The media and Carlos Quentin's presence

After Friday night's Padres win against . . . the team they were playing (?)*. . .  Carlos Quentin refused to go on the post-game show. I suppose he didn't really refuse Friday's invitation because the truth is that he hasn't done a post-game show the entire year. Ted Mendenhall of XX1090 called Quentin out for his conspicuous absence and then on Sunday morning Craig Elsten of XX1090 discussed the merits of player interviews and whether or not there is an obligation for these guys to be accountable for their play.

*I'm blanking on who they played on account of not being able to watch the Padres on TV. Still blanking. I'll probably remember it by the time I finish this but I'm going to roll with my ignorance rather than look it up. There's no way a fan should be ignorant of the opponent of a three game series. A three game series! Yet I am. I deserve a little latitude, do I not?


Part of telling the story of a game includes player and manager quotes. These quotes are gathered after the completion of a game and can not be woven into the beat writer's story without the willingness of players and the manager to make themselves available at the end of a long day's work*. Without the beat writer's access to players and manager there is no beat writer and you have only bloggers recapping games for the public. Primary source quotes fill in the dark spots of a game, those spots that need rationales from those involved first hand.

*A long day's work for both player and writer alike.

Bud Black gives a press conference after each game. My assumption is that the Front Office directs Black to appear before the press at designated times. I've never heard of Bud Black no-showing to a post-game press conference so I think this assumption is safe.

What of players and their obligations to the press? I will go ahead and make another assumption and that's that players do not have a contractual obligation to make themselves available. This assumption feels wrong but since Quentin has not gone on the flagship radio station* to do a post game interview then I guess it also safe.

* Distinctions must be made. Carlos Quentin is probably available at his locker and gives quotes to the writers (Again, I don't want to look up Friday's game because I want to maintain my ignorance of the Padres' weekend opponent). But to make it to the radio show takes a little extra effort and I don't begrudge a player having zero interest in the process.

Here's the truth of the matter: Baseball player's, for the most part, have nothing too interesting to say. They speak in Crash Davis cliches to the point where fans can guess what the star player might say* after any given performance. I think that comments from Bud Black are essential to a game summary. Fans need game rationales from the skipper**.

*"He's a good pitcher and I new I had to get the pitch I was looking for. Luckily I hit it well. You just never know if the ball will get out in right center."
** Budbot reference inserted.

Would I like to hear from Carlos Quentin? I actually would. When I heard him on Darren Smith's show prior to the start of the season I found him to be well spoken, intelligent, and very introspective. He's a smart, local guy, educated at Stanford and I'd love to hear him on the post-game show.

Allow me to make an analogy. San Diego is a Nordstrom town and the Padres are somewhere between Wal-Mart and Target. The Nordstrom folk look down their noses at the lowly Wal-Mart/Target tweeners. The Nordstrom folk of San Diego need to be sold on the Padres. How can Padres management do such a thing? Well, they could start by committing $30 million dollars to a player who has a guarantee not to be traded during the next three years. They did that? Sweet, that's half the battle!

People in San Diego still aren't paying attention to the padres though. The Padres are like the tree falling in the proverbial empty woods. There isn't a sound being made. This must change.

I know Carlos Quentin likes his privacy but if I were his boss I would begin to encourage a more visible presence. I would pump out some commercials of him sitting at his locker reading Steinbeck intertwined with some of his PETCO bombs or some other crazy comedy. I'd also ask of Quentin that he appear on the flagship's post-game show at least once a week and put it in his court if he'd like to do more.

San Diego needs to know the Padres are here. Carlos Quentin crushes HRs and catchers. Let him announce the Padres presence.

Holy crap! They played the Mets!

Things Bud Black has outlasted

I read the opening paragraph of Bill Center's article this morning and immediately stopped.

My mind was blown after reading these words written about Padres manager Bud Black:

 " . . . where he begins his sixth spring training as Padres manager Monday."

It seems like only yesterday that Bud Black arrived from Anaheim and the Bruce Bochy Era concluded. Yet here he is, beginning his 6th season with the Padres.

The only thing I could think of in response to this piece of information was to make a reference to a long running sit-com that I've never even watched. But Bud Black deserves better than that.

Bud Black should be applauded for making it to a 6th season as not everyone / everything has such staying power.

Here's a list of things that weren't as fortunate to make it to a sixth year. . .

Nirvana
With Nirvana's release of their debut album Bleach in June of 1989 and the subsequent suicide of Kurt Cobain in April of 1994 the seminal rock band failed to even make it to the 5 year mark.  
Bud Black > Flannel Apparel and Three Chord Guitar Progressions

Gale Sayers
Technically the career of the Kansas Comet lasted form 1965-1971 but catastrophic knee injuries cut his run of greatness short. Sayers only played two games in both the 1970 and 1971 seasons which by my count leaves his career at a full five seasons in the NFL.  
Bud Black > 1960's Knee Reconstruction

The Wire
The epic HBO series, portraying the urban decay of Baltimore as described by David Simon and Ed Burns, lasted a full 5 seasons and then called it quits.
Bud Black > Jimmy McNulty + Omar Little

Saved By The Bell: The College Years
Tiffani-Amber Thiessen was so good looking in 1993 she could have carried The College Years through a four year undergraduate program and a masters thesis. Alas, the series ended after one season.
Bud Black > Kelly Kapowski

Star Wars
Over the span of 28 years the George Lucas successfully brought 5* feature length Star Wars films to the big screen. I'm fudging with the parameters here but in terms of output it's more important to count the films and not the years in which they spanned.
Bud Black >  George Lucas' Dialogue and Jar Jar Binks

*Most Star Wars aficionados acknowledge that The Phantom Menace sucked horribly. As such I have not included it. And Bud Black wins.

The Greco-Persian Wars
Taken in tandem, the two invasions of Greece by the mighty Persian armies of Darius and Xerxes, lasted less than five years. Considering the superior strength of Persia and the fact that Greece ultimately won it's astonishing that these wars didn't last longer. Bud Black would have destroyed Greece.
Bud Black > Ancient History and its Commanders

The San Diego Padres
The Padres made it through 5 seasons in San Diego and then in 1974 were on the verge of moving to Washington DC. Had Ray Kroc not swooped in to save the day we'd be saying that Bud Black also outlasted the San Diego Padres . . . or would we? Feel free to contemplate this existential dilemma.
Bud Black = Ray Kroc (?)

Bud Black has yet to make the playoffs in San Diego but his tenure should be commended nonetheless. I foresee greatness for Bud Black. All he needs is the right number of years under his belt.

Ancient Bud Black Mind Tricks

Among all of MLB's managers, Bud Black is the only one who is a former hurler. There must be a valid reason for such a case.

Could it be that he knows how to use psychology to cajole pitchers in to doing what may seem to be against their perceived self-interests? Let us call these the Bud Black Mind Tricks.....if he indeed is versed in this ancient art.

Last week, the Padres Trail, posted a column about the Mat Latos/Wade Leblanc "5th starter issue" which was then debated thoroughly in a thread at Gaslamp Ball.

THE PREMISE: what should happen with the two young pitchers once Chris Young returns from the disabled list?

At the time of the posting LeBlanc had been pitching lights out and then went on to get the win after pitching 6.1 innings of scoreless ball. Did Latos meet the challenge? He went on to pitch 6 innings of 2 run ball and got hung with the loss (both runs came on homers). Not a bad outing but also not on par with LeBlanc. What to do, what to do....... (click "Read More" to continue)

My position last week was that I wanted to see CY come down with a mystery ailment to keep him on the DL so that both of the youngsters would remain in the rotation (my wish may have been granted as CY got shelled in a rehab assignment this weekend and is headed for an MRI......although I don't really want him to be hurt.....I just want the reins pulled back a bit so he's healthy in the long run and that our young fellas get to prove themselves in the short-run, which of course would be beneficial to the organization in the long-run.......this was far too long for a parenthetical explanation, no?). My position has altered slightly with certain caveats (Young's health and the performance of each of our youngsters in question).


Today my belief is that Mat Latos needs to stay up top where he can continue to be mentored by Darren Balsley. But we also know that Wade LeBlanc, who is on the hill tonight against The Purple Mountain's Majesty, will pitch shut out ball tonight thus making the question of the 5th spot in the rotation even more convoluted........or is it?

We know that Mat Latos, while possibly a future staff "#1", is having his innings closely monitored similar to last season a la the Verducci Effect. If his innings are to be restricted it could be detrimental to the Padres if they are in contention for the division or the wild-card come September. Would you want to shut down one of your regulars in the heat of a pennant race (rhetorical question/parenthetical probably not even needed)?

Bud Black must earn his money here. Latos is a big stud who must be handled carefully. A demotion to Portland could wreak havoc with his delicate ego and a demotion to the bullpen cold yield similar results......use your mind tricks, Bud Black......Latos' mind is young and malleable:

 

BUD BLACK: The managerial great, Earl Weaver, declared that the best spot for a rookie is in long relief (his 8th Law of Managing). Many great pitchers have worked out of the 'Pen and later enjoyed grand success as a starter. In fact Johan Santana won the Cy Young the year after leaving the 'Pen. But most importantly.....young Latos.....this move ensures that you will be contributing to the ball club in meaningful games down the stretch rather than picking splinters next to Balls.
MAT LATOS: (nods his head)
BUD BLACK: "You will go to the bullpen, Mat Latos."
MAT LATOS: "I will go to the bullpen, Bud Black."

(If Bud Black can employ some genuine Jedi Mind Tricks then the above explanation by Bud probably isn't needed. It is needed however in the context of giving proper credit to the person, Geoff Young of Ducksnorts, who provided a more precise rationale for such a move with Latos---parenthetical explanation, while very long, was required).

This entire post is probably moot though, as we all know Chris Young will be spending more time on the DL anyways.