Rookie watch...Clay Hensley

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 4:17 pm

What do you guys think of Clay Hensley (SD - P)?

The Pads have Peavy, Woody and Young at 1-3 but then have Estes and Chan Ho bringing up the backend of the rotation. Does Hensley have any chance at bumping one of those guys?

Estes hasn't had an ERA below 4.00 since 1997 and is coming off that injury. Problem is that he is the only lefty in the rotation. Park is a waste of space and hasn't had an ERA below 5.50 since 2001 but I think they owe him some decent cash and he isn't suited for the bullpen.

Hesnley put up impressive numbers last year...

47 2/3 IP with a 1.70 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. Only 5.3 K/IP but still impresive numbers. In AAA in '05, before being called up, he had a 2.99ERA in 90 1/3 IP with 7.1 K/IP. Is there more to his scouting report that I haven't seen?

What do you guys think..worth watching or drafting in late rounds in a deep league or a waste of time? If he doesn't make the rotation, where does he fit in the bullpen?

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 1:54 pm

If he doesn't make it as a starter, odds are he'll be the 7th inning guy.
Linebrink in the 8th and Trevor in the 9th.

Right now he appears to be the #6 starter with Staufer as the #7.
Probably a fairly good chance that either Hensley or Staufer could come out of ST with a starting job.

Probably about even money between the two.

I think he could be a reasonbable late round pick, or somebody to watch and if it looks like he has a starting job, then grab him off of the Free Agent or Waiver Wire List.

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 2:09 pm

Thanks for your reply. I just spoke to my Dad this morning, his wife's son-in-law is a coach for the Pads, and he said that Hensley is the Pads 3rd best starter behind Peavy and Young. I hope the rest of the people in the organization feel the same way.

I'll definitely be watching him in ST and if he lands a rotation spot...he will be the deep sleeper to have!

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 4:04 pm

I'm trying to get through to Randy Jones to see if I can get a feel from him on what is going on with Hensley.
Haven't had any luck yet.
Golfing partner of mine.

He generally has a fairly good feel on the youngsters in the organization.

What you heard sounds about right, but just not sure how big of a hurry they will be in with him.

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 4:24 pm

I would look for him as a last pick or a FA pick up after or during ST dependin on how good he does

Roto Guru Joined: Feb 24, 2005 Posts: 2026 Location: CA

From CBS Sportsline.com

No. 5 starter -- Chan Ho Park vs. Tim Stauffer and Clay Hensley

This battle might be moot, considering it's just a matter of time before a David Wells trade from the Red Sox to the Padres comes through. The teams want to take a look at their teams this spring before making a move in that regard. Park is well-paid, so unless his arm falls off, Stauffer will bide his time in Triple-A and Hensley will have to fill the holes the Padres created in their once-stacked bullpen. None of these players is anything more than a flier in deeper NL-only leagues on Draft Day.
San Diego Padres Outlook

Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 7:58 am

flakattack wrote:

From CBS Sportsline.com

No. 5 starter -- Chan Ho Park vs. Tim Stauffer and Clay Hensley

This battle might be moot, considering it's just a matter of time before a David Wells trade from the Red Sox to the Padres comes through. The teams want to take a look at their teams this spring before making a move in that regard. Park is well-paid, so unless his arm falls off, Stauffer will bide his time in Triple-A and Hensley will have to fill the holes the Padres created in their once-stacked bullpen. None of these players is anything more than a flier in deeper NL-only leagues on Draft Day.
San Diego Padres Outlook

If they do get Wells, I'm hoping he will take Estes' spot in the rotation. The only reason Estes has a spot is because he is the only southpaw. Neither Estes or CH Park deserve to be on a big league roster, let alone in a starting rotation. Its time to give these youngsters a shot...at least one of them in the #5 spot. Can it really be worse then the gas can on the mound called Chan Ho?

Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 2:05 pm

Quote:

Feb 19, 2006 - 8:16 pm
The Padres aren't planning to give Clay Hensley an opportunity to compete for a rotation spot this spring.

??? WHY NOT!?!

Where did this information come from and why would that be decided so early in ST?

Seems kinda silly to me. If that is the case. How does he fit in the bullpen? We he be the next best option after Linebrink and get some hold ops?

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 2:11 am

Hensley would have to have one hell of spring to make the rotation.
All bets are for him to be a that 'two inning' type of guy for the 5-7 innings. Next year he will get his crack.

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:13 am

excerpt from padres.mlb.com:

Quote:

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Clay Hensley spent his rookie season with the Padres in middle relief, excelling with a 1.70 ERA in 47 2/3 innings without allowing a home run. He'll apparently start the season, at least, back in the bullpen, his starting aspirations on hold.
There had been speculation that Hensley would get a crack at the rotation, but manager Bruce Bochy seems to have determined that the Texan's chief value right now is in a setup role in front of Scott Linebrink and Trevor Hoffman.

"I'm going to sit down and talk with Clay," Bochy said Saturday following the club's first workout. "Right now, we're going to prepare to use him out of the bullpen. With Rudy [Seanez] and Aki [Otsuka], very important pitchers in the bullpen, gone, we need some guys to help get to Trevor.

"Hensley showed he can do it. He did an unbelievable job last year. We may not have won the [National League West] without him."

A starter throughout his Minor League career, Hensley had hoped to carve a spot in the rotation and very likely will -- just not in the immediate future, evidently.

Notes: Hensley headed for bullpen

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 7:42 am

Thanks RC.