The Padres still have issues putting the ball in play.
Their team batting average of .221 makes them the worst-hitting team in all of MLB this season. Jedd Gyorko, who was signed to a long-term contract earlier this year in hopes that he might become the cornerstone of the offense, is hitting .162 with five home runs in 56 games played and is putting up the worst offensive numbers of his career, at any level. For all of the praise the team gives to its hitting coaches, Phil Plantier and Alonzo Powell, it has no results to show for it. This can’t simply be blamed on injuries or talent, because even the talented players look completely out of sorts when they’re healthy.
The Padres front office, already on the hot seat, is trying to offset the offensive woes by drafting new offensive talent. Last year they used their first pick on Hunter Renfroe, an outfielder who was expected to hit for power, and you can currently find him terrorizing pitchers to the tune of one HR every 17.6 ABs as a part of the Lake Elsinore Storm. With this year’s draft kicking off Thursday, San Diego used its top two selections on speedy SS Trea Turner and exciting high school OF Michael Gettys. Will these recent draft picks save the jobs of Josh Byrnes, Bud Black, Phil Plantier and Alonzo Powell? Probably not, but the team’s recent draft history has been solid, which should help the team be competitive and stay competitive in a couple of years.
For more on Trea Turner, and to see video of his sterling defensive play, click here.
You’re reading the Sports Report, our weekly compilation of news and information for the San Diego sports fan.
The Secret Chargers Softball Team
Despite the fact that it’s the offseason, and they’re all football players that make millions of dollars each year, a handful of Chargers players have put together a local softball team and have been competing against the locals in a softball league. Not only that, but they seem to do so while wearing wigs, or painfully short shorts, with nicknames like “Stallion” on the back of their T-shirts instead of their real names.
Hopefully the outing of this secret doesn’t ruin whatever fun the guys were having. It’s actually quite refreshing to see a group of teammates finding excuses to see one other and have fun with one another during the offseason.
Meanwhile, we can assume that Jeromey Clary is missing the games for the same reason that he missed OTAs. Namely, he’s still recovering from offseason surgery. I’ve reached a point with Clary that anything less than the team releasing him this offseason might actually drive me insane, and his health status was the final straw that broke the camel’s back.
Stories You May Have Missed
• Don Zimmer, who has been around the MLB as a player and a coach since 1954, passed away this week at the age of 83. As you might expect, longtime Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully eulogized Zimmer best, by telling two stories that showed how beloved Zimmer was and how funny he was.
• The World Cup starts Thursday! Get prepared by reading through this epic preview of every team in every group.
• Want to know why the San Diego Chargers selected cornerback Jason Verrett in the first round? At least part of it was because he played in the same defensive scheme in college. So, despite missing on-the-field work at OTAs after shoulder surgery, the learning curve for Verrett should be quick and easy.
• Vine of the Week: 50 Cent’s ceremonial first pitch at a Mets game may have been the worst ever, but Vladimir Guerrero still swung at it and got on base. I love the internet.
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I’m John Gennaro, contributor to Active Voice and managing editor of Bolts from the Blue. You can tweet me @john_gennaro or e-mail me directly at boltsfromtheblue@gmail.com.