 |
 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
| San Diego Sporting |
| This covers the inside of San Diego sports, plus selected national topics. The author is a former sportswriter who still has "inside the locker room" access. |
| Language: English |
| RSS Feeds for this Blog |
|
Statistics |
| Unique Visitors: 0 |
| Total Unique Visitors: 0 |
| Visitors Out: 2307 |
| Total Visitors Out: 2906 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| Remember our Declaration of Independence! |
| 2008-07-03 14:51:00 |
Go ahead and celebrate.You deserve it!Independence Day is a time to remember the fact that our nation has been under its own rule for more than 230 years.So take in the baseball games on the Fourth of July weekend. Enjoy the fireworks! And remember the Declaration of Independence:IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of AmericaWhen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should...
|
| |
|
| Hey Chargers, old stadiums produce champions |
| 2008-07-02 15:37:00 |
Did you see the senseless quote from Mark Fabiani of the Chargers in the San Diego Union-Tribune?“There's a world for a team with an old stadium – a world where you're consistently behind. It's a world you see in baseball all the time,” the Chargers’ current (and Bill Clinton’s former) spin doctor said.Well, let’s look at the last six World Series winners, see where they played and figure out who’s really behind:2002: Anaheim Angels (35-year-old stadium)2003: Florida Marlins (16-year-old stadium)2004: Boston Red Sox (92-year-old stadium)2005: Chicago White Sox (14-year-old rebuilt stadium)2006: St. Louis Cardinals (new ballpark)2007: Boston Red Sox (95-year-old stadium)If you look at it, the teams with older stadiums are winning the World S...
|
| |
|
| Padres, Rockies fans have a right to boo |
| 2008-07-01 13:17:00 |
Remember when so many people made a big deal out of Trevor Hoffman being booed in San Diego last week?The theory was that people should not boo a hometown hero likely headed for the Baseball Hall of Fame; no matter how poorly he had performed.For those who disagreed with the booing of Hoffman, how about the Colorado Rockies fans Monday night?They turned on the Rockies in a 15-8 loss to the lowly Padres, Colorado’s eighth straight loss (hey, it broke the Padres’ eight-game losing streak!)If some think Padre fans shouldn’t boo Hoffman, what about Coloradoans showing their displeasure with the Rockies?After all, aren’t these the same Rockies who went to the World Series last year? Because of that, should their fans be exempt from booing them?In all case...
|
| |
|
| Padres have thrown in the towel |
| 2008-06-30 12:54:00 |
You think things can’t get any worse than the Padres?Well, maybe they can.This pathetic team has to play 45 of its last 79 games on the road, which may sound like a good thing after losing eight straight at home.Then you consider the Padres are 11-25 on the road and start to wonder if they might be better off playing on neutral sites.Let’s look at a couple of the bad numbers for a second:Not only have the Padres lost eight straight on a homestand for the first time in 24 years, they also are second-worst than in more than a decade midway through the season.Consider the team’s record the past 11 years when suffering its 50th loss:1998: 90-501999: 49-502000: 39-502001: 44-502002: 34-502003: 23-502004: 58-502005: 50-502006: 55-502007: 56-502008: 32-50Since CEO Sandy Alderson won’t fir...
|
| |
|
| Welk Resorts: A great San Diego destination |
| 2008-06-26 16:27:00 |
With gas prices and the economy being as they are these days, most of us are looking for ways to spend recreation time near home.There’s certainly such a location that fits the bill within a one-hour drive of virtually anywhere in San Diego County.The Welk Resorts San Diego, located in Escondido just off Interstate 15, allows you to enjoy a day or more of relaxation, rejuvenation and quality family time while staying within San Diego County.If you want to make it a day trip, you can start with a round of golf on either of the two courses at Welk. You can then go to a buffet dinner, take in a show and finally retire for the night in a spacious accommodation.And the best part of it all is that can all happen on the sam...
|
| |
|
| Padres should trade Maddux to Chicago Cubs |
| 2008-06-25 11:37:00 |
The Padres should do Greg Maddux a favor and trade him to a contending team – the Chicago Cubs.The last-place Padres aren’t doing Maddux any good, but vice versa isn’t necessarily true.Maddux is winless in eight starts since career victory No. 350 on May 10, yet it isn’t his fault at all.Since then, Maddux is 0-2 with a 2.70 ERA and has watched the beleaguered Padres’ bullpen blow the lead four times after he left a game while in line for win No. 351.This has to stop!The Padres have long coveted Cubs outfielder Matt Murton, so a Maddux-for-Murton trade could certainly be in line at this point since Murton does little more than warm Chicago’s bench.Plus, sending Maddux to the Cubs...
|
| |
|
| Kansas City Royals could win NL West |
| 2008-06-24 13:15:00 |
The Kansas City Royals could be the best team in the west.Make that the NL West.The Royals now reside in last place in the AL Central. But if they moved to the NL West, it would obviously be a different story.It’s no coincidence the Royals are on a three-game winning streak … it’s because they are playing teams from the Weak, Weak NL West.In fact, Kansas City is 5-2 overall against the NL West.The Royals won two of three against both the Arizona Diamondbacks (on the road) and San Francisco Giants (at home) before Monday night’s home win against the Colorado Rockies.Luckily for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, they don’t have to pl...
|
| |
|
| Edmonds key reason Chicago Cubs are winning |
| 2008-06-23 10:38:00 |
The St. Louis Cardinals didn’t want Jim Edmonds back after eight seasons with them.The Padres didn’t want him around after the first 1 ½ months of the 2008 season.So what is Edmonds doing these days?How about helping the Chicago Cubs on their way to a possible first World Series title in 100 years?The Cubs have Major League Baseball’s best overall record (48-28) and have won 14 straight at home.In his last 10 games, Edmonds is batting .333 with three home runs and nine RBIs.In Saturday’s 11-7 win over the Chicago White Sox, Edmonds hit two home runs in the same inning.“Whenever you get done tying me to the Cardinals, it'll be fine so I can start getting a little bit of Cubs' history in my background,” Edmonds t...
|
| |
|
| Interleague play has worn out its welcome |
| 2008-06-19 17:22:00 |
Interleague play needs to go.So says New York Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner; so says us.Steinbrenner says so because his best pitcher got hurt running the bases, National League style.We say so because interleague play is unfair and unbalanced (sorry Fox News) with the American League teams being so superior.Here’s what Steinbrenner had to say this week when ace pitcher Chien-Ming Wang hurt himself on the basepaths and will probably be out until September:“The National League needs to join the 21st century. They need to grow up and join the 21st century. I’ve got my pitchers running the bases, and one of them gets hurt. He’s going to be out. I don’t like that, and it’s about time they address it. That was a rule from the 1800s.”W...
|
| |
|
| Are you tired of Boston fans yet? |
| 2008-06-18 10:43:00 |
Remember back when we were all feeling so sorry for Boston Red Sox fans until their team won the World Series in 2004?Well, four years later, aren’t you tired of hearing about Boston fans?Sure, their Celtics won their 17th NBA championship last night. The Red Sox have won two World Series in four years and the Patriots have three titles this millennium.Frankly, the Boston faithful were much more lovable when their teams were losing.Who can remember that the Celtics went 22 years before winning their latest title? Or the Red Sox going 86 years between championships? Or the Patriots losing to the Chargers, 51-10, in the 1963 American Football League championship game?The New Englanders woke up today with one more title; whic...
|
| |
|
| Yankee Stadium memory: Lou Gehrig |
| 2008-06-17 12:55:00 |
As the Padres begin their final three-game series in the old Yankee Stadium tonight, it’s time to take a look back at the historic jewel of the Bronx.Who can forget the following speech by Lou Gehrig as he was fighting for his life on July 4, 1939?Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. I have been in ballparks for 17 years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn't consider it the highlight of his career to associate with them for even one day?Sure, I'm lucky. Who wouldn't consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert - also the builder of baseball's greatest empi...
|
| |
|
| Rocco wins fans; TIger wins U.S. Open |
| 2008-06-16 17:59:00 |
Were you among the majority of us pulling for Rocco Mediate to win the U.S. Open on Monday at Torrey Pines?Tiger Woods has had his (14) days in the sun; winning 14 major tournaments now.Rocco was bidding to become the oldest golfer ever at age 45 to win a major. He had not won in 138 starts and was ranked No. 158 in the world before jumping to No. 47 after the U.S. Open.Even though this will always be remembered as Tiger’s 14th major, some of us will never forget it as the tournament when Rocco became a fan favorite over Tiger.Here’s more from espn.com:It capped a remarkable week for the world's No. 1 player, who had not played since April 15 surgery on his left knee and looked as though every step was a burden. But the knee held up for 91 holes, and th...
|
| |
|
| Greg Maddux: At a loss for decisions |
| 2008-06-15 17:40:00 |
It took Greg Maddux five starts to go from career win No. 349 to No. 350.In six starts since, he has gone from No. 350 to stuck on No. 350.Just call him Mr. No-Decision of the Padres ... until Sunday’s 7-3 loss at Cleveland, that is.Maddux had five straight no-decisions until Sunday, joining a list of frustrated pitchers who had quite a string of consecutive no-decision starts in 2008:Shawn Chacon, Houston, 9Adam Eaton, Philadelphia, 6Scott Baker, Minnesota, 5Kason Gabbard, Texas, 5Shawn Hill, Washington, 5Maddux, 5Thus far, Maddux is just 3-5 with a 3.31 ERA.He’s rarely more than a 5 or 6 inning pitcher nowadays, so it doesn’t help that the bullpen always seems to collapse behind him.Maddux is one of the best decision-makers on the mound; too bad he can’t get a winning decision no...
|
| |
|
| Tiger takes control at U.S. Open |
| 2008-06-14 22:27:00 |
The U.S. Open went prime time, and so did Tiger Woods.With unbearable pain and three unforgettable shots, Woods turned in one of his most memorable performances in a major Saturday by holing two long eagle putts, chipping in for birdie and somehow taking a one-shot lead over Lee Westwood.Right when some 50,000 fans at Torrey Pines thought they had seen it all, Woods knocked in a 30-foot eagle on the 18th for a 1-under 70 and his first 54-hole lead in the U.S. Open since he won at Bethpage Black in 2002.That he made it to the finish line was nearly as impressive as a magical array of shots.His tender left knee first buckled on the 15th hole, and Woods used his club as a cane to get down the fairway, limping along while trying to stay in the hunt. He played t...
|
| |
|
| Tiger on tail of U.S. Open leader |
| 2008-06-13 21:29:00 |
Stuart Appleby birdied the 18th hole to shoot 70 and grab the U.S. Open lead at Torrey Pines on Friday.But someone is gaining on him. Quickly.Tiger Woods shot 30 on the front nine at Torrey Pines -- his final nine holes of the day -- to card a 68 and move to within a shot of the lead through 36 holes. Woods birdied the first, second, fourth, fifth and ninth holes to shoot 30 on the par-35 front nine. Only three players in U.S. Open history have shot 29 for nine holes.Woods is playing competitively for the first time since The Masters. He had surgery on his left knee two days after that event.Woods, who three-putted his first hole (the 10th) and made two bogeys in his first three holes, electrified the gallery with an eagle on the par-5 13th hole to get bac...
|
| |
|
| U.S. Open brings out frontrunners |
| 2008-06-12 18:38:00 |
Did you know the U.S. Open is in San Diego this week, lol?It’s amazing how everybody, especially the media, comes out of the woodwork for this.On TV, you see people who don’t know a birdie from a bogey all of a sudden become golf “experts.” Ditto for radio and newspaper divisions.There is one refreshing thing about having the U.S. Open in town, even if it does bring out the frontrunners who don’t know Sergio Garcia from Sergio Mendes: Golf has replaced the police blotter as the lead story in town.That’s very refreshing in these days of television sensationalism....
|
| |
|
| Padres can't catch a cold |
| 2008-06-11 10:48:00 |
When you look at the National League statistics, you will notice the Padres have the league’s top fielding percentage.Go ahead and laugh.Two “hits” that were mental errors and don’t show up in the fielding percentages were the Padres’ downfall in a 7-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night.With one out in the seventh inning, Delwyn Young hit a liner to right that Brian Giles said he lost in the Petco Park lights for a double.Juan Pierre followed with a fly to left center that left fielder Justin Huber appeared to have all the way, then backed off and said he lost the ball in the lights for what was a single.Hall of Fame broadcasters Jerry Coleman of the Padres and Vin Scully of the Dodgers both couldn’t emphasize enough that if those two fly balls were caught, the Do...
|
| |
|
| As injuries get worse, Padres get better |
| 2008-06-09 11:00:00 |
Remember not so long ago when the Padres had the worst record in Major League Baseball?Then starting pitchers Jake Peavy, Chris Young and Shawn Estes were injured.Catcher Josh Bard also went down; ditto with second baseman Tadahito Iguchi.So, with this many people sidelined, what happens?The Padres are on a five-game winning streak, their longest of the season.With a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers this Tuesday-Thursday, the Padres could conceivably move into a tie for second place in the NL West.How do you explain this?You don’t.It seems the more Padre players have fallen; the more the Padres make their opponents fall.When everybody finally comes back (hopefully by the All-Star break), the Padres could be in contention because of their substitutes. More likely, they could ha...
|
| |
|
| Jockey's son is real horse racing winner |
| 2008-06-07 17:52:00 |
Even if Big Brown had won horse racing’s Triple Crown on Saturday, he would not have been the real winner.Nor would have the owner, trainer, jockey or anyone else but one young 9-year-old boy.No matter what happened, the biggest hero at Belmont was Jacob Desormeaux, the son of Big Brown’s jockey Kent Desormeaux.Check out this story about Kent Desormeaux on cbsnews.com:His youngest son was born with a rare genetic disorder called Usher Syndrome. Now nine years old, Jacob Desormeaux is deaf and will probably be blind by adulthood. But in the Desormeaux "circle of life," the child has taught his parents. "The little things we take for granted, he makes us stop and notice those things becau...
|
| |
|
| U-T helped Padres make Bush draft move |
| 2008-06-05 15:26:00 |
Does anybody else remember this story from the San Diego Union-Tribune on June 8, 2004? By Bill Center Kevin Towers couldn’t hide his delight."This is a great story," the Padres general manager said yesterday after introducing Mission Bay High shortstop/pitcher Matt Bush as the No. 1 pick of baseball's 2004 draft.And the story started with a report in this newspaper Friday.At the time, Padres director of scouting Bill Gayton was assessing the three collegiate frontrunners for the Padres' No. 1 pick in the draft – right-handed pitchers Jered Weaver of Long Beach State and Jeff Niemann of Rice and Florida State shortstop Stephen Drew. Gayton was asked about Matt Bush. "We've talked about Bush," said Gayton. "We love him." When Bush read that quote Friday morning, a light went on. "I've a...
|
| |
|
| Chicago Cubs just keep on pounding |
| 2008-06-04 12:10:00 |
How about those Chicago Cubs?After watching the Cubs pound the Padres the last two nights, it’s obvious this is a team with legitimate high hopes in 2008.The Cubs are flat-out beating the Padres; rather than having the Padres beat themselves as they do so often.What’s most impressive about the Cubs is how they just seem to hit line drive after line drive after line drive.Padres’ catcher Michael Barrett, who played for the Cubs until last June, is certainly aware of his former team’s offensive prowess.“One thing that’s impressive about them is that they have such a high on base percentage,” Barrett told the Associated Press. “The biggest thing about that lineup is that they really forced us to come to them. Y...
|
| |
|
| Can Cubs win it all this year? |
| 2008-06-02 10:57:00 |
Go Cubs go,Go Cubs go,Hey Chicago, whaddya say,The Cubs are gonna win today!Back in 1984, that was the theme song for the best Chicago Cubs team in decades.Of course, that team made it all the way to the National League Championship Series; only to win the first two games and lose three straight to the Padres … who went on to lose the World Series to Detroit.As the Cubs begin a three-game series in San Diego tonight at Petco Park, this is arguably their best team in a century. And, yes, it has been a century since the Cubs won their last World Series in 1908.It’s interesting that the Cubs have won seven straight games, all against the Weak Weak West of the NL (three vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers; four vs. the Colorado Rockies.)Alfonso Soriano is certainly ...
|
| |
|
| Padres aren't even best of the worst |
| 2008-05-30 15:40:00 |
Remember back when we all thought the NL West might be Major League Baseball’s strongest division?Come to find out, it is actually the weakest division in MLB.Sure, the Arizona Diamondbacks got off to a great start; but that was only because they were playing fellow NL West teams.As the season has progressed, the division could just as well change its name to the NL Worst.That being said, consider the records of each NL West team going into this weekend in games played outside of the division:Arizona 10-16Los Angeles 15-18San Francisco 10-22Colorado 13-12Padres 13-19Overall, that’s a cumulative record of just 61-87 in games outside of the NL West.This is such a reminder of 2005, when the Padres won the West with an 82-80 record. They lost 12 of 13 games at one point that season but har...
|
| |
|
| Will Adrian Gonzalez hit 50 home runs? |
| 2008-05-28 15:19:00 |
Local media members are tripping all over themselves, trying to figure out which person first said Adrian Gonzalez should represent the Padres in the 2008 All-Star Game.Let us be the first to ask: Will Gonzalez hit 50 home runs this season?It looks like he very well could.Gonzalez already has 15 homers one-third of the way into the season, 10 coming in May.He’s two off the club record for home runs in a month, set by Greg Vaughn in May 1998 on his way to an all-time team record of 50 homers.The difference in teams is immense: Vaughn played on a team that went to the World Series; Gonzalez is on a team with the worst record in the National League.This brings up the point that opposing teams will likely start pitching around Gonzalez because he is the o...
|
| |
|
| Unlike local TV, pro wrestlers are very patriotic |
| 2008-05-27 15:34:00 |
Say what you want about owner Vince McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment.You can call the group too theatrical, too this or too that.But there’s another term you can use for McMahon and the WWE: “very patriotic.”At the beginning of Monday Night Raw, the WWE featured a salute to our troops on Memorial Day.This beat the heck out of the local TV stations that led their newscasts with the same-old police blotter stuff and threw in Memorial Day remembrances as an afterthought.Actually, the WWE is gaining quite a reputation for its patriotism.After all, this was the first organization to hold a major public event in the aftermath of 9/11, staging a show in Houston just two days after the terrorist acts and having McMahon say “We’ll go on with the show; we’re not afraid of terror...
|
| |
|
| USD: The best there is in San Diego |
| 2008-05-22 17:50:00 |
At least there is one success story this baseball season in San Diego.The University of San Diego is a sure bet to advance to the NCAA Regionals for the second straight year.This comes after both the men’s and women’s basketball teams at USD made the NCAA Tournament; with the men pulling off a huge upset of the University of Connecticut.Across town, San Diego State can’t even get into an NCAA Tournament postseason event. Gee, which school has a better athletics program?The USD baseball team (39-15) will host the West Coast Conference Championship Series for the second consecutive season this weekend against Pepperdine. This will be a best-of-three series to determine who will get the WCC's automatic bid into the NCAA postseason.Friday's game is sc...
|
| |
|
| La Mesa man celebrates 100th birthday at SDSU |
| 2008-05-21 11:41:00 |
Let's put sports aside for one day and focus on a once-in-a-lifetime event going on at San Diego State University’s College of Extended Studies this afternoon.William “Uncle Bill” Gilmore will celebrate his 100th birthday while joined by fellow classmates at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute through SDSU’s College of Extended Studies.SDSU President Stephen L. Weber and Provost Nancy A. Marlin will make a special presentation to Gilmore during the celebration. Among other things, Uncle Bill will receive a certificate from President George Bush.Gilmore still drives from his La Mesa condo to the SDSU Extended Studies Center, where he has taken more than 30 classes through the Osher Institute; a unique place offeri...
|
| |
|
| Have Padres given up on 2008 season? |
| 2008-05-20 12:55:00 |
Have the Padres quit on the 2008 season?It sure looked like it in Monday night’s 8-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.The night began with Scott Hairston dropping a fly ball over the fence for a two-run homer for Ryan Ludwick of St. Louis.It ended with Josh Bard appropriately taking a called third strike.In between, there was lack of effort, lack of execution and an overall lack of desire displayed by the Padres.Sure, General Manager Kevin Towers is threatening to bring up a bunch of players from the minors.But what good would that do? If those guys were good enough, they’d already be in the majors because this team has needed help all along the way.Towers has only himself and the front office to blame for building a team with a lack of speed, power, pitching depth, outfielders, etc.Sad...
|
| |
|
| Peavy's injury bad news for Padres |
| 2008-05-18 18:24:00 |
No matter how you spin it, consider this bad news for Jake Peavy. The Padres’ ace will not make his scheduled start Monday at home vs. St. Louis because of constant soreness in his right elbow. Peavy has been less than his normal self in his last five starts, and now we know why. Sadly, there’s a long-time trend with Peavy. Whenever he does not pitch well for a long stretch, it means he is trying to hide an injury that is bothering him.He was never injury-free in 2006 when he was just 11-14 with a 4.09 ERA. In 2004, he was struggling until being sidelined five weeks with a strained flexor in his right forearm. This time, it may be more of the same. "I just felt something in there and we haven't really had progress with it," Peavy told padres.com Sunday. ...
|
| |
|
| Interleague play benefits Padres |
| 2008-05-15 16:47:00 |
When it comes to interleague play, which begins Friday night, the Padres have it much easier than their two California rivals in the NL West. The Padres get to play Seattle each year as their “natural rival.” The Los Angeles Dodgers must face the Anaheim Angels; while the San Francisco Giants are matched up against the Oakland Athletics.Think about it for a minute. The Padres play a Seattle team that traditionally battles Texas for last place. The Dodgers and Giants are playing the year-in and year-out top two teams in the AL West.What’s interesting is how this all breaks down. The Padres have a winning record against Seattle and losing record against the rest of the AL. The Dodgers and Giants have losing records vs. their “natural rivals,”...
|
| |
|
| Padres line up well lately |
| 2008-05-14 11:01:00 |
The Padres have won three of four games since they altered their lineup.This came directly in response to the team losing 18 of 22 previous games.So is it the new lineup making the difference?Jody Gerut hasn’t even been here a week since being recalled from the minors and is leading off.Tadahito Iguchi bats second, and Brian Giles has been moved from first to third in the order.Adrian Gonzalez is clean-up and Kevin Kouzmanoff bats fifth, each dropping one spot in the order from before.Perhaps the new lineup is making a difference, but the test of time will tell.The last time the Padres had a set lineup was on Opening Day, and they won three of their first four games …. just as they have with the new lineup.History will tell whether the new lineup is a winner, or just a temporary fix fo...
|
| |
|
| What happened to Padres' starting pitching? |
| 2008-05-13 14:47:00 |
Remember when the Padres bragged about having perhaps the best starting pitching rotation in Major League Baseball?Well, don’t look now, but …Jake Peavy (4-2, 2.47) is not pitching like a Cy Young winner.Chris Young (3-3, 3.94) has turned very average.Greg Maddux (3-3, 3.60) will probably be gone to a contending team in July.Randy Wolf (2-3, 5.16) has had a terrible May.Aging Shawn Estes will make his first major-league start in more than two years tonight against the Chicago Cubs.The starting pitchers were once thought to be the only strength among the Padres. Now, it looks as if the team does not have any strengths at all....
|
| |
|
| Padres can't draw flies at Petco Park |
| 2008-05-12 13:03:00 |
Did anybody else notice how low the Padres’ attendance was this past weekend at Petco Park?Playing their only home series in a three-week span, it seemed like the Padres couldn’t draw flies.Friday night, Cy Young winner Jake Peavy pitched against the defending National league champion Colorado Rockies. Attendance: 31,057.Saturday night, Greg Maddux earned his 350th career victory on a night when free Peavy T-shirts were given to fans. Attendance: 34,117. (Those free T-shirt giveaways used to draw 65,000 fans at Qualcomm Stadium.)Sunday afternoon, the Padres won a series for the first time in nearly two months. Attendance: 28,624.Obviously, the fans are already being turned off by the Padres.When do the Chargers kick off their season?...
|
| |
|
| Padres making more desperation moves |
| 2008-05-10 14:03:00 |
In case you missed it, here are press releases from the Padres over the past 24 hours.With five straight losses and the worst record in Major League Baseball, there is surely more to come:The San Diego Padres today purchased the contract of catcher Luke Carlin from Triple-A Portland and optioned catcher Colt Morton to Double-A San Antonio. Executive Vice President/General Manager Kevin Towers made the announcement.The San Diego Padres today recalled outfielder Jody Gerut from Triple-A Portland and requested unconditional release waivers on outfielder Jim Edmonds. Executive Vice President/General Manager Kevin Towers made the announcement.The San Diego Padres announced today that they have claimed left-handed pitcher Sean Henn off waivers from the New York Yankees. Executive Vice President/...
|
| |
|
| Who cares about the Padres? |
| 2008-05-08 16:42:00 |
Have you stopped caring about the Padres?Join the crowd.A couple weeks ago, people were mad at the team for losing. Now it’s a could-care-less attitude, which should do wonders for home attendance, lol.Just when you think they can’t reach a new low, they did by losing for the 17th time in 21 games with Thursday’s 5-4 loss at Atlanta.How significant was it?Atlanta was the first team since the 2000 Houston Astros to lose its first nine one-run games. The Braves were the only team in the major leagues without a one-run victory until now.A week ago, we suggested the Padres should get rid of Jim Edmonds when people still cared about them. Now that fans could care less, the esteemed San Diego Union-Tribune is also calling for Edmonds to go.Last week, we all would have cared that Joe Thatch...
|
| |
|
| Padres should demote more than Germano |
| 2008-05-07 12:35:00 |
The Padres have demoted starting pitcher Justin Germano to the bullpen because of his 0-3 record and 6.35 ERA.If you’re going to demote Germano, don’t forget:Catcher Josh Bard, his .216 average and inability to throw out base stealers.Shortstop Khalil Greene with his .213 average and one home run.The whole left field tandem of Scott Hairston, Justin Huber and Paul McAnulty.Center fielder Jim Edmonds with his .171 average and inability to get to fly balls anymore.And while you’re at it, don’t forget starting pitcher Chris Young (2-3, 4.31 ERA) along with the bullpen trio of Trevor Hoffman (0-2, 6.52), Glendon Rusch (1-2, 6.26) and Joe Thatcher (0-3, 6.75).With so many underachievers, no wonder the Padres are tied with the Colorado Rockies for the worst record in Major League Basebal...
|
| |
|
| Is Chargers' LT getting ready to retire? |
| 2008-05-06 12:03:00 |
LaDainian Tomlinson created quite a stir among local TV types when he told ESPN: Sunday Conversation that he “might not” be playing football in five years.So what’s the big deal?If Tomlinson is still playing for the Chargers … or anyone else … in 2013, it might be a surprise.LT’s contract runs through 2012, which would be his 12th NFL season. Most running backs are done by then, even the great ones.All-time NFL rushing leader Emmitt Smith retired after 15 seasons, with the last three being his worst.Walter Payton, second on the list, retired after 13 years … with his final season not being so good.No. 3 Barry Sanders played 10 years and retired at the top of his game.LT is 19th on the career list with 10,543 yards, quite a ways from Smith’s 18,355 yards.Should Tomlinson not...
|
| |
|
| Crabbe should bat leadoff for Padres |
| 2008-05-04 15:33:00 |
We all agree it is already a lost season for the Padres. OK, on to the next step: Since it’s obvious the cheap management isn’t going to do much, what can be done with the players on board? For starters, how about letting Callix Crabbe bat leadoff? This is a team that is horribly devoid of speed. Crabbe would offer someone capable of running at the top of the order – unlike Brian Giles. Maybe Crabbe wouldn’t get on base enough to be effective, but at least it’s time to find out.Take Sunday’s latest disaster at Florida. Crabbe laid down a great bunt single, then made it to second base despite falling. But batting eighth, the pitcher was behind him. At the top of the order, his speed could be utilized more effectively. Where could Crabbe play? Anywhere but pitcher, catcher or fir...
|
| |
|
| Chargers host mini camp this weekend |
| 2008-05-02 18:38:00 |
If you want to check out the Chargers early this year, you can this weekend. The team’s Camp">mini camp will feature practice twice on Saturday (10:45-12:30 and 4-6 p.m.) and once on Sunday (11-1 p.m.) and all three practices are free and open to the public.Bleacher seating is available and fans will be able to see the entire practice field from the bleachers, although fans are welcome to bring beach chairs. Food and drinks will also be available.Fans can also bring coolers, snacks, soft drinks and water. Alcoholic beverages, video cameras, pets and weapons of any kind are not allowed.Fans attending Mini Camp will enter through a gate located at the south end of Chargers Park.Parking is available in the PS Business Center and...
|
| |
|
| When will Padres get rid of Edmonds? |
| 2008-05-01 16:59:00 |
Sadly, the Padres need to get rid of Jim Edmonds.He’s only hitting .153 through the first month of the season, but that’s not half the story.Edmonds, one of the best center fielders of the last generation, isn’t even getting to balls that he used to catch easily.The Padres have had a recent history of trying to squeeze all they can out of aging veterans. It’s starting to catch up with them … especially in the case of someone like Edmonds.If they had acquired him five seasons ago, they would have been much better off for it. Not so in 2008.Don’t be surprised if Chase Headley comes to the majors in late May to play left field, with Scott Hairston moving to center.The Padres will call up Headley after the time in which he will have to wait another year before being eligible for ar...
|
| |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
| |
|
 |
