Tag Archive for ‘hardball times’ rss

Maybin Haunts Former Team, Chicago Supports Current Team, Blanks and Rizzo Switch Places

I paid a visit to Chicago last week for three reasons: To escape the lack of extreme heat and humidity prevalent in San Diego this time of year; it was becoming downright comfortable back home To avoid hearing any mention whatsoever of the Padres, who are actually a figment of San Diegans’ collective imagination; I’ve [...]

Me, Elsewhere: Looking Forward… in Three Places at Once!

My latest at Hardball Times is part of their annual “Five Questions” series and focuses on our favorite team. One of my questions deals with Cameron Maybin, who is a key to this franchise in many ways right now: Oliver likes his chances this season, setting the bar at .271/.339/.422, which looks suspiciously like what [...]

One-Hit Wonders: Ronn Reynolds to John Scott

This is Part 11 of a 13-part series examining the 65 men who have collected exactly one hit as a member of the San Diego Padres. The current installment features a former college teammate of Kevin McReynolds, one of the three 1989 18th-round picks who played for the Padres, a failed catching prospect, a player [...]

Great Pitchers Duels in Padres History: Andy Hawkins vs Orel Hershiser, 9/28/88

I touched on this game in my Epic Pitchers Duels series at Hardball Times, but it deserves further attention. To most of the baseball world, it is the game where Orel Hershiser broke Don Drysdale’s consecutive scoreless innings streak. To Bip Roberts, it is the game where Mark Parent saved his backside.

Me, Elsewhere: Why Tim Raines Was Not Your Padre

My latest at Hardball Times examines the time Tim Raines begged the Padres to let him come play in San Diego and they wouldn’t do it. Reader David alerted me to this episode, which occurred over a period of several weeks before the 1987 season, when collusion against free agents was in full effect. I [...]

Me, Elsewhere: Tossed in Translation

My latest at Hardball Times revisits an earlier article about a toy introduced by Bill James back in the ’80s that translates a hitter’s line into a pitching line. Why would you do this? Well, because it’s fun. The new article focuses on 2010 performances and features “matched pairs” of hitters and pitchers. Among these [...]

Hall of Fame and Off-Season Moves

Two of my colleagues/friends at Hardball Times have penned articles that should be of interest to Padres fans. First up, Myron Logan examines Jed Hoyer’s moves this winter. Myron’s thoughts pretty much mirror my own, and his discussion of Adrian Gonzalez is spot on: With only one year left on his team-friendly deal (he’ll make [...]

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, [...]

Me, Elsewhere: Great Duels of the ’70s

My latest at Hardball Times is the fourth and final installment of my Epic Pitchers Duels series. One game involves the Padres (they lost, naturally). Also featured are Dick Williams, Rollie Fingers (making a 7-inning relief appearance), Sandy Alomar Sr., Tony Gonzalez, Gene Tenace, Graig Nettles, and Gaylord Perry. Heck, even San Diegan Ted Williams, [...]

Me, Elsewhere: Great Duels of the ’50s and ’60s

Part 3 of my Epic Pitchers Duels series is up at Hardball Times. This installment covers the 1950s and 1960s. Several members of the 1969 Padres make an appearance (albeit with other teams), including Jack Baldschun, Chris Cannizzaro, Al McBean, and Dick Selma (as a pinch-runner). So does Jack Harshman (Hoover High, PCL Padres). One [...]