My Dean Spanos Experience; and the fear it instills

Relax Sir... I am a professional.

During the dying days of the Marty Schottenheimer Era I met Dean Spanos.

Well I didn't really meet him. I observed his behavior. I was like Jane Goodall and he was... well... he was still Dean Spanos. My analogy is neither here nor there; point being, I did not like what I saw.

During another life I wan an integral player in the seedy and corrupt world of valet parking. See this fella in the upper right? Not me, but it might as well have been. We parked the big boys and made money hand over fist creating illusions of scarcity for the unsuspecting masses. But that's not what this column is about.
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I received a call one day from a secretary with the San Diego Chargers. She spoke of a Christmas party and a need for approximately 30 cars to be valet parked. This Chargers employee prepaid for the parking and informed me that she would pay any additional moneys exceeding the flat rate for 30 guests on the night of the party. This number could be as many as an additional 10 cars. This seemed like a small number to be attending a Christmas party but who was I to pretend to have intimate knowledge of the inner-workings at Murphy Canyon. I staffed the party for 60 cars to ensure smooth sailing and then called it a day.

When it was all said and done, valet stand closed, and the final keys surrendered to festive Chargers employees the night would be recalled as an unmitigated disaster. With an expectation of 30 cars and staffing for 60 the Chargers delivered over 130 cars into the belly of the Gaslamp District on that December night.

For over an hour, party goers sat in a mostly patient queue which extended out into the oncoming traffic of Fifth Avenue. My company looked bad and we felt even worse. While we hustled to get folks to their party, one thought made laps around my mind: how could a company as prominent as the San Diego Chargers misfire so badly on projections for a Holiday party? I continued to manage the snafu... and run my balls off.

A customer was trying to cut their way into the massive Saturday evening queue, and on any other night we probably would have solicited a "special" line-jumping fee, but this was not any other night. We were working a prepaid holiday party arrangement and there was a commitment to uphold. The customer sped off against the throng of oncoming one-way traffic.

The same customer looped around the block and once again tried to line-jump. This time, denial would not be a suitable response on our part. The guest found a small opening, nosed his Mercedes Benz into said opening, and effectively parked his car at a perpendicular angle to the sidewalk. He turned off his ignition, handed the keys to my ticket-man, said he needed to get to the party, and walked off. We parked the gentleman's car.

The gentleman in the Mercedes Benz was San Diego Chargers owner, Dean Spanos.

Holiday parties, in my estimation, serve no better purpose than to boost morale and say thank you; thank you for a year of work and a job well done. Dean Spanos disagreed. He showed up late to his own party. He cut in front of all who waited patiently in what had become a downtown disaster and then scurried off without any regard for those in his employ.

What would I have done? Glad you asked!

I would have announced to the lead valet who I was and my relevance to the party. I would have asked the valet to take my car first so I could stand curbside and greet all of my employees who were stuck in this unfortunate mess. I would have welcomed them. I would have thanked them. And after the last of the serpentine line had climbed from their vehicle I would have walked them to the Christmas party that I was hosting in their honor. That's leadership. Dean Spanos is not a leader.

I've often thought about that night when observing questionable actions on the part of the Chargers. Dean Spanos showed his colors to me on that one night several years ago.

Dean Spanos shows his colors when he chooses to low-ball a solid citizen and Pro Bowl Tackle in Marcus McNeill who had clearly outplayed his rookie contract.

Dean Spanos shows his colors when he spouts off his cockamamie nonsense to the Union Tribune... and because we know who Dean Spanos is I'm fairly certain that winning a Super Bowl in San Diego will be in spite of him.

But hey... the Cowboys won a Super Bowl in 1995 in spite of Barry Switzer's ineptitude... so we've got that going for us.

Happy New Year

Delusions de Dean Spanos

A quote from Chargers owner Dean Spanos in Nick Canepa's Monday UT column:

“I like A.J., even though he’s a bit goofy,” Spanos says. “I trust him. He’ll tell you he’s made mistakes. Who hasn’t? But he takes chances. Sometimes you lose the bet, but if you’re going to win a world championship, you’ve got to take chances. I learned that from my father in our business. A.J.’s committed 100 percent to this organization.

 Now that there have been close to a billion comments on Canepa's Monday morning column it may be too little too late to be taking the piss out of Dean Spanos and the above quote.

"Too little, too late" does not compute....I've never let being late to the party abbreviate my thoughts so here it goes...

God Help Us...and them.

Really? Really, Dean? You learned from your father, that in order to win championships, you have to take chances? Really, Dean? Are you even aware as to why this entire city has the worse case of blue balls in all of sports? It's because San Diego HAS NO CHAMPIONSHIPS!!! For f*ck's sake!
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Reading that Canepa article only confirms that the Spanos family is completely out to lunch and has little clue about running a franchise. Is that being overstated? The Chargers have had a nice run since 2004 but that nice little run has occurred absent a Lombardi Trophy. Perhaps it's hyperbole to say Dean Spanos has zero clue how to run the franchise but Canepa's column is proof positive that if the Chargers win a championship it will likely be in spite of current ownership.

I feel an impending sense of doom as a Chargers fan. My brain tells me they are moving to Los Angeles, a locale which would prevent me from ever rooting for them. My heart tells me that even if the Chargers stay, the Spanos family will continue to fall short in bringing home the hardware. Furthermore, my own personal experience with meeting Dean Spanos tells me that we are doomed on all fronts.

Yes... I have a Dean Spanos story. Allow me to be your proxy in delivering a message of doom. This message however is for another post on another day (or maybe another hour).

Until then...

Vencie Sez: Merry Christmas (among other things)!

 It's been nearly a year....

 

AJM favorite, Vencie Glenn, joined Scott and BR for an emergency XX1090 broadcast Monday morning to help distraught, ledge straddling, fans cope with the disastrous loss in Cincinnati.

What did the hard nosed Glenn have to say? Let's get to it!

"Merry Christmas gentlemen."
What a pleasant and kind start, Mr Glenn! Merry Christmas to you! But we want some vitriol!
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"At least 5 games they look like they didn't even show up this year."
That's about right I'd say. The one game I went to this year (against New England) they failed to show until the 4th quarter and it had nothing to do with the Pats. NE looked horrible as well.

"They did not show up as a team, as an organization, ready to play. They were all not on the same page."
No disagreement here. How can you fly back east the day before a game? Sacrificing holidays and time with the kids is part of the gig, no?

"Every streak ends. I don't care who you are. (audible laughter) If you think Philip Rivers is going to win all the time in December... you're crazy. If you think the Chargers are gonna always start slow and then win 12 in-a-row... you're crazy. It's not sport. It just doesn't happen. Everybody has a streak...Lance Armstrong. But they all end."
Way too much made about the "Norvember" business this year. All streaks come to an end. Even Matt Millen stopped drafting WRs in the 1st round of the NFL draft at some point!

"Watch the Chargers walk off the field. Watch em walk into the huddle. Watch em walk out of the huddle. They did it all game. And I said that's the trend of a team going through the motions out there. New England ran on and off the field. Ran in and out of the huddle."
Vencie was talking about watching the game against New England back in October... he noticed the big picture... a lackadaisical approach that would lead to an ultimate unraveling. I guess there's a difference between Norv Turner and Bill Belichick.

"I blame Eric Weddle"
Vencie blew Weddle the-f*ck-up during this portion of the interview. The blame stems from the play where Cason got burned for the long TD late in the game. Vencie argued that the Safety's roll is that of a QB on defense. Weddle should have noticed the personnel changes going on and got Cason ready for the play.

"Still, Cason's gotta get out there. Never turn your back on the Quarterback. That's like turning your back on a murderer (audible laughter)...man, he gonna kill you! Never turn your back on the QB. That's rule #1 in football as a defensive back. You always run out looking at the huddle."
Then he discussed Cason's role in the botched play. The entire interview is worth listening to just based on this quote. Vencie is hilarious in using his QB/Murderer analogy.

I've missed Vencie Glenn this year. It seems as though I always missed Football Night in San Diego on the nights he worked the panel. Oh well, next year. Listen to the whole interview; it's worth it.

I'm very close to putting this whole season behind me, accepting that the Chargers issues are systemic; starting at the top with Dean Spanos and trickling down through nearly everyone in the organization.

Bring on pitchers, catchers and the sporting doldrums of February... I'm done with football.

The Problem With San Diego

That last post was a downer. Let this post lift us up where we belong...

I bought some t-shirts a couple weeks ago from The Sacrifice Bunt. The Sacrifice Bunt is a good Padres blog that you should read. In addition to being a good Padres blog that you should read, The Sacrifice Bunt makes and sells T-shirts. T-Shirts with a message...

Just so we're clear... this is not a dish rag... it is merely a screen shot of the front of the T-Shirt.

Now don't go thinking you can make this on your own with your fancy-schmancy Hewlett Packard ink jet and some crappy iron-on insert sheets from Staples or the Office Depot*. Because if you did your shirt wouldn't have this...

...and then everyone would know you're a phony!

Anyways... these shirts were a big hit as Christmas gifts. One to my dad and one to my brother. My brother immediately took a picture of it and sent it to one of his friends... a friend from Boston... living in San Diego....you know the type, right?
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The Problem With San Diego
San Diego, for the most part, is a city of transplanted residents (myself included). There is nothing wrong with this fact. San Diego is beautiful. Who wouldn't want to escape the eastern winter climes? I get why people move here... it's what the educated would refer to as obvious. 

My issue however is with those who move to San Diego and refuse to acknowledge it as their home. They bask in the winter warmth provided by a steady Mediterranean climate but at every turn fail to acknowledge that their paycheck is signed by an entity, here, in San Diego.

Good God, man... where is your bread buttered!?

These people had no issue with abandoning their families back east but to suggest that they shelve their Cubs/Red Sox/Yankees/(fill in the blank) cap in favor of one adorned with an SD is BLASPHEMOUS in the odd little world these state-traitors reside.

Fine, I say.

If you want to wear your Red Sox shit to a game being played between the San Diego Padres and the Philadelphia Phillies, I say fine.

I will be wearing my T-Shirt that, in a round-about-way, suggests you should go home and shovel the god damn snow out of your parents' driveway.

Viva San Diego!
//eating a carne asada burrito
//wearing a brown Padres hat
//thinking about the World Famous San Diego Zoo
//suggesting you should click the above link to get your Sac Bunt T-shirt

*The level of detail I have provided would seem to suggest that I tried to create a knock-off version of The Sacrifice Bunt's glorious creation. I did not... at least with this specific T-shirt, I did not.

Chargers Questions: my pessimism runneth over

A few weeks ago when the Chargers were hammering a Cassel-less Chiefs team I took little joy in the outcome. I'm a Chargers fan. I should have been happy. It was a minimal happiness at best.

Then the Chargers destroyed the 49ers. Ehh... that was pretty cool. More enjoyment out of this one but still not running on the euphoria that a winning fan should.


Is there a point to even watching if there is little joy derived from the winning?

The truth is, I'm enthralled with the whole, "Will-they-or-won't-they-leave-San Diego-for Los Angeles" Saga. Because my mind is focused on this chasm of despair, I fail at maximizing joy from Chargers wins.

As a fan, this is a terrible state of being.


Now that the Chargers' playoff hopes have been eliminated there are only three questions to ponder:

1. Will labor strife continue, resulting in an owner imposed NFL lockout in 2011?
2. Will Dean Spanos miraculously develop into a top tier executive rather than a silver-spoon-buffoon?
3. Will the Chargers affix the worst phrase found in the English lexicon (Los Angeles) to their uniforms and office letterheads in 2012?

I believe the answers to these questions are as follows:

1. YES and then NO. As fans, we'll lose something.
2. An unequivocal NO.
3. A devastating YES.

Put your face in your palm. Grab a fork. Devour my optimism.

Stuff the Padres and I have acquired this winter

This Padres off-season has been a winter roller coaster.

The euphoria of acquiring a high ceiling talent like Cameron Maybin diminished when Adrian Gonzalez, the talented anchor of the infield, was shipped off to Boston for unknown quantities in the form of prospects.

Not one of these players is ready to contribute to a team that won 90 games in 2010.

"Allegedly" players like Casey Kelly and Anthony Rizzo will arrive sooner than later... this is soothing.

While Hope for 2011 took a backseat to it's bastard cousin Despair something quite rare happened in the last few weeks... Hope returned! Yes, hope reemerged when Jed Hoyer went and grabbed Jason Bartlett and Orlando Hudson to shore up the middle infield while simultaneously bolstering the top of the line-up card.

Now the only question that remains; who will Jed plug into first base before Kyle Blanks (injury) or Anthony Rizzo (youth) become viable options?

Derek Lee? Adam LaRoche? Troy Glaus? Joe Randa*?

I don't know the answer. I can't even say which player I prefer.  I can only speak to that which I have knowledge... and that's the stuff that I picked up this winter. 

This post starts NOW!
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In 2005 I turned on the television to watch 60 Minutes. A segment on American soccer goalkeeper Tim Howard would explore his trials and tribulations as an athlete (both with Manchester United and the US National Team) living with Tourette's Syndrome. It was interesting and touching and.... now to my point.

Tim Howard was wearing this San Diego Padres track jacket by Majestic during his interview with Steve Croft:

I know; it's awesome.

I probably should have been looking for a way to contribute to a TS foundation but I was too overwhelmed by that jacket. Like so many things that are AWESOME, it overtook my will and would consume nearly the next 6 years of my life.

I looked everywhere for this jacket----The MLB Shop/On-line stores/Craig's List/ E-Bay.

I searched them all, finding variations of what I desired, but never the exact retro-track jacket I saw that evening on 60 Minutes. I began to ask myself if the jacket even existed. Was this a memory conjured up out of thin air? I searched for 60 Minutes footage of the Tim Howard interview and it was edited... showing nothing Padres of the sort.

I'm from New Jersey... why on earth would I be wearing a brown Padres Track Jacket, you ass-hat?

Time passed and on occasion I would see a fan at the park adorned with my white whale. The image would leave me frozen unable to muster the nerve to ask where they had purchased such beatific brown. The resulting debilitation also kept me from an attempted assault and burglary. The latter effect of my paralysis proved fortuitous....

For, in late November of 2010 I found my white whale on E-Bay for an absurdly low price of $14.99.

I would not fall like Ahab... this jacket would be mine!

The Missus, having witnessed my pain over the years, gave the green-light for an early Christmas present so I bid. And then I waited. For four days.

Nearly a month has passed and if you've seen a guy wearing that jacket around town, it was probably me. I wear it all the time. Inexplicably, I wear my "Brown-Majestic-Faux-Retro-Circa 2005- Padres Track-Jacket" even on occasions where my dress attire suggests that it's DEFINITELY NOT a day to present myself casually. I don't care. I won't apologize.

Go Padres.

*At this URL,  every question has a bold and definitive answer... it is delivered in the form of the human known as Joe Randa.

I am at Disneyland... and so is the Gartrell Johnson T-Shirt!

I'm up early for day two of the Disneyland weekend extravaganza and as a creature of habit I am rolling into form.

The restaurant across from me is about to serve me my coffee.

My clothes, you ask? Well it's a Sunday.... the Chargers play this afternoon... and the streak is on the line.

I am adorned in a golden Gartrell Johnson T-Shirt. It is wrinkled. It does not look sharp but i ma respecting the streak. Gartrell is about to push this streak to 5 for our San Diego Chargers. You Better Recognize!*

Thoughts on Disneyland
Positives: The representation of the San Diego Chargers is astounding! Lightning Bolts everywhere!
Negatives: The representation of the San Francisco Giants is disgusting! Nothing like a World Series to bring out the bandwagon. I've never felt such neutrality in the wake of Raider, and Dodger fandom as I have this weekend. The ubiquitous Giant fan amazingly out does them all!


Well... off to meet Jasmine! I'll try and get a picture!


*By "You Better Recognize" I mean to say you should know that Gartrell plays for the Falcons.... I think... I just know it's not the Giants... and obviously not the Chargers.

Chargers Got A Bit Of The Junkyard Dog In 'Em

I was never a big fan of JYD when I watched the WWF as a kid, I being more of a British Bulldogs/ Koko B. Ware sort of tyke. But it was the Junkyard Dog that I saw last night in observing the Chargers impose a physical brand of football on the Indianapolis Colts. They were nasty. They were scrappy... like dogs in a pound... like junkyard dogs!

Is it cool for the defense to score a couple of TDs? Sure!

Mike Tolbert busting out over 100 yards? Dope!

Going to Indy and defeating Peyton Manning on the turf where he nary knows defeat? Scrumtrilescent!

But I gotta tell ya, the thing I was most impressed with from last night's drubbing of the Colts was how the Chargers were finishing plays... on both sides of the ball.
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 When Mike Tolbert runs with the ball he's not just looking for yardage... he's looking for pain. He's looking to punish all would be tacklers as though each is an NFL General Manger who took a pass on him coming out of Coastal Carolina in 2008. God Bless The Chanticleers!


On defense Antonio Garay was just beating up the Colts line. Look at this picture!

Garay has abused his counterpart to such a degree that the 6' 5" Peyton Manning has disappeared. Good night sez Garay.

Every tackle by a Chargers defender seemed to have the following characteristics:

• A second defender rushing to the tackle to deliver a knockout blow... as in Stephen Cooper putting in a good hard tackle and then Dante Hughes coming in and blasting unnamed Colt to force a fumble. 'Twas beautiful! (see picture below).
• Tackles were not complete until a Charger defender gave a little bit of extra business to the vanquished as the play ended. 

 I am and always have been a proponent of giving your opposite a little bit extra so he knows exactly who's in charge. That little bit of nasty is what gives teams the edge needed to go the distance.

Are the Chargers going the distance? I don't know. But the junkyard dog I saw in them last night was even more impressive than the win on the road... which was pretty impressive in and of itself.

Giving Thanks...

AJM is thankful that the Padres made the season interesting all the way until game 162. It was a disappointing way for the year to end but the season was a heckuva lot of fun.

AJM is thankful that the Chargers have started to turn things around. Things were looking grim and the possibility of Philip Rivers' stellar play going for naught seemed like a painful reality. Now we have smiles and hope for the stretch run.

AJM is also thankful for...

... Jessica Alba realizing that, while it's fun to be a mommy, it's even better to be a hot lookin' mommy. Thanks for the reemergence.

 

Maybe we should also thank Elle magazine for posting pictures on the MSN Hotmail page.

Catching-Up: Part II

I wrote a couple of things for 619Sports.net during the month of October and... let's see... where are they?

Oh here we go: the first one was called "I'm not with stupid, I AM stupid!"

What's it about? It was a mish-mash of stuff including my viewing habits during Chargers games, Jimmy Carter/Norv Turner analogies, and a piece called "Cautionary Tales in Jersey Purchases". Incidentally, I've stopped wearing my jerseys and have switched to something else. I'm superstitious.

The second piece at 619 was called "Good Morning. I Hate You!"

This was a "getting back to your roots" piece where we re-examined our hate for the New England Patriots. It was written before the Chargers played the Patriots on October 24th, 2010.

I went to the game that afternoon and it was one of the worst played games I've ever attended or watched for that matter. The Chargers and the Pats both sucked it up and at halftime I thought there was a very real possibility that I would be leaving the game early. The 4th quarter however turned for the better. The ending not so much.

Go read it and reflect on your hatred.

Catching-Up: Part I

One of the things that's been holding me up in terms of writing anything original is the back-log of items that need to be posted. In examining this "extensive back-log" it has been found to be not so extensive... a mere three items.

I shall begin chronologically and time dictates that I begin with RJs Fro and their regular installment of  Beers with Bob. I was invited by SDPads1 and Beautown to "be a part of" an interview with former Padres announcer Bob Chandler... and by, "to be a part of", I mean to say that I held the video camera. Check out the steady hand...
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This was such an awesome experience.

The video was a short ten minutes but before filming we spent over an hour talking baseball and drinking beers with Bob Chandler, a guy who has seen it ALL close up and personal. From the famine of the early '70s to the epic game 1 clash in Yankee Stadium back in 1998*, Bob has been there as a witness. Bob Chandler was a reporter but he's also two parts fan of the San Diego Padres.

This video was filmed in August before the Padres went on their 10 game losing streak so the content is pretty rosy, fully outfitted with references to a playoff edition of Beers With Bob. The talk about the 2010 season was exciting especially when Bob made comparisons to past teams. I also had the opportunity to pop in a couple of questions about this blog's name sake, Jack Murphy, and in the process learned some interesting historical perspective. Bob mentioned the power that, as sports editor, Murphy wielded and also made mention of how Murphy was a person you didn't want to cross. I failed to get clarification on this last statement but perhaps in the future it is one I can explore further if given the chance with the legendary Bob Chandler**.

If you're a fan of the Padres you need to know your history and I can think of no better place to begin than with Bob Chandler and the guys over at RJ's Fro. Take a moment to click the following links and then explore The Fro... they'll put you on another level.

Beers With Bob: Volume 1 (click)
Beers With Bob: Volume 2 (click)

Stay tuned for Beers With Bob: Volume 4. Unfortunately I missed the filming but I know that the footage is in the editing process.

*The answer to your question is YES; Mr. Chandler still laments the non-strike call that Mark Langston threw to Tino Martinez which ultimately led to an extended life and a soul crushing grand slam on the next pitch.
** Bob has written a book called Bob Chandler's Tales From The San Diego Padres which I recommend highly. My copy is now autographed. Go buy it!

Uh...Hey!

So, so, close to writing something substantive.

Unfortunately I got hung up with Tesla videos on YouTube and then I watched Tupac get shot on ESPN's 30 for 30.

I was in Las Vegas when Tupac finally succumbed to his wounds back in '96. It's kind of amazing how prolific he was as an artist considering he was only 25 when he died.

Baby steps. Baby steps.

Me Not Here.....Using Eastern Philosopy to Win the War of Attrition (part II)

The highly anticipated conclusion to Using Eastern Philosophy to Win the War of Attrition is now up at 619 Sports.net (Click Here). It has been cleverly titled part II. Click the link to attain enlightenment.

This is a must read for those who want to know how the Chargers can improve upon the conditional draft pick they received from the Jets in the Cromartie trade earlier this year.

Me Not Here.... RJ's Fro and AJM Spend an August Evening in LAtrine

I'm a complete whore. I contribute everywhere but here it would appear. Who cares!

Three weeks ago I went to see the Padres play in Chavez Ravine with fellow fans, Rick, Beau, and Marshall of RJ's Fro. It was enchanting.

For a detailed experience of baseball, beer, and raging debate regarding Willie McGee's special place in the game..... (Click here)

Me Not Here......Using Eastern Philosophy to Win the War of Attrition (part I)

My every-once-in-a-while contribution over at 619 Sports.net sees me exploring the art of stock piling talent in the NFL. In a two part series I look to see how Antonio Cromartie can have a strong year so the Chargers move from a 3rd round pick up to a 2nd... Bruce Lee is also involved. Go read and listen at 619 Sports.net.

An Odd Padres/Giants Series Preview: What Baseball Fans Dare Dream

As a baseball fan I have genuine excitement for this weekend. The Padres are in first place as they go on the road to battle a hot San Francisco Giants team. Not too many Padres fans would have dared to dream this big back in early spring.

As a baseball fan I love that the Padres get the first crack at Jonathan Sanchez after his bold proclamation that, not only would the Giants sweep the Padres in this weekend's tilt, but that once in first the Giants would never look back. The Padres now have a chance to quiet the young lefty which will be no easy task...he's dominated the Padres in the box score over the last two seasons. It's what any fan of baseball would want to witness. (click "Read More" to continue)



As a baseball fan I love that our new look team is on the big stage with an opportunity to prove the naysayers wrong. There have been plenty to predict an imminent collapse but here the Padres are coming off a season sweep of the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates ready to engage the Giants on a national stage. Now is your chance boys.

As a baseball fan I love the stories that will be in open view as we turn on the televisions to watch the drama unfold this evening. What wondrous stories will Dick Enberg weave for San Diego's fans in the gloaming at AT&T park? San Francisco's fans wait with anticipation to hear similar tales from their own Jon Miller and as a fan of the game I couldn't be any happier.

To look on and see sons with their fathers in the midst of a pennant race; to see a father sharing a poignant anecdote with his boy; or teaching him the nuances of keeping a box score; these vivid images are what make baseball so special.

As a baseball fan...I cannot adequately express the emotions this series has stirred in me.

But I'm not just a baseball fan...I am also a monster.

As a monster I hope to see Jonathan Sanchez' head burst into flames as he violently whips his neck to watch a Ryan Ludwick HR sail towards AT&T's bleachers.

 

Penance from God for blaspheming his representatives on earth, the San Diego Padres.

I hope to witness a violent quake that shakes the earth only within the bowels of AT&T park leaving it as structurally unsound as the one that shook Candlestick back in 1989. As fans retreat safely to their homes I yearn for a raging earthquake induced fire to ravage the quaint little park on the bay.

This horrendous destruction wrought by nature will inevitably bring the series back down to San Diego for completion.....a place where I will be able to witness firsthand.....the beauty that is baseball during a pennant race.

Play ball!

I guess it's what you would expect him to say...

A Jets fan's query:

Antonio Cromartie's response:

I guess it's a matter of what the "passion" pertains to....

Me Not Here......Trade Deadline Reflections: Where Is My MInd?

I wrote a Trade deadline piece over at 619 Sports. In it, I spent a preponderance of words on David Fincher's vision of Chuck Palahniuk's novel, Fight Club. There was also music by the Pixies. Check it out.... [here]

MLB Network: Harold Reynolds Needs To Learn How To Transition

On Sunday morning I turned on the MLB Network's Quick Pitch. They finished showing Padres highlights and I felt warm and fuzzy.

Upon completion of the Saturday game highlights the panel went directly into analysis of the trade deadline deals beginning with the Cardinals/Padres/Indians three-way blockbuster.

The panel consisted of Matt Vasgersian, Tom Verducci, Harold Reynolds, and some decrepit old dude I have never seen before who may or may not have been a former GM. Verducci started the analysis:

Tom Verducci:

“........And part of that 3 way deal let’s not forget that the San Diego Padres get Ryan Ludwick. I know that Adrian Gonzalez is really happy to have a legit right handed power bat next to him in the line-up”

Harold Reynolds:

“Yea. What’s interesting though, headin’ into the trade deadline, yer goin’, “what is the rich gonna do?’ meaning, the Yankees? Well the rich got richer! You start looking at Lance Berkman comes over in a big time trade. You know. You get a guy now that is a middle order guy you’re going to hit him where ever you want in the line-up, switch hitter. I think this just is the DH that they needed. You can spell him at first base if you needed Teixeira for a day off or whatever but this is a great bat to get and Kerry Wood also coming in there being in the bullpen, a guy you can stretch from the 7^th and 8^th and figure out what you’re going to do with Joba so it gives them a lot of options and they did it, really, for not a whole lot of money.”

Are you serious, Harold Reynolds? 

Yea. What’s interesting though, headin’ into the trade deadline, yer goin’, “what is the rich gonna do?’ meaning, the Yankees? Well the rich got richer!

Is that your fucking transition? (click Read More to continue)


From "Adrian Gonzalez happiness" to  a bumbling discussion of the Yankees deals? That's terrible! How much are they paying you? Forget about your horrible grammar display (What is the rich gonna do?) and focus on writing an effective transition because that was just bad...really bad!

Try this next time: 

"Yea, it'll be interesting to see what kind of an impact the addition of Ryan Ludwick has on a great hitter like Gonzalez. I think this was a great move for the Padres. Now the question for the Yankees is whether or not they made a similar move with the addition of Lance Berkman? Who will he help most in the Yankees line-up?"

Gratis, Harold Reynolds. Gratis.

Not-Joe-Randa coming to San Diego at the Trade Deadline

I could say a lot right now regarding this morning's acquisition of OF Ryan Ludwick from the St. Louis Cardinals but honestly I lack the capabilities. I'm kind of giddy...like JoJo the Idiot Circus Boy with a pretty new pet.....just too excited to be thinking TOO critically right now.....

 

I'm also going to the game shortly so I have little choice but to keep it short.

Please don't mistake my school girl giddiness for thinking that Ryan Ludwick is the messiah. He's not. But he is a big improvement in a line-up that needs a BIG IMPROVEMENT (he leads the NL in hitting with RISP).

Here's how I'm looking at it:

1. In terms of human resources, a minimal amount was ventured. Pitchers Corey Kluber and Nick Greenwood are fringe prospects. Neither were in Baseball America's top 30 for the organization prior to the beginning of the year. Again, little ventured.
2. The Padres showed a willingness to add a significant amount of payroll for a player who is also controllable during the 2011 season.

Both are important points but none more so than #2. Taking on payroll when the team hasn't exactly filled the seats this year shows a commitment to winning. This is an important statement by Jeff Moorad..... one that was painfully lacking during the Padres first 6 seasons in Petco Park.

Oh yea....we got Miguel Tejada too...for what it's worth.

JED HOYER's FINAL GRADE:
Incomplete
COMMENTS:
It wasn't a Joe Randa-esque move! Hooray!

(h/t to @matthewverygood for correcting my Tommy Boy misquote. Follow him on Twitter for expert quotation of Christmas Vacation, Spaceballs, Tommy Boy, and The Three Amigos )

Me not here: Great Moments In Padres Trade Deadline History

I'm a little late on this (wrote it last Friday) but I did a hokey little piece on Padres trade-deadline-transactions of yore for 619 Sports. My target was one Joe Randa....third baseman extraordinaire! Truth be told, I feel abad about being so critical of Joe Randa as I'm sure he is a stellar human.

In the end it is not so much the skills of a 35 year old third baseman that I'm critical but instead the low-bar set by previous management regimes. Nevertheless, I still feel bad about busting Joe's chops. Check it out over at 619Sports.net....

How many All-Star Games Do You Even Remember?

I'm sure this post will be riddled with errors which is, by my rationale, the point. All Star games are so forgettable that your mind cannot help but play with the facts.

The earliest All-Star game I can recall watching was in 1983.

Prior to that year there are only three that come to mind as being memorable. I know that Pete Rose ran over Ray Fosse to win a game. It was sometime in the 1970's, it gave the NL the victory, and Fosse broke his collar bone on the play. Fosse was never the same and a lot of people think Pete Rose is a dick because of it... I disagree. Catchers should be destroyed whenever they place themselves between a base runner and the safety of home plate. A lot of people think I'm a dick too, so you can form your own conclusions.



The second game I can recall was Ted Williams hitting a HR off of Rip Sewell's Eephus pitch. This could be totally wrong but I'm going by memory. It was probably in the '40s. Of course it could have been in the '50s. Does it even matter?
 (click "Read More" to continue)

Didn't pay attention to the year attached to the picture...still don't know

Someone struck out the side in the '20s or '30s. I think it was Carl Hubbel who K'd some crazy threesome like Gehrig, Ruth, and some other hall of famer. Who knows?

Although I wasn't born for the above games....the All-Star games themselves are forgettable. What about the games from my lifetime?

Here's the ones that I remember.... and I've watched.

1983 Fred Lynn Grand Slam---I lived in Chicago. It was at Comiskey. The AL killed Atlee Hammaker and the NL. Earliest recollection.

1989 Bo Jackson Lead-Off HR Against Rick Reuschel---Bo Jackson. Need I say more? I was playing in a baseball game and heard about it. Watched the tape when I went home.

199X Somewhere In Here Tony Gwynn Raced Around To Score The Winning Run In Extra Innings ---I think.

2006 Didn't Trevor Shit The Bed here?---Total blur.

2007 Chris Young Gets The LOSS---The year I did an on-line voting blitz to get CY that last spot on the NL team. That worked out well. Jake Peavy started this game.

2008 Josh Hamilton goes crazy in Home Run Derby---NUTZZZZ!!!! Quick....who won the derby?

2009 Heath Bell gets the LOSS---For Fuck's SAKE!!!

I'm not going to look any of this crap up because then I would have the correct answers..... which I do not need. It's an All-Star game. Who cares*!!! If you care then share in the comments. I actually care to hear what you remember.

*Although I am eager to watch tonight's game!

Me Not Here: Meg Whitman Fails To Vote on All-Star Game, Reserves Comments On Padres Snubs

The Great Padres All Star Game Snub Hullabaloo of 2010 got me thinking......how many of us complainers actually voted? I mean if you don't vote (similar to my beliefs in "real" political elections) can you really comment/complain?

After reflecting on the question the answer seemed fairly simple. At that point Meg Whitman entered the equation because.....well, she never votes.

Do me a favor and check it out over at 619Sports.net Go read it or I will detach your Latissimus Dorsi!!!

Jake Peavy Detached His What?

When the trade deadline passed in July of 2009 and Jake Peavy had been moved to the White Sox for four pitchers I knew little about, I made the following remark:

Jake has an ailment of some sort each year and I'd hate to see a guy commanding 25% of the payroll spending time on the DL. 4 for 1---Two quality left handers.

Most Padres fans would have said the same about Jake's rate of injury so I am no prophet. Fast forward to July of 2010.

Jake Peavy is likely done with a detached Latissimus dorsi. I said yesterday, that in all of my years watching and playing sports I had never heard of a human detaching their Latisimus dorsi. I mean it's detached... from the bone! Yikes. Think about the times you tear apart a chicken breast from KFC and then go listen to injury expert Will Carrol describe Jake's problem (h/t to 619Sports).

I hope the best for Jake but as a Padres fan I always hope for what's best for me, first and foremost. So thanks to Kevin Towers for dumping Jake's salary and penchant for injuries......detached Lat? Ouch!

Me Not Here--LT: San Diego's Cousin Eddie

I made a contribution over at 619Sports.net where I fabricated a pretty accurate parallel between Clark Griswold's cousin Eddie and ex-Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson. It's a hoot! Here's a snipet:

The interesting thing about family is that no matter how embarrassing they become they still have a special place in your heart. You don't abandon them for the tiniest of indiscretions. You don't judge them like you might a stranger. These are little lessons I've learned through the curious twists and turns of my life's path; and by "life's path" I am referring to the wisdom derived from the films of John Hughes. In fact it is Christmas Vacation that best provides council in assessing the icon who wore #21.

Ahhh, John Hughes and football. Click that link and get yourself to 619Sports.net

The Reliever Known As "Edward Mujica"..... Is Dead To Me

There has been little to complain about this season. You'd be a fool to complain about anything when the Padres were universally picked last by the pundits yet hold down first place as of 9:30 AM this glorious morning. But as fans are wont to do they complain about things they would like to see improved.

I've yet to buy into the idea/complaint of adding a bat to our meager offense. I hate the idea of giving up key parts of our farm system for a bat that might not be a true difference maker (see: Joe Randa, Todd Walker, Mike Pagliarulo, et al). Adding a bat could upset not only the farm but clubhouse chemistry and more importantly, the stellar defense we have seen solidify our standing atop the NL West. Anthony Gwynn may hit like shit but he runs like Mays (to turn a Major League phrase). As such, the add-a-bat complaint is not one I subscribe to at this time.

The second complaint is the, dare I say, universal request to see Edward Mujica DFA'd. There doesn't appear to be a Friar soul who doesn't bury face into palm each time the Venezuelan enters in the late innings. I know that if I sat down with Bud Black he'd give me the "glass half full" assessment of Mujica; the opposition is hitting a paltry .200 against him. To which I would reply to Bud with the "glass half empty" reality; roughly 33 % of the time those infrequent hits fly out of the ball yard......which ain't good when you're trying to keep a game close. So what to do with Mr. Mujica? (click "Read More" to continue)



Had the Spanish never came to the "New World" we'd likely see the Maya sacrificing young Edward Mujica as a spoil of war to the feathered serpent Kukulkan.

Absent a reality that will allow Padres fans to see Mujica's heart offered to the Gods (see: Designated For Assignment) prior to being unceremoniously dumped down the facade of a Maya pyramid we'll have to settle for something far more tame. A name change of sorts.

I can no longer utter the name of Edward Mujica and henceforth he shall be known by the following anagram: Add Warm Juice. It is the perfect designation for our shaky middle reliever as the "Juice" is the invariable kerosene he seems to douse late inning fires with on a nightly basis. We can only hope that future innings don't require Bud Black to Add Warm Juice; as we'll know trouble is on the horizon.

You are dead to me, Edward Mujica.

Enter*: Add Warm Juice!

*Please don't let him enter, Bud.

"How Dare You RJ's Fro!" I say, "How Dare you Blogging Sirs!"

Not so fast RJ's Fro. 

In the last 34 days I've posted exactly two columns. One was about Dick Enberg's Wave Disdain and the other was a Memorial Day honorary re-post......so we'll call it one post in the last month.

A blog with one post in a month? Horrible!

Now it's so bad that I'm writing posts about not writing posts. A Taoist would suggest I've reached some sort of universal balance.......I would say that I'm the "Worst Blogger Ever!

Yet here I am having to defend my true status as worst blogger in the northern hemisphere because RJ's Fro decided to unilaterally declare themselves the worst. The AUDACITY!!!!!! No poll? You didn't formally poll the blog-o-sphere for one simple reason; you know your ranking wouldn't have solidified you as the Top Bottom-Feeder-Of-Blogs! And how could it have? You have a video interview with the great Bob Chandler whilst drinking BEERS; which in my opinion ranks you in the top three of all San Diego blogs despite your recent dearth of posts. So cool it fellas and leave the mantle of "Worst" right where it belongs; in Avenging Jack Murphy's blogging backyard.

I apologize to the Faithful Eleven for my lackadaisical June effort. Look forward to more stupid posts about stupid stuff. These posts shall include the possibility of a new AJM Matron Saint but will not be limited to mundane Dick Enberg analysis.........which incidentally may require a call to Wimbledon to get Dick back here ASAP if our young Friars get swept by Colorado today.

I'm back!
[Edit] 1:15 pm
I'm back....maybe!

Dick Enberg Analysis: "The Plague of All Sporting Events"

I've been very busy and by the time I acquire any sort of legitimate freedom to write, I much prefer going to bed. In fact I don't even have time to write this.....the Padres are in a 1-1 game in the bottom of the 8th inning in New York and I have work obligations to attend to.....but I must mention one piece of Dick Enberg greatness amongst  the usual sea of Enberg-Announcing-Criticism (usually from me).

SETTING THE STAGE
It's the top of the 8th of a 1-1 game. Jose Reyes has touched Clayton Richard for a game tying HR only a half inning earlier. San Diego's Lance Zawazski has doubled in the 8th, leaving the go ahead run a mere 180 feet away with one out. High drama to be sure. In what manner do Mets fans react to such a dramatic scenario, you ask? They begin to do........THE WAVE........in a tie game.....top of the 8th......

As I recognize this ridiculousness, Dick Enberg enters to make a prophetic comment:

"There it is. The wave. The Plague of All Sporting Events. It made its way from Philadelphia."

Good on ya Mr. Dick Enberg. GOOD-ON-YOU!

Gotta go...I'm way busy!

Memorial Day: a great day/great re-post/great cause

As a society we all too often remember those who've died fighting for our country but fail to remember those who've lived. These survivors will sometimes face the most unthinkable of challenges. One challenge brought to my attention a few years back was that of Traumatic Brain Injury. The UFC did a benefit for guys afflicted with these injuries a year and a half ago and it compelled me to write something about it. Enjoy....

December 10th, 2008
After a long day I turned on Spike this evening to find a Live UFC event. I was immediately captivated by two things:

1. The advertisement across the back of one fighter's trunks.
2. The audience decked out in camouflage UFC shirts.
   

Now, the advertisement was the impetus for this post.....trust me.....funny.....very funny (see: above link).....but my motivation to burn the midnight oil changed very quickly after I saw that it was not only a fight put on for the entertainment of US soldiers but for the benefit of them as well.

Specifically at hand was the issue of TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and the infusion of money needed to help these injured soldiers upon returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The event was not limited to TBI however, as the goal was to raise enough money to build a state of the art treatment facility that would cater to all soldiers returning home with life altering injuries. This endeavor is being undertaken by the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a not-for-profit organization.

Why keep reading?

The UFC card was interspersed with vignettes about some of our returning soldiers, the challenges they face, and unfortunately the inadequate care they receive. (click "Read More" to continue)

These little life stories had an intended impact and I cried. I'm sure I wasn't the only one. UFC announcer Mike Goldberg (paraphrasing) said that, "If you weren't moved by these stories you weren't a human!" It was not hyperbole.

TBI was first brought to my attention when I saw that ABC anchorman Bob Woodruff suffered a brain injury while embedded in Iraq. The documentary that was created a year after the injury discussed not only the challenges he was facing but the adverse conditions that veterans encountered upon return to the States. To see young men who gave so much only to receive so little from their government was a deplorable thing to view...

Throw politics out the window, it doesn't matter. These are the twenty-somethings brushing by you on a downtown sidewalk who by all accounts are just like us. Their story is still being written though, and it was a mere chapter ago that they were missing 1/3 of their brain encased in a newly created plastic skull and had spent the last year in the hospital wearing a helmet, undergoing intensive physical therapy. The picture I paint pales in comparison to what I saw in the Woodruff documentary and the little clips I watched during the UFC.

The economy is unsteady and our money is tight but I know who I would like to help here at year's end. Everything counts in small amounts (Depeche Mode?...sorry). Money is not always necessary though. Contact your Congressman/Congresswoman or U.S. Senator to encourage them to pass legislation in support of veterans affairs.

At the minimum I would encourage you to educate yourself on what these young men and women are encountering as they try and assimilate back into American life. I think the UFC tag line for the night said it best:

"They fight for us. Let's fight for them."

Intrepid Fallen Heroes Donations...Click Here.

The Bob Woodruff Family Foundation Donations...Click Here.

Identify and Contact Your Representative...Click Here.

Identify and Contact Your U.S. Senators...Click Here.

Godspeed

Isn't it strange that soldiers sacrifice so much yet the suggestion that civilians should make sacrifices of any sort for their country (conservation, curbing discretionary spending, community service, etc.) are often met with contempt and cries of, "un-American-ism!". Sorry. Didn't mean to get political. Enjoy Memorial Day.

I Could Only Afford to Throwback to 1984.....at least I didn't wear red

The Padres are wearing the 1978 Brown Away jerseys for the remainder of midweek day games this season.....so.....I felt moderately douchey on account of being decked out in my 1984 gear. On the other hand, I feel as though the spirit of the day was maintained as I went retro by 25 years. Surely I cannot be thought ill of based on such efforts. A home white 1978 Dave Winfield/Gaylord Perry jersey may be in my future.... 

THE GAME
Padres lost. Eleven whole runs scored. Cardinals averted the sweep. I scribed an open letter to a misdirected faction of Padre fans.

Dear Misdirected Faction:

My name is Mike. Some address me by the handle Avenger-in-Chief but the choice is yours really. I am compelled to point out to you that Padres fans are a mottled lot, adorned in nearly every spectrum of gear that has been introduced since the glorious incarnation.....the year of our lord nineteen-hundred and sixty nine. As such there tends to be a general lacking of fan cohesion at home games. The fan-gear color patterns are so disparate it can be difficult for the casual fan let alone those of the die-hard ilk to decipher the locale when watching on television.

Let there be no mistake however, that when the TV is turned on to a torrent of red there is little doubt that the St. Louis Cardinals are one of the teams involved. The same goes for Cardinal games on the road. A virtual Red Sea of fans. During the yearly Cardinals series at Petco this Red Sea will often find itself being parted on Tony Gwynn Drive only to reconstitute itself within the confines of Petco Park. Its an ugly sight to find yourself not only vastly outnumbered by the opposition but to see that they have come to a consensus on a common color (red) thus heightening the effect of their presence. I do not like red. I do not like it in our park. I do not like it in the dark. 


Don't wear RED YOU IDIOT PADRE FANS!!!!In front of me to the left was a fan wearing a Padre hat and a BRIGHT RED t-shirt. In front of me to the right was a fan wearing a Padre shirt and a random BRIGHT RED hat. Don't wear RED YOU IDIOTS!!! Even if its not the Cardinals in town.....DON'T WEAR RED YOU IDIOTS!!! For the Love of Scott Brosius, it's a Padres game!!!
Respectfully
A Non-Red Wearing Padre Fan

I'm serious. Don't wear red into Petco Park.....and a giant F-U to the dude decked out in the Russell Martin Jersey and LAtrine hat. F-U!!!

The Week In Padres: my internal clock has been destroyed

This is where I write a post about not writing posts.
I made a comment last Sunday about Dick Enberg and his constant love of the enemy and then figured I'd a-keep-on-a-rolling with my commentary as I entered this week. I'd have plenty to say as the plan was to get out to the park on Monday to see the Padres battle the Giants for NL West supremacy. I went to the park.....and my body clock hasn't been the same since....

MONDAY:
I bought a park pass for 5 bucks. When I tried to sneak down to a prime location I was caught by Stan the Usher and sent packing. It was OK. I parked up in the standing room only section positioned behind home plate and chatted with a Giants fan for the rest of the game. I enjoyed telling the fan about Matt Cain's Curse and how they had better win tonight because they had NO CHANCE against Latos on Tuesday night.

Truth be told, it's one of the best seats (errr...standing locations) in the park. Great view (although you can't see the jumbo-tron) of a game. I even had a great view of the yahoos who ran on to the field during the 9th inning.....at which point my week began to unravel. The delay that these clowns caused ensured that I wouldn't be getting home until an unsuitably late hour.....an hour that would be sure to have an adverse affect on my systems' functions for the remainder of the week. Sure enough, while excited about a Padre victory, I woke up pretty tired on Tuesday morning. (click "Read More" to continue)

TUESDAY
Tuesday's game was a disaster. The Padres lost with Latos on the hill.....but the loss was so much worse than that. It was an extra innings loss. Losing in extras is excruciating! So disappointing as we failed to win in regulation (Adams gave up the game tying dong in the 8th) thus setting the stage for another long game. Don't get me wrong......I enjoy extras......but I was tired......I needed to catch-up.

WEDNESDAY
Wednesday's game was awesome in that it was all of the following:

• A win!
• A win by an impressive margin (10-5)!
• A win against the Dodgers!
• A near cycle by Will Venable!

Wednesday's game was an utter nightmare sequence in that it was all of the following:

• A game in which Jon Garland pitched!

Seriously.....for a game that ended in 9 innings it felt like a 3-OT Stanley Cup conference final game. Take Garland's deliberate presence and put it in tandem with an offensive outburst and you have the makings of an eternity. I've been calling Jon Garland "The Mike Hargrove". I think that nickname could just as easily be interchanged with Jon "Extra Innings" Garland. He may not pitch into extras but I sure feel like I've been taken there.

The game ended. I was still tired...

THURSDAY
I was dead to the world on Thursday. The lack of sleep caught up to me and I shattered world records for complete uselessness. I watched a little of the game. I watched all of Lost. I checked the score in the 8th. I went to sleep.

FRIDAY
Right. Disappointed to find there there was no comeback against Kershaw and company and the Padres took a 4-1 loss. Friars still in first. I am well rested.......time to prepare for our HATED inter-league rival. Seattle Mariners on tap this weekend.

Dick Enberg Analysis: How 'bout a little bias, Dick!?!

On Friday night there were some Dick Enberg complaints on Twitter regarding his bias........or lack thereof, to be more exact. The prevailing sentiment was that Enberg gets WAY too excited about play by the opposition and not enough for the Padres. Sure Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier are good. But in giving them praise is it necessary to fawn over them?

Por Ejemplo: 

Casey Blake was chasing a foul pop-up in Friday's 4-3 loss, one that ultimately fell into the stands. As Blake ran out of room he slid to avoid an unnecessary trip into the bleachers. Enberg proceeded to make it sound like Blake had made a play tantamount to the Mays over the shoulder World Series grab combined with an Aaron Rowand face first in to the wall catch......it was neither of those. There was nothing special about Casey Blake's effort especially for a guy who's making $6.25 million/season. Enberg's unctuous praise of Blake led me to Tweet the following:

HaHa. I AM FUNNY.......but that is besides the point! (click "Read More" to continue)


C'mon Dick! If a guy makes a nice play give him a pat on the back. If he's a once in a lifetime talent then share that assessment with your audience. Use your knowledge and experience in the game to make an apropos comparison to a great player of the past. But don't swoon over the guy's play. You are an announcer for the San Diego Padres.....recognize where your bread is buttered!

Which Brings Us To The "Why?"

Websoulsurfer made a good point in one of his Tweets:

Hammer.....meet head of nail. 

Dick Enberg, as a national announcer, must be effusive in his praise of both sides which has made him a very respected announcer over the years. I'd be remiss however, if I did not point out that this is San Diego........not the Nation. Come July, when you're at Wimbledon, feel free to massage the followers/lovers of both Kim Clijsters and Venus Wiliams while they battle and grunt their way to Center Court supremacy........but right now........I am NOT in the mood for MY announcer to be  LOVING the Dodgers.

In Addition
Save the "Touch 'em All!" calls for Padre homers. The call has an inherent excitement to it that should not be shared with the opposition......remember......it's our guy who gave up the dong.

On A Good Note

In last night's loss to LAtrine (4-1) the Channel 4 camera zoomed in  from deep center field and as the shot came closer and closer to the Channel 4 booth someone began to wave their arms. I could not tell who it was. Enberg then quipped (paraphrasing), "Don't do that. I hate the wave!"

As do I, Mr Enberg. As do I.

Props for the use of an orange tie with a white suit. There aren't too many people who can pull that off with such great success.

2010 MLB Predictions: where I take stock of my stupidity

Today's sweep of the Giants has left the Padres with a 22-12 record and given me cause to reevaluate my preseason prediction of 83 wins. Things have changed......and not just because Mat Latos threw a CG 1-hitter to close out the Gigantes......it is much, much more than that.

Padres/Giants Series: Game 1 in Screen Scrapes

 There were runners left on base. Too many to count. Where the Padres are concerned....Bases loaded = Bad

Davis Eckstein got on base with great frequency (2 for 2 with 3 walks). Eckstein destroys the opposition's will to live with his sheer scrappiness. Slayer of wills...David Eckstein.

Is that why a 3-2 game lasted an eternity?

I'm still not over it......17 WALKS!!!!!

Padres take game 1.