The Great Roller Coaster

Game 8 (3-5)
After a 6-1 loss to Atlanta Braves, this is where I regurgitate profound thoughts that I shared via Twitter last night and season them with new but extremely brief comments (AKA--taking the easy way out).

I think that the first two games of the 2010 home stand have encapsulated what I believe will be the Padres season: a great roller-coaster ride! Whether it will be like the Giant Dipper coaster at Mission Beach with its 1920s constructed whiplash producing effects or more akin to the Viper at Magic Mountain with its stomach turning loops, all we can be certain of is the guaranteed ups and downs (click below to continue reading).

The Padres went from 17 runs where they could do no wrong, to the receiving end of a dominating performance by Braves starter, Tommy Hanson. Padres batters struck out 11 times last night. This inconsistent, roller coaster effect, is the hallmark of young teams: see the 2010 San Diego Padres. There will be fun. There will be frustration. There will be blood. Well, there probably won't be blood.....but There Will Be Blood is a Daniel Day-Lewis performance I've sadly missed. Where's the time to catch-up on those Oscar worthy movies in the midst of a 162 game slate? I digress...

Clayton Richard pitched all right. Was cruising and then gave up 3 runs. Yielded to the bull pen and another 3 runs were surrendered when Carlsbad's Troy Glaus launched a 3 run bomb. Consolation prizes? In high school I hit a walk-off grand slam against Troy Glaus when he was pitching for Carlsbad. That really isn't a consolation of any sort but an opportunity for me to toot my own horn. Sorry. Glory days and all....

Mujica and Gallagher pitched the last seven outs of the game, six of which were strikeouts. This gave cause to hearken back to words of wisdom from Kevin Costner's Crash Davis:

"Strikeouts are boring. Besides that they're fascist. Mix in a groundball." 

True that, Crash! True that. If you're looking to fire the ball past everyone, you risk letting your fielders fall asleep (and they'll ultimately resent your placement on the far right of the political spectrum)........and when fastball hit......fastball go far. Think about that Mr. Gallagher. Troy Glaus did.

Chase Headley struck out 3 times. So much for me lauding his stellar K/PA ratio. It happens, the ups and the downs. The roller coaster of inconsistent youth.

Mat Latos v. Tim Hudson. 3:30 start time. Retro day!

Corey Brock [padres.com]
[Box Score]