From October 1, 2004:
Well, it’s October and technically the Padres still aren’t out of the race. Or, if you’re reading this later in the day, maybe they are.
The Pads have already won 22 more games than they did all last year (and they still have three more to go against the worst team in baseball), and they’re the only NL team that had a losing record in 2003 that managed to push themselves above .500 in 2004. They’ve surpassed my preseason prediction of 84 wins (which I actually worried might be overly optimistic). The Padres will end up within shouting distance of the 800 runs forecast by GM Kevin Towers despite getting virtually no production from the key free agent acquisition (Jay Payton) and a whopping nine homers from Ryan Klesko.
The Padres scrapped and battled, and slowly began to believe they could win. Fan support was tremendous, eclipsing the 3 million mark for the first time in club history on the final day. But for all the positives, we are left frustrated and disappointed by a season that could have been so much more. In what looks to be their fifth best season in 35 years of existence, the Padres repeatedly failed to execute in key situations (how often can a team have two runners on base with nobody out and not score?). They made questionable roster decisions (Eddie Oropesa, Jason Szuminski, Kerry Robinson, the #5 starter revolving door, failure to acquire any names bigger than Rich Aurilia and Dave Hansen for the stretch run) and fielded a squad that collectively wasn’t well suited for their new ballpark and who individually seemed all too aware of and frustrated by that fact.
I should be happy, and for the most part I am. This truly has been a great season of Padres baseball, and Petco Park takes advantage of what San Diego has to offer in ways that the Q never could. Every time I step into the ballpark and look out onto the skyline, I am reminded of how blessed I am to call this city — for whatever faults it may have — my home. Corny as it sounds, I do take pride in Petco and the way it shows off our city. And this year, unlike in years past, I have been able to take pride in the Padres as well. Even when they’ve struggled to execute or blamed the new park for their problems, I’ve never doubted their desire to win. That’s not something I’ve always been able to say about some of the recent editions. Then again, it’s hard to get too worked up about these things when you’re routinely losing 90+ games a year.
On the one hand, I find it irritating beyond words that the Padres haven’t been able to wrap up a playoff spot and must visit Coors Field to play one game (or flip a coin, if you prefer) against the hottest team in baseball. On the other, I’m grateful that the Padres are committed to fielding a competitive ballclub, and that they at least have given themselves a chance to make a third straight postseason appearance.
Monday’s game starts at 4:37 p.m. PT, and will be broadcast on TBS and XM 183 [update: the Padres feed can be found on XM 184; hat tip to Phantom in the comments]. We’ll have the IGD up and running about an hour before first pitch. Luck permitting, it won’t be our last…
Agree that its nice to be 1 of 9 teams to play game 163+, and we should thank KT, SA, and JM. Met fan and Brewer fan are really hurting. That being said….well, not gonna think about it. One game, we’ll see who wins….its that simple.
Anyone know if the game will be on MLB.tv? I have officially moved East and do not have cable yet…don’t think I want to hit a sports bar my first night in town…still have to unpack my clothes or something…
I think its only on TBS, so you may have to hit a sports bar….moving to the east from Coronado, that is brutal….I thought moving from Poway was bad
Where did you move mike?
Also if the Padres play like they did last night you may want to be at a bar anyways.
Ugh, what a turd sandwich of a weekend for SD sports in total – for the 2nd straight weekend!
If you’ve got DirecTV, like I do, you’re all set w/ TBS HD (channel 75 or 76 I believe).
As bad as not winning one of those 2 games is, I’m very happy not to be a Met fan, Brewer fan, or, for that matter, a Giant, Dodger, Astro, Nationals, etc, fan.
Peavy on full rest, Bell and Hoffman with a night off. Can’t complain about the set up, though Coors does funky things to pitchers. The script would be 7 from Jake, 1 each from Heath and Trevor and head to Philly.
Most encouraging line is Josh Fogg who will be starting tonight for the Rockies has a 6.28 ERA against San Diego this year with the Padres hitting .369 against him.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?playerId=4753
He’s pitched better since the break, but he still walks a lot of guys and you can hit against him. The key is the Padres better get to him early because the Rockies bullpen is tough
I have to disagree with Geoff to a degree. He said he’s grateful ownership has shown a commitment to winning. But, at what point do we wonder about ownership’s commitment to winning? There’s a world of difference between “contending” and winning championships.
Remember the off-season between 97 and 98?
The team went out and made a huge splash, picking up Kevin Brown in a move that shouted “we want to win the World Series.”
They simply have not done that since.
I love the Padres, and I trust John Moores and Kevin Towers, but at some point I’m going to start to think Moores is happy with contending, and drawing 2.8 million fans, but not taking the next step.
8: Um, we have more wins this year than we did last year. We are competing in the best division in baseball. I’m totally fine with playing a play-in game today. We’ve had some awful luck at times over the past 162 games that could have made the difference between us not needing to play this game today.
The scheduling the past two weeks for the Padres and the Rockies also had a profound impact. This is not an excuse, but the Rockies got to play teams that rolled over for them. The Padres didn’t quite have that luxury.
We’ve got Jake on the mound, and we’ve got Coors field. We should win this thing. I’ll be cheering and keeping track of the game as best as I can, but my class starts at 6, which really, really, really blows. With any luck, by the time 6 0′clock rolls around, Fogg will be out of the game and we’ll be up by more than four runs.
Keep the faith! Experience it! Mission October!
There was one big difference between Brown and a lot of the FA’s who might have been fits in San Diego since then….contract length. I’m certain that if they could deal Antonelli for 1 year of Johan Santana they’d do it in a second…those types of deals aren’t as easy anymore.
The Brewers are celebrating their first winning season in 15 years. 15 years of games after July meaning essentially nothing. How’s that for putting things in perspective? As a Padres’ fan, I’m just thankful to be watching games that count every September.
Khalil is gonna hit two dingers today and we’ll head to Philly!
#8: What is the difference between contending and wanting to win the World Series? This sounds like a flip question, but I’m serious. Seems to me that if you get into the playoffs, you’ve got a chance. See, e.g., ’87 Twins, ’97 Marlins, ’03 Marlins, ’06 Cardinals…
after the Padres win tonight (trying to stay positive) how does thier rotation set up for the playoffs?
Weds: Maddux
Thurs: Young
Sat: Peavy
Sun: Maddux
Tue: Young
Re 8: The Brown move screamed “We really want the people to vote yes on a ballpark” more than anything. The Padres were a very good team in 1996, had some rough luck in 1997, and were set to bounce back in 1998, and Brown definitely solidified things and helped push them over the top from an underdog position, vis-a-vis the powerhouse Astros and Braves. Moores was willing to lose money to bring back the fans and get the new ballpark, but he wasn’t willing to do it ad infinitum. That is why a new ballpark was so important to him, to make the team more self-sustaining.
He got that, and the fans so far have got four straight years of competitive, playoff-contending or playoff-making baseball. Seems like a pretty good bargain.
Go Peavy! Go Padres!
Re 12: Obviously, you have to win the World Series or be favored to win it going in to really “want” it. Everything else is smoke and mirrors, bait and switch.
I’m still pretty amazed that we are still in this position to get into the playoffs today after last weekend. When we lost Cammy and Milton I completely wrote off the Padres chances to make the playoffs at all. The fact that the Rockies have not played MLB caliber teams the past couple of series may help us also. I fully expect Jake to come out blazing today and although I may have felt differently yesterday I am so glad he is pitching today. Come on Win # 20!!!
9: The only thing I’d disagree with you is that the Rockies totally beat the Padres at home for that series and had the Padres won one of those games, no game today. Still, you are right that the Dodgers suck and so was the Snakes in the last two games.
Still, I’m glad the Padres are playing a game today.
Go Padres! Beat the Rockies.
16: I fully agree about giving up when Cameron and Bradley went down. A week ago, I looked like I had been slugged in teh gut. I’m still happy to be in the race.
If the Padres lose today, then my new mantra over the winter will probably be “Anthony ‘Freaking’ Gwynn”.
Why do I feel so pessemistic about this game? Because the rockies have our number, that least at Petco. Maybe we play them better at coors. Jake will keep them in check, but we need the lead into the 7 inning, we simply can’t come from behind. Man, the rockies hit well.
8: i tend to agree with you. I think there is a difference between hoping to contend and wanting to win. KT does a great job with the money he has to work with. I just dont think JM is willing to take the next step to make this team a real threat to win it all from game 1.
Re: 19 Makes you wish that KT would have held out for TGjr in the Linebrink deal
#22: But not really…
Having been forced to give up solid foods after this San Diego sports weekend, I find myself heading to the airport for South Carolina while the game is being played. Not sure if this is a curse or a blessing.
I believe we win it this afternoon, but, since we have never done anything easily all year, I presume it won’t be easy. Go Pads. Save me from the phone call from my friend from Denver.
Re: 23 Sarcasm
I can’t help but think the playoff experience of the Padres will be a factor today. If we can put up a couple of runs early, then I think the Colorado hitters may start pressing. The one good thing about Peavy pitching on short rest in September is that it resulted in his skipping his start in Colorado, so the Rockies aren’t going to have any park factor tendencies from this season to use for preparation.
Nothing is going to be easy, because our reward for beating Colorado will be a trip to Philly to face the second hottest team in MLB right now.
#25: My bad. I’ve actually had to argue against that line of thought; guess it’s getting to me.
Re: 26 the Rockies know Peavy, they have all seen him plenty of time before. I think Peavy will pitch very well tonight, the key is will the Padres hitters be patient and force Fogg to elevate his pitches or will they all go out there and try to be hero’s (ie nog factor)?
9 re: luxory … playing the Giants and Pirates was a huge luxory, don’t kid yourself!
13 re: Sunday starter … can’t go with Maddux on 3 days rest … gotta go with Cassel (alt is Germano, I s’pose) … and, yes, I know that’s getting ahead … it’s what I do …
2 re: east … where?
8 re: “commitment” … this is a hard subject … we’ve debated this many time … and much more will be said about it (unless/until there’s rings on Padre fingers) … my bottom line is that there are many teams that have “displayed commitment” who haven’t played in the post-season each of the last 3 years … would you really rather have the Padres’ FO act like the Orioles FO or the Cubs FO? I like the course the Padres have set … they are in a position to win and they are in a position to add “the missing link” … in other words, I don’t have any problem with them passing on the FAs from the past couple of years …
GY: Yes there is still hope as long as there’s games to be played. Let’s put Cy Young out there and see what he can do. Peavy has yet to perform well in game 7 type games (my opinion – I’m sure someone will point to something I’ve forgotten). He hasn’t done anything in the post season yet.
Dude has killed the opposition this year in the reg season and has awesome era, win & strikeout totals. I want to see the dominant Jake do it on a big stage tonight. That’s tonight’s side story for me. Peavy doing it when it really matters.
Sack up Padres and don’t flush your season down the drain. Here’s to getting beyond today and achieving a guarantee of at least 3 more games.
29: That’s a good point. Fogg struggles with command, so Wally has GOT to be pounding patience into their heads today.
Also, Marcus and Barrett have the best numbers on the team against Fogg. And these don’t appear to be sample size issues. Given that, do we start either of them?
9-12, etc…. KT is forced to use duct tape and a stapler to build his roster every off-season.
It seems Moores wants to put a winner on the field, because he knows San Diego fans will only support a winner, but he doesn’t want to risk anything to try to win a championship. Now, if the fans are cool with that, and continue to put 2.8 million butts in PETCO park seats, they’ll keep on doing that.
Comment 21 was exactly right. Every year the Padres do some patchwork roster moves, and cross their fingers. We never go into a season saying “bring it on, we’ll kick your butt because we’re that good.” We always say, “hey, get us in the playoffs, and you never know.”
I’m sorry, but just getting into the playoffs is not good enough anymore.
33: If getting into the playoffs isn’t good enough for you, I suggest you poll the fans of the 21 other clubs who didn’t make the playoffs this year.
The arrogance of Padres fans never ceases to amaze me. Does NOBODY remember how bad we were a mere 6 years ago? Really?
The Padres had more wins this year than last year, and played in the BEST division in baseball. We should all be ecstatic that they’re playing where they are today.
Re: 32 I think nog may get the start, but no way barret does.
Re: 33 I think that we only have to sit through one more season of patch work, the farm system looks like it is getting to the point where they will have a solid pool to pull from instead of finding washed up Vets to come in for a year to fill a hole.
34. Great comment, couldn’t agree more.
Also Hoffman threw a great pitch to Gwynn on Saturday a change-up that was just above the ankles – and credit to Tony Jr. he put a good swing on the ball.
…but I’ll take that pitch anytime, and usually Hoffman will win with it.
This is gonna be a busy blog today!!! (sorry GY – “blog” doesn’t do what you have created here justice). Everyone’s at work doing nothing but talking Padres on Ducksnorts. Sweet.
NOT BARRETT!!!. The Curse, remember the curse! Cubs are in after dumping Barrett, that is a stone cold fact.
We’ll see if BB is looking at the stat sheet at all, if he is then there is no way NOG and Barrett shouldn’t be playing, especially with Bard and Blum completely sucking off Fogg. Those are going to be big decisions that could help decide the game.
26 – Let’s hope the Padres’ playoff experience is NOT a factor today! Aren’t they 1-10 in the post-season since making it to the World Series in 1998?!
Re: 34 Just because we are critical of a team does not mean that we do not support them. Are fans happy to have a winning team? of coarse and we show that in ticket and merch sales, but last time I checked the goal of every team was to win the WS and every year 29 sets of fans are disappointed.
The Padres are competing for our entertainment dollar they have to put a competitive team out there or they loose money (see 99-03) so im not going to pat them on the back for that, its their job.
9 & 34: Phantom, repeating that the Padres are in the best division in baseball doesn’t make it so. Best division in the NL, yeah. Most competitive division in MLB, yeah, that works. But, really, any NL team would, IMHO, have been hard pressed to finish as high as third in any AL division this year.
All that said, I’m leaving work early today to see the Padres earn a trip to Philly. And, yeah, you guys are right, that whole plate discipline thing is the key today.
Probably not important given the game this afternoon but BP is also reporting that the Padres are going to be making Andruw Jones a 1 year 15M offer this off season
Re: 40 yeah but that’s only against the Cardinals
Re 33: KT is “forced” to deal with a budget, like pretty much every GM in any non-major market city. The Padres do not bring in as much revenue as the Dodgers or Giants; therefore, they have less money to spend which generally means a smaller team payroll. Moores spends as much out of his own pocket, if not more, than any owner not named Moreno. They appear now to be spending that money wisely on the major league field and appear to be turning it around in terms of the wisdom of their minor league and other player development expenditures.
San Diego fans have supported loser Padres teams to the tune of 2+ million a year in several seasons since 1995. They have supported bad Charger teams. Now that the baseball fans have gotten a taste of continued success, something that has NEVER happened since 1969, we will see if fan friendliness changes and instead the fans become arrogant World Series demanders.
Re: 43 man that makes no since, Jones will get more years and money than that.
34, 36. How is it arrogance to want a World Championship? Seriously. Why is that arrogance?
The team is good, I love watching the games, I went to a bunch this year, but it’s the fourth year in a row the team has finished with between 82 and 89 wins. This team is hovering, not progressing.
As I said, if the majority of the fans are cool with that, then fine. Personally, I’ve been living in SD for 25 years, and I’d like to win the city’s first World Championship (and the AFL title in 1963 doesn’t count).
I’m thinking that next year, the Padres mantra needs to be, “Mission LATE October.”
I’m confused how anyone could say this team hasn’t progressed, you do realize that there is a huge difference between 82-89 wins right?
Additionally when Petco first opened we would have been hard pressed to name 5 guys who might be on the team 5 years into the future. Now we could probably name 10 that says a lot for how the organization has been able to improve as a whole.
I realy dont understand why you all are against people saying that they want the Pads in the WS? Isn’t that the goal? Isn’t that why they are trying to improve? Fans support this team, they will as long as they stay competitive but fans want a world sereies thats the point of rooting for your team, thats the big payoff for sticking with them over all the down years. Its not like if the Padres don’t go to the WS this year no one will care about them next year, we will be disapointed for a week and then start talking about how they can improve thier chances to win next year.