Gwynn Numbers: 184 in 1984

In 1984 Tony Gwynn hit .351/.410/.444 as the Padres advanced to the World Series.

His first batting title and a Padres run of success (also a first) led to a third place finish in the MVP race. Gwynn finished behind Ryne Sandberg, and Keith Hernandez that year, receiving 1 vote for 1st in and finishing with a total of 184 voting points. But this post is more about a baseball card.

Topps released this card in 1985 which of course featured Gwynn's vaunted '84 stats. As a youngster living elsewhere I recall staring at those numbers, as I did with all of my cards. Seeing the little diamond placed next to the .351 BA and thinking how elusive it sounded.

I also remember thinking that I wanted to look like Tony Gwynn. I wanted those flip-shades! I wanted to be an outfielder even though it meant, as a little-leaguer, a death sentence of boredom and in-action out in pastures of green. I just wanted to wear those flip-shades.

Nobody wears those cool flips anymore, instead opting for Oakleys and the like. I'm going to buy a pair and wear them to the bar. Yes . . . I'll be that guy.

Game 7: The Running of the Padres

Today the Padres scored 17 runs in the home opener.

The Braves scored 2 runs.

That's a win.

An account of the win? Glad you asked.

Is there a better way to describe the degree to which the floodgates opened in today's thrashing of the Atlanta Braves than the video below (click below to continue reading)?

Eh, the video isn't that great. It would have been better if the music was Ride of the Valkyries by Wagner......so why don't we do that........go ahead and open another tab so you have Avenging Jack Murphy opened twice and then click this link [here].  By clicking said link you will be directed to a video......but we're only going here for the purpose of getting the audio.......once you have clicked play return to the tab opened to Avenging Jack Murphy and play the embedded video above. Now it'll be really cool, giving it an apocalyptic feel similar to the hellfire that rained down on Petco Park today.

I'll keep this brief as I've already spent too much time syncing up Pomplona, Spain and the Mekong Delta:

• We scored 17 runs after struggling mightily over the last few days. This was nice to see. It was noted by Dick/Mud/Tony Sr. that the Padres looked as though they were taking an entirely different approach at the plate, hence the success. Perhaps. Is it also a possibility that Jair Jurrjens and Jo-Jo Reyes were ineffectively wild? It's easy to lay off when a pitcher is missing the zone in a real bad way, as were both of those Braves hurlers. Either way, you have to give credit to the Padres hitters because they took full advantage of their opportunities.
• Kevin Correia looked great. I'm sure it was difficult to get in a rhythm with the bottom of the innings lasting so long. He got the win and I was happy to see a hometown guy get the honor of starting the opener.

• The talk of today's game will be of the near-cycles hit by both Will Venable and Kyle Blanks so let's just get it on the record for posterity: after 40 years of cycle futility we will see one hit this season. My money is on Venable but I have no doubt that Everth Cabrera and Kyle Blanks both have it in them as well.
• Still loving the work that Chase Headley is doing (2 for 4 with a 2B and no Ks). Good stuff.
• Will Venable is heating up and turning into the RBI guy. 
• Everth Cabrera is struggling. Let us not forget, he's still young.
• I wish I could say more about Braves phenom Jayson Heyward......but that game was about San Diego all afternoon long.
• The Padres are 3-4.

A comment: Why weren't fans standing when Venable came to the plate with his first opportunity at the cycle? Pretty weak. Or was I just getting a bad angle on the TV? You tell me...

[EDITOR'S NOTE 10:45 AM]
***Friend of the Blog, Matthew, astutely points out that the 17 runs scored by the Padres were in fact ordained by Providence when it was decided that Philip Rivers (#17) would throw out the first pitch. Avenging Jack Murphy knew this detail but excluded it from the game recap on account of being a lollygagger and general shirker of duties. Cheers Matt.

Corey Brock [padres.com]
[Box Score]

Started-me-a-wonderin': The San Diego Padres and Yunel Escobar

After turning on the Padre game in the 8th inning, (EST start threw me) I saw Atlanta shortstop Yunel Escobar make a play and it started-me-a-wonderin'.

The Padres almost dealt Jake Peavy for Escobar and a few others back in November. I wasn't really in favor of the deal at the time for a couple of reasons:

1. I was delusional; not fully grasping the financial plight a divorce could bring on our club.
2. I didn't know too much about the players involved and really didn't want to do the research; laziness and a state of delusion conspiring together.

Today Yunel Escobar is hitting .303/.370/.452

The Wonderin':

1. Would the haul from the Jake to Atlanta trade in November of 2008 have been more beneficial than Jake to the Sox in July of 2009?
2. Would we have taken Everth Cabrera in the December, 2008 Rule V Draft had we traded for Escobar back in November (I think yes because ECab was a 2B)?
3. If we did take ECab would he have seen any playing time---being blocked by Escobar at SS and the Great Eckstein at 2B---may he have been returned to Colorado because he wasn't crackin' the line-up?
4. How would the Padres look with Escobar at SS and Cabrera at 2B?

Some of my wonderment is unknowable (2 & 3) but feel free to speculate and discuss, it may be fun.

The remainder of my reverie won't be revealed for a while (1 & 4) although if someone wants to look up the 2009 stat lines for the players and then draw some comparisons, I'd be stoked if you did.......by the way the Padres won in the 12th; Latos 7 shut out innings.

For he today who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother... San Diego Padres versus Atlanta Braves, August 12th, 1984

Tim Flannery

I enjoy brawls, really good ones, where lines are drawn in the sand. In 1984 the Padres had one bench clearing affair after another against the Atlanta Braves. I've seen footage of it before but not quite the breadth that Gaslamp Ball posted this morning via YouTube. It's 29 minutes of Vengeance precipitated by Pasqual Perez's beaning of Allan Wiggins to begin the game.

Here are some stills to whet your appetite.

This is Brawl part IV to lead off the 9th inning

Nettles got after pitcher Donnie Moore

My ex-neighbor Ed Whitson who was ejected back in the 4th came out
to get some in the 9th. At that point the fans were getting involved.

Kurt Bevacqua went into the stands...ages before Ron Artest

Read the NC times accounting of the affair [NC Times]
Get yourself to Gaslamp Ball to witness the carnage [Gaslamp Ball]

So feel free to pass judgement as these 25 year old video clips made me warm and fuzzy inside.......sue me.