Yonder, as in “off we go into the wild blue . . .,” would seemingly be the perfect name for a slugger.
But when new Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso speaks of hitting, he doesn’t talk in terms of home runs.
“I am not thinking 40 or 50 home runs when I’m thinking about hitting,” Alonso said earlier this week at Petco Park.
“A lot of left-handed hitters and first basemen are thinking home runs,” Alonso continued. “That’s not the type of left-handed hitter I am.
“When I look at Petco Park, I don’t see how far away the fences are. I see a lot of grass. I feel like this ballpark likes the kind of hitter I am.”
A line-drive hitter. A foul line-to-foul line, line-drive hitter.
“First thing with me is put the ball in play,” Alonso continued. “Hit it hard. Level it. I want good at-bats.”
Thinking like that is much of the reason why the Padres preferred Alonso over Anthony Rizzo when deciding their first baseman of the future.
The 22-year-old Rizzo probably has more power in his...
SAN DIEGO (AP) - The San Diego Padres have agreed to terms on a $2,705,000, one-year contract with left-handed pitcher Clayton Richard.
General manager Josh Byrnes made the announcement Monday.
The 28-year-old Richard was 5-9 with a 3.88 ERA and 53 strikeouts over 18 starts in 2011 before undergoing season-ending surgery on his left shoulder on July 29.
Richard is 24-20 with a 3.84 ERA since joining the Padres from the Chicago White Sox in July 2009.
The Padres now have only one arbitration-eligible player remaining in right-handed pitcher Dustin Moseley.
1. Cory Spangenberg, Padres: Spangenberg became a great example of the benefits of signing early -- getting out and racking up 330 plate appearances while many of his fellow 2011 first-rounders were sitting around and waiting to sign. He also showed that reports of his ability to hit were spot-on, as he put up impressive numbers in average and on-base percentage. Spangenberg also has plus speed that will allow him to continue to steal bases. He's already made the move to second base from third base full-time and should be just fine there. Spangenberg is on the fast track already, and to see him in Double-A at some point in 2012 seems very reasonable.
2. Yonder Alonso, Padres: Alonso wasn't going to play first base in Cincinnati because of Joey Votto, and even with a valiant effort, left field really wasn't for him. So no one was surprised when Alonso was a part of the trade with San Diego that brought Mat Latos to the Reds. With Rizzo now in Chicago, first base in San Diego should be Alonso's for the taking. He brings to the table an advanced approach at the plate, with the ability to hit for average and power to all fields -- even if that will largely be doubles at Petco. No longer a stuck prospect, Alonso should take off and perhaps be a National League Rookie of the Year Award candidate in 2012.
