Vicente Pa-whaaaa?!
March 25, 2010 at 9:55 am | Posted in Vicente Padilla | 31 Comments
Uh… Ken Gurnick?
The Dodgers will name Vicent Padilla their Opening Day starter.
Thanks to the magic of Twitter, let’s see the immediate reaction from several people I have a lot of respect for:
jay_jaffe Why, did he shoot Kershaw and Billingsley?
craigcalcaterra This has to be a joke, right?
injuryexpert RT @jay_jaffe: Why, did he shoot Kershaw and Billingsley?
truebluela What the hell?
DodgerDivorce You’ve got to be kidding me.
The funny thing is, the Opening Day starter role usually doesn’t really matter at all. I already had a post prepared to go for when Clayton Kershaw was named the starter, and it included this passage:
the Dodgers haven’t exactly had a great recent tradition with their Opening Day starters. Last year, Hiroki Kuroda threw 5.2 innings against the Padres, and then immediately disappeared for two months with a pulled muscle, returning only to take a line drive off the head, miss the NLDS with a neck injury, and get torched in the NLCS. In 2008, Brad Penny ended his Dodger tenure by putting up a 6.27 ERA in 19 games. That’s neither here nor there – Derek Lowe started the previous three seasons and he was very effective as a Dodger – but the point is, it’s hardly a guarantee of a successful season. A nice honor; nothing more, nothing less.
From a baseball standpoint, Padilla getting the job doesn’t change that. But from a public relations standpoint… I mean, this isn’t going to shut up the “they don’t have an ace” crowd, is it? They could have gone with Kershaw, who’s young but undeniably talented. They could have gone with Hiroki Kuroda, who got the job last year. They could have gone with Chad Billingsley, who has had the most MLB success of any of the starters over the last few years and then positioned it as a “we have total confidence in you, Chad” move.
But Padilla? The guy who was picked up for free last year? The guy who shot himself in the offseason? The guy who’s always one step away from a total breakdown? This is the guy you’re starting your season off with? I don’t even care from an on-the-field perspective, but the stories that are going to come off of this will just be more bad PR in an offseason full of it.
31 Comments »
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
Leave a Reply
How Many McCourt Sins?
MSTI on the web
MSTI Library
Blog at WordPress.com. | Theme: Pool by Borja Fernandez.
Entries and comments feeds.
I assume it’s cause they start of the year with the Pirates.
Comment by Damon— March 25, 2010 #
But it’s not like they only play them in Game 1. Padilla could have started Game 2 or 3.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— March 25, 2010 #
Maybe they’re being superstitious. I mean, there’s a lot of superstitions in baseball, They might be thinking about how the last few guys start on Opening Day have had some crazy stuff happen to them. It could also be seen as a sort of reward for being the only thing resembling an ace during the playoffs.
Or maybe he started cleaning his gun in the clubhouse next to Kershaw’s locker.
Comment by Omer— March 25, 2010 #
Probably to give Kershaw or Bills or Kuroda the home opener. Who cares who opens the season on the road really. The bigger honor is to open the season in front of your fans at your stadium. I guess it would be different if we were opening in SF or NYC or STL or even in CHI, but not in PIT. If Kershaw, Bills or Kuroda started opening day they would not be able to start the home opener unless you broke the rotation cycle and gave them a lot of off days or pitched them on short rest. Both options would be retarded. The #2 starter in this case would start the home opener with 1 extra day of rest or the #3 on regular rest.
Comment by TheStig— March 25, 2010 #
That would make sense except give one to Billz and one to Kershaw.
Two big opening days thus, one for each. Giving one to Padilla makes noo sense.
Comment by Gillbert— March 25, 2010 #
Can’t say I disagree there Gilbert. That would have been a more than adequate decision. I really wouldn’t mind if any of the three of Kershaw Bills or Kuroda got the nod. It does seem odd that Padilla was even in the discussion. Not like he has much history with the team or anything. Maybe he has been talking about hunting?
Comment by TheStig— March 25, 2010 #
Maybe they are setting it up so Bills or Kershaw pitch Dodger stadium opening day?
Comment by Chris— March 25, 2010 #
But it would seem crazy to not start the year with your best pitcher just for that.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— March 25, 2010 #
1) Your point about the opening day starter not really mattering.
2) It sets up Kershaw for the home opener, according to Gurnicks piece today.
3) Padilla isn’t THAT bad.
4) Hey, it’s the freakin’ Pirates.
Comment by carolinabluedodger— March 25, 2010 #
The only sense I can make of it is that picking any of the other guys would have implied they were anointed “ace” and there would be negative feelings and consequences. By picking Padilla, who is clearly not the ace, all that is avoided.
Comment by Cody— March 25, 2010 #
Ok, who’s the wiseguy starting the April Fool’s jokes early?
Comment by Wil— March 25, 2010 #
Dam, I’m super bummed. I live in upstate NY, and am going to opening day in pittsburg as part of my spring break. I’m really bummed I won’t get to see Kerhsaw pitch, its hard being a Dodger fan on the east coast. Only Mets and Phillies are easy enough to get to, and can’t make the Mets this year as its during the week in cold april. Oh well, wether it be superstition or wanting Kerhshaw for the home opener, I guess we get the shaft over here. I hope Kemp hits one out and Padilla defies the odds and wow’s me. Go Blue!!
Comment by BoyOf Blue— March 25, 2010 #
Defies the odds??
He’s 98-85 lifetime.
Comment by carolinabluedodger— March 25, 2010 #
What’s the big deal? I’ve liked Padilla since he was with the Phillies and with the StRangers. He’s pitched well in some tough home parks and his stuff is excellent. I might have been the only BBWC member happy to see him signed last August and he performed well.
It’s not like they annointed him as the ace of the staff, either. C’mon, it’s a road game in Pittsburgh. If I hadn’t frozen my Texan ass off in a cold, drizzly rain for four games in Pittsburgh in September 2009, I’d predict a seven inning shut out for Padilla.
Comment by SamAdams— March 25, 2010 #
I really don’t see the big deal here. There’s 162 games in a season, and everybody wins 60 & loses 60. Worst case scenario, they lose the first game of the season, and Joe gives Bowa the green light to destroy a bathroom partition with a bat while ripping some behinds apart for the fellas not taking each game seriously.
And, Kershaw & Bills are in the rotation to start the first two home games — giving the home fans what they want to see on THEIR opening series.
Besides, if I remember correctly, Padilla pitched a HELL of a game against the Phils before the bullpen blew up in the NLCS and the whole season went down the tubes (referring to Game 2, not Game 5).
Comment by Vegas Blue— March 25, 2010 #
Making Vincente Padilla the Dodgers opening day starter is like taking your sister to prom when you have a hot girlfriend.
As an LA native living in central New Jersey, I was excited about seeing my beloved Dodgers at PNC park on Opening Day. While this certainly doesn’t ruin my trip, it really bums me out.
Comment by Real Tom— March 26, 2010 #
Always like to see another Dodger fan in central Jersey!
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— March 26, 2010 #
Padilla is a good pitcher. Dont you remember what he did in the playoffs? He was the only ace against Cardinals and Phillies in game 2, and now where are the “I love you Vinnie”, “Our Ace” “Thanks to Padilla who was bumped by Texas” “Padilla has changed”.
I mean cmon how easy you forget about things. Im glad Padilla is in our staff, he’s a warrior and hes not crazy like MSTI thinks, hes actually good, and also what is the problem if is Padilla or Clayton? Thas why we always came short. We dont see things like a team.
Comment by D— March 26, 2010 #
I’m not saying he’s a bad pitcher. I’m saying he’s the 4th best starter the Dodgers have, so having him start on Opening Day is confusing at best.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— March 26, 2010 #
Why wasn’t there a big outcry like this last year when Kuroda started the 1st game? Really, it’s the same thing.
Comment by carolinabluedodger— March 26, 2010 #
So who is pitching the second game at Dodger Stadium? They are calling it Opening Night! I am glad that Kershaw got the Opening Day start at home! What could be better than Kershaw on the mound and Vin Scully at the Mike!
Comment by Emma— March 26, 2010 #
Well it’s not confusing at all. Why? Because we have a hell of a manager and i think that he saw something in Padilla that made him take this decision. He could have gone with Kuroda, or Chad, because he wants Clayton in LA, but he chose Vinnie, Why? the man is wise, he know why.
Comment by D— March 26, 2010 #
So you’re saying that Torre is above being second-guessed on anything, ever?
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— March 26, 2010 #
There is only one “Vinnie” and it is not Padilla
Comment by chris— March 26, 2010 #
‘DILLA TIME!
Comment by mike— March 26, 2010 #
Maybe Padilla is throwing best right now. Maybe he also matches up well with the Pirates and maybe Torre wants to win the first game. It may just be as simple as that.
Padilla came through pretty well last year and I think he’s a good value for the team. Wouldn’t it be nice if he could have a good, solid year? And I disagree about him being #4 starter. I think there’s a case to be made that he’s #3 now (look at the career record), and if Billingsley proves unable to get past the fifth inning, he could be #2. IMO, Kershaw is the only pitcher who deserves to be in the #1 conversation.
These things aren’t cast in stone. These boys don’t get to throw their “rankings” out on the field; they have to perform. Padilla has won 98 ML games. That’s more than Billingsley and Kershaw combined. And, hey, you folks lucky enough to attend the game: enjoy seeing the Dodgers and being in beautiful PNC Park, IMO the best of all the new parks. Don’t worry about who’s pitching. Worry about staying warm. I’ve got in-laws in Pittsburgh, but can’t get there for the series. I will try for Atlanta in August. Another nice park, BTW.
Very nice blog here, BTW. Found you through Dodger Thoughts and will now be a regular. The Dodgers do have at least one fan in the Hilton Head area. Haven’t found another one, but I keep looking.
Comment by southcarolinablue— March 27, 2010 #
Hello there, Happy April Fool’s Day!!!
Mildred came back from her annual check up with her doctor in an unusually good mood, and her husband asked her what had made her day.
Mildred said, “The doctor told me that I have the breasts of an eighteen year old.”
To which her husband responded, “What did he say about your forty-six year old ass?”
Milly retorted, “He didn’t say a word about you!”
Happy April Fool’s Day!
Comment by Nichol— April 1, 2010 #
[...] (Sadly, worrying about the divorce case has barely just begun). So while I don’t agree with the Opening Day starter, the batting order, or the 25th man on the roster, I think we can all agree: it’s worth [...]
Pingback by It May Be Pittsburgh… « Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— April 5, 2010 #
[...] being named Opening Day starter was annoying, but ultimately irrelevant, since he’s the #4 starter on a club with Clayton Kershaw, who was only the toughest starter [...]
Pingback by We Don’t Need “Fans” Like This « Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— April 7, 2010 #
[...] a bizarre year for Padilla. After coming off the offseason shooting incident, he got a totally unexpected Opening Day start, which he turned into an underwhelming April and then nearly two months on the DL with a forearm [...]
Pingback by The MSTI 2011 Plan, Part 2: Pitching « Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— October 12, 2010 #
[...] not even sure where to start here. How about the completely unexpected Opening Day start? Thanks to the magic of Twitter, let’s see the immediate reaction from several people I have a [...]
Pingback by MSTI’s 2010 in Review: Starting Pitchers, Part 2 « Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— November 4, 2010 #