Padres Win Streak Ends; We go To Lake Elsinore to See The Storm

The Padres lost yesterday but took the series....on the road in Cincinnati. Can't really argue with that result although perhaps the strongest part of our team (the bullpen) coughed up what could have been a road sweep. Can't win 'em all.

I didn't get to watch the game but instead tried to experience it via MLB.com's "Game Day" tracker as well as communications through Twitter and the Gaslamp Ball open thread. The Game Day tracker is NO substitute for watching on television. I wasn't trying to be experimental; just forced to get some work done in an undisclosed location that lacked access to Channel 4. I did not get work done.... but I did make an observation or two. Proceed...

• Clayton Richard needs to start working on economy with his pitch count in a bad way. In the 5th inning he threw 8 pitches to the final batter he faced coupled with 9 pick-off attempts to 1B....all in the course of ONE BATTER! He was working way too hard. He got out of the jam but finished the inning with about 90 pitches. I figured he was done. Bud ran him out there for the 6th though and he promptly gave up the gopher ball to Scott Rolen. Richard ended up leaving the game with a chance to get the win after surrendering 3 runs. (click "Read More" to continue)

• Now I rant about bullet point #1. C'mon Bud!? Clayton Richard was done. Go right to the bullpen to start the 6th inning. Look, there's no bigger proponent of getting your starting pitcher through at least 7 innings than me.....heck, mix in a complete game every once in a while and conserve that valuable bullpen. I just thought it was the wrong move at the time and then Scott Rolen ran around the bases.
• A lot of people are saying that the Padres are playing over their heads right now and they are in some respects. However I think that we would be remiss not to mention that their collective hitting has been underwhelming thus far. Headley and Gonzalez have been great and Venable has been timely here and there but for the most part guys have been hitting below (I believe) their capabilities.
• So yea......they're in first place. No complaints really. Fun stuff.

So I finished listening to the game on the drive up to Lake Elsinore yesterday. The Diamond in Lake Elsinore is cool little place to see a game. Very intimate. You feel like you're right there, on top of the field, plus you get to see the Padres of the future play. You feel very invested. Some observations:

• Talk about a DEAL !!! A doubleheader for under $10 bucks!
• 2007 1st round pick Nick Schmidt didn't look that sharp. He really only had one rough inning (yielded a hit parade) but on the whole, I wasn't impressed.
• Farmer John hot dogs are an encased meat product of the highest order.
• 2008 1st round pick Alan Dykstra didn't look that sharp either although he did have one hit. I can't say I expected too much though, considering his current ranking among Padres prospects.
• What you save on a cheap, $9 buck seat, you'll more than likely give back in the souvenir shop. A hat with the eyes of a storm on it? That's an easy sell!

• Kids named Vince Belnome and Yefri Carvajal hit HRs. They were bombs.
• When your 3 year old gets tired of her seat and insists on moving to an area that gives free reign to kids hopped up on sugar, you have the opportunity to do it. Down the RF line there's a great grass area to sit and play (pssst....you can also walk right up to the opposition's bullpen and get in the ear of the relievers.....I didn't do it but I'm just sayin', you could.....all friendly bantering of course; they're just kids, for Pete's sake!).

Your Padres and Mariners of the future...and some little kid

• There was a kid named Denny Almonte who played for the High Desert Mavericks. A few years back when the Oceanside Little League played in the WS didn't they get beat by a a Bronx team that eventually forfeited because of an illegally aged player......named DANNY Almonte? Maybe I'll research it.....
• Manager Carlos Lezcano got tossed in the 6th inning of game 1 on a bad call at 2B. Lezcano also coaches 3B so when he arrived to argue he was wearing a protective batter's helmet. Part of his theatrics while getting tossed included him bouncing his helmet of of the turf......take a look at the picture......pretty good distance, huh (it's the black speck behind the mound)?

• Playing against the High Desert Mavericks is a great way to properly cultivate hatred for the Seattle Mariners, our vaunted and loathed inter-league rival. The Dodgers get the Angels and the Yankees get the Mets but the hatred there is nothing compared to Padres versus Mariners each summer! What, you ask? Very little negativity towards the Mariners? Well then, I say.......get yourself up north to catch some High A minor league baseball.....a place where you can properly develop your Mariner loathing each time High Desert visits.
• Bummer. The Storm lost the 7 inning affair 4-2.

• Go there. It is fun.