Don’t waste your links or links will waste you…

• The nickname game: all nicknames all the time (Hardball Times). I don’t recall ever hearing Mike Cameron referred to as “The Black Cat” in his two years with the Padres. I still have a soft spot for two other ex-Padres, Milton “Jenga” Bradley and Kevin “Mashin’ Macedonian” Kouzmanoff.
• Headley at hot corner a heated decision (U-T). Tim Sullivan talks about the Padres’ decision to return Chase Headley to his natural position. Quoth former Padres GM Kevin Towers: “I’d keep Kouz and trade Headley. But DePo (Paul DePodesta) has always been a huge Headley fan.” First off, why is anyone soliciting Kevin Towers’ opinion at this point? Second, Sullivan goes on to mention that “…the Padres prefer to think Headley’s third-base sample is too small to extrapolate.” A less biased and more accurate version would remove the first five words from that passage (Headley has played 40 big-league games at third base). Then again, maybe less bias and more accuracy isn’t everyone’s bag.
• Prospects abound in Padres pipeline (U-T). Bill Center gives his top 15 Padres prospects. I’m not sure about Simon Castro in the top spot (I’d probably go with Jaff Decker or Donavan Tate), and he’s got Cory Luebke way too high (#5), but this isn’t a bad list. I’ve made no secret of being a huge fan of Edinson Rincon, who shows up at #12. Oh, and Jonathan Galvez should be on here, too — probably around where Rymer Liriano is (#10).
• RJ’s Fro Exclusive Interview with Aaron Cunningham (RJ’s Fro). The story about selling a car to Ice-T is classic. [h/t Gaslamp Ball]
• Mark Loretta announces retirement after 15-year playing career (Padres.com). The best second baseman currently in the organization “will join the Padres front office as Special Assistant to Baseball Operations.” [h/t Gaslamp Ball]
• Wonder Hamster, professional hitter (Sacrifice Bunt). I love Matt Stairs. He should prove a worthy successor to Tony Clark and Cliff Floyd in the “What the heck is he doing here?” department.
• Introducing the 5 Tool Analyzer (Hardball Times). Kevin Dame’s latest graphical tool “maps a player’s skill (relative to his peers) across 5 offensive and defensive measures.” Pretty slick.
• 2010 Top 50 Prospects (MLB.com) The Padres’ Jaff Decker checks in at #50. [h/t Gaslamp Ball]

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