first pitch: 4:05 p.m., PT television: Channel 4SD, ESPN2 matchup: Jake Peavy (13-7, 2.88 ERA) vs Jason Schmidt (12-7, 4.40 ERA) preview: Padres.com The national story is about Barry Bonds and his various issues. For me, he’s still an opponent and the Padres need to concern themselves with not letting him beat them. One thing [...]

first pitch: 12:05 p.m., PT television: Channel 4SD matchup: Dewon Brazelton (1-8, 7.61 ERA) vs Greg Maddux (13-15, 4.24 ERA) The Padres’ final exhibition game of the spring sees the surprising #4 starter Brazelton go up against Future Hall of Famer Maddux at Cashman Field in Las Vegas. Adrian Gonzalez, taking over for the injured [...]

first pitch: 6:00 p.m., PT television: ESPN matchup: TBD (neither team is revealing who will start, but it’s expected to be Daisuke Matsuzaka vs Vicyohandri Odelin or Ormari Romero) So, it comes to this. A finale featuring exactly two players from the North American major leagues. Gone are the favored Americans and Dominicans, the surprising [...]

first pitch: 7:00 p.m., PT television: ESPN matchup: Jae Weong Seo vs Koji Uehara I am so late getting down to the ballpark it’s not even funny. Enjoy the game!

first pitch: 7:00 p.m., PT television: Channel 4SD matchup: Chan Ho Park vs Shunsuke Watanabe The fate of Team USA rests in the hands of Chan Ho Park. If he can lead Korea to a second straight “upset” victory over Japan, then the Americans stand a decent chance of making it to the semifinals here [...]

first pitch: 1:00 p.m., PT television: ESPN2 matchup: Rodrigo Lopez (15-12, 4.90 ERA) vs Jake Peavy (13-7, 2.88 ERA) preview: WorldBaseballClassic.com So, Pool B begins play in Phoenix this afternoon at the park formerly known as BOB. Two graduates of the Padres farm system hook up in today’s opener. Both Lopez and Peavy spent time [...]