Padres are smoked in first two games with Dodgers

That's all I wanna say on this subject...... well that at MY GOD MANNY RAMIREZ OWNS US !!!


Ok I'm done.......


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Padres sweep Nats, and likely their chances at Strasburg

Padres complete sweep with a 6-2 win

Well the Padres entered this series with the Nationals tied with them in the race for Strasburg ( or the 1st overall pick), and proceeded to sweep the hapless Nats, and likely their chances of obtaining the top pick at the same time. The Seattle Mariners have thrown away the season it appears, and might have secured the worst record in MLB with a poor showing vs. the Royals. Meanwhile the Padres are now looking at the 3rd overall pick, and that could likely mean no Strasburg. There is always the possibility that he'll fall in the draft a spot or two, this all depends on whether or not other teams feel they can sign him or afford him. Seattle shouldn't have a problem doing either, but they might be looking to target a position player and not a pitcher. Doubtful, but possible.

Meanwhile through all the badness of 2008 AGon continued his onslaught with the bat, and quietly posted one of the best seasons of any Padres 1bman in the history of the franchise. With a week left in the season, he's still got a chance to climb even higher on those lists as well. At season end I'll give a run down on exactly what he's accomplsihsed, but so far he's hit 35 HR's and has 116 RBI, on a dismal team making it all the more impressive.

Final week of baseball coming up everyone, then it's what hopefully will be one of the most active and best offseasons for this team in recent memory.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
San Diego	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	0		6	8	1
Washington	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0		2	8	1

PLAY BALL !!!

Warning........warning........warning......hijinx in full swing

Want to play Major League Baseball ? Want to be a Sept. call up ? Welcome to the 2008 San Diego Padres Rookie's.

Not sure what else to say about this so I don't think I'll say anything at all.........

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Padres take game 1 from the Rocks

Padres win 11-5

Wade LeBlanc had another solid if not good outting making only one big mistake to Troy Tulowitski in the 4th inning giving up a Grand Slam Homerun, but that was the only scoring he allowed. He went 6ip, scattered 7 hits, 4er, and K'd 6.

Wade had a shaky debut, but has really settled down to pitch very well in his last two. He's a changeup artist that constantly keeps hitters off balance by locating a few different types of changeups all over the zone. He tops out around 88-89 and sits around 86-88 so it's very important for him to be able to locate his pitches. He's one of the young arms that will be bidding for a rotation spot in 2009.

Matt Antonelli had a decent day at the plate, notching his first ML HR. The converted 3rd baseman was the nations #1 2nd base prospect last year, but fell a bit off the radar as Portland proved a tough adjustment for him. He did however make that adjustment and during his last month there prior to call up he hit around .300 and was driving the ball well. The Padres have high hopes for Matt's development, and that he has a chance to be a very special player and contributor to the future of the ballclub. He will have a chance to earn a starting role out of spring in 2009, but a trip back to Portland to polish up his skillset could be more beneficial in the long run.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
San Diego	2	0	6	1	0	0	1	0	1		11	18	0
Colorado	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	1	0		5	10	0

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What the 1st overall pick in the 2009 draft might get

With the Padres 2008 season a near complete loss, it's time to start focusing on how to salvage as much as possible from this year, and put all efforts to improving things for years to come. The worst part about discussing things like this is that many frown upon this type of talk as taboo, suggesting things like giving up, and that you never try to lose. I fully understand that view point, but in this persons opinion it's all perspective. I prefer to see this as ultimately trying to win more. It's tough to say out loud, but at this stage, the very best thing that could happen to our boys is that they lose come in dead last in MLB. The very last place team earns the right to the 1st overall pick in the MLB draft, and don't fret Padre fans, remember this isn't the same FO as it was back when Matt Bush was drafted with this pick.
There is a specific kid that is likely going to be snatched up with that #1 pick, and his name is Stephen Strasburg. He's a big, strong, power pitching righty out of SDSU.........yup in our own backyard under Tony Gwynn's instruct. This year he was the only collegiate player to make the trip to China and play in the Olympics.......By the time the games were over, everyone in the baseball world knew exactly who this flamethrower was. This guy is so advanced already that it's conceiveable that he'll spend less than 2 full seasons on the farm before he's brought up. This of course could be wishful thinking on my part, but I think he's that good. So here is the write up on this guy......read.......enjoy.......drool along with us.........

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Strasburg, Stephen
Position: RHP
Bats/Throws: R/R
Ht/Wt: 6′5/215
Born: 7/20/1988
School: San Diego State

2008 Stats:
NCAA: 8-1, 1.57 ERA, 97 IP, 16 BB, 133 K
USA Baseball (Collegiate): 3-0, 1.06 ERA, 34 IP, 16 H, 6 BB, 48 K
USA Baseball (Olympic): 1-1, 2.45 ERA, 11 IP, 7 H, 1 BB, 16 K

Summary:
Strasburg is the most hyped player in the country heading into 2009. Already thought of as the top pitcher in college, Strasburg recorded 23 strikeouts while throwing a one hitter against Utah on April 11.

“I’ve seen a lot of baseball,” said SDSU coach Tony Gwynn. “I have never seen anything like that.”

Strasburg throws his fastball in the upper 90’s and has been reported as high as 100. He also throws a plus plus slider and an effective changeup. He changes speeds well and moves the ball around the strikezone. Strasburg’s delivery is smooth and easy.

He was the closer for San Diego State in 2007.

Quotes:
U.S. Olympics Team manger Davey Johnson on Strasburg- He’s a power pitcher. He is in the high 90’s and he throws strikes. That is kind of a rarity for even Triple-A-type guys. Here’s a guy who pounds the strike zone awfully good and he was lights out in the tournament. He is one of my starters.”

Honors/Achievements:
2008 USA Baseball Olympic Team
2008 USA Baseball National (Collegiate) Team
2008 NCBWA District Player of the Year
2008 Louisville Slugger All-American Team
2008 MWC Pitcher of the Year
2007 Lousville Slugger Freshman All-American
2007 Mountain West co-freshman of the year

Padres behind Baek beat up the Dodgers

Padres win 4-0

Cha Seung Baek had his best start of the year, maybe his pro career yesterday, and completely shutdown the Dodgers. He went 7 strong going giving up 3 hits and 2 walks shutting out the Dodgers. Bell came in to toss a perfect inning, and handed the ball to Mike Adams who gave up 1 hit, but finished off the team to the north to preserve the shutout.

AGon went deep to LF for his 29th of the year and also notched his 99th RBI of the season. Kouz had an RBI single to LF, but was caught drifting off 1st when Manny Rameriz's weak throw didn't make it to home.

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

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CY close but no cigar

Padres win 10-1

Chris Young was perfect through 8, but was unable to complete the historic mission of the first pitcher in franchise history to toss a Perfecto when Gabe Kapler took him deep to end it. He did however record his first complete game of the season and the Padres went on to stomp the Brew Crew in convincing fashion taking 2-3 from Milwaukee.

Despite fielding what is essentially a team made up of AAA and a few AA guys, the Padres are playing some of their best baseball this year. Chase Headley and Kevin Kouzmanoff both went deep, while the core& imediate future players like Kouzmanoff, Gonzalez, Venable, Headley, Hundley, and Kazmar all had RBI. While this season may be lost as far as playoffs go, it is refreshing to see the kids that have been called up continue to contribute. This at least shows that the future is bright, and that it's close to arriving.

Continued success by our kids will do two things........give fans something to look forward to seeing next year, and up their potential trade value should the team decide to move someone in an effort to better the team in another area.

Kouzmanoff seems to always be the guy on the block, mainly due to the franchise having Chase Headley to fall back on. If he's moved, Chase would slide into 3rd, allowing for Venable (maybe) to take over the LF duties next year. Having Venable in LF and Jody Gerut in CF would make for a very very athletic duo that could cover a great deal of ground out there. So the question remains this.......If he's (Kouz) is moved, what do you try to get back in return ? A Shortstop to replace Khalil Greene ? A starting pitcher ? What ? So the speculation is running crazy among the fandome as to what the FO might do.

Whatever they do decide I sure hope they get back quality in return on this deal and we're not duped or fleeced by some GM.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
San Diego	0	0	5	0	1	0	4	0	0		10	14	0
Milwaukee	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0		1	2	2

Play Ball !!