I think it's probably a good deal for both teams, especially if Volquez bounces back and Grandal turns out to be somewhat as good as advertised.

It takes a heck of a hitter to be effective in Petco. Alonso doesn't strike me as that type of guy. A player with his defensive limitations needs to be a power hitter to really make an impact, and he doesn't appear to have that kind of ability.

 

 

You don't feel he'll hit for a high average, and hit a lot of doubles. His HR numbers obviously won't be there playing half his games at PETCO, but I feel he can hit .320-.330 playing in that big park, and drive in a lot of runs if there are runners on base in front of him.

Volquez is probably thrilled he gets to pitch in SD.

 

 

Volquez has the stuff to be successful pitching in any ballpark. It's the mental part he has a tough time getting.

Alonso didnt have a position for two years. Grandal didnt have one barring an injury. Going all in with Votto and BP is a move I can fully support.

I think it's probably a good deal for both teams, especially if Volquez bounces back and Grandal turns out to be somewhat as good as advertised.

 

Cueto/Latos is a pretty darn good top of the rotation IMO. Leake is very solid, and a Chapman is still a mystery. Still waiting for Bailey to have an injury free year. I still have high hopes for him. Now if Walt can get a LF, I'll start getting excited again.

Cueto/Latos is a pretty darn good top of the rotation IMO. Leake is very solid, and a Chapman is still a mystery. Still waiting for Bailey to have an injury free year. I still have high hopes for him. Now if Walt can get a LF, I'll start getting excited again.

 

I'd assume Chapman stays in the pen now?

You don't feel he'll hit for a high average, and hit a lot of doubles. His HR numbers obviously won't be there playing half his games at PETCO, but I feel he can hit .320-.330 playing in that big park, and drive in a lot of runs if there are runners on base in front of him.

Alonso is a career .293 hitter in the minor leagues, and Petco doesn't help the batting average, either. Last season, the Padres hit .221 at home and .252 on the road. In 2009, the gap was 45 points in batting average.

I'd assume Chapman stays in the pen now?

 

 

Not a chance. Why would you assume that?

Alonso is a career .293 hitter in the minor leagues, and Petco doesn't help the batting average, either. Last season, the Padres hit .221 at home and .252 on the road. In 2009, the gap was 45 points in batting average.

 

I'm not sure I understand the reason why for that. You would think the big outfield would help produce a better average.

Volquez is probably thrilled he gets to pitch in SD.

 

A big park won't help him if he continues to walk everyone.

I'm not sure I understand the reason why for that. You would think the big outfield would help produce a better average.

Petco, I assume, has some horrible hitting conditions. I don't know that I can explain all that goes into that, but the size of the outfield gaps has little effect on it.

 

Adrian Gonzales, who is as good a hitter as there in baseball, hit .267 in his time at Petco. Chase Headley, probably the Padres' best hitter now, has a career average of .229 in Petco and .303 on the road.

Just read some Padres fans' reactions and it seems they feel they sold too low on Latos or aren't too keen on Alonso.

I'm not sure I understand the reason why for that. You would think the big outfield would help produce a better average.

 

How about this: the last 7 seasons exactly 3 regular players for San Diego have finished the season with an average over .300 while playing their home games in Petco Park. They were Brian Giles who hit .301 in 2005 and .306 in 2008 and Adrian Gonzalez who hit .304 in 2006. What makes you think Alonso would hit .330 there? That park just destroys hitting--not just power numbers.

Speculation is the Reds are not finished.

Latos had a road ERA of 2.96 last year.