The weekend sweep in Pittsburgh sure was nice. On the heels of a series loss in Atlanta, and with the Giants kicking around the Arizona Rollovers, the Padres needed those wins. Mat Latos, fully recovered from his sneeze, worked six strong innings in Saturday’s 9-2 victory. His fastball came in at its usual 92-95 mph, [...]
Author Archives 
Three Random Comparisons
Just some stuff that’s been on my mind of late… stats are through July 22. Nick Hundley, Ron Karkovice, Jason LaRue, Mike Macfarlane In the Ducksnorts 2009 Baseball Annual, I compared Hundley to a couple of defense-first, swing-for-the-fences catchers. In the interest of accountability, I thought I’d see how these guys stack up at the [...]
Radio Wrapup
I was fortunate enough to appear on three different radio programs this past week. Archived versions of two are available online: New York Sports Exchange Friarhood Radio The third, with Elliott Price and the gang at The Team 990, happened in real time only and is lost to the world forever. If you missed it, [...]
Friday Links (23 Jul 10)
Go, read stuff. It’ll be great… Great Moments In Padres Trade Deadline History: The Joe Randa Era (619 Sports). Guest author Avenger in Chief remembers everyone’s favorite non-descript third baseman. Radbourn’s immortal season July 10, 1884: Going to Carrie’s house (Edward Achorn). If you’re a fan of baseball history, you need to be reading Achorn’s [...]
Me, Elsewhere: Revisiting Some Freakish Starts
My latest Hardball Times article revisits several players who got off to “unusual” starts this year. There isn’t much of a Padres connection, although I suppose there have been rumblings that the club might have interest in Cleveland right-hander Jake Westbrook. Another player featured in the article is Nationals outfielder Josh Willingham. I’ve expressed my [...]
One Full Season and the Latos Conundrum
Reader Michael sends us this note: Since so much of the media is saying that the Pads are a half-season fluke, but I knew they did quite well after the ASB last year, I figured I’d compile a chart of how teams have done if you add their post-ASB 2009 records with their pre-ASB records [...]
We Want the Airwaves
I am scheduled to appear on two different radio shows on Tuesday: The Morning Show with Elliott Price, Denis Casavant, and Shaun Starr The Team 990, Montreal 5:45 a.m. PT (8:45 a.m. ET) The New York Sports Exchange with Eric Mirlis and Derek Wasiak WGBB 1240 AM, Long Island, New York 6:15 p.m. PT (9:15 [...]
Thoughts on Frieri
When Mike Adams landed on the disabled list just before the All-Star break, the Padres summoned right-hander Ernesto Frieri from Triple-A Portland. Signed as a free agent in January 2003, Frieri is the longest-tenured player in the entire Padres organization, beating fellow right-hander Tim Stauffer by about six months (thanks to my pal Keith for [...]
Preconceive This
I don’t mean to alarm anyone, but the Padres are hitting better (and scoring more) at Petco Park this year than they are on the road: G PA BA OBP SLG BB% SO% R/G Home 48 1848 .257 .340 .378 10.5 18.8 4.65 Road 42 1619 .246 .302 .379 6.8 19.6 4.12 That could get [...]
The Bud Black Extension
by Geoff Young on Jul 22, 2010 (1) Comments
As you probably know, Padres skipper Bud Black has had his contract extended through 2013, with club options for 2014 and 2015. I should say a few words about that. Okay: I like it. Hmmm, maybe that was too few words. Let me elaborate.