Padres Notebook: Padres acquire catching help from Pirates

By: BRIAN HIRO - Staff Writer | Thursday, July 28, 2005 10:40 PM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- Padres general manager Kevin Towers had said he was looking for a solid defensive catcher to supplement his inexperienced duo and help cover for the loss of starter Ramon Hernandez. And he acknowledged that he might have to search the minor leagues to find one.

Towers landed a player who matches that profile on Thursday, acquiring catcher David Ross from the Pittsburgh organization for minor-league shortstop J.J. Furmaniak. Ross was playing for the Pirates' Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis after being optioned on July 10. He will be in uniform tonight when the Padres host Cincinnati, with Hernandez being placed on the disabled list on the same day he undergoes left wrist surgery.

Ross, 28, appeals to Towers in part because he played the past three seasons for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are five games behind the Padres in the National League West.

"This guy knows the division, he knows one of the teams that's chasing us," Towers said. "He's a very good catch-and-throw guy, very intelligent, and he has some raw power."

Hitting is not Ross' strong suit. He batted .222 with three home runs and 15 RBIs in 40 games as Pittsburgh's backup catcher, and last season he hit just .170 in 165 at-bats for L.A. But he has an impressive total of 19 homers in 407 career at-bats and has thrown out 38 percent of would-be base-stealers.

Towers consulted with former Dodgers Dave Roberts, Paul Quantrill and Andy Ashby before making the trade.

"He's very good defensively," Roberts said of Ross. "He's a guy who's going to do whatever (manager Bruce Bochy) asks of him."

Ross will share time behind the plate with Robert Fick and Phil Nevin, neither of whom has caught regularly in at least four years. Hernandez is expected to be out until September after having surgery this afternoon.

Towers said he considered several catchers with "more pedigree," but that the asking price was too high.

"We would have had to move a key part of our club," he said. "Everybody wants our relievers. They ask about (Akinori Otsuka) and (Scott) Linebrink all the time."

Furmaniak was selected for the Triple-A All-Star Game on the strength of his numbers for the Portland Beavers (.266 average, 14 homers, 47 RBIs), but the Padres viewed the 26-year-old as a utility player at the major-league level.

With the nonwaiver trade deadline set for 1 p.m. Sunday, Towers said the Padres remain in pursuit of pitching help, both starting and relief.

Nevin ejected

Nevin's familiar temper resurfaced in the ninth inning Thursday, when he was ejected by home-plate umpire Kevin Kelley for arguing balls and strikes.

Playing catcher at the time, Nevin cursed at Kelley as he walked off the field and then hurled his helmet and glove into the dugout.

Kelley told Bochy that Nevin requested to be tossed, but Nevin disputed that claim.

"I never asked to be thrown out of the game," he said. "I never would have said that. He told me not to take my personal frustrations out on him. I was just trying to protect my pitcher."

Eaton update

Towers said Adam Eaton (finger) could come off the DL during the Padres' road trip next week after the pitcher successfully threw sliders in the bullpen Thursday. Eaton's next hurdle will be a simulated game on Saturday.

On deck

UPDATE: Before coming to San Diego, the Reds did the Padres a favor by slowing the momentum of the Los Angeles Dodgers, splitting a series at Dodger Stadium to keep the Padres' most dangerous pursuer five games behind in the National League West. Cincinnati has won nine of 14 games since the All-Star break but remains tied with Pittsburgh for last place in the NL Central at 44-58. The Reds are 17-15 since interim manager Jerry Narron took over for the fired Dave Miley on June 21. ... Cincinnati traded 3B Joe Randa to the Padres on Saturday for a pair of pitching prospects, and rumors are swirling that LF Adam Dunn will be the next out the door, with Oakland the most likely destination. Dunn ranks third in the league with 28 home runs. 1B Sean Casey, CF Ken Griffey Jr. and INF Rich Aurilia have also come up in trade discussions. ... Harang, a San Diego State product, has been the Reds' most consistent starter. He held the Padres to one run and three hits in eight innings on May 9 at Great American Ball Park but was left with a no-decision when the Padres rallied for four runs in the ninth before winning in 13. The Padres took two of three games in the series, with Lawrence absorbing the only defeat by allowing three runs in six innings. ... Cincinnati's 13-33 road record is third-worst in the majors, ahead of Tampa Bay and Colorado. ... Williams is 8-4 with a 5.01 ERA in 18 career games against the Reds. Griffey is 13-for-31 (.419) with five homers versus Williams.

---- Brian Hiro