I had the privilege to attend the Chargers home opener vs. the Jaguars on Sunday. They absolutely crushed them, 38-13.  PR and the offense racked up yards and points. But, as good as the offense was, the defense was even better. They shut down the Jag offense. They forced 6 turnovers. They got good reads, and they made things happen.

Here is a slideshow of the best of my photos. Jags at Bolts 9-19-10 Slideshow

The Philadelphia Phillies are optimistic their perplexing slump is finally over after scoring more than three runs for the first time in two weeks.

It's been even longer since they put together a three-game winning streak, something they can achieve Sunday as they go for an eighth straight victory over the visiting San Diego Padres.

Philadelphia's powerful lineup led the NL in runs last year, but several of the club's biggest bats have been all but silent during a recent drought.

Before Saturday, the Phillies (30-24) had gone 12 straight games without scoring more than three runs, totaling 17 and batting .197 while going 3-9.

However, they followed Friday night's 3-2 win over the Padres with a 6-2 victory Saturday, sparked by Jayson Werth's first home run since May 21. Werth had gone 5 for 35 (.143) in his previous 11 games.

"That looked pretty good," manager Charlie Manuel said. "We definitely swung the bats better, hit some balls hard. Yeah, we've been waiting to get a lead. It's been a long time since we've had a four-run lead.

"Ryan Howard had two hits and two RBIs while Chase Utley added an RBI single, matching his RBI total from his previous 13 contests.

"It's a long season and you go through ups and downs," Werth said. "We hit a bump in the road but no one in here was too worried.

"The Phillies now try to win three in a row for the first time since a four-game streak from May 14-17.

The Padres (32-23) haven't lost three straight since getting swept by the Dodgers from May 14-16, and they haven't dropped three consecutive road games all season. But they've lost seven consecutive meetings with Philadelphia and four in a row at Citizens Bank Park.

Kevin Correia (5-4, 4.55 ERA) started one of those games, allowing eight runs in 3 1/3 innings of a 9-4 loss July 23. He has a 7.71 ERA in 10 appearances -- three starts -- against the Phillies. The top six hitters in Philadelphia's lineup during this series are a combined 18 for 39 with four homers and five doubles against Correia.

While he takes the mound coming off his first victory in five starts, Correia also tries to bounce back from what may have been his worst outing of 2010.

The right-hander allowed six runs in six innings Monday against the Mets, but was bailed out by his offense in an 18-6 win.

"I threw four innings really well, and then they started scoring some runs, so I was like, 'Why waste a good outing today?'" Correia told the Padres' official website. "When we're going to score so many runs, we might as well save (a better start) for a day where I'm not going to get so many runs.

"The Phillies counter with Joe Blanton, who has been dealing with his own struggles.Blanton (1-4, 5.68) has allowed at least five runs in three of his last four starts, giving up six -- four earned -- in six innings of a 9-3 loss at Atlanta on Monday.

"It just seems that everything that can go wrong does," Blanton said.

Randy Smith says that Dominican Prospect, 16 year old Duanel Jones is worth waiting after he serves his suspension.

'What does Smith like about Jones?

"He's 6-foot-3, 195 pounds and has a great build, broad shoulders, he almost looks like a young [Adrian] Beltre at third base," Smith said. "He has good bat speed with plus-power potential, a plus arm and good agility for his size. I like the makeup, too. He's one of the premium offensive guys over there.

"He's pretty advanced as far as his approach."


Prospect Jones clears final paperwork

The Giants signed the 16 year old  in December 2009. He then failed a drug test.

Giants sign Jones

He will serve his suspension and then start playing. I hope he is truly worth all the fuss.

I just sent this to Channel4sd PADRES.

RE: Comment about the Channel4sd PADRES Giants at Padres telecast of May 18, 2010.

I have observed increasing disturbing lack of impartiality of all things Padres vs. their opponent occurring during Channel4sd Padres telecasts over this season so far. Channel4sd is less and less about the Padres and more and more MLB overall. The broadcast of May 18 proved this to be true.

I will lead off with some background. I am a Padres fan first, baseball fan second. I have season tickets to the Padres games. I watch the Padres on TV a lot as well. I have put up with Dick Enberg's "Touch Em All" when a player FROM THE OTHER TEAM hits a home run off a Padres pitcher all this season. I HATE IT, but I have tolerated it. I have also put up with his impartiality, misidentifying players, making calls incorrectly, babbling incoherently, etc., ad nauseum. I have a lot of patience.

I have put up with Channel4sd Padres being impartial at times. I dislike it, but have persevered.

On May 18, I had attended the game and was already upset that my Padres had lost. Later, after watching DVR of the Channel4sd PADRES gamecast, I felt compelled to write.

First, the score is 2-2, top 8. Giants are up. Padres’ reliever Mike Adams is pitching. Aaron Rowand at first. No outs. Andres Torres hits a late-inning, game-tying home run off Adams. "TOUCH EM ALL", Enberg shouts. I could not believe it. I could not wrap my mind around hearing Enberg yell that after the Padres’ Adams had just gave up the tying runs in a late-inning tight game. I was out of my mind, screaming at the television.

As you know, our Padres go on to lose the game.

Second, and I KNOW this is a Channel4sd Padres thing, during the Postgame Show, when the opposing team wins, the choices for Player of the Game are all from that team. So, of course, the choices are ALL Giants. Gag, spew, vomit, but there it is. Andres Torres is choice #3.

Thirdly, and this is the I CAN'T BELIEVE IT moment, Channel4sd PADRES, in all its divine brilliance, at the end of the game, sends Mark Neely down to the field to interview the Giants’ Andres Torres. Yes, the same opposing player that hit the TYING HOME RUN off Padres reliever Adams. I lost it.

Finally, to add insult to injury, Andres Torres won Player of the Game. I know Channel4sd Padres had nothing to do with the voting for this.

The broadcast of May 18th had so much Giants adoration in it, I wasn’t sure if I was watching the Padres or the Giants’ telecast. This increased impartiality is annoying at least, distressing at most.

Thank you for your time in advance.

Sincerely, Very Displeased Padres Fan