Padres rotation = #1 in the majors, according to mlb.com

[realmofotalk]

I agree that Williams was never thought of as an ace. But from everything that I've read, he was projected to be a very good #2 to #3. Meanwhile, Foppert ripped through the minor leagues in less than 2 years. They generated plenty of hype. We weren't talking about a couple of Ryan Vogelsongs.

[love_that_reefer]

Yeah but nothing like Billingsley and Kershaw. Just leave the ex-Giants out of it!

[love_that_reefer]

Compare them to Edwin Jackson and Greg Miller.

[realmofotalk]

The peak of the hype was pretty close to Cain and Lincecum, except the ex-Giants flew under the radar at first.

[love_that_reefer]

In no way were they even close to Cain and Lincecum hype. Merkin Valdez had more hype than both Foppert and Williams. Cain and Lincecum are both seen as aces, Foppert and Williams were not. Just be happy you have Kershaw and Billingsley and shush!

[HollywoodLeo]

I was just about to ask about Merkin Valdez.

What ever came of him?

[love_that_reefer]

He's in camp this spring trying to make the bullpen. He's pitched in seven games this year but has only had one bad outing. Scouts have been very impressed and I'm betting he will make the bullpen at some point this season. He has six K's in eight innings. After years and years of hearing about him and disappointment only to follow, it would be nice if he could be a Felix Rodriguez type if only a couple of season.

[realmofotalk]

The Merkin Valdez that we all know, nee Manuel Mateo, was eaten by Andruw Jones before the Russ Ortiz trade to Atlanta. The guy the Braves traded, Merkin Valdez, was discovered to be Mateo's body double.

[padrefanforever]

The #1 rotation included Prior. Offensive spring training stats are pointless. Headley is putting up good numbers but I can't find anywhere that says how well he is doing in LF. McNulty is putting up good numbers too.

All I can tell you is what I saw this week watching him play LF while I was in Peoria.......aside from what we already know, and that's that this kid can flat out rake........I was pleasantly surprised at how well he fielded the position after everything negative that I've heard. While he's nowhere near polished yet, considering he's only got less than a month out there, IMO he's showing that he will have no problem transferring his athletic defensive abilities in a short time. He was a plus defender at 3rd, and I really expect close to that in the near future from him in the OF. I would suggest that he alread gets almost as good a jump and read on the ball as most LFer's, has shown better range than anyone thought he'd have.......his one weakness that stood out to me was throwing the ball.......but that's something that will/should come with repetition.....his arm strength is nolonger a question for me either.

I'm not trying to suggest we're going to see GG's in LF, but I'd say that he's not far behind Tony Gywnn as a fielder when he came up, and look where hard work and dedication got him.

Just saying I believe the tools are there for him to become a very very good overall LFer on both sides of the ball.

[HollywoodLeo]

From what I've read he still needs to work on his throwing, but otherwise appears to be handling the OF well

[love_that_reefer]

If Robin Yount can transform into a CFer, I have no doubt Headley will. it just takes time. ARod is still not completely there at 3rd yet.

[padrefanforever]

I'd be willing to be Headley is a better OFer in his first season than ARod was a 3bag in his

[HollywoodLeo]

Oh and on the Dodgers front.......Latos = Kershaw

I disagree

[HollywoodLeo]

I'd be willing to be Headley is a better OFer in his first season than ARod was a 3bag in his

[padrefanforever]

13 errors .965fpct lgrf9 2.62.....to....... 5 errors .969 fpct lgrf9 2.21

it's pretty close