Padres Release Walter Young

[joepepsi]

He was hitting just .200 in 35 at bats in Portland, but had a .486 slugging pct, with 3 hr, 6 rbis.

Call me crazy, but if you're going to waste a roster spot I'd rather it be on a left handed slugger who might pinch hit a home run late in a game, than a 3rd string catcher who never plays.

I would never put Walter in the field, but I'd like to see what he produces with 150 at bats DH'ing on Sunday afternoons and pinch hitting against tough right handed relievers.

[BoogP]

Agree. They could use a good LH bat off the bench, somebody with some pop. Young has put up some good OPS numbers through the minor leagues. Last year, after driving in 81 runs in Triple-A (in Ottawa, one of the tougher home parks in the minors) he had an OBP of .378 in 33 ABs with the Orioles. Then they gave up on him.

Kind of a similar situation to Jack Cust, who last year had an OBP of over .400 in Triple-A.

[joepepsi]

Cust's chance seems to have come and gone. These guys get labelled and no one will give them a roster spot. Pickering of course is another one. Seems like I came across the term "Sons of Sam Horn" once.

Sam had 1050 at bats, hit 49 doubles, 62 home runs, and knocked in 179. We're not talking Hall of Famers, All Stars, or even guys who'll log 10 years in the majors. But 5 years of monster shots at bargain basement prices shouldn't be ignored.

If there's a place on major league rosters for Neifi Perez and Luis Lopez then there outta be a spot for the Sons of Sam Horn.

[BoogP]

Cust has 3 HRs and 10 RBI (with a .391 OBP) for Portland, which is the Padres' Triple-A affiliate in the PCL.

[BoogP]

By the way Joe, and friends, one of the Orioles' biggest rivals may soon be getting even stronger. From this morning's Boston Globe:

For Nipper, it would be classic reunion

By Gordon Edes | April 26, 2006

CLEVELAND -- Roger Clemens's decision should come soon, Al Nipper said yesterday, probably within a couple of weeks, if not days, of the 20th anniversary of his 20-strikeout game against the Seattle Mariners in Fenway Park, which is Saturday.

Retirement? The way Nipper was talking, that's not on the table anymore. Sometime next month, Nipper said, Clemens will decide where he will pitch this season. And Nipper, Clemens's former teammate, longtime friend, and once-and-perhaps-future pitching coach, is convinced the Rocket will seriously consider staging his final act in Boston.

''I think we have a chance," Nipper said. ''We have a chance.

''We talked in Texas at great length, about things like how he'd fit in, and we talked to him about the ball club. I laid everything out. Believe me, I threw everything but the sink at him. Plus, he's going to be wearing a Red Sox hat into the Hall [of Fame], pass Cy Young [in wins by a Sox pitcher] and everything.

''We'll be talking more. We've exchanged e-mails and stuff like that. When he gets close to making a decision, I'm confident he's going to give me a call, because he told me he'd call and we'd talk more.

''I just think it would be a great ending to his career. There's no question it would give Boston, it would give our city a huge lift, it would give our club a huge lift, it would give our pitching staff a huge lift. I could not imagine going into a three-game series with Clemens, Schilling, and Beckett."

rest of story here:
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2006/04/26/for_nipper_it_would_be_classic_reunion/

[Bill813]

Cust's chance seems to have come and gone. These guys get labelled and no one will give them a roster spot. Pickering of course is another one. Seems like I came across the term "Sons of Sam Horn" once.

Sam had 1050 at bats, hit 49 doubles, 62 home runs, and knocked in 179. We're not talking Hall of Famers, All Stars, or even guys who'll log 10 years in the majors. But 5 years of monster shots at bargain basement prices shouldn't be ignored.

If there's a place on major league rosters for Neifi Perez and Luis Lopez then there outta be a spot for the Sons of Sam Horn.Sons of Sam Horn is the Red Sox message board made famous because Schilling has posted there since his trade to Beantown.

At this point, Young may end up a career minor leaguer. Majewski's best chance in Baltimore is at first base.

[joepepsi]

Boston is looking real good this year. Adding Clemens should seal the deal.

[BoogP]

Meanwhile, I see the Orioles' bullpen came through again last night...

[Bill813]

Meanwhile, I see the Orioles' bullpen came through again last night...
We can't play Tampa every night. So far, we're 1-6 against the big 3 in our division.

[joepepsi]

Sons of Sam Horn is the Red Sox message board made famous because Schilling has posted there since his trade to Beantown.


Thank you. I knew I'd heard it before, but couldn't place it. It works in my context pretty well too.

[JohnGelnarFan]

I enjoyed watching Young play last year for the O's.In his limited appearances,he didn't appear to be overmatched and had a good eye at the plate. Sign him to a AAA contract and see what happens. If the O's don't,someone will.

[Bill813]

Someone in the N.L. may claim his this time. Remember for him to make it to San Diego, he cleared waivers through the entire 14 team A.L. and the 9 N.L. teams that had a record worse than the Padres.

[JohnGelnarFan]

Good point Bill813. I'd like to have him in the Nationals organization but they must have already passed. Wev'e got Daryle Ward to backup now but injuries are a big part of the game.



Someone in the N.L. may claim his this time. Remember for him to make it to San Diego, he cleared waivers through the entire 14 team A.L. and the 9 N.L. teams that had a record worse than the Padres.