This Date in Padres Baseball - March 27th

THIS DATE IN PADRE BASEBALL

1998 SEASON

Having wrapped up a successful Cactus League season, finishing first with a record of 19-10, the Padres headed home for an exhibition game against the San Diego State Aztecs, winning 4-2. For some highlights 

Notable games of March 27 

None, today should have been Game 2 of the 2020 season.

So instead, how about some Friar Franchise Figures over 51 seasons:

Franchise Record of 3,759 - 4,412 a winning percentage of .460, this includes postseason games

• using the Pythagorean Method for expected wins/losses, amazingly, the Padres have been "lucky", winning 26 more games of the history of the franchise than they should have!

Opening Day Record of 22-29 .431 win percentage.

Record in March games of  7-5 .583 win percentage

Cumulative games in 1st place = 985 or 12.05% of Padre history

Transactions of March 27

1973
Purchased Danny Breeden from the Chicago Cubs.

• This minor league catcher never played in inning for the Friars, nor ever appeared in MLB again. His last appearance was in 1971, playing 25 games for the Cubs.

1981

Released Eric Rasmussen.

• From 1978-1980, he appeared in 112 games posting a 22-30 record and a 3.84 ERA. Splitting time between starting and relief, Rasmussen pitched 8 completed games, putting him 22nd on the all time Padre leaderboard in that category. The strike shortened 1981 season would see him unsigned, returning to the mound in 1982 with the St.Louis Cardinals,  finishing his career in 1983 with the Kansas City Royals.

Traded Eric Mustad (minors), Kevin Bell and Tony Phillips to the Oakland Athletics. Received Roy Moretti (minors) and Bob Lacey.

• Mustad pitched at AAA (Hawaii Islanders) who never made it to the majors, despite pitching 4 more seasons in the minors.
• Bell was a third basemen, formerly with the Chicago White Sox, signed in January as a free agent. He played 4 games for the A's in 1983 before being released.
• Phillips was a Montreal Expo prospect traded to the Padres in 1980 for Willie Montanez. Never played for any Padre team, Philips went out to have an 18 year MLB career finishing 16th in the MVP voting in 1993.
• Moretti pitched at A ball (Reno Silver Fox) before moving onto 2 other organizations, never rising above A level.
• Lacey pitched 7 years in the bigs, but never with the Padres. He would be traded away in a few days for Juan Bonilla. 

1983

Released Mike Griffin.

• Journeyman pitcher appeared in 7 games in 1983, posting an 0-1 record with a 3.48 ERA before moving on yet again. Final appearance in MLB in 1989.

1992

The Baltimore Orioles returned Darrell Sherman (earlier draft pick).

• A Rule 5 pick returned. Sherman would make it to the Padres in 1993, appearing in 37 games as a left fielder and pinch hitter, hitting just .222 with 0 HR and 2 RBI.

1996

Released Rob Deer.

• The 10 year veteran played for the AAA Las Vegas Stars in 1995, with 20 HR and hitting .290 earning him an invite to training camp in 1996, but couldn't land a spot. The Padres would resign him in April to a minor league contract, eventually ending his career as a Padre with 25 appearances in 1996.

2000

Signed Ramon Ramirez as an amateur free agent.

• 18 year old pitcher from Valenzuela would never pitch for any Padre organization, being released in 2001, eventually making his way to a big league mound with the Cincinnati Reds in 2008.

2006

Released Brian Sikorski.

• Having made his MLB debut in 2000 for the Texas Rangers, Sikorski spent the next 5 seasons bouncing around the minors. In 2006 he appeared in 13 games for the Padres, with a 1-1 record and a 5.65 ERA. He would be traded to the Cleveland Indians at the deadline for Mike Adams. 

2013

Signed Josh Geer as a free agent.

• Pitcher who spent 2008-2009 (24 games with 22 starts, 3-8 with 5.28ERA) with the Padres, then spent the next 3 seasons in the minors before being granted free agency at the end of the 2012 season. He wouldn't break camp with the big league club, spending 2013 and 2014 in the minors before being released. 

Released Erik Hamren.

• Pitched in 14 games, posting a 1-0 record and a 4.38 ERA in his only season in MLB with the Padres.

2016

Returned Blake Smith (earlier draft pick) to the Chicago White Sox.

• Rule 5 pitcher returned to Chicago after Spring Training. He eventually would make his big league debut later this season as a White Sox.

2019

 Released Eric Stout.

• Pitcher signed in January with an invite to Spring Training. Signed with the Cincinnati Reds, but would only pitch in the minors.

Selected Socrates Brito off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

• Odd pickup for a team full of outfielders, he was introduced during the home opener, but never entered a game for the 2019 Padres before being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays.