It’s too bad it had to come down to this, but Padres’ Closer Heath Bell deserved to be on the NL All-Star based on leading the league with saves. This will give Heath a chance to save a game that hopefully will give the Padres home field advantage in the World Series. Ahhh Yes ! I know that comment may sound to drastic but hey dreams do come true. You just gotta have faith Padres fans !!
Nationals taking it to the Padres
The boys have lost the first two games on this road-trip while the Rockies have been coming from behind to pull out wins in their last two games. It’s time for the boys to suck it up and pull out the final game in DC before they move on to the Rockies Mountain state and face a red hot Rockies. It’s very important the Padres gain some type of momentum heading into the series with the Rockies before the All-star break.
It’s grinding time and the boys need to get their mojo working again. With that being said, here is a closing music video by Blues Musician Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown and Carlos Santana titled “I’ve Got My Mojo Working”. Do enjoy Padres fans !! Come on boys, take the final game in DC !!
Wow ! You got to be kidding me ! The best ERA in the Major Leagues and not one member of the pitching staff was nominated to the National League All-stars. Talk about a major insult ! I tell you one thing, if the Padres had a chip on the shoulders entering this 2010 season to prove to the league they are legit. What do you think this latest slap in the face will provide in terms of motivation ? You can’t tell me that the league leader in saves Heath Bell did not deserve a spot based on merit. What about Mat Latos ? Oh I can only imagine what type of motivation this will provide for the Padres pitching staff. I bet many people outside of this franchise, surely thinks this staff will crumble and the Padres will fade out of the NL West standings. I tell you, this Padres ballclub will not fade ! The National League has just created a monster in terms of motivation factor. Go ahead Padres GM Jed Hoyer, reload and lock the staff with another legit front-line starter.
Padres end the home stand series with Astros with another dramatic win…
For the 3rd consecutive day, the Padres pulled out a win against the Astros in late drama fashion. This team has no quit in it and continues to prove to many people the game is not over until the Fat lady sings. These late game winners is a sign of a championship caliber team and Padres fans there is something special going on in Downtown, specifically Petco Park. It’s time for the fans to show up and support this exciting team which NO ONE believes in other than those in that clubhouse and a few loyal season ticket-holders who have been through the struggles with this franchise. Let it be known the All-star snubbing of Padres pitchers will come back to haunt the National League.
Tell me who’s been fooling you ? As I wrap up this blog post, here’s a fitting music video to the National League All-Star Manager by Eric Clapton a blues song titled “Tell The Truth”. Tell me who’s been fooling who ?
Two weeks into the 2010 Major League Baseball Season, the word is spreading around as the Padres are making a few waves. I know several big time so called experts back east are calling this Padres start a fluke. I would totally disagree with those sentiments that have been formed back there. If anyone has been reading my posts here, I have gone out on the limb to predict the Padres to be the Wild-Card in the National League. Of course, things are going very smoothly right now and it’s the key for this young team, that is to build extreme confidence. Therefore, you have witness some come from behind rallies which translated into wins. Remember, the more wins the Padres accumulate now, the more pressure it’s on the other teams to catch up. Without no doubt, there will be some low points and hopefully the boys will not get flustered. The season is a long grind and no one is immune to slumps, even the Champions have to endure such conditions and weather them the best way they can. The point here is, the Padres are getting national news and coverage from various regions throughout the country.
By far, the pitching staff is the strongest suite of the Padres and there is talent down in the AAA club that is ready to get into the action. Do not be surprised if there is a move or two before May, since LHP Joe Thatcher and RHP Chris Young might be ready for game day action. There has been whispers in the stands, scouts from Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays have been in attendance at the Padres games. I figured both franchises might be scouting RHP’s Heath Bell, Mike Adams, and possibly Tim Stauffer. Yes, I know what you the readers might be thinking, Stauffer? If you take a step back and analyze this situation, Stauffer is showing his versatility as a starter and reliever. Remember Linebrink and Meredith?, Stauffer is showing the same consistency as those former peers, during the times Stauffer has been called upon. Do not kid yourself, Stauffer is a valuable commodity as well. Though, I will admit the interest is most likely focused on Heath Bell which leads to the question. Would the Padres Front Office be willing to trade Bell for the right price? Would this have an enormous impact on the team’s goal to win this year and years afterwards? I will go out on the limb again and say this much…. The Padres have Mike Adams and Tim Stauffer at the major league level, and RHP Adam Russell down in AAA. Between these three players, I feel the Padres have some capable and potential closers on their hands. But, if I were part of the Front Office, I would only agree to move Bell if I were to receive an offer from the Rays. Historically, the Tampa Bay Rays minor league talent has been outstanding and they are in need of a legit closer. The following is a trade that I think would benefit both clubs as the Padres would send Heath Bell to the Rays in exchange for RHP Jeremy Hellickson and RHP Alexander Colome.
Thou Shall Not Worry About Others Business
This goes out to Chicago White Sox P Jake Peavy, who was pushing very strong to the Front Office to get Padres 1B Adrian Gonzalez. At that time, during spring training I had said Peavy better concentrate on learning his new league and smaller ballparks. Well, according to FoxSports Baseball Analyst Ken Rosenthal in his around the horn. Ex Padres pitcher Jake Peavy is going to not perform well in the American League according to one executive. That anonymous executive went out on the limb to say Peavy will not make it into the 5th Inning against the likes of Rays, Red Sox’s and Yankees. Guess what? Last night, Peavy lasted 4 1/3 Innings, walking 7 batters, and giving up 7 runs, check it out. I guess you can call it bad karma and Peavy must focus on his team.
Well as I close out this post, a music video which sums up the last two sweeps the Padres had conducted on their divisional rivals. Blues Artist Walter Trout, song titled “Dust My Broom”. Do enjoy Padres Fans ! and Kick some butts Padres in Cincy this weekend.
It has been hectic the past 6 days for me. One, I had to deal with the passing of my cousin’s husband who fought a year against leukemia and passed away a week ago. These kind of events really puts everything into perspective and shows how fragile life is.
As for the Padres, they have been on a downward spiral ever since Mgr Buddy Black decided to give P Health Bell a rest in a game which the Padres lost to the Phillies. Big MO has disappeared since then and the Padres are resembling like the team which had lost 99 games last year. The injuries continues to pile on the Padres along with some horrible showings by Jake Peavy and Chris Young. The offense is still there though the pitching has been downright horrible. You would think the amount of money these pitchers make they could go atleast 7 innings. Geesh, back in the old days if you didn’t go 9 innings you were considered a whimp. So, I expect today’s pitchers to go atleast 7 innings not 5 !
Watching the game against the Dodgers, I can’t believe RF Brian Giles took his sweet time throwing the ball back into the infield as Dodgers’ CF Matt Kemp took 3rd on a swallow ball hit to right field. This is the prototypical example where Giles weak arm has been exposed. It’s time to move Giles to LF and let’s have a powerful arm in RF. Last Saturday’s game in Petco, where Jody Gerut played in RF against the Pirates. Jody had chased down the ball into the right field corner, actually threw a strike to 2nd to keep the runner from advancing home. Before our Padres continue to spiral downward, Mgr Black should start to make some moves with the starters and particularly the starting pitchers as well.
Come on Towers, pull a trigger and make a blockbuster deal ! It’s about time to make a bold statement.
Padres RF Brian Giles ripped a base hit to right field that allowed pinch hitter Chris Burke to score from 2nd base with the winning run. Ahh, the ex-Pirates player did in his old team and it was about time Giles came through after struggling recently at the dish. Both starting pitchers Pirates’ Ian Shell and Padres’ Kevin Correia fared very well. Though, the Padres had the bases loaded twice in the game and that nearly haunted them until the 11th when Giles came through in the clutch. Another fine performance by the Padres pen tonight Gregerson, Bell, Mujica, and Moreno. The only blemish was the blown save by Cla Meredith in the 6th inning. Padres win ! 4 – 3 Padres win ! 4 – 3.
Player of the Game
Padres RF Brian Giles, who drove a fastball to right field for the game winning hit. Giles had been struggling at the dish and is historically a slow starter.
Quote of the Week If a horse can’t eat it, I don’t want to play on it. ~Dick Allen, on artificial turf, 1970
Knowing Giles attitude about his early season’s struggles, I bet Brian has the mentality of Life’s Been Good. With that being said, a music video of Joe Walsh and the Eagles on the song called ‘Life’s Been Good’.
Stealing the all famous zealous line that famous announcer Dick Enberg used “Oh My !” Just when you think the Padres were about to lose a game, their no-lose attitude prevails as they came from behind against the Phillies’ Closer Brad Lidge while defeating the World Champions by the score of 8 – 5, “Oh My !” Big MO continues to make it’s presence felt in this eastern road trip and just when I had noted on the previous night post that soon we will need 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff. Oh Kevin comes through in a bang for the Padres. A three-run homer by Kouzmanoff in the top half of the 9th inning, put the Padres ahead 8 – 5 and allowed Heath Bell to record his 7th save of the year. Padres’ Starting pitcher Shawn Hill pitched tremendously considering the small ballpark and Shawn’s lack of work in spring training.
Player of the Game
No brainer ! Padres’ 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff, who went 3 for 5 with a 3-run homer and 3 RBI’s. What timing ! Geesh, here I was the night before alluding to the fact soon the Padres will need Kevin to come through.
Come on Padres’ Fans, those whom are very pessimistic on the Padres. Get up and support this exciting team, they hustle. On that note, here’s a music video by Bon Jovi song titled ‘Keep The Faith’
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’
The christening of Citi Field began with a lead off Homer by Padres’ CF Jody Gerut to right field. The Padres continue to apply pressure on the New York Mets by scoring more runs in the top of the 2nd and the Mets Fans were booing the home town team. Eventually, the Mets would catch up on a 3-run homer to left field by Mets’ 3B David Wright to tie up the game at 5-5. Though, in the next top half inning (6th) Big MO returned for the Padres again. SS Luis Rodriguez hit a deep fly ball to right center that went for a 3-bagger error on Mets’ RF Ryan Church. The play of the game occurred when Mets’ P Pedro Feliciano balked in Rodriguez for the lead run. The Padres managed to hold onto that lead and eventually won the game 6 – 5. Padres’ P Heath Bell registered his 4th save of the year.
Player of the Game
Padres’ 2B David Eckstein had three hits in the game and was at the plate when Mets’ P Feliciano balked in the go ahead and eventually winning run. Eckstein, initially called out the balk and got the attention of the home plate umpire.
As Big MO apparently made his presence felt and cast a spell on Mets’ P Pedro Feliciano to balk in the winning run. A song by Robert Randolph and Rob Thomas called ‘Voodoo Child’ is most befitting one.
On a cool tuesday evening, the Padres defeated Dodgers 4 – 2 in front of thousands of baseball die-hard fans. In the bottom of the fourth with the Padres trailing 2 – 1, Kevin Kouzmanoff came up to the plate with the bases loaded. Kouzmanoff failed to deliver and the runners were left stranded. In two games with RISP Kouzmanoff is 0 – 3 and has stranded 8 runners. No need to worry, season is still early and Chase Headley came through in the bottom of the 6th with a 2 run double. The relief corps of Edwin Moreno, Duaner Sanchez and Closer Heath Bell took care of the game.
Player of the Game
Padres’ LF Chase Headley by connecting with a 2 run double that put the Padres ahead for good. Headley had been seeing the off-speed stuff from Dodgers’ P Randy Wolf all night and patiently stayed back to stroke that double down the 3rd base line.
Hats off to Padres’ Closer Heath Bell on getting his 1st save as a San Diego Padre. Also, to all the boys for producing the 1st win of the 2009 season. The only way to conclude this post is with a song by Nickelback titled ‘Leader of Men’
The way things have been going with the Padres pitching, no spots have been claimed besides Peavy, Young, Meredith and Bell. Have faith Padres’ fans, there will be a few pitchers stepping up and claiming those open spots. One thing for sure, the bats are alive and there is no concern about the offense which strangely enough was a major concern coming into camp. Can we say it’s the ‘Arizona’ affect ? I think both, the pitching and hitting will be fine once the club gets back to Petco.
Just in, late breaking news….
A slug-fest between the Padres and Giants finally concluded, as the Padres won 11-10. As I said, the offense seems to be fine but the pitching…well, no need to say anything.
With less than 10 days before Opening Day, a good song for those Padres players who are battling for a roster spot is by Eric Clapton titled ‘Crossroads’.
Matt Clark became the first Missions player in two years to hit for the cycle as they rallied from a 5-1 deficit to beat the Hooks in 10 innings Saturday night at Whataburger Field. […]
