The Padres have signed outfielder Cliff Floyd to a 1-year contract and designated Matt Bush for assignment to clear a roster spot. Floyd’s deal is for $750,000 — or $2.4 million less than what it originally took to sign Bush, who didn’t hit enough to remain at shortstop, converted to pitcher, and missed the entire [...]
Author Archives 
Moorad Buys Padres
It’s official: Jeff Moorad’s group is purchasing the Padres. Once the deal is finalized, Sandy Alderson will leave the organization. Moorad will take over for John Moores, who bought the Padres in December 1994, rescuing the team from Tom Werner’s wave of destruction. Although taking shots at Moores is arguably more popular than baseball around [...]
Seventy-One Awful Potential Closer Songs
Chris Jaffe at Hardball Times recently identified 50 great potential closer songs. Thus inspired, I’ve compiled a list of 71 awful potential closer songs. Why 71? Why not. This is actually an updated version of our original list from ’06 with reader suggestions incorporated. Maybe we can add even more now and go for 100 [...]
THT Season Preview, Seamheads Historical League
Couple things. First off, I’m pleased to announce that The Hardball Times Season Preview 2009 is now available (details from David Gassko, our editor). I contributed the chapter on the Padres. Buy the book. It rocks. And it’ll give you something to read while you’re waiting for my book. Second, the Seamheads Historical League has [...]
Links for 23 Jan 09
First off, thanks for the excellent discussion on fan disillusionment. You’ve helped me see the problem in new ways, and I’ve got additional thoughts that I’ll share as soon as they make sense. It’ll probably come in the form of a thought exercise — sort of along the lines of Kobayashi Maru. Until then, we’ve [...]
Eckstein Marks the Spot
Let me just say up front that I’m a fan of guys who get the most of our their ability. If you aren’t gifted with overwhelming tools and still find a way to succeed, unless you’re a complete jerk, I’m behind you. With that disclaimer out of the way, it should come as no surprise [...]
Contest: Twenty-One Grains of Rice
So, I’ve been thinking about my problem with letting Jim Rice into the Hall of Fame. And I’ve been thinking about my book. The two have nothing to do with each other, which sounds like a good excuse for a contest. Here’s the deal. Listed below are 21 outfielders who are or were at one [...]
Two Fewer Original Padres
While the Padres prepare to celebrate their 40th anniversary in MLB, two members of that original team have died within the span of a week. First, left-hander Dave Roberts died of lung cancer [h/t Baseball Musings via Didi] at age 64 on January 8; then skipper Preston Gomez died at age 85 on January 13. [...]
With Fans Like These, Who Needs Air Conditioning?
by Geoff Young on Jan 21, 2009 (25) Comments
You know the old saw: When the going gets tough, the weak flee screaming like frightened little schoolchildren. Seems one former Padres “fan” has had enough and jumped on the Red Sox bandwagon (I’m flattered that someone actually took my advice). That must have been a difficult decision, but I’m sure now he feels like [...]