Heath Bell: Tonight's nice piece of fish

Heath Bell comes in and gets four outs for his 22nd save. There's not enough closers who can come in and get the save when the fire starts in the 8th and Heath Bell did it tonight. That performance was a nice piece of fish....very dependable.

At the time we first used that phrase there was no Jack in the Box commercial available on YouTube for that famous old couple lamenting the death of Buttons and their nostalgic enjoyment of a fillet-o-fish from McDonalds. The commercial is now available! The quality is garbage...definitely NOT a nice piece of fish....enjoy anyways.

Order the Snuggie Blanket, as seen in this Jack in the Box commercial, [Here]

Mike Hampton was really good....once

It seems like so long ago that Mike Hampton was really good.....or at least had a good season.

Here he is tonight pitching against the Padres wearing an Astros uniform and I can't for the life of me remember who Mike Hampton was good for.

I remember Hampton being a good hitter and at one time thinking he was good enough to go to Colorado and have success. I remember him hitting a bunch of home runs and stints with both the Mets and the Braves.....I think he was really good during a previous tour with the Houston Astros.

And then it is revealed by Channel 4 when they give a trivia question regarding the Padres magical 1998 playoff run: Which Astros pitcher faced Kevin Brown in his 16 strikeout performance?
A. Mike Hampton
B. Randy Johnson (Brown edged The Big Goonit)
C. Can't remember who else/doesn't matter/Hampton quandary solved

So it was the Astros.....so long ago.....

Baseball Reference

Hampton was a part of that '98 'Stros squad, had a PHENOMENAL 1999 season, was dealt to the Mets where he helped them get to the WS and it's been downhill ever since. In 15 seasons this guy sure has broke the bank for averaging less than 10 wins a year. Look at his crappy numbers this year......

Of course he's shutting down the Friars right now and he wrapped a pretty solid double over Scott Hairston's head.

Good times.

Facebook proves to be a worthwhile venture

Who would have known that in addition to getting reacquainted with old friends on Facebook you can also find new friends with similar interests...... who are also adept at Photoshop.

Friday Afternoon Delight 6/26

She is a sideline reporter for the NHL. For more...[The Legend of Cecilio Guante]

Farrah Fawcett Tribute [Gunaxin]

Link Potpourri...Leeann Tweeden pic...very nice [Sharapova's Thigh]

How bad ass is new Charger LB, Larry English? As bad as his momma! [Union Tribune]

Money being Money-Isotopes making money off of ManRam [619 Sports]

Chargers in Oceanside? [619 Sports podcast]

Is life ever good enough? The only weekly Padre write up where you also get Charles Mingus [Ducksnorts]

Top Ten Songs To Fight To [Gunaxin]

Watch the stuff this kid does with a bat....then click this link for more [Hot Clicks]

Chasing the Chicken Man's 70 on a Northbound Train and that Son of a Punter

I had to take a break and while I have some pressing issues related to the plummeting Padres I must recap a couple of things first:

---Seeing the Padres on the road
---The kid who blew the U.S. Open

6/14/2009
I will begin with the train ride up to Orange County a week ago Sunday where The Ghost of Sid Going and I saw the Padres willingly submit to a weekend of domination by The The Angels Angels of Anaheim. The game sucked. It was another complete joke of a game where the little border town team looked very minor league. Chris Young completely sh*t the bed.......couldn't find the strike zone..... and when it was all said and done the board read 6-0 with CY headed to the DL.

Chris Young is incredibly frustrating....he is much like leaving the comfort of San Diego to watch the Padres play on foreign turf. I am now 0-5 lifetime.....two 6-0 losses on Sunday afternoon games to the Angels and Dodgers and the woeful sweep in NY last season at the hands of the Yanks. That being said: the fans were really nice, the stadium clean, and the lasting tribute to Nick Adenhart was touching.

When you willingly decide to follow around a AAAA team I suggest the following:

1. Expect that you will lose and it will BE ugly
   
2. Search out an ancillary storyline

Number one was achieved once again quite easily and for number two.......enter The Wade Boggs Effect. I had mentioned the drinking prowess of Wade Boggs prior to setting off for Anaheim and while The Ghost and I pushed the pace early (10:05 am-11:24 am) we fell dismally short of hitting the Magic 70. It was not to be on this given Sunday, however we quickly discovered the joy of taking the train to see a ball game and would like to give kudos to the designer of my Jansport backpack as it seems to have been engineered precisely for the purpose of transporting an 18-pack whilst still in the box.

'Twas good fun and I look forward to 2012 (?) when MLB's infinitely wise inter-league rotation deals us back into the AL West......why would we play a team every year that's but an hour train ride from San Diego? Anyways, I recommend the train for a good time as well as chasing after the Chicken Man and his Magic 70.

6/21/2009
I'm not a big golf guy but I do have a rooting interest in Phil Mickelson so this last Sunday I began my Father's Day by turning on the Open coverage at about 8 am where I caught an interview with then leader Ricky Barnes.

The viewer received all of the necessary Barnes background information: from LA, great Amateur player, high expectations but no results, athletic family......the son of a former NFL Punter:

Yes his father was a punter and he did his ball striking for none other than the New England Patriots. While this Patriot football talk was annoying to listen to as was the flashing of the ol' time football card (crappy facsimile--best I could do) it all became worth while at the end of the interview when Ricky Barnes simultaneously gave me a Happy Father's Day shout-out and a giant middle finger to Patriot Fan when he uttered one of my favorite phrases.......Go Chargers!

Suck it Patriot Fan! (although I can now see that I have opened myself up for ridicule as Barnes ended up choking horrifically down the stretch a la The 2006 edition of the San Diego Chargers who folded against the Patriots......but you can STILL suck it Patriot Fan!)

Go Chargers!

More than Three Days

true hunting's over
no herds to follow
without game
men prey on
each other
-PF


The Padres have tired me out. I'm gonna try and get in the water.

The Wade Boggs Effect: Awe Inspiring

The blogosphere is fantastic because of the connectedness that exists. Within two or three degrees you can stumble on to some of the funniest things......it just takes a couple of clicks.

I was reading a blog that I usually frequent and decided to click one of the many blog links in the reading list. One click beget another and before you could say Miller Lite I was at a Toronto Blue Jays site called Drunk Jays Fans. Their banner was funny enough for me to scroll down and that's where I found the '80s Hitting machine, Wade Boggs.

It's a Blue Jays site. If I see Wade Boggs's head suspended in thin air with a #70 stamped on his throat, you can be sure I'm going to click it to find out, "The Story Of The Boggs Head."

It was a story I had heard before but had somehow misplaced. This tale lay dormant for the last couple of years somewhere between the SARS RV trip to SLO and one of the many nights at the 'Comber. It was a legendary tale of Wade Boggs.....and the Drunk Jays Fans had memorialized it. Here is an excerpt from the post which was a radio interview transcript between a Seattle station and former Yankee, Jeff Nelson...

Sandy: Who would you say drank the most beer out of everyone you ever played with?
Nelson: Easy, Wade Boggs…..easy

Sandy: (laughing) Really!? Wade Boggs?
Nelson: Oh, yeah, without a doubt. I’ve never seen anyone drink as much beer as he did in my life.

Sandy: (laughing) Get outta here, alright, give me an example, like how much did he drink?
Nelson: Oh, I’d say, on a typical road trip, east coast to west coast [Nelly played with Boggs on the Yankees], say a road game to Seattle……Wade would drink anywhere between 50 and 60 beers.

Sandy: NO WAY!! 50 or 60 beers. That is impossible.
Nelson: No, I know…I know how crazy that sounds, and I wouldn’t believe it myself unless I saw him do it…..numerous times. And he drank nothing but Miller Lite.

50 or 60??? How could I have forgotten a story like that? Nelson would go on to explain how Wade went about his mass consumption and then decided to call former teammate Paul Sorrento as a corroborating witness:

Nelly: Hey Paul, good to hear from you man, I haven’t talked to you in a while.
Sorrento: Yeah, what’s it been like, two, three years?

Nelly: Yeah. Hey, Paul, just to clarify now, I didn’t speak to you over the commercial break, and I haven’t talked to you about anything since we last talked a few years ago right?
Sorrento: Yeah, right.

Nelly: Alright Paul, we’ve been talking about Wade Boggs up here today in Seattle.
Sorrento: (laughing) Yeah, ole Wade huh.

Nelly: Yeah, alright Paul, I need you to answer one question for me, truthfully now….How many beers would Wade Boggs drink on an east coast to west coast road trip?
Sorrento: Oh, jeez, (exhaling like a flat tire) I don’t know, like 70.

Now is the time where we hear it straight from Wade Boggs's mouth....

Wade IS lying! If he didn't drink 64 it was obscenely close to it...so close that he couldn't admit it lest he be judged an addict (didn't he have a sex addiction?).

I bring this up for a reason........Alfred.

If Wade Boggs could accomplish this on a 7 hour east coast/west coast swing, what could one do on a round trip Coaster ride from San Diego up to Anaheim sandwiched around a ball game?

Pick up the beer on your way, buddy..........

How 'bout the rest of you? How close have you been to Boggs-like perfection?

Friday Afternoon Delight 6/12

Click for Friday Afternoon Enjoyment

Thigh of the Week

Morning Wood

Bonus Coverage

Here's The Laundry List Of "Nutbar-Type-Fans" Who Raul Ibanez Should Be Lashing Out Against

Raul Ibanez came out guns blazin' against "42 year old bloggers who live in their parent's basement" when it was proclaimed that his HR production could possibly be the by-product of performance enhancing drugs. The point of the blog post was that, unfortunately in MLB, everyone is suspect because---history tells us so. Ibanez would hear of this 'accusation' by the Midwest Sports Fans, and claim:

"You can have my urine, my hair, my blood, my stool - anything you can test. I'll give you back every dime I've ever made [if the test is positive]."

"I'll put that up against the jobs of anyone who writes this stuff. Make them accountable. There should be more credibility than some 42-year-old blogger typing in his mother's basement. It demeans everything you've done with one stroke of the pen."

In reality, Ibanez's frustrations are somewhat misdirected. After all, the bloggers in question really only discussed (and tried to refute) what many fans have thought to themselves.........

"Who was the last 37 year old slugger who saw a marked increase in HR production?"

We're about to help redirect Raul Ibanez's frustration......these 42 year old basement dwellers are but a microcosm in the long line of humans who he should really be lashing out against. Let us begin with:

Dudes Who Don't Like Sports:
Ibanez should be gathering his recent 2009-All-Star-Bid-Supporting-Cabal to attack this segment of the population. These 'men' do absolutely nothing to contribute to Ibanez's $10 million dollar salary. They are a drag on the MLB's economy as well as a thorn in the side of all sports talking men.

These are the boyfriends/husbands who we are forced to hang out with when the ladies have a get-together. They are quickly ostracized for not being able to follow our conversations. To them, Raul Ibanez might as well be a Latin American dictator installed via a CIA sponsored coup de etat. Attack these 42 year old homeowners, Raul.....they do not contribute to your bottom line and they provide awkward moments of silence in the social settings we are forced to be a part of.

Blog Commenters
Bloggers can be critical but it's often those that comment who wield the mightiest sword

That is Fuc%*ng foul!!! But funny nonetheless.

Nice to get a Splendid Splinter reference....also a shout for San Diego.

Poetic...yet a mockery of Ibanez's plea for acceptance.

What's worse, Raul? The Deadspin article or those who comment? Those fellas are vicious and will unleash their cleverness on you like a hammer. Although, as sports fans who are committed to reading about sports they probably watch a fair amount and also help line your pockets. Just get a thick skin for this one....Philadelphia thick.

Fans Who Road Trip To See Their Teams
Raul----These people are dangerous. They will seek you out on the road and pester you to have a drink with them. Before you know it you'll be reliving the movie The Hangover. You'll never see these guys again so no explanation will be forthcoming as to why you woke up still bald, but with sideburns and mayonnaise in your ear. There will still be no explanation that accompanies the pictures distributed country wide that include you passed out with an unidentified nut-sack dangling over your forehead. Do not accept drinks and shots from these fans.....they are dangerous.....much more dangerous than bloggers. They too are 42 years old but very willing "to get crazy" because their wives gave them hall passes for the weekend. Be wary, Raul.

Fans Who Cry Over Team losses
You weren't crying as the losses mounted in Seattle nor should these pathetic fans. It's really sad and we'd be better off Raul, if you went after kids like this....although they do contribute mightily to your bottom line. Without this group of die-hards multi-year contracts in excess of $30 million would be impossible. You might need to go easy on him......your choice.

Jersey Wearing Autograph Seekers
These fools are living vicariously through you via your #29 pin-striped Philly jersey........and they WILL sell your autograph once they get it. Do not allow this exploitation of your labor and renown. These 42 year-olds who accost you are assuredly living in their mom's basement. Shun them.

Face/Body Painters
On the Spectrum of Over-the-Top Sports Fans these people are the most dangerous as their most defining characteristic is having a chemical imbalance. They are a minority and contribute very little to society in general. They contribute even less to Raul Ibanez's bottom line. These are 42 year-olds who have their mothers paint them silly before heading out to the ballpark and Raul Ibanez would do well to issue a public condemnation of their idiocy. Bloggers have nothing on this faction....

In summation: Raul Ibanez should worry less about keyboard wielding bloggers (and what they didn't actually write) and instead focus his energy on the miserable spectrum of fans discussed above....they are the true antagonists. Of course he could also lash out at his contemporaries......the ones who have been found to be drug cheats, and in the process, tarnished the images of all clean players in Major League Baseball.

Editor's Disclaimer:
I AM a dude who likes sports but I have never cried over a loss.

I do comment on other blogs but do not seek out autographs while wearing my jersey in support of said team I am following around the country......all illicit photos of compromised ball players "getting clowned" are under lock and key awaiting an appropriate time for release.

I would NEVER be a body painter....I am however, ashamed of the ONE time I painted my face in high school. Sometimes experience is the best teacher.

Obviously I write a blog that unwittingly creates an environment where Raul Ibanez can maximize his profit potential through unwarranted hype and exposure. He is a benefactor of my dedication to a frivolous hobby.

Due to California's daily battle with plate tectonics my mother is precluded from having a basement. I am not 42 years old.

Padres get Series split with Dodgers

Tony Gwynn Jr. continues to get hits.....it is eerie. Adrian Gonzalez is seeing fewer and fewer pitches. Kevin Kouzmanoff continues to dribble weak grounders to the left side. Heath Bell continues to save games.

Relax, guy. Your Dodgers are still in first and your T-Shirt sales are sure bound to pick up once "He with the shriveled raisins" returns.

Dodger Fan Sad Face

On to Anaheim where the Padres will meet The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim* for a three game freeway series (*English Translation:The The Angels Angels of Anaheim).

2009 MLB Draft

2:53pm
Padres MLB beat writer Corey Brock speaking with The Coach right now on XX....He says the pick will be Donavan Tate.

Baseball America Mock Draft 4.0 also says Tate.

MLB.com also says Georgia HS outfielder Donavan Tate.

If it's Vanderbilt pitcher Mike Minor I'll implode!!!!

3:15PM
1. Washington Nationals: Stephen Strasburg (P-SDSU)

3:20PM
2. Seattle Mariners: Dustin Ackley (1B-NC)

3:25PM
3. San Diego Padres: Donavan Tate (OF-Cartersville HS, GA)
Harold Reynolds is lauding the pick of the athletic Tate on account of the Padres being THE MOST BORING TEAM in MLB.....I like the Tate pick. I'd have hated to hear the name Minor......I would have been forced to redecorate at that point.

3:30PM
4. Pittsburgh Pirates: Tony Sanchez (C Boston College)

3:34PM
5. Baltimore Orioles: Matthew Hobgood (P Norco HS, CA)

I'm done. We avoided a first baseman and soft tossing lefties who had their arms overused pitching in the South Eastern Conference.

I feel better.

2009 MLB Draft looms large for Padres

It's judgement day......June 9th, 2009.....Major League Baseball's Amateur Draft is upon you Padre fans. For an organization that is unable to pay for big time free agents our only chance at success is to have deep drafts year-in and year-out. So today, while it's important to hit on your #1 pick, it is equally as important to stock pile the farm with future major league talent. But it's the 1st rounders that we covet....those are the can't misses, right? Well just look at how recent 1st rounders are doing in MLB today.....

2008 DRAFT
The D-Backs Daniel Schlereth
Padres select...

It's too early to judge last year's draft but Padre fans have witnessed Schlereth in action this last week at Petco. Our pick was Rancho Bernardo/Wake Forest first basemen, Allan Dykstra. Dykstra comes from a great lineage of Rancho Bernardo first basemen, however he has a degenerative hip and lines up behind Adrian Gonzalez and top prospect Kyle Blanks.....hooray!

2007 DRAFT
David Price, Matt Wieters. Rick Porcello Padres select....

While we're hearing a lot about the prominent three names above we opted for a work horse left hander out of the SEC conference. When a college pitcher is described as a work horse....CLOSE YOUR CHECK BOOK AND RUN!!!!! It means he was OVERUSED!!!!! Schmidt blew out his elbow three starts into his career.

2006 DRAFT
Luke Hochevar, Evan Longoria, Andrew Miller, Clayton Kershaw, Tim Lincecum, Max Scherzer, Ian Kennedy
Padres select....

Look at those names! 20o6 is starting to bear fruit. We opted for a guy who has risen to AAA but can't hit his weight. Antonelli's only impact has been boosting the representation of Italian-Americans who are from Massachusetts and who played hockey in high school. Those traits are not helping the '09 Padres.

2005 DRAFT
Justin Upton, Alex Gordon, Ryan Zimmerman, Ryan Braun, Troy Tulowitzki, Jay Bruce, Jacoby Ellsbury
Padres Select...

WOW!!! Look at those names! Actually Cesar Carillo should be one of those names....I think....but he too blew out his elbow and has slowly worked his way up the ladder to AAA. Who's to say what will happen.

2004.....the touchstone of drafting ineptitude. Enough said.

What does this mean for 2009? Strasburg is going to the Nationals at #1 unless they get courageous. That's right, courageous. The history of #1 college pitchers is so abysmal and at the hi-jacking that Scott Boras is demanding they would be best served to pass on the fella from West Hills HS.

The buzz is that we may take the best college hitter.....Dustin Ackley out of NC, who also happens to play a position we are in great need of.....first base....that was a joke, you can go ahead and laugh.

The word also suggest Donovan Tate who is the finest prep athlete.....five tools and pedigree, with a father who played in the NFL.

Could also be the fella the Nationals couldn't sign last year, Aaron Crowe. He's a pitcher. Petco has proven that mediocre pitchers can excel so why not go for some bats and speed? I could live with it.

This however is where I will blow an absolute HEAD GASKET! The UT reported that the Padres rate this guy more highly than most....

A soft tossing lefty who averaged 134 pitches a start!

Close YOUR CHECKBOOK AND RUN!!!!!!!

I will become an Angels fan if they draft that kid....not really but I'll be pissed.

It should be noted that there are a few guys who are doing alright in our system. Baseball America's Hot Prospect Sheet rates both Mat Latos (P) and James Darnell (3B) in the Top Ten for the week of June 5th.

So we've got that goin' for us...which is nice.

Improvise, Adapt, Overcome

Here's to Jake Peavy helping out the bullpen by getting through 7 innings on a bum ankle. To paraphrase Clint Eastwood's Gunny Highway,

"I say he improvised, he adapted, and he overcame."

I could only find that particular quote in a Spanish version of Heartbreak Ridge so you'll instead be treated to this highlight reel of Clint Eastwood's awesomeness...

Bullpen: "Just Say No, Jake!"

Comparing Jake Peavy's start this evening to being on par with playoff baseball would be crazy talk. To say that it is the game that the season may hinge on is also gross hyperbole. The Padres are not on a run to the playoffs in '09.

But in a game that was finished in the 18th inning by a back-up shortstop tonight's match up will pose unique challenges as bullpen options will be limited. There is importance in this "day after" game and it is similar to last season as the Padres crumbled in the wake of that 22 inning affair with the Rockies. After a defeat that used up so much of the team's human resources out of the 'pen, the 2008 Padres collapsed. Today could be (maybe not) the difference between the Padres competing the rest of the year or going into a swoon.

Jake Peavy has no choice but to keep the 'pen out of this one. A complete game is in order, and barring that, he needs to go a minimum of 7 innings or 'pen fatigue could begin the downward spiral of this club (or has it begun? 1-5 at home.).

It was less than a week ago that Jake's illness caused him to bonk.......is he strong enough mentally and physically to take over tonight's game? I know I'm still carrying the effects of a virus two weeks later let alone a short six day turn around. Jake knows he has to show tonight.....

Will he?

Jake Peavy Hates You Bloggers

On Tuesday Jake Peavy was on the hill to disastrous effects. At the time I wanted to analyze it and perhaps make some comparisons to previous athletes who had to face adversity (sickness, injury, etc.) yet battled through it. Eventually I optioned out because it required research which I didn't have time for and I didn't want to "call out" Jake Peavy....dude wasn't feeling well, and he's about all we've got to claim as our own.

However, I decided I would touch on the Peavy Start, and would look at in a broader context based on something I read over at Gaslamp Ball. What was written over at GLB was a break down of Jake's comments of a radio interview with Darren Smith on XX1090 on Thursday afternoon. After reading the quotes I listened to the interview so I could get the context as well as hear the tone in which Jake gave them. The whole interview essentially revolved around Jake's illness and subsequent reports that were either visible on Twitter:

or other 'inaccurate' reports on blogs by fans:

The above quote is what shall drive my attempt to be as fact based as possible in looking at Jake's career.......that's right, it's stats time!

Jake Peavy has asserted that blogs are riddled with inaccuracies so it is with that in mind that we have turned to ESPN to provide Jake Peavy's game log for each season in question so as to give the most accurate view possible. I want to look at this week's start as well as some of the more important games from the last few seasons.

2009 Season
On June 2nd JP started at home against the defending champions. His start had been pushed back a day due to a sprained ankle in his previous start against Arizona. Jake pitched poorly against Philly and most of the camera angles were geared towards his left 'plant' foot to try and explain the problems. He didn't seem to favor the ankle but lasted just one inning. We would later hear that JP was suffering from an upper respiratory infection.
L 10-5 to Philadelphia 1IP 3H 4R/4ER 0HR 2BB 0K

2008 Season
On June 18th, with the season essentially over, JP got the start on a Wednesday night in The Bronx. The game lacked true meaning but at the minimum was a stern test that would be covered ad nauseum by ESPN. I was at this game and in Jake's defense he was thrown off his routine by approximately 6o minutes due to rain delay....a lot can happen in an hour.....especially in a beer garden (It wasn't a beer garden. Yankee Stadium was a dilapidated shit hole so really it was a beer stand next to a bathroom....but there was no line/it was dry/and we had an hour to drink/.......so it might as well have been a beer garden)
L 8-5 to NYY 4IP 6H 4R/3ER 1HR 2BB 4K

2007 Season
On June 24th the Padres were facing the eventual 2007 WS winner at home. The Gaslamp Quarter was teeming with Massholes and WE had just watched Chris Young pitch the series even on Saturday night (We were the guys skewering JD Drew all night out in RF). Jake had the opportunity to get the series win on Sunday afternoon against Josh Beckett.
L 4-2 to Boston 5IP 9H 3R/3ER 1BB 3k

On September 5th Buddy Black decided to pitch Jake on short rest to try and halt the surging Arizona Diamondbacks.
L9-6 Arizona 4IP 7H 8R/8ER 2HR 3BB 4K

On October 1st after having debated throwing Jake on short rest in game 162 against the Brewers they instead opted to have him on full rest in case there was a game 163 in Colorado. The Rockies hadn't lost in a month and Trevor blew game 162 when Anthony Gwynn Jr. scored after hitting a triple. Jake took the hill in Denver on full rest the next evening:
ND/L 9-8 Colorado 6.1IP 10H 6R/6ER 2HR 4BB 6K

2006 Post Season
On October 3rd JP had a home start in the opening round of the playoffs. The Cards jumped Jake like a back alley mugger and I sat in the LF bleachers in painful dismay......by the mugging and the fact that Cardinal Fans wearing Pujols jerseys walked through the aisles with impunity. Not even a 'go home', a 'you suck', or a 'stick it in his Pujols'. 'Tis baseball in San Diego.
L 5-1 St. Louis 5.1IP 11H 5R/5ER 1HR 1BB 2K

2005 Post Season
On October 4th JP started in St. Louis. He got bombed. It was later discovered that he was pitching with a broken rib received during a celebratory dog pile the previous week.
L 8-5 St. Louis 4.1IP 8H 8R/8ER 2HR 3BB 3K

The above games are factual in that the statistics are accurate however they are accompanied with my opinions as well as perceived value which I have attached to each game.

Nobody would argue the importance of the '05 and '06 playoff games nor game 163 in '07. It is my opinion that the '07 Red Sox game was of importance in that it was an opportunity for a home series win in an always difficult inter-league schedule as well as an opportunity to go against Josh Becket who was dominating the AL coming into that game. It is also my opinion that the short rest AZ start in '07 was an excellent opportunity for Jake Peavy to assert himself as a big game pitcher by dominating during a pennant race.

With nothing to play for but pride in an abysmal 2008 season Jake had a shot at the Yankees during their Stadium's farewell season. I'm personally irked by that one because I was there for the series and the Padres did nothing to convince New Yorkers that they weren't a AAAA team.

As for the game against Philly this week: I seem to recall Michael Jordan not only playing with the flu during an NBA championship series but dominating and winning. I think we can all agree that the demands on the human body made by basketball are significantly more than that of baseball. Didn't John Kruk famously say,

"Lady, I'm not an athlete. I'm a baseball player." ?

I was disappointed to see that Jake couldn't gut it out a little more and at least save the bullpen. As a pitcher it was he who controlled the pace of the game and this should have allowed him to last if he was ill (I'll go ahead and say that I feel entitled to demand more from Jake since I completed a game in my sport after having dislocated a shoulder and detached my left retina...not saying I'm bad-ass.....I'm just saying).

So while I have included indisputable statistics this post is riddled with my opinions thus making it unpalatable for Jake Peavy. That's fine. What I'm more concerned with is that Jake Peavy seems so surprised with the fact that someone twittered his whereabouts on a game night or that someone speculated that something might be amiss because he wasn't at a gym working out...

It is precisely because people care about that crap that he's able to make $11 million dollars a season.

For Jake to be peeved about a a fake Twitter account is understandable but to discuss fan interest in a tone that suggests contempt is bothersome to someone who has long been a fan of #44. The information age and instant access is making you a lot of money pal, and you'd be wise to acknowledge this fact.

Maybe all of those blogs (see:fans who write them) written out in the big cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York are on to something about our Ace.......maybe he is scared....maybe he knows he'd fail pitching under a microscope......God knows there are no microscopes in San Diego......This is merely speculation and opinion: the kind of 'inaccuracy' in blogging that so upsets Jake Peavy and his handlers.

Editor's Note: I'm a huge Jake Peavy fan and I wore my #44 to the game yesterday. I have also written defenses of JP on the following two blogs:
Peavy: scared or smart?
Peeved about the Peavy hype
While I love the usual competitive fire, I'm starting to grow a little tired of the off-field comments (trade speculation and fan critique) and the lack of results when the stage is at its biggest.

18 inning Marathon brings end to poor homestand

The Padres finished the week with a 1-5 mark after having fallen to the D-backs in 18 innings this afternoon. There was no shame in losing 9-6 after back-up SS Josh Wilson had to take the hill in the 18th. We had been left for dead in the 7th.

The missus and I managed to get some prime seats for this one--we salute you Mark---and also arranged for a babysitter....now guess if we made the whole game?

I had my first beer in the top of the 1st inning. From there on out I chose to remain seated so as to avoid the unnecessary up hill walk from behind the Pads dugout. Not one trip to the Head and after the initial 5 for $5 only a few bucks spent on an ice cold coke....it was hot.

I'm currently showcasing a bit of a lobster burn. It was overcast when we walked out the door and we failed to pack that one essential. In the bottom of the seventh, getting blanked 6-0, I looked at the Missus as people began to filter out of the park and I poetically stated,

"You can say a lot of things about this team but you can't say they're quitters so we'll wait and see what happens."

Kouz then homered in the 7th and bedlam struck in the 9th when the little Eckstein blasted a Chad Qualls pitch straight down the LF line. 6-6. All tied up.

Sean M. Haffey/Union Tribune

I used my cell phone to Tweet the following:

.....and then I proceeded to violate every thing I stand for as a human being and we left after the 12th inning (my wife made me leave). Truthfully, the quarters ran out on the babysitter, so off we went.

The walk to the car consumed the 13th inning and the drive home got the 14th and 15th.

The 16th was consumed by the babysitter debrief....

I had my second beer of the day in the top of the 17th inning, middle infielders started pitching the 18th inning and colossal strikeout machines (Mark Reynolds) began hitting round trippers.......so I finally applied aloe-vera to my sun damaged skin. What happened to the June gloom?

Hey Kids---Build in extra innings to any babysitting arrangement and always bring the sunscreen.

The Padres and Will Ferrell are forever linked....for now

There are many movie scenes that could be applied to certain aspects of play for this edition of Padres baseball. We've already analyzed Major League and the life-imitating-art component of a club putting forth their best effort and winning in spite of the dealings of its front office, so we'll stay away from a redux. Let us be clear..... we are emphasizing the indisputable fact that Major League is a sample of late '80s art.

On June 5th at 10:45 pm there's only one cinematic scene that provides an accurate description of this Padres club: Frank the Tank in Old School and his commitment to.......

Will Ferrell should not appear naked in film....or maybe a buck Frank the Tank is what actually makes the scene. Nevertheless, the Padres, like Will Ferrell, are streaking. After winning 10 in a row at home they have now dropped all four on this week's home stand. Let's review for those who care:

9-3-_______Nice Start!
4-19--------------Why God?
9-0-Who are these guys?
3-3------Eh, It's the road.
0-4-For fuck sake!!!!!!!!!!

We're streaking and I have no business being surprised because it is the nature of this assembly of talent. They are what the are.......and they face the D-Back's Max Scherzer tomorrow:

He did OK against us back on May 26th.

Rodney Harrison Retires/David Tyree Still Holding Ball

From the UT's Kevin Acee:

Rodney Harrison made it official Wednesday, that 15 years as the one of the game's most ferocious and instinctive defenders was coming to an end.

“I am done, and I am very much so at peace with that,” the now-former strong safety said in a conference call with reporters. “Football has been good to me. I've worked hard; I've played hard. I've done some things that I never dreamt I could do, and now it's time to move forward to the next phase of my life.”

Charger's recall playing with- and against - Rodney Harrison ~by Kevin Acee

The current debate revolves around weather or not Rodney Harrison belongs in Canton now that he's called it a day and moved on to Sunday Night Football.

Does he? I'm not sure. There aren't too many safeties in the HOF and Rodney's hampered by his HGH
suspension, a reputation for dirty play, and legitimate arguments that he wasn't the best amongst his peers (Polamalu/Dawkins/Reed).

He does, however, have two Lombardi Trophies and that goes a long way in HOF voting.....look at the '70s Steelers.....isn't every player from those Steel City teams in the hall? He also has a lot of sacks and interceptions.....for a safety. Nor does it hurt to have the backing of some of the great coaches such as Shanahan/Gruden/Belichick....even if they are dick-heads.

I'll always remember Rodney's last season with the Chargers in 2002 when he had the opportunity to clean Jerry Rice's clock as he ran a crossing route into the end zone. Rodney had a big fine not too long before this particular play so the question was: Would he take the hit? Are you kidding? It's Rodney Harrison! He blew-Jerry-Rice-the-fuck-up!!! It was beautiful....but then he was fined a gazillion dollars.....and we stopped seeing him pull the trigger like we were used to each Sunday (we didn't get Monday Night games back then). From there on out the hits seemed to be more docile (if that's possible with RH) and then he became hampered with a groin injury which ultimately led to the Chargers releasing him. At least we held on to Marcellus Wiley.

Here's how UT readers are polling:

(Updated Poll-Friday June 5th---Results have changed big time! Approximately 2000 more people have voted since I initially posted UT poll results.....with smaller sample most voters were saying, 42%, that Rodney deserved the HOF and he would go in as a Charger. The worm has turned as it appears that nearly 40 % don't even think he's worthy----click poll for a less fuzzy view.)

I don't know.....if he does go into the Hall he won't be wearing Lightning Bolts. It'll be that other helmet he used to spear guys with, while winning two Trophies.

Either way I don't really care.....my only concern is that he was unable to make the play on the David Tyree jump ball. It led to a river of tears in Boston and that's all right with us. Not too many strings of numbers better than 18-1. What ever your thoughts on Rodney I think most would concede the following points:

1. You hated to play against the dirty bastard.
2. You wished the dirty bastard was on your team.
3. He sure was fun to watch play even when wearing that Pat's jersey.

Enjoy a little You Tube tribute where he unfortunately is seen in more than just Bolts......

You Must Learn: Don't be throwin' strikes to KRS ONE

It's amazing to me that KRS ONE could drop such intelligent rhymes throughout the '80s and still find time to make the trip to Petco Park to show the people some true power. Power on the mic/power at the plate.

KRS1/Ryan Howard crushes this park every time he visits.....truthfully there aren't too many Phillies that ever have problems here. Howard, Ibanez, Utley, et al, always bring a power display when in town.

I was at the game in 2007 when Tony Gwynn's statue was dedicated out at the Park in the Park...best seats ever. Three rows behind the Phillies dugout....close enough to whisper to big Ryan Howard, "Hey big fella....this is Petco....you got nuthin'!"

Of course I didn't say it. I already knew what the result would be on that night. They shellacked Greg Maddux, Howard hit a bomb and when it was all said and done the scoreboard read 10-0. We got soft tossed to death by Jamie Moyer and watched some real hitters put on a clinic in our own park.

Howard just hit another bomb about twenty minutes ago....his second of the series....wish he'd go back to his previous career.