Bevos plan to be competitive
San Diego Padre exec says farm club has lots of homegrown talent
Get used to the winning, Portland Beaver fans. So says the San Diego Padres’ director of player development.
The Beavers went 84-60 last season, winning the Pacific Coast League Northern Division title with mostly homegrown players.
“I expect something similar to what we accomplished last year,” Tye Waller says. “We’ll have enough of a mix of veterans and young guys who got a look at Triple-A and had a run at the playoffs last year.”
Who will be on the field for the opener April 7 at Sacramento?
Waller would never want to say for sure because every player who reports to spring training in Peoria, Ariz., this month and next hopes to make the Padres. Veterans, including those on the 40-man roster, report in two weeks — pitchers and catchers Feb. 18, position players Feb. 23. And minor-leaguers start March 4 (pitchers) and March 11 (position players).
“There’s always somebody on some club who makes it — somebody who nobody ever thought of,” Waller says.
Some of Portland’s great pitching staff might be back, including Justin Germano, Chris Oxspring and Tim Stauffer as starters, and Marty McLeary as a starter and reliever. Their 2004 Portland numbers weren’t too shabby: Germano 9-5, 3.38 ERA; Oxspring, 6-4, 3.99; Stauffer 6-3, 3.54; McLeary, 5-4, 2.99, 13 saves.
As members of the Padres’ 40-man roster, Germano and Oxspring may be closer to making the jump to the bigs than Stauffer, who Waller expects will see some time in the majors this season.
“He can locate very well, and he misses his pitches well (on purpose),” Waller says of Stauffer. “He’s close.”
On McLeary, Waller says: “He definitely has a good arm — throws low-to-mid 90s with a decent breaking ball when he has command of it. There’s plenty of arm there, but he has to throw strikes. He gets wild.”
Hurlers Brad Baker, Rusty Tucker and Randy Williams all are on the 40-man roster. Baker, a closer, pitched for the Bevos briefly in 2004 after going 2-1 with an ERA of 1.57 and 30 saves at Class AA Mobile (Ala). Tucker is coming back from elbow surgery in 2003. Williams, a 29-year-old left-hander, pitched for the Tacoma Rainiers last year.
Waller says veterans Danny Patterson and Joe Dawley signed as sixth-year free agents, as well as former Seattle Mariner farmhand Brian Falkenborg.
In addition, former Beaver Mike Bumstead might return, and RD Spiehs (5-6, 2.88 at Mobile) might make the jump to Portland.
In the field, following in the path of Sean Burroughs, Xavier Nady, Khalil Greene and Freddy Guzman before him, second baseman Josh Barfield probably will make his Triple-A debut as one of the Padres’ most heralded prospects.
The 6-0, 185-pound Barfield, son of former big-leaguer Jesse Barfield, hit only .248 at Mobile last year, but with 18 home runs and 90 runs batted in. He’s 22.
“With Mark Loretta in San Diego, it’s highly unlikely he’ll make the Padres,” Waller says, “unless something special happens.
“We’ll see how he responds (in Portland). Like most players we’ll try to get him through April without any devastation. Give him 100 at-bats until May, and see how he responds.”
First baseman Tagg Bozied appears fully recovered from the knee injury suffered during a home-run celebration in Portland last year. The Padres added shortstop J.J. Furmaniak, who hit .292 with 17 home runs for Portland last year, on the 40-man, but Greene has the position locked down at the big-league level.
“We’ve always liked the guy,” Waller says of Furmaniak. “His thing is consistency.”
Jake Gautreau might be back to play third for the Beavers, and the Padres have several veterans attending spring training who can play there. The Padres recently re-signed Burroughs, so Gautreau has an uphill path to play for them.
Guzman might be back in Portland this season — his stint last summer with the Padres showed that he needs to work at getting to first base and making pitches come to him. Guzman had 65 steals in the minors last year and hit .292 in Portland.
Slugger Jon Knott, who had 26 homers and 85 RBIs last year in Triple-A, could be slated for Portland, too.
“Guys are in front of him,” Waller says. “But he’s one of the hardest-working guys we’ve ever had.”
Humberto Quintero, who got ample time in San Diego last year, probably will be back at catcher.
Besides Barfield, another player likely to be promoted to Portland is 23-year-old Ben Johnson, a 6-1, 200-pound outfielder who hit .251 with 23 homers and 85 RBIs last year at Mobile. Another outfielder, Todd Donovan, who hit .299 in Double-A, also could play in Portland, depending on how he has recovered from thumb surgery.
The Padres continue to build their team from within.
It’ll stay that way, “unless (other players) come back from K.T.’s roster,” Waller says, referring to San Diego General Manager Kevin Towers.
“We’re making progress in this organization,” Waller says, of the homegrown talent. “It means we’re doing our job.”
Get used to the winning, Portland Beaver fans. So says the San Diego Padres’ director of player development.
The Beavers went 84-60 last season, winning the Pacific Coast League Northern Division title with mostly homegrown players.
“I expect something similar to what we accomplished last year,” Tye Waller says. “We’ll have enough of a mix of veterans and young guys who got a look at Triple-A and had a run at the playoffs last year.”
Who will be on the field for the opener April 7 at Sacramento?
Waller would never want to say for sure because every player who reports to spring training in Peoria, Ariz., this month and next hopes to make the Padres. Veterans, including those on the 40-man roster, report in two weeks — pitchers and catchers Feb. 18, position players Feb. 23. And minor-leaguers start March 4 (pitchers) and March 11 (position players).
“There’s always somebody on some club who makes it — somebody who nobody ever thought of,” Waller says.
Some of Portland’s great pitching staff might be back, including Justin Germano, Chris Oxspring and Tim Stauffer as starters, and Marty McLeary as a starter and reliever. Their 2004 Portland numbers weren’t too shabby: Germano 9-5, 3.38 ERA; Oxspring, 6-4, 3.99; Stauffer 6-3, 3.54; McLeary, 5-4, 2.99, 13 saves.
As members of the Padres’ 40-man roster, Germano and Oxspring may be closer to making the jump to the bigs than Stauffer, who Waller expects will see some time in the majors this season.
“He can locate very well, and he misses his pitches well (on purpose),” Waller says of Stauffer. “He’s close.”
On McLeary, Waller says: “He definitely has a good arm — throws low-to-mid 90s with a decent breaking ball when he has command of it. There’s plenty of arm there, but he has to throw strikes. He gets wild.”
Hurlers Brad Baker, Rusty Tucker and Randy Williams all are on the 40-man roster. Baker, a closer, pitched for the Bevos briefly in 2004 after going 2-1 with an ERA of 1.57 and 30 saves at Class AA Mobile (Ala). Tucker is coming back from elbow surgery in 2003. Williams, a 29-year-old left-hander, pitched for the Tacoma Rainiers last year.
Waller says veterans Danny Patterson and Joe Dawley signed as sixth-year free agents, as well as former Seattle Mariner farmhand Brian Falkenborg.
In addition, former Beaver Mike Bumstead might return, and RD Spiehs (5-6, 2.88 at Mobile) might make the jump to Portland.
In the field, following in the path of Sean Burroughs, Xavier Nady, Khalil Greene and Freddy Guzman before him, second baseman Josh Barfield probably will make his Triple-A debut as one of the Padres’ most heralded prospects.
The 6-0, 185-pound Barfield, son of former big-leaguer Jesse Barfield, hit only .248 at Mobile last year, but with 18 home runs and 90 runs batted in. He’s 22.
“With Mark Loretta in San Diego, it’s highly unlikely he’ll make the Padres,” Waller says, “unless something special happens.
“We’ll see how he responds (in Portland). Like most players we’ll try to get him through April without any devastation. Give him 100 at-bats until May, and see how he responds.”
First baseman Tagg Bozied appears fully recovered from the knee injury suffered during a home-run celebration in Portland last year. The Padres added shortstop J.J. Furmaniak, who hit .292 with 17 home runs for Portland last year, on the 40-man, but Greene has the position locked down at the big-league level.
“We’ve always liked the guy,” Waller says of Furmaniak. “His thing is consistency.”
Jake Gautreau might be back to play third for the Beavers, and the Padres have several veterans attending spring training who can play there. The Padres recently re-signed Burroughs, so Gautreau has an uphill path to play for them.
Guzman might be back in Portland this season — his stint last summer with the Padres showed that he needs to work at getting to first base and making pitches come to him. Guzman had 65 steals in the minors last year and hit .292 in Portland.
Slugger Jon Knott, who had 26 homers and 85 RBIs last year in Triple-A, could be slated for Portland, too.
“Guys are in front of him,” Waller says. “But he’s one of the hardest-working guys we’ve ever had.”
Humberto Quintero, who got ample time in San Diego last year, probably will be back at catcher.
Besides Barfield, another player likely to be promoted to Portland is 23-year-old Ben Johnson, a 6-1, 200-pound outfielder who hit .251 with 23 homers and 85 RBIs last year at Mobile. Another outfielder, Todd Donovan, who hit .299 in Double-A, also could play in Portland, depending on how he has recovered from thumb surgery.
The Padres continue to build their team from within.
It’ll stay that way, “unless (other players) come back from K.T.’s roster,” Waller says, referring to San Diego General Manager Kevin Towers.
“We’re making progress in this organization,” Waller says, of the homegrown talent. “It means we’re doing our job.”
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