Posts Tagged ‘Adrian Gonzalez’

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Padres’ GM Hoyer not satisfied and pulls trigger on another deal….

Sunday, August 1st, 2010

An legit big bat is coming to San Diego, it’s about time !! Many of us loyal season ticket holders have been waiting for this day to come. Thank You ! Padres’ GM Jed Hoyer. It has been years since the last big bat arrived in San Diego (Greg Vaughn in 1996). Joining the Padres on Sunday will be OF Ryan Ludwick and he will bring the much needed protection behind Adrian Gonzalez. Let me repeat this San Diegans, the Padres Front Office is very serious about winning the division and going deep into the post season. Remember “We Believe“, that is the motto for the 2010 Padres season. Now, I wonder who will have to be removed from the 25 man roster to accommodate Ludwick ? Let’s take a look at the personnel in question, based on my perspective.

  1. OF Tony Gwynn Jr. This past week Gwynn has come up in critical key situations and strike out looking. Tony is currently hitting at .217 and offensively is regressing very rapidly. Sure, he has a great glove and dynamic speed. Though, I am sure Luis Durango can do the same and better. Gwynn Jr. is a good candidate to be sent down if he has options.
  2. OF Chris Denorfia. As with Cunningham, Denorfia has options but has heavily contributed this season. In fact, Denorfia has been hitting the long ball in July and provides speed as well. A demotion to the minor league does not make any sense but the same could be said for Cunningham.

In terms of pure production overall, I would have to say that Tony Gwynn Jr. is on the bubble. But, just like with the US Economy the bail-out packages are not the best interest for the American public, debt on top of debt impedes the Economy. In baseball terms, a demotion for Denorfia is highly probable and it will not make any sense baseball wise.

Playing left field has been an adventure as of late….

Padres’ OF Scott Hairston has been facing the demons from the outfield the past 2 out of 3 games in left field. On both occasions, Scott has allowed the ball to dictate his awful approach to it. Both times, Scott hesitated and made two critical errors which led to runs for the opponents. Could you have said, Ludwick is arriving just in time ? Perhaps, Will Venable will be starting in Center or Left on Sunday against the Marlins.

Alright Padres Fans, it’s time to close out this post. A blues music video by Eric Sardinas titled “I Can’t Be Satisfied” is dedicated to both Tony Gywnn Jr. and Scott Hairston. How come? Well, Gywnn for striking out way too frequently in key situations with runners in scoring position, and Hairston for his “Barnum and Baily Circus Routine” in left field.

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It’s Only Spring, Don’t Get Too Excited Yet…..

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

I have intentionally stayed away from blogging often on here during the Spring Training. I rather take the bystander approach and see how things are unfolding throughout Spring Training. I feel very strong about this Padres ballclub and have stated that on previous posts on my blog. I like the approach that former Padres’ player Dave Roberts is instituting with the team that is be very aggressive and dictate the flow of the game. Let’s face it folks ! This Padres team is going to be the old Cardinals team when they had Jack Clark (aka Adrian Gonzalez) and the rabbits McGee, Coleman (aka Everth Cabrera, Gywnn, Venable). The key to the 2010 Season is going to be (1) Starting Pitchers (2) Blanks, Venable, and Headley. This is the first time in my 14 yrs as a season ticket holder, the Padres are very deep in starting pitching candidates. The performance level should not drop off dramatically if and when injuries do take a toll during the season. The starting staff in Portland this year will be very good and ready for a call up. I am going out on a limb again and will say that FOUR Padres will hit 20+ HRS and out of that group, two will hit 30+ HRS. As a challenge to the readers of this post, I will leave the exercise for You to state which players will hit 20+ HRS and 30+ HRS. I am very curious to see if any readers out there are thinking along the same lines as I am. Another exercise, I will leave to the readers is how many stolen bases do you think Everth Cabrera will have this season? and who will have the second most stolen bases on the team?

It appears that Dodgers’ Owner Frank McCourt took a shot at San Diego, with his comment that his divorce proceedings are not like what had happened in San Diego. Mr. McCourt went on to say that his franchise will not be affected by his off the field troubles and financially the team is solid. Oh Yes ! Just like Fed’s Chairman Ben Bernanke saying there will not be a housing crisis. Ummm, Mr. McCourt, you have no idea who’s gonna take your team’s place for the playoffs this year. I’ll give you a hint, that City you had mentioned. I wonder, will the chants of BEAT LA ! BEAT LA ! have more synergy this year ? The season has yet to begin and the tone has been set by the Dodgers’ Owner. BEAT LA !…BEAT LA !…

Since we are on the subject of BEAT LA ! BEAT LA ! Here is an old time video showing the Boston crowd chanting BEAT LA ! BEAT LA ! Can You Dig That Padres Fans? Let’s make the Dodgers Owner and team hear us loud and clear during the season.

Ahhhh Yes, I am gonna wrap up this post with some hot blazing blues. Right up, is Jimmy Thackery video titled “Singing the blues”. Let’s enjoy a few more weeks of Spring Training before the boys get to the big stage and down right start their trek on taking the NL West Division Title.

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Balls Flying, Bats Cracking and the Catcus league is here…..

Sunday, March 7th, 2010

Ahhh Yes ! It’s that time of the year, Spring Training is here and the San Diego Padres are in camp. The games have begun in Florida and Arizona which brings synergy and faith to all baseball fans throughout the world. I am really looking forward to this year’s Padres ballclub, because I really do think they will surprise many so called experts and those who think the Padres will do nothing at all. I will go out on the limb and say the Padres will be a wild-card entry for this upcoming season. Yes ! You heard that right from my mouth and it’s just been posted in this blog as of now. I know, the majority of you are probably laughing your behind off at me for such an outlandish remark. Though, in truth I have many reasons to make such a prediction as I just did. For starters, I think this team will finally play to the style that fits Petco Park and will cause misery for many of the visiting ballclubs. This is vastly different than the previous Padres teams which did not adequately fit the Petco Park theme. In doing so, the previous teams (Padres) were playing on a level playing field with their opponents, whom in several cases had more power to their line-ups. Now, the Padres are styling their ballclub to pure speed, defense and pitching which to me is a winning formula for any ballpark. Though, it will be more apparent in ballparks like Petco Park, Chase Field, Dodger Stadium, Coors Field, and AT&T Park. Now, we will see how injuries come about to play within the Division during the Catcus and Grapefruit leagues and the shaping of divisional rivals rosters. I truly feel strong about our 2010 Padres Ballclub as they are flying beneath the radar and can appear out of nowhere like a stealth fighter/bomber to have a profound impact on the Division and National League.

The past week or so, I’ve been reading alot of bulletin board material in regards to Ex-Padre Ace Jake Peavy. Mr Peavy has been on the borderline of poaching a Padres’ property in 1B Adrian Gonzalez. I know players become tight with each other and share mutual respect, but that should remain in the clubhouse and shouldn’t be thrown out in the public to be use as leverage. Chi-Sox Pitcher Peavy has been trying to push the Chi-Sox Baseball folks to go out and acquire Adrian Gonzalez. Unfortunately, Jake should focus on learning American League Hitters who will present him a great challenge if you take into account the smaller size of ballclubs around the junior league. I find Jake’s comments very humorous because essentially, he is the San Diego’s Nate Keading Equivalent in terms of baseball. They both are very productive players during the regular season, but when it’s “Money-Time” as Magic Johnson refers to the playoffs, only do a few really standout and become the James “Big-Game” Worthy. In this instance, Peavy and Keading had opportunities to prove themselves and yet failed miserably. Therefore, being a Padre fan I am excited that Peavy is pushing hard to get Gonzalez. Why? If the Padres can get 4 players for a Pitcher who didn’t win a game in the playoffs and only pitches ever 5th day. Just think what the Padres can get for an All-Star, Gold Glove, and full-time producer like Adrian. I am thinking the bidding must begin with the minimum of 7 players. The real question is, can any team out there really afford to give up 7 players? Come July, those teams who are willing to pull the plug will arise if and only if the Padres are out of the running. Though, as many of you have read, I seriously doubt the Padres will be out of it this year and will shock many so called experts. The price for Gonzalez will be much higher then, just like an ounce of Gold and Silver with the economic crisis coming to a head soon.

As I conclude this post with Jake Peavy’s comments on Gonzalez and Padres franchise, a befitting video would be BB King and his friends with the song of ‘Rock Me Baby’. Yes, the Padres are gonna rock alot of people this year and maybe one ballclub out there will rock us with a package of players that the Padres can’t afford to turn down.

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Listen to your fans, if you want the fans to return….

Monday, July 27th, 2009

In today’s web environment, successful companies like Google, Amazon, Dell, and others listens to their customers and builds services based on customer’s desires. It’s time the Padres Front Office listens to their fan base and make a bold move before 31 July 09 trading deadline. This organization has not made ONE major transaction since the off-season trade for Adrian Gonzalez and Chris Young back in winter of 2005. It was recently reported that Kevin Towers said the Padres might make a few small trades before the trading deadline. Hmmm, hasn’t Towers been making small trades all this time ? Towers should trade Adrian Gonzalez and get back atleast 4 players who can play at the major league level now. If Towers is afraid of losing the fan base, he and the others in the Front Office should check out the attendance at the last home game (12K).

I have been posting repeatedly, Kevin Towers needs to show the fan base he is willing to pull a trigger vice talking a good game. It’s do or die for the Baseball Operations as the product on the field is very reflective on the baseball operations. If Florida Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays, and Minnesota Twins can produced great young talent from the farm system, there is no reason why San Diego can’t do the same. For now, all things are looking to the GM’s seat as everything has occurred under his watch. Pull the trigger and shake up the entire organization, the resort-like atmosphere shall not be tolerated.

Come on Towers shake your booty and pull that trigger, give us Padres fans a chance for some hope. Here’s a closing video, KC & The Sunshine Band, titled “Shake Your Booty”

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Will someone please stop the bleeding…..

Sunday, May 3rd, 2009

Losing streak extends to FIVE games as the Padres were swept by the Dodgers. Just plain old miserable is what sums up my thoughts on the Padres right now. Once again, opportunities were there for the Padres to take and grab control of the game. But as usual, on a consistent manner unfortunately the Padres FAIL to CAPITALIZE on key situations with runners in scoring position. It’s becoming quite evident the Padres do not have anyone else besides Adrian Gonzalez to step up. I don’t want to be in GM Kevin Towers seat right now, because he’s steering the ship along with Mgr Buddy Black that represents the Titanic. Just maybe, the spot price of silver will hit 25.00 per ounce before the Padres win their 25th game of the season. Here I thought only Wall Street Market is in a sucker rally but evidently the Padres start from the opening gate was also a sucker rally. There has to be a blockbuster deal soon, otherwise it’s going to be a long very long year and the fan base will eventually erode as well. I know we are in some hard economic times but there were a few people back in 2000 that knew this was coming (credit followed by the soon currency crisis). In baseball terms, I am sure a few front office personnel in the Padres also seen this coming (lack of talent) as well.

To sum up this entire weekend in which the Padres were swept under the carpet like some lost critter on the cold flooring, here’s a music video by Leona Lewis vs Duffy titled ‘Bleeding Mercy’.

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Only 7 hits in the last 19 innings…..Uh ?

Saturday, May 2nd, 2009

Hello Kevin Towers ! Hello ! Time to pull the trigger and let’s make a blockbuster deal. Standing pat is no longer acceptable and action is required now. Those Dodgers have not beaten us the last 4 games, it’s the Padres inability to hit and deliver in clutch situations. Other than Adrian Gonzalez, no other hitter on the Padres puts fear into the opposing pitchers. Bring up Kyle Blanks and package a few current regulars for some major league caliber players. Two runs in the last 19 innings and wasted great outings from Peavy and Young for only to lose to those Dodgers by one run each night. Down right embarrassing and now Towers is on the hot seat to make some significant changes before more fans gives up on the Padres.

You Got To Be Kidding Me
This weekly award goes to Padres’ RF Brian Giles, who leisurely charged a ball that was hit to swallow right field that allowed Dodgers’ CF Matt Kemp to take 3rd base. This is not acceptable for any player and especially a veteran like Giles. The Padres should never give up on plays and it’s way too early in the season for type of plays to be made like this.

To capped this post, I developed a video titled ‘Coolest & Strangest Plays of the Week’ in Baseball. Do enjoy Padres and baseball Fans.

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Preview of game Two between Padres and Pirates…..

Saturday, April 25th, 2009

On a wonderful partly cloudy Saturday morning in San Diego, the town is very excited about the NFL Draft and specifically what the Chargers will do. On the other hand, the Padres have re-ignited some enthusiasm throughout the baseball fans in the community. Tonight’s game, featuring Pirates lefty Zack Duke (2 – 1, 2.95 ERA) against Padres Shawn Hill ( 1 – 0, 3.60 ERA). I feel this game presents a challenge for the Padres, because Duke has been very effective against the Padres in the past with a record of 1 – 2 and 4.66 ERA which is very respectable. If you take into consideration with lefties in the line-up like Adrian Gonzalez and Brian Giles, Duke could be very effective tonight.

You Got To Be Kidding Me
The weekly award goes to Padres SS Luis Rodriguez, who on last Sunday in Philadelphia had come off the bench to replace the injured SS Everth Cabrera. The Padres were leading 4 – 0 in the bottom of the 6th when a routine grounder was hit to Rodriguez, who fielded the ball and threw the ball over Adrian Gonzalez which lead to the opening of the flood gates. The next batter Chase Utley banged out a two run homer to cut the lead to 4 – 2 and eventually the Padres lost 5 – 4.

Since we are on the subject of bloopers, I found one funny video and here it is.

While watching the game on TV last night, I noticed there were many seats empty in the ball park. Come on Padres Fans ! Let’s get out to the park and support this team which has some gusto in them. For those loyal season ticket holders, this next music video practically sums up your feelings. It’s by Earth Wind & Fire called ‘Devotion’

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Padres take the rubber game……

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

On the last game of the series against the New York Mets, the Padres came through with a 6 – 5 win. Once again, timely hitting and good pitching carried the Padres. Padres’ Closer Heath Bell got his 5th save of the year by striking out Mets’ 1B Carlos Delgado to end the game. The Padres record now stand at 7 – 3 and move down south to Philadelphia to play against the Phillies in the weekend series. Padres’ P Jake Peavy didn’t have his great stuff, yet Jake managed to get through and grab the win. Padres’ RP Duaner Sanchez gave up a two-run blast to Mets’ C Ramon Castro to narrow the lead to 6 – 5. In the end, Heath Bell overpowered the Mets with some smoke and it was history in the books. The first series in Citi Field won by the Padres.

Player of the Game
Padres LF Chase Headley, who went 4 for 4 and knocked in 3 runs. It’s good to see Chase coming through during critical situations with runners in scoring position while batting behind 1B Adrian Gonzalez.

Jake Peavy won the game with a little help from his friends and with that, the music video for this post is Joe Cocker singing ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’

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Blanco es muy caliente !……

Saturday, April 11th, 2009

On the eve of Easter Sunday, the Padres defeated Giants 6 – 3 and Jake Peavy went 8 1/3 innings to register his 1st win of the year. Padres’ C Henry Blanco got the Padres out in front with a solo blast in the 3rd inning and reconnected again with another solo blast in the 5th inning. In the bottom of the 6th inning, Padres’ 1B Adrian Gonzalez ripped a 3-run double to right center that blew the game wide open. Later on in the game, Padres’ LF Chase Headley blasted a deep solo shot to center. Padres Win ! and Big MO continues to hang around Petco Park for another night.

You got to be kidding me !
This weekly award goes to Padres’ CF Scott Hairston, for his base running blunder against the Dodgers on Tuesday 7 April. The Padres had Hairston on 2nd base with David Eckstein at bat. Eckstein hit a weak grounder between Dodgers’ 1B James Loney and 2B Orlando Hudson, which Hudson ranged to his left to field the ball and glove tossed it to Loney at first base to record an out. Though, on the same play Hairston had rounded 3B and was far down the line when Hairston just frozed. It appear to be that Scott Hairston was in quick drying cement and Loney fired the ball to Dodgers’ C Russell Martin, who had eventually run down Hairston for the 3rd out. After further review, it had appeared that Hairston perhaps had forgotten how many outs there were. Why would he had froze dead in his tracks ? Maybe to induce a run-down to allow the runner to advance to 3rd base. Anyhow, Hairston’s blunder clinches the award for the week of 6 April 09.

Speaking of Blunders and Bloopers, here is a great video !

Player of the Game
This is a no brainer ! It goes to Padres’ C Henry Blanco as he collected three hits including two solo blasts that put the Padres ahead each time.

For tonight’s music video theme, as the Padres won on Saturday Night in downtown. At the various clubs in the Gaslamp Quarters many patrons will be dancing away while they celebrate. Here is a hot song by Chris Standring titled ‘Miss Downtown Sugargirl’.

Have a wonderful Easter Sunday Padres Fans ! Keep up the faith !

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A three game series to begin in Petco with Bochy’s gang – the Giants….

Friday, April 10th, 2009

On this Easter weekend, Padres play host to the San Francisco Giants, California’s other NL West team. Giants’ Mgr Bruce Bochy is in the last year of his initial 3 year contract and Giant’s GM Brian Saben is also in his last year. So this 2009 season is very crucial for Giants’ General Manager and Manager. The Giants come into Petco Park with a 2 – 1 record after taking the series from the Milwaukee Brewers. I am curious to see what will become of the minor altercation the Padres and Giants had in spring training. Wil Giants’ 3B Pablo Sandoval toss his bat if he connects on a homer in this series ? Will there be any retaliation on behalf of the Padres pitching staff ?

Quote of the Week
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson

Hey Padres ! Let’s Get It Started tonight by winning the 1st game of the series, come on Adrian Gonzalez and the boys ! Speaking about a Bay Area team, here’s a Musician from that area MC Hammer and his song called ‘Let’s Get It Started’

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