Padres take game 1 from the Reds

Padres win 8-2 in an offensive explosion

Randy Wolf was dominant going 7 strong innings, striking out 9, walking only 1, and giving up 2 runs on his way to his 3 win of the season. Randy brought his A game, and was lights out on the mound scattering 4 hits over his 7 innings pitched. In a time when the Padres needed someone to step up in the rotation, Randy Wolf did just that. He allowed the bullpen to get another night off, and picked up the holes left by Peavy and Young who are now both on the DL.


But the story wasn't the pitching last night even though that was outstanding. The real story was that the Padre bats showed up for maybe the first time in over a year. The Padres offense roared to life.......yes Friar fans 'offense'. The Padres banged out 8 runs on 14 hits, and hit 4 home runs, and 3 doubles in the game.

They played like the team we all expected to see out of the gate. With our power guys hitting the long ball, and our pitchers mowing down the opposition.

I'm worried it's way too late for any hopes of salvaging the season, but that doesn't mean we can't turn the ship around and start winning.........and that alone would be a huge feat for us this year. So lets hope this was a sign of good things to come.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Cincinnati	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		2	5	1
San Diego	0	0	0	0	3	2	3	0	X		8	14	0

Play Ball !!!

Who pissed off Jobu ?

Broken nose for CY

My question to the masses is this........Who drank the rum ? Who dared to mess with the voodoo whammy curse only Jobu could muster ? Hats for bat......to keep bats warm ? Either someone drank the rum, or someone ran off with the entire bottle because even sacrificing a live chicken or a bucket of Colonel Sanders probably couldn't have stopped the nightmare that was about to happen. Just read the following all of which happened in the span of 3 batters in the same inning.

• Young injured click here for story and video link

SAN DIEGO -- Padres pitcher Chris Young left Wednesday's game in the third inning after being hit in the face by a line drive off the bat of St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols.

Young was taken to Scripps Green Hospital in nearby Torrey Pines with a nasal fracture and a laceration on his nose.

Young sat on the ground for several minutes while being attended to by the team training staff and was able to walk off the field on his own, though he was accompanied by teammate Tony Clark and trainer Todd Hutcheson.

Young opened the inning by retiring Brendan Ryan before allowing consecutive singles to Skip Schumaker and Aaron Miles. Pujols then lined an 0-2 slider up the middle as the ball hit Young flush.

At the time of the injury at PETCO Park, the Padres were leading the Cardinals 2-0 after a two-run home run by Adrian Gonzalez in the first inning.

Catcher Josh Bard also left the game in that same inning after suffering a sprained left ankle on a collision at the plate with Pujols.

Barrett is rehabbing in Portland right now, and isn't yet available. Luke Carlin in the meantime will fill in as the starting backstop with Justin Huber as his back up until Morton arrives.

Wow........guess that puts the nail in the proverbial coffin for 2008.

Moves made today :
Germano DFA'd
Thatcher opt'd to AAA Portland
C - Colt Morton giving 2nd stint with Padres this year
RHP Jared Wells(1-1, 5.85 ERA)
RHP Mike Adams(3-1, 5.52 ERA)
RHP Josh Banks(1-1, 6.66 ERA) promoted from AAA

No word on when or if Chase Headley will be up.........this has me puzzled to the core.


Play Ball !!!

Melting Points and Scary Things

Towers seeing red after loss

If changes come, they'll be big ones, angry GM says

By Tom Krasovic
STAFF WRITER

May 20, 2008

Brian Giles is one of a handful of Padres not off to a disappointing start, so leave it to Giles to find a positive yesterday before the last-place club returned to the field.

Giles, speaking before another defeat and a postgame shot across the bow from Kevin Towers, found comfort in the schedule, which, for a change, placed the Padres in San Diego. Last night the Padres were to open the first of two 10-game homestands in a span of 23 games. San Diego's baseball team had played 16 of the previous 19 games on the road, where it wilted.

“It's a very important month for us,” Giles said. “We need to start winning some games at home, get some confidence, see how good we can be. We need to get five or six guys swinging the bat well at the same time. We haven't done that all season.”

Unfortunately for the Padres, a change of venue didn't change their level of talent. Superstar Albert Pujols and the Cardinals, paying their first visit here of 2008, frolicked as happily as all of those Arizona refugees who swarm San Diego's beaches.

Pujols swatted two home runs, one of them reaching the top balcony of the Western Metal Supply Co. building. In all, St. Louis hit four homers and amassed 16 hits en route to an 8-2 victory.

General Manager Kevin Towers was seeing red afterward – and not just all that Cardinals red romping inside Petco Park. Towers strongly hinted that losing is becoming too comfortable for this team and that a major housecleaning could be in order if the team continues apace.

“It's the way you play the game,” said Towers, visibly angry. “It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the intensity and how you carry yourself.

“We've got some hungry players down below looking for an opportunity. There's not one player in the system who is going to turn it around. If we make changes, it will be wholesale.”

He also said, “We've been bad, no question about it. There's been no signs to tell us or our fans we're going to turn this around. I'm not going to watch this for another four months.

“Morale shouldn't be good. If it's good, we have other issues. If morale is good, they have no expectations of being better. Morale should be horrible.”

“It's a reflection of all of us. It's got to be tough for all of our fans. This isn't pointing fingers at all of the players. It's all of us. I hope we all have the same feeling it hurts.”

The ballpark vibe recalled Mission Valley, 2003, when San Diego crowds oohed and aahed over the exploits of visiting players and the home team gave little cause to cheer.

In 2003, the Padres would lose 98 games, more than any team in the majors. These Padres (16-30) are on pace to lose 106 games. That would be the franchise's second-highest total, eclipsed only by the first-year Padres, who lost 110 games in 1969.

One difference between this club and Padres teams in 2003 and 1969 is that the front office projected nearly 90 victories and a first-place finish from this squad.

Until it recently lost ace Jake Peavy to an elbow injury – which will put Peavy on the disabled list today – this Padres club was the healthiest member of the National League West over the season's first quarter.

But the offense has been sickly for the better part of six weeks. Last night marked the 21st time the Padres scored two runs or fewer. That's 46 percent of the team's outings.

The Cardinals built a 4-1 lead against Peavy's replacement, Wil Ledezma. The left-hander experienced a shoulder twinge that brought manager Bud Black to the mound in the first inning but remained in the game. Two pitches later, Ryan Ludwick hit a two-run home run, the ball deflecting off left fielder Scott Hairston's glove. Hairston said he might have caught the ball, but a fan reached down with his glove and banged Hairston's glove.

Peavy Headed to the DL

Peavy to go on DL with ailing elbow; no timetable for return

By Tom Krasovic

UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

11:11 p.m. May 19, 2008

His ulnar collateral ligament is undamaged, according to the Padres, but ace Jake Peavy will go on the disabled list Tuesday because of an elbow ailment that Peavy said has stubbornly resisted powerful anti-inflammatory medicine.

Manager Bud Black said the club has no timetable for Peavy's return.

"Hopefully," Peavy said Monday night, "this will be a short stint. Best-case scenario, maybe I miss a few starts."

A hiatus of at least six weeks could be more like it, based on Peavy's other stay on the DL, a six-week term in 2004 because of a tendon strain near his elbow. Peavy said this ailment is closer to the ligament than the 2004 ailment was. "That is a concern," he said.

Peavy, who has said his elbow has been ailing him since late April, Monday underwent an MRI exam that Black said revealed a "structurally sound" ligament.

"The ligament looks fine, so that's good," Black said.

The unanimous winner of the National League's Cy Young Award in 2007, Peavy got off to a fast start this season, winning his first three decisions. But he began to labor after the elbow started to pain him, the first significant elbow pain he has experienced, he said Monday night, since 2004.

The pitcher, who is 4-3 with a 2.91 ERA, said trainers worked on him between innings to alleviate discomfort in the elbow.

Pitching coach Darren Balsley said Peavy's delivery is "sound" and "good" but that the wear and tear from pitching is virtually unavoidable. "It's tough to throw 200 innings year after year and not come up sore," Balsley said.

Balsley said Peavy "has the quickest arm I've seen in awhile" but is able to coordinate his efforts. "When his left foot hits, he's in a good position to throw the baseball," he said.

Reliever Joe Thatcher will replace Peavy on the 25-man roster, Black said.

Trade considerations

Pitcher Greg Maddux's consent would be needed if the Padres tried to trade him, per the $10 million, one-year contract the club and Maddux agreed to last offseason.

If the Padres traded right fielder Brian Giles, he would get an assignment bonus of $2 million separate from his $9 million salary. Giles also is guaranteed an additional $4 million in November if his $9 million option for 2009 isn't picked up.

When considering a player's trade value, the Padres also take into account the player's ability to bring them a draft pick or two by retaining him through the season and then losing him to free agency. Compensatory picks are attractive to CEO Sandy Alderson, who, in attempting to strengthen a farm system that ranked among the majors' worst when he arrived in 2005, acquired 11 compensatory draft picks from 2006 through '08.

Current players eligible for free agency in November include Giles, Maddux, pitchers Randy Wolf and Shawn Estes, catcher Michael Barrett and pinch-hitter Tony Clark. Second baseman Tadahito Iguchi also can be a free agent, but according to the Padres, they wouldn't get a compensatory pick for him.

Notes

Black said Barrett will not come off the DL before next week.

Cardinals Triple-A third baseman David Freese, the minor leaguer who the Padres traded for Jim Edmonds, is batting .261 with four home runs and 38 strikeouts in 134 at-bats.

More later .......Keep the faith
Play Ball !!

Trouble .....

Well Friar Faithful, I do my best to homer-up or get over emotional, etc........but this season is seriously on the verge of flat lining. This team can't hit, and the bullpen continues to give up leads late in games. Now you can blame the offense all you'd like, but if they get your a lead going into the 7th or 8th, and you can't hold it.......well time to point the finger where it belongs.......squarely on the bullpen !! This weekend the Padres lost 2 of 3 in Seattle, and blew leads in the two losses, one in the 7th when Cla Meredith gave up the game winning HR, and the other in the 8th when Heath Bell couldn't shut the door.

Now comes news that Jake Peavy was sent to San Diego for an MRI on his elbow that is causing him discomfort. THAT'S all this team needs is for it's staff ace, and face guy to have problems. But again lets not get over emotional until we know for sure what's going on.

So stay tuned and I'll also be bringing farm updates and letting you know when our next Elsinore trip is going to be.

Play Ball !!

Padres take game 2 of 4 vs the Cubs

Padres win 4-3

Shawn Estes made his comeback complete with his first start since April 2007 when he went down with an arm strain in the middle of a very solid outting. Asking if he's still a question mark is a massive understatement, but he did well to force many to hold that question a little longer. Estes went 5 1/3 innings, scattering 7 hits, and allowing 2 ER vs. a very very powerful Cubs lineup. As if that wasn't enough Estes got it done at the plate going 1-2 with a solid single to the OF.
To top it all off, this was Shawn Estes 100th career victory........CONGRATS go out this night.

After the Cubs jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, Khalil Greene tied the game by notching his 3rd HR of the year. He had 2 hits on the day and was seriously flashing the leather in the field.

If you've watched the Padres play over the last few years, then you know there are days when it feels like Khalil Greene takes over and carries the team on both sides of the ball.......well today felt like one of those days. I don't know about the rest of you Friar Faithful, but I could use quite a few more of those days....

Meredith came in to relieve Estes, and went 1 2/3 slamming the door shut in his 2 innings of work.

Bell came in to close down the 8th by striking out 2

Hoffman came in.....the bells sounded........2 guys K'd.......and Trevor notched Save #7/531

Other notables from this game:

Edgar Gonzalez continues to impress during his first ML callup. Today he got his first ML start at 3rd base, and had 2 more hits.

Luke Carlin is also having a great first ML callup. He also had another hit, and looks extremely confident and capable behind the dish. He's a career MiLB back up catcher, so he knows his role. Could it be that he's found a home as the Padres future back up catcher ? Time will tell ....

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
San Diego	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	0		4	10	1
Chi Cubs	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		3	7	0

San Diego	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Gerut, CF	5	0	1	1	0	2	2	.200
Iguchi, 2B	5	0	0	0	0	0	1	.255
Giles, RF	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	.266
Gonzalez, A, 1B	4	1	1	0	0	0	1	.296
Hairston, LF	4	1	1	0	0	1	0	.230
Greene, SS	4	1	2	3	0	1	0	.218
Gonzalez, Ed, 3B	4	0	2	0	0	0	1	.500
Carlin, C	3	0	1	0	1	0	1	.222
Estes, P	2	1	1	0	0	0	2	.333
Meredith, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Bell, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
a-Clark, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.214
Hoffman, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Totals	36	4	10	4	1	4	8

Play Ball !!

Padres blownout in game 1 with Cubs

Padres drop opener 12-3

Padres are starting a road trip with a 4 game series in Chicago. As luck would have it a rainout a couple days ago pushed back the Zambrano start to today. Lucky us we didn't miss him...whooo hoooo.......

The Cubs took the lead early, but the Padres tied it in the 3rd, and then took the lead of a Jody Gerut HR in the 5th and things looked great for our boys. This feeling was short lived as the woes continued on the mound, and the Cubs dropped a 6 spot on them in the bottom of the 5th.....

.....and the flood gates shall open.......

In the 6th it didn't get any better as the bullpen & defense rolled over and gave up 5 more runs.
In the 7th the Padres got 1 back on Edgar Gonzalez's first ML hit and rbi, and that along with the Jody Gerut Tape Measure shot will end up the only two things to take away from this game. Those two were recent call ups from Portland to fill huge holes in this roster, and already they are producing dividends.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
San Diego	0	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	0		3	10	1
Chi Cubs	1	0	0	0	6	5	0	0	X		12	13	0

San Diego	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Gerut, CF	3	1	2	1	2	0	0	.200
Iguchi, 2B	5	0	1	1	0	1	5	.264
Giles, RF	3	0	0	0	0	0	2	.266
McAnulty, RF	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.217
Gonzalez, A, 1B	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	.297
Kouzmanoff, 3B	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	.273
Germano, P	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.375
Greene, SS	4	0	1	0	0	2	2	.210
Hairston, LF	4	1	2	0	0	1	2	.229
Bard, C	4	0	1	0	0	0	2	.205
Wolf, P	2	1	0	0	0	1	1	.111
Henn, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Gonzalez, Ed, 3B	2	0	1	1	0	1	2	.500
Totals	36	3	10	3	2	6	17

Lets hope the boys have something to say about the way they were treated today.....

Play Ball !!

Padres take 2 of 3 from the Rockies

Padres Changes

On Friday the Padres officially made some moves in an attempt to stimulate the offense, and regain some defense in specific positions. Jody Gerut was called up from Portland to take over CF duties for Jim Edmonds who was dumped after not performing anywhere near expected. Jody Gerut was the runner up to ROY in the AL a few years ago, and has been battling knee injuries since. He torched the Mexican winter leagues, was blowing up AAA and can play all 3 OF spots.

Shawn Estes was brought up to take over either a bullpen role or the #5 starting role. This was first given to Will Ledezma, however sources are suggesting that Estes is going to see a start this week when that #5 spot in the rotation comes around. Estes is 35, coming off surgery, nobody including him knows how much he's got left in the tank, but prior to his injury last year he was having a great start. Yes 1 start last year before he got hurt.......so don't go too insane that we have a veteran lefty in the #5 spot quite yet. He's hoping to find that groove once again so that he knows he still belongs.

Utility IF/OFer Callix Crabbe was released, after showing a lack of leather while playing in the field. He was showing signs of being able to hit, but bad luck was his copilot and everything he hit hard seemed to be hit right at someone. He was a rule 5 p/u from Milwaukee and was sent down to AAA, and Edgar Gonzalez (Adrian's older brother) was given his dream shot. Edgar was lighting up AAA and is pretty versatile on the IF, as well as being able to run quite well. The Padres are trying to work out a trade with Mil. right now in order to keep Crabbe in Portland.

Luke Carlin was also promoted from Portland, and will see his first big league time during the Maddux start. His promotion was to replace the demotion of Colt Morton who was struggling both on offense and behind the plate. Luke brings a very well rounded solid game as a back up type catcher. It's entirely possible that he'll find his calling in just that capacity, as a career back up player on this team.

As a result, or not, of this roster changes the Padres took 2 of 3 from division rival Colorado in Petco this weekend. After dropping game 1, and blowing another great Jake Peavy start, the team got behind Greg Maddux and delivered win #350 in convincing fashion.

Game 1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Colorado	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	1	0		4	11	0
San Diego	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1		2	4	1

Game 2	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Colorado	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0		2	5	0
San Diego	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	X		3	5	1

Game 3	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Colorado	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0		1	5	0
San Diego	0	0	0	0	1	3	1	1	X		6	11	0

Play Ball !!!