The Padres took round 1 Friday night in San Francisco. I still marvel at the fact that a team given no chance in March is fighting for a playoff berth come the season’s final weekend. Whatever the outcome, 2010 has been an unqualified success for the Padres. Anyone who says otherwise is rewriting history. Continue reading ›
Friday Links (1 Oct 10)
While we’re all waiting for a miracle or three, here are your links… Continue reading ›
Axis: Cold as Glove
James Dean died before he had the chance to make lousy movies. Same with Jimi Hendrix and music. Had Hendrix lived on, he probably would have done great things; then again, he might have ended up singing the theme song from Mannequin (with Dean playing Phil Rubenstein’s part in the film, no doubt). Continue reading ›
Tuesday Links (28 Sep 10)
I hate writing the intros to these things. The pressure to say something witty is enormous and I always fall short. Then again, in so doing, I remove my own burden. I feel better already… Continue reading ›
How to Let a Pitcher off the Hook
Tim Stauffer tossed another gem, allowing one run in a game where he could give up none. The Padres loaded the bases in the ninth against Cubs closer Carlos Marmol but couldn’t score.
This was not an affordable loss. Continue reading ›
Fourth and Inches
The more I watch Ryan Ludwick, the more convinced I become that he does not belong in the National League West. During Sunday’s loss to the Reds, even as Dick Enberg and Mark Grant praised his effort on Jonny Gomes’ fourth-inning drive into the right-center field gap that glanced off Ludwick’s glove for a double, I couldn’t help but think that Will Venable catches that ball with ease. Continue reading ›
Ice in My Shorts
Pardon my French, but I’m enjoying the crap out of this. The Padres are back in first place after beating the Reds on Saturday… 4-3 again… in front of a national audience… with two out in the ninth… on a hit by a guy originally drafted by the Reds. Continue reading ›
Playoff Shuffle (25 Sep 10)
What am I doing here on a Saturday? Pennant fever, baby.
It’s like 2007 all over again, but without all the stress. If the Padres win, great; if not, it’ll be disappointing but not devastating. They were supposed to suck this year, so it’s all bonus time. At best, the Padres embarrass a lot of experts and teams with much greater resources; at worst, they scare the bejeezus out of everyone. I’m good either way. Continue reading ›
Friday Links (24 Sep 10)
No airplane metaphors today, just links…
Home Team
- Monday (Inside the Padres). From Tom Krasovic: “At some point, the Padres have to hit better than they have over the last few weeks, don’t they?” As Hemingway would say, “Isn’t it pretty to think so?”
- Hairston Jr.’s season ends with stress fracture (Padres.com). This is a tough blow for Hairston and the Padres. He’s meant a lot to the team this year (more than I expected he would, that’s for sure) and I wouldn’t mind seeing him return in 2011.
- Father inspires Bell to work harder (Padres.com). Fun fluff piece on everybody’s favorite closer and peanut butter sandwich connoisseur.
- Astros claim righthander off waivers from Padres (Houston Chronicle). Former first-round pick Cesar Carrillo continues his world tour. I hear the Far East is nice.
- Stauffer’s Survival (FanGraphs). Tim Stauffer is probably my current favorite baseball player. To overcome the kinds of obstacles he’s had to overcome and just go about his business without making a fuss… that’s my kind of people. [h/t reader Didi]
- Tejada Fitting in San Diego (FanGraphs). Yes, he certainly is. [h/t reader Didi]
- vid of me at soccer game in Istanbul getting 60,000 Turks 2chantPadres! (Steve Poltz). Our pal Steve is taking his message to the streets… of Istanbul (not Constantinople).
- Towers’ new job, Simmons’ decision to leave unrelated (U-T). Ted Simmons won’t be returning in 2011. That’s too bad; I get the impression he’s helped in the development of Nick Hundley. Still, Simmons probably deserves a shot to manage somewhere, so it’s good for him.
- Going to a Padres game should be like a party (Gaslamp Ball). Dex offers an interesting take on Petco Park: “People complain that it’s so hard to get into and out of Qualcomm, but that journey is part of the experience.” That “journey” is also why I don’t experience it. With all due respect to the history of that place, I hated watching baseball games in Mission Valley.
- Padres’ David Eckstein has made ‘little’ go a long way (Los Angeles Times). Quoth Eck: “They want to see stuff that translates on paper. I don’t translate to paper.” [h/t reader Didi]
Me, Elsewhere: Chatting with FanGraphs
Carson Cistulli was kind enough to have me on his FanGraphs Audio radio programme. I never know how these things come off and can judge solely on whether we had fun chatting.
We had fun chatting. Lots of fun. Maybe too much fun.
What did we discuss? I will steal from my gracious host:
The Padres Were Bad
And Then the Padres Weren’t So Bad
And Then They Were in First Place
And Then They Weren’t in First Place
Ta-da!
Thanks again to Carson for having me on the show. Give it a listen…
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