But we just disagree, which is fine.

I wish the talk radio guys acted more like journalists instead of the guy in the stands with a beer. But that’s fine, too. The world does not conform to what I want it to be.

I would hardly classify myself as a talk radio fan, but I’m upset about both the baseball side of things (how did their process fail so badly in 2008) AND disappointed in the way the team is handling the news. I’m far from the only fan who sees the past season, probably the past year and a half, as an almost complete disaster. When anyone — say Sandy Alderson — acts as if fans have a moral obligation to believe the team rather than our own eyes or competing viewpoints, that’s a problem for me.

I made sure to point out that yes, the Padres are doing a poor job of public relations. I said that it’s an area that matters.

I simply said that having a poor front office with great PR skills would be worse. Not a controversial statment. Maybe a mild rant.

I didn’t comment one way or the other about Moores and his personal and financial situation. I’m not talking about fans reacting with skepticism. I was talking about the reactions of hurt feelings.

You are talking about the “whys” of what is happening, which is, of course, a valid discussion. What I said is: People are not focusing on baseball decisions and the “whys.” They are focusing on their hurt feelings, taking what they see as a personal affront to Hoffman as a personal affront to them.

All this is their right, of course. I was just saying — take a deep breath. Not a controversial statement.

Four to five million dollars is a lot to spend on the third or fourth best reliever in your bullpen. In fact, Trevor hasn’t been the best reliever in the pen since 2001 (according to VORP). With his stuff, or lack thereof, he’s just too unreliable as a 9th inning closer, certainly with a one run lead. And if he’s on the Padres, he almost certainly has to be the closer (not even counting the salary). He might not be the worst closer in the majors, but he has to be the one with the least overpowering stuff. And unlike a majority of pitchers, if his location is off, than his only hope is that batters either miss his meatballs or they get hit right at people. That’s not exactly the profile I’d want out of my highest paid reliever.

Even if Moores was the greatest owner in the world it still might not make sense to re-sign Hoffman.

For somebody who “did a lot of research” about possible fan reactions to a Bonds signing and claimed that it was a terrible idea BECAUSE of those potential reactions, this is a surprising about-face.

Does anyone believe, or have a shred of evidence to believe, that these moves aren’t motivated by Moores’ personal and financial situation? Of course there’s going to be a focus on the non-baseball aspects, because the root cause of the decisions is not related to constructing a team. The Padres had strong reasons to believe they’d compete last year. Are we now to believe that their methodology changed so much that they’re forced to throw in the towel because they think they can’t manage 86 wins next year with some changes? It would be crazy if people DIDN’T react with skepticism.

I shouldn’t be surprised by the fans. And I shouldn’t be surprised that the guys on XX Sports Radio are the voice of the fans and ask lame questions.

But it does seem like there is a lot of focus on how the fans received the bad news instead of the actual news.

#4@Kevin: It sounds like you are surprised the fans are being emotional. But I’m sure you know that’s what fans do, react emotionally, and business is, or tries to be, rational. Hopefully both situations, Peavy and Hoffman, will work out for the club business-wise and then the fans can be happy with the increased wins and/or new and productive players. Either way it will be an interesting winter, imo.