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REVOLUTION KARMA by Jason Martinez posted 6/07/08 I'm going to go ahead and take credit for Scott Hairston's walk-off home run in tonight's 2-1 victory over the Mets. In my last story, posted at approximately 11:50 AM this morning, I wrote, "... he (Hairston) might also hit 25 home runs, including many of the late-inning, game-winning variety" and "Hairston will be able to delay the inevitable callup of (Chase) Headley with a few more games like he had last night". And he responds with a 2-for-5 night, including his 9th HR, a 10th inning walk-off job. I'm going to go ahead and chalk one up for REVOLUTION KARMA. Hairston definitely has a flair for the dramatic. In just over 90 games with the Padres, he's already hit three walk-off home runs. I'm guessing, but that has to be a team record. Most Padre fans, myself included, will say that they are upset the Padres could not re-sign Milton Bradley. I still am. But we all know, deep down inside, that we wanted to see what Hairston could do if given 500 at bats over the course of a season. When he was batting .184 with 20 strikeouts on April 26th, I think we all completely gave up hope and started calling for Chase Headley. Heck, I was still touting Hairston as a valuable fourth outfielder in my earlier post. But after another clutch home run, I have to say that I'm, once again, very interested in seeing Hairston in the lineup five to six times a week so we can all see what his stats would like after a 500 at-bat season. Over his last 111 at bats, he's batting .270 with 7 HR's and 11 RBI's. Pretty good production, right? And here's another good sign that he's getting more and more comfortable at the plate. After striking out 45 times through the first two months of the season, he's struck out just twice in his last 20 at bats. Despite the Padre offense scoring just eight runs in the last four games, we're hearing less and less about Chase Headley. Winning will do that. And why break up a team that's won 9 of 13 games? OK, I still think they should bring up the kid. But I think Hairston needs to play. And Gerut, too. So after thinking really hard about this for the last 10 minutes, here is what I've come up with: Bring up Headley and start him in left field 4 times per week. Start him at third base 1-2 times per week against tough right-handers, giving Kevin Kouzmanoff a much needed rest. Hairston and Gerut will continue to platoon in center field and Hairston will start in left field when Headley plays third base. I wouldn't mind seeing Gerut giving Brian Giles a break in right field once in awhile either. And when Gerut and Hairston are not in the starting lineup, they're more than likely going to enter the game at some point as a pinch-hitter/defensive replacement. So you see, there are plenty of at bats to go around for everyone once Headley, who had three more hits tonight, enters the picture. Now that I've solved that issue, what are you waiting for Kevin Towers? Call the kid up. |