My latest at Baseball Prospectus ($) explores the success of young hitters in Arizona and lack of same in Los Angeles. It also touches on the resurgence of old guys in Colorado, namely Jason Giambi and former Padres draft pick Todd Helton. Ah, Helton. I sometimes wonder what might have been had Tom Werner spent [...]
Tag Archive for ‘tom werner’ 
We Were Young and Stupid
When I was younger and measured days by the inning rather than by proximity to the next mortgage payment, I ridiculed people for arriving late to ball games. Such luxury… Nowadays, I am grateful to arrive at all.
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: 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 [...]
Adrian Gonzalez Traded to Boston for Guys You Haven’t Heard of… Yet
Slow news day, eh? Neither team has confirmed this, but sources too numerous to count are reporting that the Padres and Red Sox have agreed to a trade that would send All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to Boston for right-handed pitcher Casey Kelly, first baseman Anthony Rizzo, center fielder Reymond Fuentes, and a player to [...]
Me, Elsewhere: No Ausmus, No Ashby, No Thanks
My latest at Hardball Times continues our 1987 redraft with the benefit of hindsight. This installment covers picks 17 through 24. Aside from the amusing fact that in 2000, the Toronto Blue Jays would have been better off with almost anyone in their rotation other than Chris Carpenter and Roy Halladay, there are a couple [...]
Moorad Buys Padres
It’s official: Jeff Moorad’s group is purchasing the Padres. Once the deal is finalized, Sandy Alderson will leave the organization. Moorad will take over for John Moores, who bought the Padres in December 1994, rescuing the team from Tom Werner’s wave of destruction. Although taking shots at Moores is arguably more popular than baseball around [...]
Weekend Winter Wrapup (29 Oct 07)
Congrats to the Red Sox on their World Series victory or whatever. Stephen said it best in the comments: Nothing warms my heart more than seeing Tom Werner standing on the podium to accept the WS trophy. For those who may have forgotten why we detest Werner in these parts, here’s a handy reminder. Aside [...]
Let Me Stay Here a While
by Geoff Young on Oct 18, 2010 (19) Comments
I am of two minds when it comes to the Padres’ unexpected success in 2010. It is satisfying to know that a team that had the second lowest payroll in baseball and that was given little chance at finishing anywhere other than last in the National League West notched 90 wins (fourth most in 42 [...]