Chart Observations: SD @ LAD

• Chad Gaudin was on the bump for the pitching-deprived Padres. Gaudin featured a low 90's moving fastball, a high 70's to mid 80's slider and a mid 80's changeup from a low 3/4 release point. He showed average command of his stuff, but none of his offerings are real plus (and he only occasionally threw a change). What you get with him is what you get. He has some value as an innings eater when he isn't getting hit, but that is the extent of his value as a starter. That being said, Petco is the best place for him to try and be more.
• Chad Billingsley is a strong # 2 at this point with a pretty good chance of turning into a legitimate ace. He features a mid 90's 4-seamer, low 90's 2-seamer, high 80's to low 90's cutter, mid 70's to low 80's curveball and a low 80's slider. Both the 4-seamer and curveball are plus pitches and his cutter is also close to being plus. His issue is that he has some command issues in games. He walked Gaudin on 5 pitches and had another time where he just struggled to find the plate. That being said, I fully anticipate for him to become a legitimate ace in the next 3 years, barring injury.
• Will Ohman allowed hits to both left handers he faced (including a home run to Jody Gerut). He showed an average fastball in the high 80's and an average slider in the low 80's. He is just an average LOOGY now.
• Ramon Troncoso has a quality 2-seam fastball that sits in the low 90's with good sink and a curveball in the low 80's that is an average big league offering. His 2-seam is plus and he pitches off of it very well. He has some mechanical issues, in that he opens up very early and also raises his hands above his shoulders, putting extra strain on the shoulder. Be very surprised if he doesn't go down to injury at some point this season.
• Arturo Lopez is another Mexican League guy (should Adrian Gonzalez just be named GM now?) who may have some tools. He throws a straight 4-seamer in the low 90's, a slider in the low 80's and a changeup in the low 80's. The 4-seam is just a major league average pitch, as it has no cut or anything to it. The slider and change appear to be average pitches stuff-wise, but are below average due to his inability to command them. He comes from a high 3/4 release and appears to favor his change over his slider.
• Luis Perdomo kind of popped up on the scene last season when he went to various teams in trades. He shows a plus 2-seam fastball sitting in the low to mid 90's and a below average slider in the high 80's or low 90's that moves like a cutter. His 2-seamer has tremendous fade and sink to it when it's on. He needs to work on his consistency, as sometimes the 2-seam will not have as much action on it or his slider just won't break and will be a hanging spinner. He could be a back-end guy, but I think he will be a solid 10th or 11th guy in a pen. I think a full year in AAA to work on that consistency would have done him wonders, but the Padres are desperate for arms.
• Chase Headley should be an above average bat from the corner outfield. He has a very quiet setup and has a good looking swing. As he begins to learn more on how pitchers attack him, he should be a .280-.360-.480 type guy with some big average years mixed in. Of course, who knows how we will adjust to the cavern that is Petco.
• Matt Kemp is having some serious issues. In his last 3 games, he is 0-10 with 7 strikeouts. He really struggled against Gaudin and his shoulder flew out very often. He is one of those funks where he tells himself to take a pitch and the pitcher throws a fastball right down the middle. Then, when he comes up thinking to be aggressive, he flails at a 1st pitch slider. This is just one of those things hitters get to go through. He will be fine.

Got the Twins-Tigers score tonight with a match-up of Francisco Liriano (3rd game of his I would have scored) and Edwin Jackson.