Throwdown Thursday- Week 8

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 honor.

Congratulations to Yonder Alonso, who racked up his third-straight Throwdown Thursday award.

In what was the lowest voter turnout in the short history of this column, Alonso became the first Padre to 3-peat the award, after he secured the one and only vote needed to defeat his opponent and Padres reliever, Luke Gregerson.

Alonso’s 3-peating week included a .320 batting average with a .852 OPS, which included six walks, eight hits (2 doubles) and three runs scored.

The promising first-baseman’s reign at the top, however, has come to an end as he couldn’t continue his tear, and was out-performed this week by two Padre players.

This week’s Throw Thursday nominees feature a player finally making his Padres debut (because of a knee injury). The other is a player (not named Yonder Alonso) who is making his second Throwdown Thursday ballot.  Carlos Quentin VS. Will Venable.

Carlos Quentin- The Padres went a woeful 1-9 in their recent road trip, with the emergence of Quentin being the only bright spot to come out of it. The veteran outfielder has done more in three games than most of the Padres hitters have done all year. Quentin was instantly inserted into the clean-up spot and delivered right away, by blasting three home runs, including two in one game against the Chicago Cubs. The three home runs tie him for third on the team. Quentin finished off the week going 7 for 12 (.583) with six RBI, making him the only Padre to have six RBI in a three-game span this season.

Will Venable- Quentin wasn’t the lone wolf as far as production goes. Outfielder Venable is continuing to improve his all-around numbers from last year.  For the week, Venable carries a .280 average with one home run and five RBI. He also amassed seven hits (six extra-base hits).  His monster week boosted his overall slugging percentage from .393 to .640. Venable not only has had a good week, but he ends May on a hot streak. In 27 games he has hit .294 with a .375 OBP and .565 slugging percentage.

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