Listening to Outkast’s "Hey Ya" a lot. Trying to deconstruct it. Much of what gets played on the radio is garbage, but this is some pretty serious stuff. The multiple syncopated vocal lines and killer synth bass are cool. But what really gets me is the acoustic guitar chord progression that repeats throughout the entire song. It’s G-C-D-E. That E at the end is just bizarre. It doesn’t resolve the progression; it kicks the song into a new key and then abruptly returns it to the original key with the G. It makes no musical sense. The kicker is when he gets to the chorus. The second "Hey Ya" is a G. That’s the note that puts the "minor" in E minor. But he sings it over that freakin’ E major chord. Somehow, maybe because the guitar is pretty far down in the mix, it actually works. I play an E minor in the chorus because it’s really disorienting to try and sing a G against an E major. Because it sounds so dissonant, you end up trying to correct your vocal pitch and everything goes to hell. I don’t know how he gets that to work.

Anywho, we talk about baseball ’round here so let’s get to it. I did a little googling, and here’s what I found:

• ‘Shooter’ Beck shifts gears for Padres (SFGate) Last year’s bullpen savior sounds comfortable with his role as Trevor Hoffman’s setup man. Beck talks about his now-famous Winnebago, newly acquired kindred spirit David Wells, and his general good feeling about returning to the Pads.
• Howard may have to wait for turn (MLB). Right-hander Ben Howard still is highly regarded, but with the Pads no longer in rebuild mode, he may have to spend more time at Portland. Manager Bruce Bochy and pitching coach Darren Balsley, who helped overhaul Howard’s mechanics in the minors, have good things to say about his progress.
• Ticket sales for Petco opener exceed NCAA record (NC Times). Not spring training, but interesting nonetheless. More than 29,000 tickets have been sold for the SDSU-Houston game March 11.
• Peavy parts ways with Boras, names Axelrod as new agent (NC Times). Local agent Barry Axelrod also represents first baseman Phil Nevin.
• Padres’ owner heading for home (Sports Business News). John Moores talks about Petco Park.
• GM predicts Padres will score 800 this season (U-T). Kevin Towers’ optimism is well founded. If healthy, this is a much improved offensive ballclub.

And from the kind folks who constantly point me toward cool stuff:

• Erie feeling about Indians (ESPN). Although this is about the Tribe, Rob Neyer does share some interesting thoughts on the Padres. Thanks to Howard Lynch for the link.
• Edgar Orchard, the chocolatero of Culiacán. Jeff #287 sends along this hilarious Yahoo translation of one of yesterday’s articles on Edgar Huerta (aka Eddie Orchard). Pure genius: The first question on Orchard is if it belongs to bullpen or can be a consistent opener. Lee Sigman decided to send it to the calentadero to the starting of the season and his first appearance arrived the 22 from March in the Park Serdán Brothers before the Red ones of the Eagle, where hits in 4 stopped a 9 offensive of innings and 2/3 when throwing 2 1/3 in target and with 3 ponches. Culichi would add other 3 wonderful relief before undergoing its first punishment, in Tabasco, at the beginning of April.

Finally, because Friday lends itself to general wackiness, I leave you with Weight Watchers recipe cards from 1974. Do with these what you will, but please, for the love of humanity, steer clear of the Rosy Perfection Salad.

Pitchers and catchers have reported. Position players arrive Wednesday. Let’s check out what’s going on so far:

• Padres pleased to see a healthy Hoffman (U-T). Trevor Hoffman, David Wells, and Tim Stauffer all looked good during their first workouts. Wells will start the Petco Park opener, with Brian Lawrence opening the season in Dodger Stadium three days earlier.
• Long longs for chance as regular for Padres (U-T). Long has extensive experience at all three outfield positions and is so dedicated to defense that he recently commissioned a spider web tattoo on his right arm. I was hoping for a different end to that sentence, but I guess a spider tattoo will have to do. We’ll just assume that actual work on his defense will follow.
• Padres take steps to avoid injury bugaboo (U-T). Talks about the exercise facility at Petco, and new strength coach Joe Hughes. More good reports on Hoffman and Wells, as well as Phil Nevin.
• Padres look for Eaton, Peavy to step up (NC Times). A good look at two of the Pads’ young guns and what they need to do to take their games to the next level.
• Hernandez creates buzz behind the plate (NC Times). To be sure, Hernandez isn’t the model defensive catcher—he threw out just 24 percent of attempted base stealers last season and allowed the most stolen bases in the American League. Why does a catcher’s defense continue to be measured by how well he throws out opposing baserunners? Sure it’s a consideration, but in today’s game does it really matter all that much? I don’t think so. Anyway, the article actually has a lot of positive things to say about the Pads’ new backstop. It’s just that sentences like that bug me.
• Padres find Japanese reliever in control (U-T). Akinori Otsuka doesn’t like American food, has a funky delivery, and is eager to face Barry Bonds.
• A League of His Own (MIT Alumni Association). Christian over at the Cub Reporter pointed me to this cool look at Rule 5 pick Jason Szuminski. With a suddenly deep bullpen, the Pads wouldn’t seem to have room for Szuminski, but it’s always nice to have options just in case someone gets hurt (knock wood). This is great: "I get the occasional physics question from fellow pitchers, but I must say a lot of those books on the physics behind pitching are just plain wrong."

Is this just the best time of year or what?