SB Nation - Drew Macias

Padres Anagrams

jbox — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:29:12 -0000

Dex was just showing me this website that figures out an anagram for your name. I decided to do it for each of the Padres. Surprisingly in some cases the anagram actually describes the person. It's remarkable!

NAME	ANAGRAM
Jeff Moorad	MAJOR OF FED
Tom Garfinkel	GNATLIKE FORM
Kevin Towers	I'VE NETWORKS
Paul DePodesta	UP PLEASED TOAD
Grady Fuson	FURY GONADS
Bud Black	BALD BUCK
Heath Bell	HELL! BATHE
Greg Burke	KRUGER BEG
Kevin Correia	CROAKIER VEIN
Sean Gallagher	HAS LARGE ANGEL
Luke Gregerson	OK GREENER SLUG
Mat Latos	AM TOTALS
Wade LeBlanc	CLEAN BAWLED
Edward Mujica	DRAW MAD JUICE
Luis Perdomo	I'M PROUD LOSE
Aaron Poreda	POOR AND AREA
Cesar Ramos	OR MASSACRE
Clayton Richard	A CONTRARY CHILD
Adam Russell	SMALL AS RUDE
Tim Stauffer	MATURE STIFF
Joe Thatcher	HA! REJECT HOT
Ryan Webb	BRAWN BYE
Eliezer Alfonzo	RAZZLE OF ONE LIE
Henry Blanco	LYNCH ON BEAR
Nick Hundley	UNKINDLY CHE
Everth Cabrera	BRAVER CHEATER
David Eckstein	KINDEST ADVICE
Adrian Gonzalez	DAZZLING ON AREA
Edgar Gonzalez	NAG DAZZLE OGRE
Kevin Kouzmanoff	KNAVE FUNK IF ZOOM
Luis Rodriguez	GURU IDOLIZERS
Oscar Salazar	ALAS! CZAR OR AS
Anthony Gwynn Junior	JOY! NOW HURTING NANNY
Chase Headley	ELSE HEADACHY
Drew Macias	A WEIRD SCAM
Will Venable	WELL! EVIL BAN
Gaslamp Ball	SMALL BAG PAL

Padres Hold Off Dodgers To Win Series

Eric Stephen — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:56:35 -0000

by Jae C. Hong - AP

Despite the loss, it was good to see Hiroki Kuroda back on the hill for the Dodgers

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The Dodgers got the matchup they wanted in the end, but an early deficit proved too large to overcome, as the Padres withheld the rallying Dodgers to win 4-3, and capture the three-game series at Dodger Stadium.

Down by one with one out in the ninth inning, a Rafael Furcal walk brought Jim Thome to the plate with a chance to do some damage. The Dodger Stadium crowd of 47, 528 was very excited, and nearly everybody was on their feet to watch the Dodgers' prized new power hitter come off the bench. Thome drove a 3-1 pitch to left field, but it was merely a can of corn for Drew Macias.

No matter, since "Endre" Ethier came up with two outs, representing the winning run, in a spot in which he has excelled all season. A seven-pitch at-bat provided the drama, but not the result, as Ethier also flied out to Macias, to end the game.

Hiroki Kuroda wasn't quite as sharp as usual, which is to be expected after nearly three weeks away, with just one minor league rehabilitation start. Kuroda walked three batters tonight, only the third time he has done so in 16 starts this season. Manager Joe Torre chalked it up to rust:

I thought his stuff was good, but he might have just been a little bit rusty as far as command. The home run by Gonzalez, he tried to throw in one place and it wound up in another. That stuff, when you're pitching on a regular basis, doesn't happen. Overall, I thought he looked very comfortable competing tonight, which I think we're all looking for. I was very satisfied with the way he came through it.

Jeff Weaver relieved Kuroda, throwing two shutout innings. Weaver has allowed just two runs over his last 17.2 innings, striking out 16 batters over that span.

Kevin Kouzmanoff drove in the first three Padre runs of the game, and had five of the eight San Diego runs batted in during the weekend series. Adrian Gonzalez added a solo home run in the fifth inning, his 24th road homer of the year, best in baseball.

The Dodgers cut the lead to 4-3 with a seventh inning rally, highlighted by a two-run opposite field double by Andre Ethier against lefty Joe Thatcher. It was a big hit for Ethier, considering his struggles against southpaws this season, hitting .189/.273/.336. Ethier's double was his 38th of the season, matching his career high, set last season.

The Dodgers have lost four straight Sunday home games, and eight of their last nine home Sundays. The lone win was against the Astros, when Matt Kemp homered in the eighth inning and scored all four Dodger runs in their 4-3 win. I have covered the last seven Sunday home games (Webkinz galore for me!), and will cover the final two as well, so hopefully their luck will change.

Besides the sting of the loss, Jim Thome was limping after his pinch hitting appearance. The extent of the injury is not yet known, but it appears to be something with Thome's foot. "I think its something that he has that he may have just irritated," Torre said. "Hopefully that's all it is."

The Dodgers head to Arizona tonight, and have an early start tomorrow on Labor Day. Vicente Padilla battles Max Scherzer tomorrow at 12:40pm.

WP - Tim Stauffer (4-6): 6.2 IP, 7 hits, 3 runs (1 earned), 1 walk, 3 strikeouts

LP - Hiroki Kuroda (5-6): 5 IP, 4 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 3 walks, 3 strikeouts

Sv - Heath Bell (35): 1 IP, 1 walk, 1 strikeout

Box Score

Washington Nationals Drop 5th-Straight, 4-1 To San Diego Padres. Clayton Richard = Balker.

Ed Chigliak — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 07:57:33 -0000

by Lenny Ignelzi - AP

3 months ago: Washington Nationals' Josh Willingham makes the running catch in the left field corner on a ball hit by San Diego Padres Will Venable that saved a run and ended the the fifth inning in a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

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Nationals Drop 5th-Straight, 4-1 to Padres.

Who here thinks Clayton Richard's pickoff move is a balk? MASN announcer Rob Dibble got out his MLB Rule Book last night to argue his point, and I'm pretty sure Elijah Dukes thinks it was a balk that resulted in his getting picked off first late in Tuesday's loss, but while you're asking Dukes about that, ask him where he was going when the Padres' starter picked him off first following a one-out walk in the seventh with the Nationals trailing 2-0 to San Diego. As luck would have it, one pitch after Dukes was caught leaning, Josh Bard ripped into a hanging slider and launched his 4th HR of '09 to left field for a solo shot that should have tied it. Instead, it's a 2-1 Padres' lead. DC starter J.D. Martin, who'd allowed just 2 runs, 1 earned through six, comes back out for the seventh after the Bard blast and throws a first-pitch slider to pinch hitter Oscar Salazar that goes out to left and just over the scoreboard Salazar collided with last night while robbing Willie Harris of extra bases. Salazar's HR makes it 3-1 Padres, and San Diego adds another run in the eighth when Washington right-hander Tyler Clippard gives up two two-out walks and an RBI single to Drew Macias to make it 4-1 Padres after eight and nine.

The Nationals lose their fifth straight, seventh of their last eight, and they're now 3-12 in their last 15...

Padres win, 4-1 final.

Miss The Game? The DC Faithful Were Watching?

Check Out The SB Nation's San Diego Padres Blog: Gaslamp Ball GameThread. (No one's watching the Padres either).

BACKPAGE:

• J.D. Martin Gets The DC Starter Treatment.

• E: 118.

• Hammer, Dunn, Horrible.

For The Completists, Full Game Report After The JUMP...

Nationals now 46-87. (Countdown To 100 Losses Stands At...13)

BACKPAGE:

• J.D. Martin Gets The DC Starter Treatment.

J.D Martin throws 104 pitches, 63 strikes to 27 batters, who ground out 7 times, fly out 6 times, strike out 5 times and collect 5 hits, 3 walks and 2 ER off Martin over 6.0 innings on the mound...Padres' lefty Clayton Richard, (W, 8-4), one of four pitchers San Diego got back in the Jake Peavy trade, tosses 96 pitches, 63 for strikes, and holds the Nationals off the board until Josh Bard's 7th-inning HR. That's the only run Richard allows, as he completes 6.2 IP, and surrenders just 4 hits through sixth, and, as mentioned, one in the seventh.

• E: 118.

The Padres scored a run in the second when Kevin Kouzmanoff and Will Venable connected on back-to-back hits off the Nationals' starter. Martin held San Diego to one run through the fourth, but the bottom of the fifth started with Everth Cabrera dropping a bunt in front of the mound. J.D. Martin got to the ball but bobbled it and couldn't even get off a throw to first. That's Martin's 3rd error of '09 and the Nationals' league-leading 118th. OUTCOME: Everth Cabrera scores two batters later on a sac fly by Kouzmanoff. E = Winning run.

• Hammer, Dunn, Horrible.

Let's just say, Adam Dunn, 0 for 3 with a walk and a K. Josh Willingham? 0 for 4, with 4, count'em, 4 K's. Justin Maxwell's 0 for 3 with a walk in his return to the major league lineup. Ryan Zimmerman (1 for 4) has 1 of the Nationals' 4 hits, Elijah Dukes (1 for 3, 1 BB), Alberto Gonzalez, (1 for 4), and, of course, Josh Bard (1 for 3, 1 HR) have the others. The Nationals have just 3 runs combined in their last 3 games, 2-1, 3-1 and 4-1 losses...Who's going to finally get the offense started again?

GAME REPORT:

Washington Nationals At San Diego Padres Game 133 Of 162.

Justin Maxwell leads off with a fly ball to San Diego right fielder Will Venable for the first out of the game. Alberto Gonzalez lines one off the pitcher’s backside and right to the second baseman David Eckstein. DC Hitting Coach Rick Eckstein’s brother catches the third out off Ryan Zimmerman’s bat and Clayton Richard has one scoreless...Everth Cabrera grounds out to Pete Orr at second. J.D. Martin throws a high two-strike fastball by David Eckstein. Adrian Gonzalez grounds out to second.

Adam Dunn grounds into the dramatic shift. Clayton Richard throws a fastball by Josh Willingham for a swinging K. Elijah Dukes grounds to short, slow over the grass, and Everth Cabrera rushes and throws it over first. Dukes takes second. Josh Bard ends the second with a groundout to short...Kevin Kouzmanoff bounces a long fly off the center field wall, and has to step on it to make it to second ahead of Maxwell’s throw. Will Venable lines a single to right to score Kouzmanoff, and Venable takes second on Elijah Dukes’ errant throw. 1-0 San Diego. Chase Hundley grounds out to move Venable to third. Nick Hundley goes down swinging at a full count slider. J.D. Martin walks Tony Gwynn, Jr. and gets a weak grounder from the opposing pitcher to end the second.

Clayton Richard breaks Pete Orr’s bat in half and gets a weak grounder to the mound. J.D. Martin K’s swinging. Justin Maxwell grounds sharply to second to end a quick third...Everth Cabrera gets a two-strike curve for a swinging strike three. David Eckstein grounds out to Adam Dunn. Two-out walk to Adrian Gonzalez, to bring up Kouzmanoff. Kouzmanoff flies to right on a full-count fastball, 1-0 Padres after three.

Alberto Gonzalez lines to short, Everth Cabrera drops it, but picks up and throws to first in time. Ryan Zimmerman doubles to right center and off the wall. Adam Dunn takes a one-out walk. Josh Willingham lifts his arms like he’s Kearns as he takes strike three on a fastball inside. Elijah Dukes grounds into a force at second...Will Venable gets the big bender from J.D. Martin for strike three swinging. Chase Hundley K’s swinging through a high fastball. Ryan Zimmerman makes a diving play to his backhand, but Hundley’s safe at first when Zim can’t come up with it for the throw to first.. Martin walks Tony Gwynn, Jr. with two down. Martin gets the pitcher again.

Josh Bard and Pete Orr strike out swinging and Clayton Richard gets a groundout from J.D. Martin to end his fifth scoreless...J.D. Martin fumbles the bunt from Everth Cabrera and the Padres have a leadoff runner on. Eckstein bunts his way on too, after J.D. Martin blows another. Adam Dunn makes a diving play on a grounder from Adrian Gonzalez. Kevin Kouzmanoff flies out to right to score Cabrera from third. 2-0 Padres. Willingham breaks for the corner and catches the third out off Will Venable’s bat.

Justin Maxwell flies out to center to start the sixth. Alberto Gonzalez lines to left field for a one-out single. Will Venable makes a diving catch to rob Ryan Zimmerman and he almost doubles up Alberto Gonzalez off first. Adam Dunn grounds weakly to second to end the top of the sixth...J.D. Martin vs Chase Headley. Justin Maxwell hustles to get in under a fly ball to center, one down. Nick Hundley flies out to center, and Tony Gwynn, Jr. just a little more to the right, Maxwell gets to them all.

Clayton Richard busts Josh Willingham inside with a two-strike curve. Elijah Dukes uses his Discernning Eye to draw a one-out walk. Josh Bard’s up, and Dukes gets picked on a balk. Seriously, it was a balk. Josh Bard destroys a low fastball, deeeep to left and GONE!! Solo HR, 2-1 Padres. Willie Harris gets a pinch hit appearance against Adam Russell. Harris lines out to right to end the top of the seventh...Oscar Salazar hits a solo shot to left and over the scoreboard wall. 3-1 Padres. Sean Burnett comes on for J.D. Martin. Everth Cabrera K’s swinging. David Eckstein tests Burnett’s glove with a liner to the mound. Burnett walks Adrian Gonzalez. Jason Bergmann comes on to face Kouzmanoff, who lines out to end the seventh.

Cristian Guzman hits against Luke Gregorson in the eighth. Guzman grounds out. Justin Maxwell walks and takes second on a groundout by Alberto Gonzalez. Ryan Zimmerman shoots a line drive to center and Tony Gwynn, Jr. robs him with a sliding catch to end DC’s eighth...Tyler Clippard vs Will Venable. Venable K’s when he can’t hold up. Chase Headley chases strike three out of the zone. Nick Hundley takes a two-out walk. Tony Gwynn, Jr. walks and Drew Macias doubles in a run 4-1 Padres. Everth Cabrera flies out to end the eighth.

Heath Bell vs Dunn, Hammer and Dukes in the ninth. Adam Dunn K’s swinging through a fastball outside. Heath Bell drops a full-count curve on Josh Wiilingham to get a backwards K. Elijah Dukes grounds out to third, Kouzmanoff’s throw ends it....

Nationals now 46-87.

San Diego Padres, Baffled By Rain, Drop 13-1 Decision To the Washington Nationals.

Ed Chigliak — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 06:38:32 -0000

More photos » by Evan Vucci - AP

5 months ago: Washington Nationals' Adam Dunn watches his grand slam leave the park against the San Diego Padres in the second inning of a baseball game on Saturday, July 25, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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It all went right tonight, except for the weather and the K's. The Washington Nationals scored 13 runs on 16 hits, with two home runs, one each by Ryan Zimmer--THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! and Adam D---SHAKE N BAKE!!! SHAKE N BAKE!!! Ryan Zimmerman went deep in the first for his 17th HR, and the 2-run blast gave DC an early 2-0 lead over San Diego and their right-handed starter Tim Stauffer.

There was a three-hour and eleven minute rain delay in the bottom of the second, but the Nationals came back ready to play. Padres' right-hander Luis Perdomo took over on the mound and got Ronnie Belliard and Wil Nieves swinging to start the home-half of the frame. But then the Padres' 25-year-old right-hander walked Washington starter J.D. Martin, who was left in so DC didn't burn a player coming out of the delay. Nyjer Morgan singled Martin over to third, and the pitcher/walk scored on Cristian Guzman's RBI single. 3-0 DC. Ryan Zimmerman walked to bring up the Big Donkey, Adam Du---SHAKE N BAKE!! SHAKE N BAKE!! GRAND SLAM!!! 7-0 Nationals on Adam Dunn's 4-run blast to straight center...The Nationals scored six more, and after five hours and twenty-two minutes, they improved to 29-68 on the season with the 13-1 win.

Nationals win, 13-1.

Miss The Game? The DC Faithful Were Watching...

Check Out the SBN's Padres blog's GameThread...Gaslamp Ball

BACKPAGE:

K's, Hits and Runs.

Tyler Clippard Night At Nationals Park...

Doghouse: Game 97 TSF Rating.

For The Completists, Full Game Report After The JUMP...

Nationals now 29-68.

BACKPAGE: (under construction)...

• K's, Hits and Runs.

Of the 43 Nationals who stepped to the plate tonight in DC's Nationals Park, only 6 would ground out and just 3 would fly out. The Padres' pitchers, five of them total, collected 15 K's, (K-Leaders: Wil Nieves - 4, Nick Johnson -3, Ronnie Belliard -2), but they also gave up 16 H and 13 runs, every one of them earned, including the two Ryan Zimmerman (3 for 4, 3 RBI's) knocked in with his 17th HR and the four Adam Dunn (2 for 3, 5 RBI's) scored with his Grand Slam, which was his 25th HR of '09. Cristian Guzman goes 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored, Nyjer Morgan 4 for 5 with a triple and 3 singles, leaving the top four hitters in DC's lineup a combined 12 for 17 with 11 runs scored and 9 RBI's.

• Tyler Clippard Night At Nationals Park...

After the three-hour delay, DC starter J.D. Martin walked and scored a run in the Nationals' second, and was out for Nationals' reliever Tyler Clippard, who proceeded to pitch 4.0 scoreless over which he allowed just 1 hit and 1 walk while collecting 7 K's. Clippard ended his outing with a 1.93 ERA, 24 K's and his first win of the season, and he's now allowed 5 runs (4 earned), 11 hits and 8 walks in 18.2 IP in '09. The Nationals' 24-year-old reliever was called up in the last week of June after he'd gone (4-1) with 42 K's and an 0.92 ERA in 24 games and 39.0 IP with the Nationals' Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse. After allowing 3 hits and 2 ER in his first '09 appearance with DC, Clippard's given up just 2 earned runs in 16.2 IP.

• Doghouse: Game 97 TSF™ Rating.

GAME REPORT:

San Diego Padres At Washington Nationals. Game 97 Of 162.

Tony Gwynn, Jr flies out to Adam Dunn in left for the first out of the evening. D.C. right-hander J.D. Martin gives up a long fly to right to Everth Cabrera and it falls in against the wall for a one-out double. Nick Johnson trots to first to force out Adrian Gonzalez as Cabrera takes third. Kevin Kouzmanoff grounds to short, and J.D. Martin’s got a scoreless frame...Nyjer Morgan bounces one off the out-of-town scoreboard and takes an ill-advised turn around second, but he ends up safe when the relay bounces by Kouzmanoff. Cristian Guzman grounds to short...and Morgan’s caught in a rundown too far off third and tagged. Ryan Zimmerm....THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!!! Two-run HR to the red seats in the outfield. 2-0 Nationals. Adam Dunn beats the shift with a single through second. Nick Johnson chases a two-strike change off the plate. Josh Willingham flies out to Chase Headley in left to end the first.

Cristian Guzman’s standing near second in the shift and Chase Headley’s grounder supports the numbers. Nick Johnson fields and steps on first to retire Drew Macias. Luis Rodriguez takes a one-out walk from J.D. Martin. Ronnie Belliard can’t knock down a grounder from Jose Lobaton, so Rodriguez takes third...Three hours and ten minutes later, the opposing pitcher grounds out to end the top of the second...Padres’ righty Luis Perdomo is on the hill, when we come back...Ronnie Belliard and Wil Nieves both K swinging, but J.D. Martin works a two-out walk. Nyjer Morgan singles up the middle to move J.D. Martin from first to third. Cristian Guzman sends a slow chopper toward second, Everth Cabrera throws to first, late, Guzman beats it, Martin scores, 3-0 Nationals. Ryan Zimmerman walks to load the bases for Adam Dunn. Dunn takes a fastball to deeeeeeeeeeeeeeep center and GONE!! SHAKE N BAKE!! SHAKE N BAKE!!! SHAKE N BAKE!!!! 7-0 Nationals. Nick Johnson has a Discerning Eye, and he uses it to draw a two-out walk. Josh Willingham K’s swinging to finally end the second.

Tyler Clippard gets a fly ball to right from Tony Gwynn,Jr. Everth Cabrera singles deep in the hole at short, beating Guzman’s throw. Adrian Gonzalez takes strike three, but Clippard gets squeezed on a 1-2 fastball inside and eventually walks Gonzalez. Tyler Clippard throws a two-strike fastball by Kevin Kouzmanoff, who guessed wrong. Chase Headley flies out to Adam Dunn in left to end the top of the third...Ronnie Belliard grounds out on the first pitch he sees from Perdomo. Wil Nieves K’s swinging at some at a fastball inside and Perdomo gets Clippard swinging to end the third.

Clippard drops a two-strike bender on Drew Macias, who K’s swinging. Luis Rodriguez flies out to Adam Dunn in left. Jose Lobaton swings through a full-count fastball upstairs and Clippard’s through two scoreless...Nyjer Morgan makes Perdomo rush the throw on a swinging bunt, and Morgan takes second when the throw to first bounces. Cristian Guzman K’s swinging, which does no good at all. Ryan Zimmerman flies out to deep right, Drew Macias makes the catch. Adam Dunn gets called out looking a fastball that might have been outside.

Oscar Salazar gets a pinch hit opportunity in the fifth. Clippard throws a 94 mph fastball right by him for a swinging strike three. Clippard drops a 1-2 curve in on a befuddled Tony Gwynn. Everth Cabrera flies to center and Nyjer Morgan sprints in to make a catch at his waist...Right-hander Mike Ekstrom gets Nick Johnson swinging over a slider for the first out of the Nationals’ half. Josh Willingham hits the out-of-town scoreboard on one hop for a double with one down. Ronnie Belliard works the count full and walks. Wil Nieves K’s chasing junk out of the zone. Tyler Clippard gets a little of his own medicine as he K’s swinging through a fastball.

Tyler Clippard throws a two-strike fastball by Adrian Gonzalez. Kevin Kouzmanoff pops out behind second. Headley K’s and Clippard’s through the top of the sixth...Nyjer Morgan lines a single to left to start the DC sixth. Guzman singles off Ekstrom to put two on in front of Ryan Zimmerman. Zim doubles to right, Morgan scores, 8-0 Nationals. Guzman takes third on Zim’s double and scores on Dunn’s sac fly. 9-0. Willingham singles, Zim scores, 10-0. Ronnie Belliard gets a new pitcher, Joe Thatcher, who comes on for Ekstrom. Belliard K’s when he can’t hold up on a slider outside.

Logan Kensing starts the seventh inning at just after 12:19 pm EST. Drew Macias draws a leadoff walk. Luis Rodriguez gets one to the warning track in center where Nyjer Morgan makes the grab. Jose Lobaton grounds to second, Anderson Hernandez to Guzman to Nick Johnson at first, double play!...Padres’ left-hander Joe Thatcher’s back. Wil Nieves K’s swinging over a nasty curve. Austin Kearns grounds out to Luis Rodriguez at second. Nyjer Morgan K’s chasing a curve that breaks away and under his bat.

Joe Beimel gets pinch hitter Will Venable swinging. Tony Gwynn, Jr.’s sharp grounder hops on and gets by Nick Johnson for a one-out single. Everth Cabrera lines to right, Gwynn moves to second, 1 down, 2 on for Kyle Blanks. Ryan Zimmerman fields Banks’ grounder and steps on third for the force. Kevin Kouzmanoff lines a single to left and Cabrera scores to make it 10-1 DC. Eliezer Alfonzo grounds back to the mound to end the top of the frame...Cristian Guzman lines a single to center off Edward Mujica. Ryan Zimmerman goes the other way with a single, Guzman to second, and each of them move up a base when Anderson Hernandez singles. Nick Johnson lines a trademark single to right to score two and make it 12-1 Nationals. Willie Harris grounds into a force at second that scores Anderson Hernandez, 13-1 Nationals. Alberto Gonzalez grounds to short, Everth Cabrera to Luis Rodriguez to Adrian Gonzalez, double play.

Mike MacDougal on. Alberto Gonzalez catches a pop out Drew Macias. Luis Rodriguez grounds out to short and Jose Lobaton flies out to finally end the game. 5 hours after it started...13-1 final.

Nationals now 29-68.

Kevin Towers is no longer commenting on trade rumors or speculation

jbox — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:35:20 -0000

XX Sports Radio: Kevin Towers Interview (MP3) by Darren Smith

The reason the Padres have been successful recently is because they've been getting really good pitching. The bullpen is also finally getting settled. Mujica and Gregerson have shown they can pitch in the 8th. Thatcher may force the opposing manager to make a line up change.
Towers thinks that Eckstein is the Padres MVP.
"When he's up there I always think something good is going to happen. I think it was the first squeeze play that we've executed in the 14 years that I've been here".
You can hit and run with him, squeeze with him and have him lay bunts down.
"Buddy has done a nice job with what he's had to work with." Black has been able to be a little bit more creative.
Towers doesn't think things would be done any different if Sandy Alderson was still here.
Drew Macias has been playing well but Cliff Floyd will likely replace him. Macias still has options available.
"I wish there was a way to keep him up here, I'm a big Drew Macias fan."
Floyd will be a good power presence.
Venable and Blanks will be moved up in September when the roster expands at the latest. Venable is certainly ready, Blanks has only played 10 games in the outfield. When asked what will happen to Chase Headley and Brian Giles, Towers responds: "We'll have to wait and see how we play over the next few months"
Towers isn't going to get into rumors or comment on the Peavy trade possibility. "I'm always open for business". Towers can't answer the question if it's a matter of when or a matter of if he'll be traded. "If the right deal presents itself we'll pull the trigger, if it doesn't we won't." Towers says that you work on the deal with the other club and then go to the player for approval. Once you get the player involved it undoubtly becomes public. Towers did not go to Peavy before the possible trade was worked out. Peavy's advisor was aware of the trade. "It did not come from us, it did not come from the Padres."
Asked if he would have preferred sending Peavy to the Cubs in the off season. "There was never a deal in place with the Cubs."
Towers gets a little worked up when Darren Smith asks him about trade rumors about the Cubs and Kevin Kouzmanoff. (Towers raises his voice, but he's not yelling like capital letters might suggest)

"I AM NOT COMMENTING ON TRADE RUMORS OR TRADE SPECULATION. END OF IT! NO MORE! IT MAKES NO SENSE! It's not good for the fans , it's not good for the players. If anything ever comes out, I guarantee it won't come from the Padres."

Walking To A Sweep: Cubs 11, Padres 3

Al — Thu, 14 May 2009 22:33:01 -0000

More photos » by Nam Y Huh - AP

Bobby Scales, this is your moment. Revel in it.

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I told BCB reader dat cub fan daver, who joined us in the bleachers for today's 11-3 Cubs blowout of the Padres, that "now you have to come back every day!"

It was that kind of day, as the Cubs swept a really bad Padres team and won their fourth in a row. Walks did most of the damage, as the Cubs drew four straight walks in the fifth inning and five that inning in all, sending eleven men to the plate and scoring six runs on only three hits. One of the hits was a two-run double by Bobby Scales, who sent another ball to the wall in the sixth. He drove in four runs in all and is hitting .444 in his brief major league career. He has now hit in all six games in which he's played, the longest streak by a Cub to start a career since Jerome Walton hit in his first seven games in 1989.

This isn't to say that Scales could win a Rookie of the Year award like Walton did (and we'd hope his career doesn't end as poorly as Jerome's), but this is a wonderful story. You already know the details of Bobby's 11-year minor league odyssey and the fact that he's only still in the majors due to the injury to Aramis Ramirez. If he keeps playing like this in A-Ram's absence, the Cubs will have some choices to make when Aramis returns. Not only is Scales playing well, but his positive attitude has to be rubbing off on his teammates. What a terrific story he is; you can't help but root for him, as I think everyone loves underdogs who succeed.

It wasn't just Scales today; Kosuke Fukudome also had two hits, as did Aaron Miles and Reed Johnson, and the Cubs drew ten walks off ex-Cub Chad Gaudin and three relievers (finally, Bud Black sent closer Heath Bell to the mound, and he didn't walk anyone). It was a close game till the fifth inning, with yet another Adrian Gonzalez homer tying the game at one in the fourth. This one made Sheffield (yes, this time for sure), although it probably wouldn't have on any other day. Today, the wind was blowing out to RF at a higher reported speed (16 MPH) than last night, but perhaps due to the lower humidity, the balls weren't carrying as much as they were last night. Gonzalez, who is now leading the major leagues with 14 homers, had the only dinger today.

On a beautiful, sunny, mid-60's afternoon, the kind we just don't get enough of in mid-May in Chicago, Ryan Dempster's pitching was as gorgeous as the weather. He had command of all his pitches, walked only two, and allowed just two hits apart from Gonzalez's homer. He won his third game of the year and lowered his ERA to 4.65 (still not great, but a third of a run cut off the 4.98 he entered the game with). Dempster also had two hits, including a sixth-inning RBI double that nearly wound up in the left-field seats. Jose Ascanio threw the last two innings, and apart from one mistake which Drew Macias deposited in the right-field bleachers, pitched well. He also had his first major league at-bat in the bottom of the eighth, which resulted, as you might imagine from a relief pitcher, in a strikeout.

My dad, who is 87 years old and in town this weekend, hadn't been to a Cubs game in probably 20 years, since I last brought him to the bleachers. He bought Jessica's tickets and enjoyed himself. I told him that he, too, needed to come back tomorrow, with the big win.

Leftover oddity from last night's game: San Diego's Duaner Sanchez (who got pounded today) had been announced to pitch the bottom of the 8th for the Padres, since their previous pitcher, Luke Gregerson, was removed for a pinch hitter in the top of the inning. Sanchez never threw a pitch because of the rain, but he is credited with an appearance.

Finally, I want to add my disgust over MLB's handling of the Milton Bradley suspension appeal. While the suspension was reduced to one game, the Cubs weren't notified until after today's game was already in progress; since Bradley was sitting on a scheduled day off today, he will have to serve the suspension tomorrow and miss the opener against Houston. I thought that in the case of the incidental contact made, that any suspension at all was not justified and probably made on Bradley's reputation rather than on the specific incident. To not eliminate the suspension is a slap in the face to the Cubs and Bradley. Fortunately, others have stepped up during the time Milton has been off, and Reed Johnson had a nice day today with two hits, so he can play CF again tomorrow vs. the Astros while Kosuke Fukudome, also hot, can play another game in RF. The Brewers beat the Marlins again today, so they are temporarily in first place, half a game ahead of the Cubs, who are currently tied with the Cardinals and Reds, pending the outcome of the Reds/Diamondbacks game tonight.

Onward to tomorrow and let's keep it going against the Astros (Astros, again?).

With the Astros coming to town, Rox hope to finally blast off

Poseidon's Fist — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:00:16 -0000

The Rockies are 9-13 against the NL West and 2-4 against the NL East. They do not, however, having a losing record against the NL Central. Yeah yeah...that's a weak statement, being that they are 1-1 vs the Cubs in their only Central series so far. But Houston is coming to town, and I'm grasping at straws for positives regarding a team that has won just 2 of 11 series so far.

Colorado can thank Houston for giving them company in the NL West cellar. Houston finished off a sweep over the Padres Sunday with a season-high 12 runs on a season-high 16 hits. That sweep dropped Padres into a three-way tie with the Rockies and D-Backs until Arizona lost again last night. The teams split the season series last year at 3-3, with each team winning their home series two games to one.

This offseason, the 'Stros added Pudge Rodriguez, Russ Ortiz, Mike Hampton, and Jeff Keppinger and lost Randy Wolf, Brad Ausmus, Ty Wigginton.

Houston Astros (14-17, W3, 5th, 5.5 GB)

Tuesday-Thursday : 3-game series at Coors Field

Houston has had to battle some unplanned ineffectiveness. All-Star first baseman Lance Berkman in not only hurt - he has not played since Thursday with a wrist injury - but he is hitting below the Mendoza line. Quite the contrast from last year's torrid start. The Astros' lineup has three .300+ hitters, but it's not enough to make up for deficiences elsewhere. Houston grades out just a hair above San Diego and Pittsburgh for 23rd in wOBA.

LINEUP	Avg	HR	RBI
Kazuo Matsui	.255	1	12
Michael Bourn	.287	1	9
Lance Berkman	.184	7	16
Carlos Lee	.333	6	26
Hunter Pence	.310	4	13
Miguel Tejada	.313	2	16
Ivan Rodriguez	.273	4	14
Geoff Blum	.253	0	6

The normally steady rotation has only one member below 4.50 ERA, and his name is not Roy Oswalt. After toiling at the back of the rotation for four years, Wandy Rodriguez has catapulted to become one of the top five starting pitchers in the league thus far. The rest of the rotation has been uneasy, but with Wandy, the Astros grade out as an average staff at 16th in MLB in ERA.

The Astros don't look to be in contention this year, but via Jon Heyman, they will not trade Roy Oswalt or Lance Berkman due to "personal feelings for them plus the Astros' recent history of strong finishes." Some writers do want to trade Lee and Valverde though.

Probable Pitchers:

Tonight, 6:40 pm MDT

	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
2009 - Felipe Paulino	1-2	5.23	1.89	17	10

Manager Cecil Cooper pulled Russ Ortiz from this scheduled start and replaced him with rookie Felipe Paulino. A combination of poor starts by Ortiz and horrndous bullpen appearances by Paulino led to the switch. Paulino's 4-run 0.2 IP appearance Thursday apparently did it. He has been scored upon in five of six appearances this year, three starts and three relief appearances. His bullpen ERA is 21.00 this year against just 2.55 in his starts. He'll throw a mid-90's fastball but uses a mid-80's slider frequently.

	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
2009 - Ubaldo Jimenez	2-4	5.45	1.61	30	20

After stringing three straight horrible starts, Ubaldo rebounded with two very good ones...against a terrible Giants offense. Still, it appears he has found his control (3 BB in his last 14 IP), which is nearly always his greatest downfall. That will serve him well against an aggressive lineup overall.

Wednesday, May 13, 8:05 MDT

	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
2009 - Mike Hampton	1-3	4.91	1.55	26	15

He needs no introduction. The worst free agent signing in franchise history returns to Coors Field for the first time in over five years, back when Jeromy Burnitz was the Rockies' CF. His last win at Coors Field was in August 2003, when he beat Chin Hui Tsao despite serving up 11 hits. Hampton is 2-0 with a 2.88 ERA against Colorado since he was traded to Florida. Since returning from injury last year, Hampton no longer throws a slider but does use a cutter quite often.

	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
2009 - Jason Marquis	4-2	3.92	1.21	19	12

Marquis is stuck in a pattern. He started the year with two fantastic starts followed by a dud against a terrible offense. He promptly repeated the same cycle again. I guess that means we're in for two more great starts from Jason.

Thursday, May 14, 1:10 MDT

	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
2009 - Wandy Rodriguez	3-2	1.80	1.04	37	15

Wandy Rodriguez is quietly having one of the best season's of any NL hurler. He is 3rd in ERA, 13th in K's, 3rd in Quality Start %age, 5th in BAA against, and 6th in WHIP. There's really nothing more to say. He's having a career year. Let's mess it up.

	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
2009 - Jason Hammel	0-1	5.40	1.80	12	8

Jason Hammel has had two very bad outings and one very good one since being giving a starting spot. Given that his one good start was against the Giants at AT&T, he needs to pitch well, or we might be seeing a callup from the Springs to take his place.

Theoretically, this is a very winnable series. The Rockies have the better offense, what would seem to be the upper hand for pitching matchups, the home advantage , and the possibility of not seeing Roy Oswalt or Lance Berkman.

Carlos Lee (.538/.600/.808) has been ridiculous over the past week. Ivan Rodriguez (.370/.400/.741) and Miguel Tejada (.367/.375/.700) may be old, but they are still hot stuff right now.

Geoff Blum (.063/.200.063) has done practically nothing in his past 7 games, but Jeff Keppinger (.200/.304/.250), Michael Bourn (.240/.321/.320), and Darin Erstad (.188/.235/.375) have kept him company in Suckville.

Brandon Backe, Doug Brocail and Jose Valverde are all on the 15-day DL. Valverde's injury has thrust former Rockie Latroy Hawkins into the closer role. Aaron Boone is on the 60 day DL after having open heart surgery six weeks ago.

NL West Report after the jump.

NL West Report

Arizona (13-20, 5th, L1, 9 GB)

Last Week: 0-2 @ Dodgers, 1-1 @ Padres, 1-2 vs Nationals, 0-1 vs Reds

This Week: Finish 2 games of 3 game series vs Reds, 3 game series @ Braves

News: Big news, obviously was the firing of 2007 Manager of the Year Bob Melvin. He was replaced by AJ Hinch, whose contract runs through 2012. Arizona responded by losing three straight 1-run games. Pitching coach Brian Price resigned due to reservations for working for Hinch. The Diamondbacks' season has been especially rough with Brandon Webb injured. Bob Melvin bid a classy farewell to the organization Friday.

Josh Whitesell

#29 / First Base / Arizona Diamondbacks

Height: 6-3

Weight: 225

Bats: L

Throws: L

Born: Apr 14, 1982

Josh Whitesell is finally getting his reward. With Tony Clark on the DL, the D-Backs called up Whitesell to be the starting first baseman, relegating Chad Tracy to the bench. Tracy is hitting just .209 and does not have a hit in May.

Tonight they face former D-Back pitcher Micah Owings for the first time since the Adam Dunn trade. Owings hit a 9th inning, 2-out, game-tying home run against the Cards Sunday.

Arizona Diamondbacks Injuries

15-Day

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Tom Gordon	hamstring	05/04/2009
Yusmeiro Petit	shoulder	05/09/2009
Tony Clark	other-excused	05/06/2009
Brandon Webb	shoulder	04/07/2009

Los Angeles (22-11, 1st, L1)

Last Week: 2-0 vs D-Backs, 1-1 vs Nationals, 1-2 vs Giants. LA was 3-0 last week until news came out of Manny Ramirez' suspension. They promptly lost a home game vs the Nats, blowing a 6-0 by giving up 10 runs in the final 3 innings. That was their first home loss of the season, and they followed it up with their first home series loss vs. the Giants. Coincidence?

This Week: 3 game series @ Phillies, 3 game series @ Marlins. Maybe a change of scenery from Joe Torre's press conference will help the blue.

News: Obviously, the big news is Manny Ramirez taking women's fertility drugs. Or more accurately, his 50-game suspension. His statement:

Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue. He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was okay to give me. Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy. Under the policy that mistake is now my responsibility. I have been advised not to say anything more for now. I do want to say one other thing; I've taken and passed about 15 drug tests over the past five seasons.

Manny Ramirez

#99 / Left Field / Los Angeles Dodgers

Height: 6-0

Weight: 200

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: May 30, 1972

The suspension frees up payroll, but since the contract is deferred, the Dodgers will save $2.7million this year, and $1.37million the following three. LA may choose to invest that money in more pitching. No need to go into this more...except to point out they are 1-3 without Manny so far, all four games at home after going 13-0 to start the year at Dodgers Stadium.

Juan Pierre now gets the chance he wanted to start, though Joe Torre has hit him 9th.

Los Angeles Dodgers Injuries

15-Day

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Hong-Chih Kuo	elbow	04/30/2009
Jason Schmidt	shoulder	03/30/2009
Hiroki Kuroda	oblique	04/07/2009

60 Day DL / Out for the season

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Doug Mientkiewicz	shoulder	04/17/2009
Claudio Vargas	elbow	04/05/2009

San Diego (13-19, t-3rd, L3, 8.5 GB)

Last Week: 1-1 vs Rockies, 1-1 vs D-Backs, 0-3 @ Astros. San Diego has lost 4 of 5 and 10 of 12.

This Week: 3 game series @ Cubs, 3 game series vs Reds. Jake Peavy pitches twice this week, so GM Kevin Towers has the opportunity to see his ace's trade value go up.

News: Cha Seung Baek re-injured his elbow in a rehab start Sunday.

Cha Seung Baek

#53 / Pitcher / San Diego Padres

Height: 6-4

Weight: 225

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: May 29, 1980

The Pads recalled OF Drew Macias from AAA and optioned LHP Arturo Lopez. Lopez made his MLB debut against the Rockies last week and failed to retire any of the four hitters he faced.

An interesting and terrifying thought: with the money saved from Manny Ramirez' suspension, can the Dodgers now afford to trade for Jake Peavy?

San Diego Padres Injuries

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
David Eckstein	ribs	05/12/2009

15-Day

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Shawn Hill	elbow	04/26/2009
Walter Silva	forearm	04/14/2009

60 Day DL / Out for the season

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Mark Worrell	elbow	03/27/2009
Mike Adams	shoulder	03/27/2009
Everth Cabrera	hand	04/20/2009

San Francisco (17-14, 2nd, W2, 4 GB)

Last Week: 1-1 @ Cubs, 1-1 @ Rockies, 2-1 @ Dodgers, 1-0 vs Nationals. The Giants pulled out an above .500 week despite being on the road the whole time, including going to Dodger Stadium. Frisco is 4-1 since the Manny suspension. Hmm...

This Week: Finish two game of a 3 game series vs Nationals, 4 game series vs. Mets. A nice reward of being home after a strong week last week.

News: With Buster Posey on the fast track to the big leagues, the Giants may not feel inclined to re-sign Bengie Molina this offseason.

Buster Posey

#28 / Catcher / San Francisco Giants

Height: 6-2

Weight: 195

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Mar 27, 1987

3B Pablo Sandoval can also play third base. Molina talks about his future with Andrew Baggarly. Posey could be playing games at AT&T park as early as next season, even though his has yet to play at AA.

McCovey Chronicles was giddy at the Giants' chances to catch the Dodgers after Manny's suspension, and after disposing of them on the road over the weekend, they should be.

Eric Seidman at FanGraphs discusses Barry Zito's success this season.

If the popup rate regresses towards the levels of the last two seasons, though, do not expect this success to continue.

Still, he notes "there is no reason he could not be one of the best fourth starters in baseball." If only that's what Brian Sabean was paying him for.

San Francisco Giants Injuries

15-Day

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Noah Lowry	shoulder	03/27/2009
Andres Torres	hamstring	04/28/2009
Sergio Romo	elbow	03/27/2009
Joe Martinez	concussion	04/10/2009

Poll

How optimistic are you for this series?

Extremely - We're going to seriously beat some Astros!

19 votes

Mildly - I think we will win the series, but I'm protecting my heart from being broken

37 votes

Not very - I fear that even with paltry Houston, we have a problem.

23 votes

Not at all - Wake me up when September ends and this torturish season is over

7 votes

86 votes | Poll has closed

Padres rookies photographed dressed as Hooters girls in bizarre hazing ritual

jbox — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 04:23:06 -0000

(AP Photo/The Denver Post, John Leyba)

NC Times:

Sixteen Padres rookies and first-year personnel wore Hooters Girls outfits on the team's flight from Denver to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday night. RHP Trevor Hoffman was scouring the media guide to find players with less than one year of service time ---- the requirement for not wearing the get-up. This was the second time OF Chase Headley and OF Drew Macias had to participate in the rookie flight

One year of service? That's got to be the majority of the team. With the rookies outnumbering the veterans, they should turn the tables and haze them.

Giles must be so upset that none of these guys are tanning. These kids now a days just don't seem to learn from veterans leading by example.

Can you help me put names to these glorious bodies? That's Nick Hundley Luke Carlin up front and from there I'm lost in a sea of tan lines and bulges. Makes me hungry for some wings.

[Note by jbox, 09/18/08 9:48 PM PDT ]

Fox Colorado via Gaslamp Baller Mrs. Huber

Denver Post via Gaslamp Baller C8lin and Sports by Brooks

Here's more pictures of rookie hazing from past years

Poll

Padres dressed as Hooters Girls: Hot or Not?

Hot

1274 votes

Not

2202 votes

3476 votes | Poll has closed