Friday Links (14 Sep 07)

Friday, September 14, 2007
by Geoff Young
Yummy links... Full palette of skippers up for award (MLB.com). National Manager of the Year? My money is on Bob Melvin because most experts didn't expect the Diamondbacks to win the NL West. They should have, but they didn't. Hoffman heeds no call for career exit strategy (San Diego Union-Tribune). Fluff piece on everyone's favorite pitcher with 500+ saves. Thatcher making impression (Padres.com). Padres manager Bud Black on rookie left-hander Joe Thatcher: "His fastball that cuts is effective against right-handed hitters. He's equally effective against both. He's doing well for a guy with 20 days in the big leagues, given the small sample size." Best part of this? Black's inclusion of the ...
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Posted in Minors, Notes and Links | 33 Comments »

Storm Watch: Elsinore Takes Lead in Series against Lancaster

Tuesday, September 11, 2007
by Geoff Young
We arrived at the Diamond just after 6 p.m. (and just after the obligatory stop at In 'n' Out). Got seats in our favorite spot behind home plate, but a little closer than usual -- first row, right next to the radar gun that fed the scoreboard silly numbers like 47 and 52. Attendance for the game was listed at 1,462, but that seems a bit generous. I guess getting out and supporting your home team in a playoff game requires more effort than watching football on television at home. The game started out like a Padres game -- many opportunities, few results. In the first inning, with two on and two out, Kyle Blanks hit a sharp grounder to third baseman Zak Farkes to end the ...
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Posted in Minors | 21 Comments »

Padres tickets  Chargers tickets  Sports tickets

Missions, Storm Advance

Saturday, September 8, 2007
by Geoff Young
Congrats to the San Antonio Missions and Lake Elsinore Storm for advancing in their league playoffs. The Missions beat the Frisco Rough Riders, 5-0, on Friday at home (recap | box) to sweep their three-game series, while the Storm topped the Inland Empire 66ers, 8-2, at The Diamond in Elsinore (recap | box). One of the fun things if you're a Padres fan (especially one who got to see a few Storm games earlier in the season) is that many of the kids leading the charge for San Antonio started the year in the Cal League. Among them ...
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Posted in Minors | 3 Comments »

Road Trip to Cooperstown: Oklahoma City to Knoxville

Thursday, July 26, 2007
by Geoff Young
Two guys have been adrift at sea in a small boat for several days. One looks concerned. "What's wrong," asks the other, "did we spring a leak?" "No, it's just that..." "What? What is it?" "Well, I thought the ocean would be larger." * * * I couldn't get to Knoxville in time for the Smokies game. I have only myself to blame, and I'm okay with that. When it's Trevor Hoffman's turn to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, I'll spread the trip over more days. Either that, or I'll pop open a cold beverage, plant my lily white ass on the couch, and watch on television like sane people do. I'm well beyond exhausted, and food has lost its appeal, but one moment on Wednesday brought a huge smile ...
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Posted in Travels | 49 Comments »