April 9, Phoenix - Off day. Time to reflect. Is it worth reflecting on just one series? Maybe. If it would have been a three game sweep, enthusiasm would have been curbed by the fact that there are 159 games left, so I guess concern needs to be treated with the same calming perspective.
Stephen Drew looks like he is the exact same player that he was in 2008. 3 for 10, 2 walks, 2 extra base hits, a homer off of a lefty. Since July 31st of last season, Drew has 35 x-base hits, second to only Albert Pujols in the big leagues and more than Ryan Howard, Miguel Cabrera and Manny Ramirez. Speaking of the same date in late July, Manny sports a batting average of .389 from then til now, #1 in MLB and just a step ahead of Felipe Lopez, who sports a .379 clip. Lopez hit in 2 of 3 games in the series and homered from both sides of the plate in the opener.
Lopez started switch hitting when he was 11 or 12 years old and is a natural right handed hitter. This was about the same age that Tony Clark started from both sides and is also a born righty. The veteran also homered on opening day left and right handed, which may remind some of his old neighborhood buddies of days gone by. Clark actually started hitting left handed out of necessity when all of his mammoth blasts from the right side went well beyond those of his friends and well beyond site and well into a canyon hundreds and hundreds of feet from home plate at the field where they would spend all day playing, occasionally stopping to munch on sandwiches they brought.
"You have to hit left handed. We're losing all of the baseballs," Tony's friend told him. So left handed it was and a switch hitter was born, although he was much more at ease hitting lefty with a cross-handed gip on the bat. His father and coach took notice shortly after at a game, switched the hands to left on top of right and Tony, although uncomfortable initially, felt just fine as he rocketed a hit into the outfield.
Chad Tracy listened earnestly as TC shared his story and said he wish he'd become a switch hitter. "Why?" I asked. "Because with a left-hander pitching, I'd be playing today," he said with a smile.
Tracy's light hearted comment is true in the sense that the first three games has produced three different lineups and three different first baseman. Upton, Tracy, Reynolds, Byrnes all have between 6 and 9 plate appearances and Clark has 4. TC started on opening day and in 2008 did not have a start until the 16th game of the Padres season.
Brandon Webb got lit up but it was a team win, and the bigger concern is the missed start on Saturday because of his shoulder. That better be all that he misses. The man that has thrown more innings than any one in the NL since coming into the league in 2003 is a mainstay every fifth day and this club does not need to deal with his extended absence. He's too important and too good.
The bullpen still has to prove its worth. 9 runs (7 earned) allowed in the first three games is only second to the Braves after their monster meltdown in Philly. Juan Gutierrez and Chad Qualls both were solid in their assignments though and I find myself excited to see Gutierrez work again soon.
So 1-2 with the Dodgers coming to town. All will be right with the world if we are throwing some burgers on the grill on Easter Sunday evening and the boys in Sedona Red are 3-3 after a week of big league action.
See you at the yard.
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