first pitch: 5:05 p.m., PT television: Channel 4SD matchup: Mike Thompson (2-2, 4.24 ERA) vs Vicente Padilla (6-4, 4.65 ERA) previews: Padres.com | SI.com The highlight of my baseball experience this year probably was when Akinori Otsuka saved Japan’s two victories at Petco Park in the World Baseball Classic this past March. The Padres should [...]

first pitch: 12:35 p.m., PT television: Channel 4SD matchup: Chan Ho Park (4-3, 4.15 ERA) vs Bartolo Colon (0-2, 7.07 ERA) previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN I didn’t catch any of Saturday’s game but that sure sounds like an irritating way to lose. The good news it that apparently Dave Roberts is okay. He [...]

first pitch: 1:05 p.m., PT television: FOX matchup: Jake Peavy (4-7, 4.96 ERA) vs Ervin Santana (6-3, 4.29 ERA) previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN New hitting coach Merv Rettenmund pays immediate dividends, as he gets Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez to hang an 0-2 breaking ball to Khalil Greene and catcher Mike Napoli to throw [...]

first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT television: Channel 4SD matchup: Clay Hensley (4-5, 3.96 ERA) vs Jeff Weaver (3-9, 6.15 ERA) previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN The Padres travel north to square off against the team that knows how to market itself and alienate its own community in the process. Clay Hensley, coming off a [...]

first pitch: 12:35 p.m., PT television: Channel 4SD matchup: Chris Young (6-3, 3.25 ERA) vs Chad Billingsley (MLB debut) previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN If there’s one thing I learned from Wednesday night’s 5-3 victory over the Dodgers, it’s that you don’t throw fastballs out over the plate to their kids. Those homers by [...]

first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT television: Channel 4SD matchup: Mike Thompson (2-2, 4.67 ERA) vs Brad Penny (7-1, 2.34 ERA) previews: Padres.com | SI.com Ten quasi-random observations from Monday night’s victory over the Dodgers: For a guy who is supposed to stink, Chan Ho Park sure doesn’t pitch like it. As has been the case [...]

first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT television: Channel 4SD matchup: Chan Ho Park (3-3, 4.36 ERA) vs Aaron Sele (3-0, 2.33 ERA) previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN Padres are 16-18 at home, Dodgers are 16-14 on the road. It’s called “home field advantage” and the Pads don’t use it. They’ve been outscored by 29 runs [...]

first pitch: 1:05 p.m., PT television: Channel 4SD matchup: Jake Peavy (4-6, 4.56 ERA) vs Brian Moehler (3-5, 7.17 ERA) previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN Batters are hitting .381/.435/.643 in 126 at-bats against Brian Moehler away from Dolphin Stadium this year. Padres are hitting an MLB worst .224/.293/.336 at home. Something’s got to give.

first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT television: Channel 4SD matchup: Clay Hensley (4-4, 4.15 ERA) vs Scott Olsen (4-3, 5.60 ERA) previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN How ’bout Chris Young? After taking no-hit bids into the sixth inning or later in each of his previous two starts, he goes out and strikes out a career-high [...]

first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT television: Channel 4SD matchup: Chris Young (4-3, 3.39 ERA) vs Ricky Nolasco (4-2, 3.15 ERA) I am still fighting a bug I caught before going on vacation and I fully expect to be passed out on the couch by the third inning. With any luck, that means I’ll miss all [...]