice, then returned for more grounders after he hit. Manager Bruce Bochy said he “looked fine. He looked comfortable. I think he's excited about doing it.”

 

Bochy said he plans to start Walker, a left-handed hitter, against right-handed pitchers, usually at third base but occasionally at second if Josh Barfield needs a day off. The manager conceded the Padres would be trading some defensive skill at third for increased offensive potential. Walker is a career .289 hitter with a .348 on-base percentage.

 

“It is a case where you're probably rolling the dice a little bit,” Bochy said. “He's got his heart in it; that's the most important thing. He's got a good glove, good hands, and I think this is going to work out. I think he's only going to get better each game he gets out there.”

 

You just have to wonder how much "D" can they afford to give up.

[Laura]

You just have to wonder how much "D" can they afford to give up.

 

But how much "D" are they giving up? Who has been playing 3B for them consistently? When I've checked, it's mainly been Bellhorn.

 

I have a lot of love for Bellhorn, but unless a lot has changed, 3B is not his ideal D-position.

 

I'm curious, I really don't know who has been playing 3B for the Padres.

[Laura]

On the other hand, the cookie-cutter teams at whatif use Petco for park effects since it depresses hitting stats and the best defense-OBP players to roll to championships.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

You just have to wonder how much "D" can they afford to give up.

 

But how much "D" are they giving up? Who has been playing 3B for them consistently? When I've checked, it's mainly been Bellhorn.

 

I have a lot of love for Bellhorn, but unless a lot has changed, 3B is not his ideal D-position.

 

I'm curious, I really don't know who has been playing 3B for the Padres.

 

Vinny Castilla whom they just released the other day. He was just attrocious offensively.

 

They're just caught between a rock and a hard place in this situation. They should just stick with their plan and split the playing time between Walker and Bellhorn and hopefully are not quick to pull Walker from starts. He'll work things out. I'm sure all they're expecting is for him to make the routine plays. And he can do that once he gets past the initial nervousness.

[soccer10k]

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j163/Niner74/ToddWalkerJenniferAniston.jpg

 

Jennifer Aniston: Schwing!!

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

FWIW, from MadFriars.com..............

 

Baseball Prospectus (I know not everyone is fan of the Sabremetric school of thought) posted an article today that stating that the move to get Walker creates the 2nd highest upwards move in % chance of reaching the playoffs (second only to the Yankees heist of Philly). Based on their methodology, which I won't bore you with here, Walker replacing Blumhorn increases are chances of reaching the playoffs by 8.5% to 67.5%. I think we need to give Walker some time before we start talking about bring back Sean "can't hit it ouut of the infield" Burroughs.

 

I get a kick out of how they refer to the Bellhorn/Blum platoon as Blumhorn.

 

Also, it is being said that the Walker deal was not necessarily a Kevin Towers deal, but more a deal that DePodesta wanted and Towers was willing to give it a shot. I'm not sure if there is any merit to this, but thought I'd throw it out there.

[rocket]

todd walker had a pretty sweet webgem on sportscenter today

 

http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20060803&content_id=1591178&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=sd

 

(click on "walker's diving stop" on the right hand side

[Andy]

Todd, you're the man and I will never understand what everyone's problem with you was - even one of the most intelligent Cubs fans I know said Walker could not play for us this year because of his defense.

 

Greg - I'd miss you more if we hadn't gotten your sucky beginning, a couple years of greatness, and then part of your sucky end.

[Geech]

todd walker had a pretty sweet webgem on sportscenter today

 

 

(click on "walker's diving stop" on the right hand side

 

It was cool to see that big, goofy grin on his face afterwards.

[Laura]

Greg - I'd miss you more if we hadn't gotten your sucky beginning, a couple years of greatness, and then part of your sucky end.

 

Let me just guess: You've been a Cubs Fan for how long?

 

Who are your favorite Cubs?

[Andy]

Greg - I'd miss you more if we hadn't gotten your sucky beginning, a couple years of greatness, and then part of your sucky end.

 

Let me just guess: You've been a Cubs Fan for how long?

 

Who are your favorite Cubs?

Not long enough to see the first incarnation of Maddux, admittedly.

 

For me, it's Z, Lee, Barrett, Aramis.