The Greatest of All Time still going strong

sdgaucho — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:16:59 -0000

The Greatest of All Time still going strong

Wasn't Miller Park supposed to be a "reality check"? Oh wait, he's given up a couple of long fly outs. Yep, he's done.

Padres on MLB Network 30 Clubs in 30 Days

sdgaucho — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:36:24 -0000

Padres on MLB Network 30 Clubs in 30 Days

I've found this to be an enjoyable series. The Pads will get their look on Saturday at 8:30pm our time. It's likely to be pretty grim tidings, but MLB Network does its homework on every club, so unlike a lot of major media outlets, it will at least hopefully be an informed discussion. I'm interested in seeing their all-time Padres lineup, and their greatest Padres moment. My guess is it will be Garvey's homer. And if nothing else, we'll get to see the beautiful Hazel Mae talking Padres baseball.

Moneyball: The Movie

sdgaucho — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:37:38 -0000

Moneyball: The Movie

Not sure how you get a movie out of this, but hopefully it's more fun to watch than the teams built on the concept.

My Trevor Hoffman Tribute Video

sdgaucho — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:16:29 -0000

I've been sitting on this for a while, clinging to the faint hope that something would get worked out and Trevor would be back. Obviously, that is not going to happen. I made this back when I posted my over-wrought "Goodbye Trevor" FanPost. Of course, this had to happen. Nothing lasts forever. I can't argue with anyone that cites his declining skills and stats. But I will miss the man. He was the last link to Tony, the last link to 1998. It would have been nice to say goodbye. That's what gets me the most, I would like to have said goodbye. I would like to have known that the last time I heard Hell's Bells would be the last time I heard Hell's Bells. But I'm not going to take shots at anyone this time. Not Alderson, not the Trevor-haters. That's all done. This is about paying tribute to a singular athlete and a special human being. I'm glad someone wanted him and I'm glad Trevor cleaned up in his last major league contract. I hope GLB will be well respresented at Petco on Friday, July 31st when the Brewers come into town.

The pictures are mainly from various sources on the internet, with a few of my own sprinkled in. There are also a couple from another Gaslamp Baller whose name I don't remember (sorry!). Music by R.E.M.

Enjoy.

Goodbye Trevor

sdgaucho — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:15:29 -0000

So the Padres said goodbye to one of their icons, and I guess they believe they are a better team for it. Credit to them for thinking with their brains and not their hearts. I'm glad they have a better understanding of dollars and cents and WHIP and ERA than I do, because my overly sentimental take on the situation is that our franchise was lessened yesterday. Not just because Trevor is leaving. It was bound to happen, one way or another. Legends move on. They have their numbers retired, become statues, get enshrined. But apparently Trevor's service to this organization, his records, his hard work, his consistency, his contributions to city of San Diego, didn't add up to a sit down with ownership to tell him he wasn't going to be a part of this road to nowhere that the San Diego Padres have become. THAT is was hurt our franchise. The Two Stooges couldn't even look him in the eye. They leave it to KT to face the wolves. (I don't believe for a second that KT's input was even considered in this decision. Trev signed his last deal, turning down more money and more years, partly out of loyalty to Towers. No way he wanted Trevor's exit handled like this.) Trevor has always spoken his mind, much to a lot of people's chagrin. The Stooges knew that if they sat down with him and tried to give him the same BS song and dance they are trying to sell us, he would destroy them. So better to whisk him out the door. After all, it's a business. Got to think with your brain, not your heart.

TO HELL WITH THAT!!!

This is a time to think with your heart. What happens if you bring Trevor back with the kind of deal he was looking for? You give fans a reason to come out and watch your otherwise sorry ball club. You give a franchise legend the chance to pursue an unprecedented milestone in the uniform he became a Hall of Famer in. You pay back the loyalty he has shown you time and again. You give your young players access to his mind and exposure to his professionalism. And what does it cost you? A little more than you wanted to pay. SO WHAT? Where are you putting that money instead? Does giving Trevor what he wanted prevent you from signing that big free agent that's going to turn your team into a contender? Don't make me laugh. Does it impede the rebuilding process? Not hardly. This wasn't a Randy Myers-like, hold the team back for years type of deal. Baseball is a business, right? The quest for 600 would have moved jerseys, shirts, bobbleheads, not to mention tickets and all the specialty commemorative garbage they would have slapped together to take advantage of it. And, oh yeah, it would have given our young players the chance to quietly develop and improve, with Trevor there to take some of the focus away from the won-loss record. Tony Gwynn was a broken old man in 2001, and something was worked out. His last season was a pinch-hitting farewell tour, which contributed little to the team, on paper. But dammit, he was Tony Gwynn. He improved your team just by sitting on your bench, and he was an institution. YOU WORK SOMETHING OUT. But I guess I'm forgetting that Sandy Alderson wasn't part of the organization back then. Do we even want to think about how that would have been handled if he had been? The sun is setting on Trevor, but he still contributed more to the Padres in his last year than Mr. Padre did in his. He will contribute on the field to whoever picks him up for this season and maybe the next.

I do not feel sorry for Trevor Hoffman. He is a millionaire playing a child's game. He will be fine. I feel sorry for myself and for us. I have seen my last Trevor Time. AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT WAS MY LAST ONE AT THE TIME. I didn't get to say goodbye, and that is unforgivable. And to top it off, his exit was handled so badly, it has jeopardized his future with the organization after his playing days are over. He wanted to tie himself to the Padres for the foreseeable future, but Sandy just couldn't have that. Now we are looking at an Ozzie Smith situation, where Trevor may not want to come back for any kind of Trevor Hoffman Day or jersey retirement, or anything as long as the current administration is still in charge. I mean, we hope Trevor is bigger than that, but I won't blame him for being bitter if he holds a grudge. Tony Gwynn's last game was an emotional experience and one of my personal highlights as a Padre fan. I shook his hand. I said thank you and goodbye. And he looked me in the eye and thanked me back. DAMN YOU ALDERSON, I WANTED TO SAY GOODBYE!!

But we don't get any of that, because, you see, that's just too sentimental. Baseball is a hard business, and I can't see past my emotion to what is truly best for the team. Kicking an icon to the curb, while at the same time saying "We'll we made an offer." That's what's best for the team. The San Diego Padres got a lot better yesterday, apparently. The front office really improved the ball club. I must just be too emotional to see it.

Baseball has always been about feel for me. I don't get wrapped up in all the excruciating minutia of geek ass stats and I hate the money aspect of the game. I love going to the ball park to hear the pop of the glove and the crack of the bat. I love going to the ball park to see the occasional player that captures my heart and my imagination. We've lost one of those players, and I feel terrible about it. My heart is hurting and my brain tells me that my team has gone from being bad to being forgettable. And I feel that that's a whole lot worse.

My personal top Trevor moments (witnessed in person):

Trevor closes down Qualcomm: The team lost, but seeing Trevor back after a season long rehab was a great way to say goodbye to the Q.

Trevor returns as closer to open Petco: Yeah, he blew the save, but after his career was in jeopardy, it was great to see him with the ball in the ninth to open the new park.

Trevor saves Game 3 of 1998 NLDS: This was by far the craziest, loudest Trevor Time I ever witnessed. Trevor struck out the side.

Trevor closes out the 1998 NLDS: It wasn't a save situation, but Trevor was on the mound to clinch the Padres first playoff series win since 1984.

Trevor saves Game 3 of 1998 NLCS: At this point I knew we were going to the World Series. Trevor struck out the side.

Trevor ties Lee Smith: 478 came against the Pirates in a packed Petco down the stretch of a pennant race, when we needed every game.

500: It was only fitting that it came against the Dodgers. The first ever to 500.

#1 - Trevor passes Lee Smith: It came to preserve a 2-1 win in a game the Padres had to have down the stretch of the 2006 divisional race. And it proved statistically what we already knew to be true: Trevor Hoffman is the greatest closer of all time.

Goodbye, Trevor. Thanks for the memories.

Adrian wins Gold Glove

sdgaucho — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:55:40 -0000

Adrian wins Gold Glove

Well deserved.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Peavy

sdgaucho — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:03:20 -0000

Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Peavy

Just another perspective, nothing Earth shattering.

Peavy would waive clause to join Astros

sdgaucho — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:47:39 -0000

Peavy would waive clause to join Astros

His manlove for Oswalt is a factor.

You guys will hate this article

sdgaucho — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:02:18 -0000

You guys will hate this article

Someone says some good things about some of our guys. Sorry.

Older arms who may come back or not

sdgaucho — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:05:58 -0000

Older arms who may come back or not

This Crasnick piece contains nothing we didn't already know about Trevor. But it surprised me that he has Mad Dog's chances of returning for another season so low.

SB Nation User Blog: sdgaucho

The Greatest of All Time still going strong

Padres on MLB Network 30 Clubs in 30 Days

Moneyball: The Movie

My Trevor Hoffman Tribute Video

Goodbye Trevor

Adrian wins Gold Glove

Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Peavy

Peavy would waive clause to join Astros

You guys will hate this article

Older arms who may come back or not