Padres skipper Bud Black started Alberto Gonzalez at first base on Friday evening against the Dodgers. The results were predictably awful, as Ted Lilly and three relievers proceeded to blank the home club on four hits. With Kyle Blanks and Jesus Guzman nursing injuries and a lefty on the mound, Black’s options were limited. He [...]
Tag Archive for ‘andy benes’ 
Wednesday Links (17 Aug 11)
One of these years I will finish my essay comparing the scrappy indie-rock band Pavement to David Eckstein. While we’re all waiting for that to happen, here are some links you might enjoy…
Vedder Cup Recap
The Padres dropped two out of three in Seattle over the weekend to lose this year’s Vedder Cup, 5-1. If you’re keeping score at home, here’s how the Padres have fared in Bud Selig’s idea of a “natural rivalry”…
Great Pitchers Duels in Padres History: Andy Benes vs Bret Saberhagen, 7/15/94
These were tough times for the Padres and for baseball. On a local level, then-owner Tom Werner had sold all his top-name players in 1993. The following year, the team sputtered and so did MLB, thanks to a player’s strike that denied Tony Gwynn a shot at becoming baseball’s first .400 hitter since Ted Williams [...]
Me, Elsewhere: Slightly Less Epic, But Still Impressive
My latest at Hardball Times responds to a reader request for great pitchers duels in more recent times. Specifically, it covers 1980-2010. I had to lower the standards somewhat, but there are some great games here, including a few in which the Padres participated: Orel Hershiser vs Andy Hawkins, 9/28/88; Andy Benes vs Bret Saberhagen, [...]
Latos Makes Rotation, Geoff Makes a List
Young right-hander Mat Latos has been named the Padres #5 starter to open the season. He staved off some tough competition from right-handers Sean Gallagher and Tim Stauffer, who will stick as long relievers, and southpaw Wade LeBlanc, who will start the year at Triple-A Portland. As for Latos, he looked terrific this spring. I [...]
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 [...]
Has Anyone Seen the Part of Me That Cares?
In Ashland, just around the corner from the Standing Stone Brewery (excellent Oatmeal Stout), there’s a cool little comic book store we always make sure to visit. This time, on impulse, I bought every baseball card they had in stock — 41 packs of maybe 30-40 cards each, separated by team — for $19. There’s [...]
Slugging Pitchers
Amaze and annoy your friends with this handy list of pitchers who have hit two or more home runs in a Padres uniform… Tim Lollar, 8 (and only 3 sacrifice hits) Mike Corkins, 5 Joey Hamilton, 4 Andy Benes, 4 Eric Show, 4 Jake Peavy, 2 Adam Eaton, 2 (and 5 stolen bases) Fernando Valenzuela, [...]
What Happened in Phoenix, Stays in Phoenix
by Geoff Young on Aug 09, 2010 (4) Comments
Dropping two out of three to the Diamondbacks in Arizona over the weekend wasn’t part of the plan. On the bright side, the Giants did the same in Atlanta (and but for the left side of the Braves infield forgetting how to play defense in the ninth inning on Friday, the Giants would have been [...]