I don’t have all the details yet today but Walter Silva, who was scheduled to start tonight’s game against the Brewers, won’t start after all. Shawn Hill will start and hopes to go four or so innings.

What does this mean? It appears to me the Padres, if they don’t add a pitcher here soon, are starting to formulate what their starting rotation will be for the first week of the season now that Cha Seung Baek (right forearm strain) is out.

Here’s what I’m thinking, and again, we haven’t talked to manager Bud Black yet. We should in the next two hours.

Monday vs. Dodgers: Jake Peavy, as it always would have been.

Tuesday vs. Dodgers: Chris Young, as it always would have been.

Wednesday vs. Dodgers: Silva, if he throws Friday, his turn would be Wednesday.

Thursday vs. Dodgers: Kevin Correia, if he throws Saturday, his turn would be Thursday.

Friday vs. Giants: Shawn Hill, who starts tonight, Tuesday. The question is will be stretched out enough to give the team at least five innings.

Today’s lineup vs. Milwaukee, 7:05 p.m. Chan. 4:

CF, Jody Gerut
2B, David Eckstein
RF, Brian Giles
1B, Adrian Gonzalez
3B, Kevin Kouzmanoff
LF, Chase Headley
C, Henry Blanco
SS, Luis Rodriguez
SP, Shawn Hill (maybe up to four innings). Possible relievers: Luke Gregerson, Duaner Sanchez, Heath Bell and Edwin Moreno.

Cheers, Corey

Good morning from Peoria. We’ve got three more days here before packing the car and heading back to San Diego. In all honestly, the time has flown by.

I have heard people complain that six weeks of Spring Training — actually seven this year with the World Baseball Classic — is far too long.

For players, I agree. They don’t need that much time, especially position players. For writers? Well, I’m not sure how much time we need, though I can say my blog and Twittering skills are better at this point.

Thanks again for your feedback. So let’s keep that going as we push toward Opening Day and beyond. Feel free to join Twitter and follow my comments and, of course, leave me a thought or two here.

We’ve got a night game here tonight against the Brewers. The Channel 4 team of Neely, Grant on the call and my homegirl Jenny Cavnar in the dugout.

I’ll have a post later today but here are a couple of radio interviews I did yesterday, first with Josh and Brian over at 1360 and then one with Coach Kentera at XX 1090.

Cheers, Corey

VERY good responses on the Cabrera question. Looks like he’s a keeper. I’ll throw out another question tomorrow. Let’s keep things rolling here at the blog and get some good discussions on the Padres going. I appreciate the feedback.

Anyways, about Monday … what have we learned?

Kevin Correia is the No. 4 starter. He has been and will continue to be that until the Padres do something else there. I like his stuff, personally. He had three walks today but he was in a fair amount of deep counts where he wasn’t willing to concede anything Walks happen, but I think his command is, generally, pretty good. The changeup has been a good pitch for him.

Cha Seung Baek will miss his first start and will likely (in my opinion) head to the DL to start the season. He was throwing well on Sunday, a lot better than he has, before he began to feel tightness in his forearm. It’s a strain and it could be worse but the Padres are still concerned. He’ll be shut down at least a week.

What does this mean for the rotation? I think the Padres go Peavy-Young to start their series against the Dodgers and then go either Correia or Walter Silva in the third game. Then one of those guys will go the fourth game with Shawn Hill — if he gets stretched out enough between now and then — to essentially be the fifth starter for the time being. Call it a hunch.

I really like this new kid, Frankie De La Cruz. He goes by Frankie, but his first name is not something I care to write or type. So it’s Frankie for now. I think he has the kind of power arm the Padres have been looking for at the back end of their bullpen. Live, big arm with a plus changeup. He’s on the team because he’s out of options. But how will he be used? He hasn’t been here a week so the staff will have to discover if they can trust him late in a game.

I got a chance to talk to first baseman Kyle Blanks. He’ll get moved over the Minor League side here soon enough but he has left a BIG impression on the staff and, no doubt, all of the other teams that have sent scouts over to Padres games. He has power, hits for average and appears to be a pretty good defender. All that outfield talk? Don’t count on it anytime soon. When we see him in San Diego is anyone’s guess.

Cheers, Corey

Now that Chris Burke has been traded to the Seattle Mariners, it’s safe to assume that Rule 5 pick-up, 22-year-old Everth Cabrera will make the 25-man roster as a backup infielder as will Edgar Gonzalez.

So … do you like this move?

For me, I’m a little torn. Here’s why:

The case for Cabrera: Upside, upside, upside. He’s 22, has speed (something the Padres have very little of) and pegs as an above-average defender at some point. Plus, the Padres have no upper-level shortstop prospects on the horizon. And, if the team is going to struggle, you can probably get away with keeping him, hiding him, whatever on the roster. Manager Bud Black can use him in games as a pinch-runner. Remember, the guy stole 73 bases a year ago. Keep him on the roster this year and next year, as a 23-year-old, send him to Double-A or Triple-A.

The case against Cabrera: In this day and age, and especially in the National League, you need every one of your roster spots. Double-switches, pinch-hitting for the pitcher, etc. You get it. I’m not sure Cabrera, who hasn’t played a lick above the Single-A level, can hold his own (not should he be expected to) at the Major League level just yet. There’s no way to work out a deal with Colorado, as they hated to lose him in the first place. He sticks or he’s gone. Cabrera’s defense (eight errors) has been iffy this spring. He’ll make some very nice plays on tough balls but will struggle on the routine stuff. Errors have been made out of aggression, which is fine by me.

So now it’s your turn. Keep him or send him back? What’s better for the Padres in 2009 and beyond?

Cheers, Corey

Good morning from Peoria, where the Padres are, believe it or not, riding a two-game winning streak heading into today’s game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale against the Dodgers

This will be the Padres first trip to the new facility the Dodgers and White Sox share, which is just South of here from what I can gather. It’s always interesting seeing new ballparks and the new designs. I really like the facility in Goodyear where the Indians train.

So Cha Seung Baek gets his final start of the spring today. He’s allowed 15 earned runs over his last two starts. I’m curious from your perspective, is he in the rotation no matter what? Do you want to see someone else take his place? Baek he, based on last season, earned the opportunity to be a part of the rotation regardless?

Let’s talk about it. Leave a comment here and I’ll chime in with my thoughts. And don’t forget kids, we’re Twittering. Feel free to follow me there. I’ll be providing notes and 140-word pity
analysis there.

Here’s today’s lineup (has been revised):

CF, Jody Gerut
2B, David Eckstein
RF, Brian Giles
1B, Adrian Gonzalez
3B, Kevin Kouzmanoff
LF, Scott Hairston
C, Henry Blanco
SS, Everth Cabrera
SP, Cha Seung Baek

Morning notes: INF Chris Burke has been told he won’t make the team, which means SS Everth Cabrera and INF Edgar Gonzalez likely will be the reserve infielders. … Cliff Floyd (shoulder) is still getting treatment and “improving,” according to Bud Black. Black said the the “next 24 to 48 hours will be important.”

Cheers, Corey

I wasn’t in San Diego yesterday for the big Jeff Moorad press conference, instead I opted to hang around the Minor League fields to watch Walter Silva and newcomer Luke Gregerson pitched in a game against the Mariners’ Triple-A team.

But my buddy Mike Ferrin from XM radio was kind enough to pass along (from an interview on XM with Holden Cushner) this little nugget about Peavy from Moorad press conference.

“[Jake] Peavy has been a terrific performer for the club at the same time I don’t think any player is untouchable. I think at some point I am sure Kevin Towers and I will visit about the issue and Kevin will have a point of view and frankly I’ll defer to it. I certainly want to be kept informed but I think Kevin will have a perspective on the Peavy situation and I really looking forward hearing it.”

So there you have it … sort of. Moorad will defer to Towers as they move ahead, which should be interesting. Do you keep Peavy and build around him as you increase payroll over time? Or do you dump a contract that will see Peavy earn $8 million this season, $15 million in 2010, $16 million in 2011, $17 million in 2012 and a $22 million club option ($4 million buyout) in 2013.

Speaking of Peavy, he will make his first Cactus League appearance since leaving to play in the WBC for Team USA. The Padres play a night game tonight in Phoenix against the A’s. I wonder if he’ll fare any better than Seattle’s Felix Hernandez did in his first post-WBC game?

I’m not so much interested in seeing Peavy tonight as I am newcomer Shawn Hill, who was signed on Monday after being released by Washington. Hill told me this week his hope is to build up to four innings by the time the Padres leave Arizona on April 2. This makes is highly unlikely he’ll be in the rotation — at least to start the year. Manager Bud Black even confirmed as much. But he could be in the bullpen.

As for yesterday, I was the only print/electronic reporter brave enough (stupid?) to spend part of his off-day watching … yes, baseball, and Minor League baseball as well. But I hadn’t seen Silva pitch and I wanted to see what Gregerson had to offer.

It’s funny watching these Minor League games on the back fields. No one is there except for the teams themselves, front office staff and maybe of handful of fans, though it’s mostly family watching their sons, husbands and boyfriends play. Zero vibe.

Some guy for the Mariners hit a wind-blown home run off Silva and no one cheered, including most of his teammates. He almost looked embarassed to be running around the bases! So that’s my little rant there.

Silva started fast, striking out five of the first six hitters he faced. He started to tire in the third inning and left a few balls up in the strike zone. In all fairness, the stiff wind didn’t help as far as his command. His slider looked good, though. I think he can help the team. Is he the No. 5 starter? Possibly, unless general manager Kevin Towers brings someone else in.

Gregerson’s ball was really moving, which I think is normal for him anyway. He had a little bit of trouble throwing strikes early but I think he got squeezed at least twice behind the plate. I saw one slider, which is supposed to be his best pitch, a wipeout slider, as Towers calls it. It moved, too. He worked one inning and sat about 90-92 mph. He’s in the mix.

So that’s it for now. We’ll have lineups for you later. Thanks to everyone to pitched me their questions for Moorad. I hope to meet him today and asked him some of these questions in the very near future.

But let’s get some more feedback here. What are your thoughts on Silva as the No. 5 and do you want to see Gregerson make the team or head to Portland for some Minor League work?

Cheers, Corey

Good morning from Peoria, where we’re having another off-day, which is about the only upside to seven weeks of Spring Training.

Today promises to be an interesting day, even though the Padres are off today and likely playing golf somewhere here in the Valley.

As you might have heard, today is the day new owner Jeff Moorad’s purchase of the Padres will become official. My colleague, Barry Bloom, has been all over this story from Day 1. Here is a link to his story today.

This will also be the day CEO Sandy Alderson steps down. We have known this day was coming for a while, but now there’s some finality to it. I wish Sandy well. He was always a good person to deal with and was always honest.

Alderson presided over a franchise that won two division titles (and nearly a third) and was instrumental in getting the facility in the Dominican Republic done.

The press conference from PETCO Park is at 3 p.m. today. You can watch it live only here on our site. Check it out.

What does all this mean for the franchise moving forward? We’ll start to get some answers today. I hope to meet with Moorad here in the near future and talk to him about where this franchise is headed.

So let’s do this, loyal blog readers (and I do appreciate the visits and comments) … email me something you want me to ask Moorad and I’ll do my best to get that done. Not sure when it’s going to happen, but I’ll try.

What do you want to know? Payroll? Peavy? Beer prices? Let’s hear it.

Cheers, Corey

 
PEORIA, Ariz. – The Padres continued their stockpiling of pitchers on Wednesday when they obtained right-hander Eulogio “Frankie” De La Cruz from the Florida Marlins for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

De La Cruz, who turned 25 earlier this month, was with the Marlins and had pitched well this spring, posting a 3.38 ERA in four games.

De La Cruz, according to general manager Kevin Towers, throws 96 mph and has hit 98 mph in the past. He’s out of options so he must remain on the Padres roster.

De La Cruz has a 13.21 in two Major League stints (12 games), first with the Tigers in 2007 and then the Marlins last season. De La Cruz spent most of last season at Triple-A Albuquerque going 13-8 with a 4.34 ERA as a starter.

De La Cruz, a native of the Dominican Republic, signed with the Tigers as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He has been used as a starter and reliever in the past.

He has a career Minor League record of 33-30 with a 3.80 ERA in 237 appearances, 60 of which were starts.

On Monday, the Padres signed right-hander Shawn Hill, released last week by the Nationals, to a Minor League deal. The team also received Minor League reliever Luke Gregerson from the Cardinals as the player to be named later in  the off-season deal for shortstop Khalil Greene.

Gregerson will throw Thursday in a Minor League game and Hill will appear in a Cactus League game Friday in Phoenix against the A’s. Both players have a chance to make the team as relievers.

It’s was initially known Wednesday if the Padres were looking at De La Cruz as a starter or a reliever.

Cheers, Corey

Sitting here a little bored during the Angels’ seven-run, fifth inning — that’s right, seven runs — in the fifth inning off No. 3 starter Cha Seung Beak.

It hasn’t been pretty by any means. And Gary Matthews Jr. just hit a bomb over the wall in right that’s headed toward Albuquerque.

Now don’t get me wrong. I fully understand that there’s a dramatic difference between these two leagues. I covered the American League before. There’s some serious thumpers for hitters over there in that league. The Padres have discovered this plenty this spring.

If they lose today, they’ll be 1-10-2 against American League teams this spring. Yes, it’s Spring Training, but 13 games is no small sample size.

So what’s my point? I don’t really have one, other than the pitching has to get better if these Padres are to avoid another last place finish in the National League West. I don’t think GM Kevin Towers is going to sit for this.

I forgot to mention that I saw reliever Mark Worrell earlier today in Peoria. He was getting a few things before heading back to San Diego where he’ll have reconstructive elbow surgery Wednesday. He’ll miss the entire season.

I didn’t get much of a chance to talk to Worrell this spring but found his attitude toward his injury today to be refreshing. He told me it could have been worse, that he could have had a heart attack. Very true. Hopefully we’ll see him next spring.

Cheers, Corey

Hey, rolled into Peoria last night and I’m fully recharged and ready for the final 10 days of Spring Training, which promises to be very interesting as the front office goes about piecing together a 25-man roster they’re happy with.

My guess is the Padres — who added pitcher Shawn Hill on Monday and Luke Gregerson, who completes the Khalil Greene deal — aren’t done looking for help, namely pitchers, namely relief pitchers.

So what do you think about the roster as it’s coming together? Do you like Hill as the No. 5 or Walter Silva? Does Everth Cabrera make the team? What will Kevin Towers try and pull off in these final 10 days. Leave your comments below and I’ll try to add my input.

Anyway, as always, here’s today’s lineup against the Angels in Tempe:

3B, Chris Burke
2B, David Eckstein
RF, Brian Giles
1B, Adrian Gonzalez
DH, Chase Headley
LF, Scott Hairston
CF, Jody Gerut
C, Nick Hundley
SS, Luis Rodriguez
SP, Cha Seung Baek, followed by Duaner Sanchez, Arturo Lopez and Jae Kuk Ryu.

Morning notes: New pitcher Shawn Hill landed in Phoenix about 9:30 a.m. and will head to Peoria. He isn’t expected to work out until Wednesday. No ETA on when he’ll appear in a game. Also, another new pitcher, Luke Gregerson, of the Khalil Greene deal, is here and is going to throw in a Minor League game on Thursday. Gregerson, because he was late to Spring Training (really late, though not his fault), had to taste Bud Black’s Vegemite. Good stuff! Elsewhere, Kevin Kouzmanoff has a sore left side and won’t play Tuesday. He’ll likely play again on Wednesday. Cliff Floyd and Emil Brown didn’t go to Tempe on Tuesday. They remained back in Peoria to get some at-bats in Minor League games.

Cheers, Corey