The 5.5 Hole

There are two very unique sounds in baseball. These sounds are readily distinguishable by any baseball fan, and depending on the circumstances, can be music to their ears. The smack of hard rawhide against soft leather can echo through even the most packed stadium. And the distinct crack of a solid wooden bat sending that little white ball into oblivion plays off the ear drums unlike any sound in the world.

These sounds got me thinking about what was more exciting in baseball, a home run or a strike out?

Home runs have their own derby, a nationally televised event every year. They rocket through crisp night air and through sultry summer days. Home runs bring people to their feet and knock them to their knees.

Carlos Beltran slugged eight home runs in the 2004 post-season and, much like an old high school athlete reliving the glory days, has been living off those home runs ever since. Those eight home runs bought him a large contract in New York, to which he has underperformed. But they got him there.

Home runs are famous. Carlton Fisk kept his famous home run shot fair with a few waves of his arm and a lot of hope. Kirk Gibson, with two bad knees, sent the Dodgers to a Game 1 win in the 1988 World Series with his blast. Bobby Thompson's shot heard 'round the world capped a come back from 12 1/2 games down to allow the Giants to win the pennant. These home runs instantly burn into our memories and are forever written in baseball history.

But then there's the strikeout.

Strikeouts are powerful. Only the best pitchers can rear back and send a batter to the bench with a blazing fastball or a knee-buckling curve. With a leg kick so high you might think the pitcher is going to fall, or a delivery so quick the ball literally disappears, pitchers can dazzle with their talent.

Strikeouts can invigorate a crowd or demoralize an opponent. Kerry Wood's 20 strikeout performance redefined what young pitchers could accomplish. Nolan Ryan struck out so many batters, outs of any other kind were something to talk about. Stephen Strausburg blew away any doubt about his hype by striking out 14 batters in his Major League debut.

Home runs happen in almost every game, but great strikeout performances may only come once every five days. Roy Halladay, Justin Verlander, Felix Hernandez, and Tim Lincecum can shine on any given start. They can lock in and dominate batters with change-ups that seem like they have a string attached, cutters that defy physics, and fastballs that touch that magical triple digit range.

But does the relative rarity of a great strikeout performance make it more entertaining than a monster home run. Or do those majestic blasts into the outfield bleachers far outweigh the momentary excitement a singular strikeout can bring?

You tell me.

With Robinson Cano's leap into the arms of his father after he hit the winning home run in the Home Run Derby, he fulfilled a dream almost every boy has. A father-son celebration on the biggest stage. Cano's historic Derby championship was all the more special because his father, Jose Cano, was throwing to him.

The moment has been an exclamation point on a young career filled with accomplishment. Only one other second baseman has won the Home Run Derby (Ryne Sandberg won in 1990 in front of his hometown Wrigley Field crowd). In his seven years so far in the big leagues, he is hitting .308. He has over 1,100 hits and 131 home runs. He strikes out only 12% of the time. He finished third in AL MVP voting last year. Basically, he's real good.

At 28 year old, Cano has probably nine to ten more productive seasons ahead of him if he remains healthy. He's averaging 167 hits per season, so he'll likely finish his career with close to 2700. Cano has a real shot at a career average greater than .300 and a career on-base percentage greater than .330.

Only time will tell where Cano ultimately finds himself when he hangs up his cleats and stops turning double plays at second base. In the mean time, Cano can settle in as the new face of the New York Yankees. With Alex Rodriguez's shine continually diminishing in his post-steroid career and Derek Jeter stepping towards retirement, Cano is poised to be the next Yankee superstar.

For now though, Robinson Cano can celebrate a record 12 home run performance in the final round of the Home Run Derby to propel himself past Adrian Gonzalez. He can celebrate an up and coming career. And he can celebrate alongside his dad.

6 hits, zero runs, and a missed no-hitter later the Padres find themselves gripping the ledge of the National League West. They are one bead of sweat away from losing their grip and slipping into the basement. One more shut-out away from closing in on the inaugural season's record of 18 shut-outs.

The Padres attempt at a franchise first no-hitter was broken up by the Dodgers in the bottom of the ninth Saturday. This is the same Dodgers team that has been trying to dig out of the McCourt's nasty divorce and the basement of the NL West all season.

Yet, the San Diego Padres are not as bad as they seem. Or are they?

Out of 30 teams, they rank 29th in runs scored, 29th in batting average, 29th in slugging percentage, and 28th in on-base percentage. A quick look at the team's statistical leaders reveals only one player hitting over .265, one player with more than 5 home runs, and one player with more than 35 RBI's.

Let's compare this to some of the other cellar-dwellers this year.

Florida has three players hitting better than .265, five players with more than 5 home runs, And four players with more than 35 RBI's.

Houston has three players hitting .265 or better, five players with more than 5 home runs, and five players with more than 35 RBI's.

Baltimore has four players hitting better than .265, eight players with more than 5 home runs, and three players with 35 or more RBI's.

Kansas City has four players hitting .265 or better, six players with 5 home runs or more, and four players with more than 35 RBI's.

Finally, Oakland has no player hitting over .265, four players with 5 or more home runs, and only one player with more than 35 RBI's.

The Padres offense is so far gone, you may think it ran off with the A's. Maybe they're sharing Piña Coladas on some distant beach together. Maybe they traveled to a baseball-friendly jurisdiction, got married, and spawned a bunch of offense-deficient minor league teams. Wherever the offense went, at least we can rest assured the A's are just about as bad.

This will be a defining moment in Jed Hoyer's career. Does he follow in the footsteps of Kevin Towers and get more with less, or does he fall flat on his face, dragging the club down with him for years to come?

Padres fans like myself will continue to keep the faith, we will hope for another breakout 90-win season, and we will push through the losses. But all we can do is hope for a little more offense.