Throwdown Thursday – Week 16

Every Thursday, we at Chicken Friars will pick the two best Padres performers over the past week and analyze what they accomplished. Then we will leave it up to you, the fans, to decide who earned the week’s Throwdown Thursday’s honor.

The Throwdown Thursday award should change its name to the Yonder Alonso award. The left-handed hitting first baseman has been crowned the Throwdown Thursday champion for the fourth time, after defeating teammate Clayton Richard in the Week 15 Thorwdown Thursday competition.

Alonso has won the award more than any other Padres player.

In his latest win, 73 percent of the Chicken Friars fans voted for Alonso, who had a batting average for the week of .338 with a home run, seven hits and 1.139 OPS. Throw in some solid defense in there too.

This week’s Throwdown Thursday competition features a pitcher who had the game of his life, and a hitter that has broke out of a slump: Edinson Volquez vs. Jesus Guzman.

Edinson Volquez: Volquez’s turn in the rotation came up twice last week. And in both turns, Volquez was outstanding. In a game last Thursday against the Houston Astros, Volquez pitched the game of his life in a one-hit shutout. The only hit the right-hander gave up was to Matt Downs in the fourth inning, in which the ball just nicked off of the glove of Volquez. Volquez finished the game with five strikeouts, three walks and one hit. In his second out game  Volquez hurled seven strong innings against the Giants while giving up two runs on three hits. He also struckout eight and walked three.

Jesus Guzman- Guzman hasn’t made the Throwdown Thursday ballot since its inaugural debut. Lack of playing time was a major reason why. But Guzman made the most of every start he got this week.  In five games played this week, Guzman owns a .500 average, three homeruns (including two in one game), five RBI and seven hits. Guzman filled in nicely at first base and right field. Guzman has been in the lineup primarily against right-handed pitching. On the year, Guzman has a .251 average with six home runs and 32 RBI.

Now Padres fans, vote in our poll for the Padres performer of the week.  Is it Volquez or Guzman?

Statistics Courtesy of: MLB.COM