The Morning After
by Dex on Oct 2, 2007 8:09 AM PDT
in News
56 comments
You know what I think summed it up for me last night? Not necessarily the fact that the close play at home went the other team's way. What got to me was the fact that Bud Black wasn't sprinting out of the dugout to argue the close play at home. It just seems a little indicative of the fact that deep down inside, everybody knew that something else was working against the Padres. Call it a curse. Call it a lack of faith. There was something else working against us and it was palpable and it would not be satisfied until we were eliminated.
I won't take anything away from the Rockies (though I'm pretty sure Matt Holliday is on performance enhancers). Their comeback was incredible. I'm not so quick to blame individual players on the Padres. I think everybody played hard and did what they could. Even Sledge. I feel bad that everybody on the team feels so bad. In his locker room interview, I thought Trevor Hoffman was about to cry as he put all the blame on himself.
It's just that these last couple of months have felt like things have been working for the Rockies and the Diamondbacks and very much against the Padres. The home plate call in the 13th just being the cherry on top of the rest of it. I don't understand why baseball doesn't implement some form of replay. I've never heard a good argument against replay. It seems like plenty of calls can be clarified within 10 seconds of looking at a slow motion replay. But I digress.
I woke up three or four times last night having dozed and dreamt about the Padres. It replayed in my head over and over. Once or twice, I dreamt that the game hadn't started and I was settling in to enjoy it. This morning I woke up feeling down and didn't remember why for a few seconds.
The Padres will improve again next season. This team was better than last year's team and that team was better than the team before. The improvements that we could make are incremental. I'll still take Milton Bradley as my left fielder. I'll take Jake Peavy as my ace. A Cy Young under his belt and another year older will have positive effects on him. He'll learn how to harness his skills even further, which will make him extra scary good. I don't know that I really meant it last night when I said that Trevor should retire. I want him to end on a high note when he decides to call it quits.
Anyways. I'll stop right there. I don't have a whole lot else to say and I'm rambling. I know that the other teams that didn't make it also feel similar losses, so as Padres fans, it's not a unique feeling. Heck. At least we weren't the Mets. And on top of that, we eliminated the Brewers and they eliminated us. Tit for tat. And the Dodgers didn't make it either. Ha. Dodgers.
Plenty of stuff out there about our boys. I'll find some links a little later. It was some kinda season, wasn't it?
0 recs |
56 comments
Email
Print
Comments
As a Padres fan
Agreed that it seems we could have been up by five runs, and it wouldn't have mattered. The Rockies had something on our side, which we clearly didn't.
I'd say the single biggest blow we suffered this year was the injury to CY. If we don't lose our second-best pitcher for the second-half of the year, I guarantee we could have gotten at least one more win somewhere.
Great season. The boys fought hard and should be proud. We should be proud of them. They deserve our support. Hopefully last nite's events spur them to be ever better next year.
by Phantom on Oct 2, 2007 8:14 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
"Call it a curse.
I knew it was all over when T Junior hit that triple. That's what people will end up remembering.
by TheThirdGonzalez on Oct 2, 2007 8:26 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I've been emailing my sister about this same thing
Me: Sad face.
Her: sad face indeed. The real heart break came before last night, when Tony Gwynn Jr. robbed Hoffman of a save. Painful.
Me: Quite ironic that the Padres best player of all time comes back to haunt us. $5 says that Padres management finds some way to acquire TG Jr so that never happens again.
Her: When you think about it, TG Jr. probably grew up around Hoffman and the team. What must it have been like for him -- taking a triple from this icon? Almost Shakespearian.
Me: I'm positive that that is what he was thinking after arriving at third base.
"This is almost Shakespearian."
Her: I am surprised he did not call time out to deliver a soliloquy.
Me: All the world's a stage
And all the men and women merely players
They have their exits and their entrances
And one man in his time plays many parts.
by pjbno4 on Oct 2, 2007 8:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
How very baseball of you two
by Pants on Oct 2, 2007 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
the discussion continued...
Whether 'tis nobler in the field to suffer
The slings and arrows of baseball fortune,
Or to line drive against a sea of fielders,
And by opposing end them? To score: to win;
No more; and by a loss to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That Padres fans are heir to, 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To strike out,
To lose: perchance to win: ay, there's the rub;
For in that death of victory what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal game,
Must give us pause: there's the respect
That makes calamity of so long an inning...
For who would bear the balls and strikes,
The umpires' wrong, the proud man striking out,
The pangs of oblique injuries, the missed calls,
The insolence of the commisioner and missing
the playoffs whilst the Dbacks and Rockies are in,
When he himself might stab thyself
With a broken bat? who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat through 163 games,
But that the dread of next spring,
Peoria, Arizona, from whose bourn
No non-roster invitee returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather focus on winning this season
Than wait until the next, which we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;
And thus the optimisim of "next season"
Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,
And the passion of the postseason
With this regard is meaningless to Padres fans,
And loses all interest. - Soft you now!
The fair Khalil! Nymph, in thy orisons
Remember that we love you.
by pjbno4 on Oct 2, 2007 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Comment of the year?
by JBro12 on Oct 2, 2007 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Do I sense
by Pants on Oct 2, 2007 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dex, this is the best post on GLB
I actually am recovering well. We threw our ace at them with our monster closer - that worked our way, and they beat us. What can we do about it?
Anyway, great post. I'll still take Trevor in the 9th with any lead any day of the week.
by Brad on Oct 2, 2007 8:37 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
At least
Totally frustrated with the blown save, but I won't hate on Trevor. He has done more than enough for the Padres. I look forward to seeing him next season.
by sacpadre on Oct 2, 2007 8:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Woke up with the same feeling
Pitchers and Catchers report is only five months away.
by sqrunt on Oct 2, 2007 8:54 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Clint Hurdle
They were speculating this morning whether or not Clint would have that same passion after the way the game was won last night.
13 is Colorado's lucky number I guess.
From a casual Padres fan's point of view...it was a heartbreaking night. I was yelling at my TV at Brady Clark. I was pumped when TBS played some Hells Bells...thinking, Man...Dex and Jbox must be feeling pretty good right about now...just three outs from Hoffman and they're gonna be having a fun night. It didn't even cross my mind that they'd blow it. I was even thinking how it sucked for Helton to not make it to the Post Season after getting so close.
What a devastating night...even if it was a very entertaining baseball game.
Oh..and one other note....TBS pulled off a miracle by making me wish we had McCarver announcing instead of the Z list talent on TBS (Ripken not included)...could that TBS broadcast have gotten any lamer?
by thenerdhater on Oct 2, 2007 9:13 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Regarding October 1, 2007
That being said, that sucked eh? Everyone in San Diego was sitting down at their favorite restaurant with a huge dinner sitting in front of them (meaning the Playoffs) only to have Matt Holiday, Troy "Tulo" and the damn Rockies Dinosaur that was so annoying behind home plate come over to our table, sit in our seat, eat our food, and enjoy it! Next year boys.
As Starscream always said, "WE SHALL HAVE OUR REVENGE!!!!
by Rusty on Oct 2, 2007 9:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm glad, at least, it's over
About Trevor: He shouldn't retire. But what should be really clear by now is that he is not always our best reliever. I don't think the save statistic should be dictating how you manage a bullpen. If Hoffman was any other reliever last night, he would have been pulled after giving up the run without recording an out. He's made his name, he's saved more games than anyone else--this late in his career, it's time to be more flexible and pitch him where it most helps the team. Trevor can pitch in the 7th. He can pitch in the 8th OR 9th. Enough with the slots.
Also: How awesome was HEATH BELL last night? And Joe Thatcher? And even Doug Brocail? Those guys really kept us in that game.
Sorry you didn't have the chance to be the hero again, Hairston. We would have loved it as much as you did.
by goose1 on Oct 2, 2007 9:27 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
This was touched on last night..
by JBro12 on Oct 2, 2007 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't know why I'm doing this...
I assumed I would see some ugly stuff....but NONE of those guys have good numbers against Hoffy.
Holliday? 1 for 10, 2 strike-outs, 2 GIDP
Matsui? 0 for 3 with a K
Carroll? 1 for 4 with a K
Tulowitzki, it looks like, hadn't faced him.
Small sample sizes, but Bud wasn't trotting Hoffman out to a definite slaughter. I'd take those odds. The problem is once it's really clear that Hoffman doesn't have it...he's too big a name to pull him the way you would Hampson, Cla, Brocail if they were giving up extra base hits...
by goose1 on Oct 2, 2007 9:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Furthermore
Trevor's the money guy. Bud Black couldn't NOT go with him. If we were going to lose, it was going to be on Hoffman. I feel bad for him and the team, but it sucks to be a closer in situations like that. And Hoffy's record in significant, championship games (vs. regular season games) is not very good. The minute Matsui hit that double, I knew we were circling the drain.
by Mr Meadows on Oct 2, 2007 10:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blame it on MNF...
by Rob on Oct 2, 2007 9:34 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Good post
Lookin' forward to see what Trevor still has left in the tank next season. And there's not gonna be any of that magic for AZ or the Rox next year! Bringin' it home to the FRIAR!
With the attitude I see from many umpires, I wouldn't be surprised if they never allow video replay. These guys think they're hot shit. Ask David Wells and Milton Bradley.
by Axion on Oct 2, 2007 9:57 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I have a tendency to believe that
There is a big difference betweeen cockiness about their abilities and confidence in the job that they are doing, and a lot of umpires need to dial down the testosterone.
by JBro12 on Oct 2, 2007 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Last Night's Game
This was simply the Rockies' year. Padres, eliminated, I now find myself rooting for them to make it to the WS and win.
But come 2008, the Padres are taking them and the rest of the division down.
by Mr Meadows on Oct 2, 2007 9:58 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
my first full season with the padres
by uncle orie on Oct 2, 2007 10:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I've been a Padre "fan"
But in another way, I'm glad we made it as far as we did. The post-season nausea still lingers, but it's beginning to pass. I'll take the 7-month break from baseball (I don't follow any other sports) and be fully-recovered come April. The Padres will be ready to go by then, too, and we'll all be pumped up and ready do this all over again.
But this time, for keeps.
by Mr Meadows on Oct 2, 2007 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Long time no post
Second, Hirschbeck was consistent throughout in his calls for both teams, and as Cal Ripken repeatedly pointed out is among the most respected home plate umpires in the game.
The bottom line is that we didn't perform over the stretch and the Rockies did. Forget about the umpires and the injuries, we had our chance in the series vs. Colorado and the last two game vs. Milwaukee and we blew it, with Trevor (sadly) and bad defense (Clark) being the primary culprits in the close games.
Hopefully the lessons we learned from this year will help out next. I'll just suggest two:
- Get a defensive outfield specialist or two to back up Cameron and Giles. This would seem a no-brainer given our home stadium. With a decent CF in the Rockies game last night, we would probably have won.
- Move Hoffman to a different relief role, or allow him to split time with Bell. Hoffman could be the Stopper at home (where he had a 1.80) and Bell could be the Stopper on the road (Hoffy's era away was 4.84!).
by Jacojre on Oct 2, 2007 10:15 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
The only thing you said
I think that a constant who's-going-to-get-the-ball-tonight situation would be a distraction and possibly a performance detractor for a closer, who has to have the same "baddest thing walking" attitude every night.
by JBro12 on Oct 2, 2007 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Todd Helton
"He [Hoffman] didn't blow that save. The guys just came in and battled their butts off and got us to this point."
Class act, Helton. I like the guy.
by Mr Meadows on Oct 2, 2007 10:21 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
bad weekend for me
by metalsupplier on Oct 2, 2007 10:31 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Tough one to lose
Congratulations to the Rockies. That's a gritty, scrappy team. It's tough to hate on a team that has pulled together and played so well over the past two months. I hope that ESPN doesn't focus all of their attention on the Cubs, Indians, Phillies, Yankees, and Red Sox and take notice that the Rockies are playing unbelievable baseball right now. I am happy for Helton. He's a Hall of Fame player who's been on a lot of bad teams. And he wanted to stay there; he didn't want to play somewhere else. In an age where it's really about the money, Helton is an example that loyalty still carries some merit. I'm happy that he made it to the post-season. I just wish it wasn't at the Padres' expense. I don't want them to win it all, because
I don't want any more teams that have been in existence for fewer than 20 years to win any more World Series. It's bad enough to see Arizona do it once and Florida twice. I'd like to see Cleveland win it. That city hasn't won anything since the 50's.
As far as Buddy coming out to argue. What good would it have done? The game was over. The umpire's not going to overturn the call, not in Denver. The hesitation on the call is probably him thinking, "What call can I make here that will ensure that I get out of here alive." That same play in San Diego would have been ruled an out, because Holliday never touched the plate.
Trevor.
Trevor, Trevor, Trevor. On one hand, it seems like when he's ineffective, he's really ineffective. Those breaking balls were soft, delicious marshmallows to be dipped in mugs of creamy, hot Rockie chocolate. And Heat pitched shutout ball for almost 3 innings. As much as I am ready for him to take over as closer, I don't want Trevor to go out like that.
And just like Dex, I will stop there before I ramble to much. I just needed to get a few things out of my system so I can more on in the healing process. Go Chargers! Oh, wait. Dang.
by Pants on Oct 2, 2007 10:34 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Hairston
by thebigsweat on Oct 2, 2007 10:55 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Medium length rant
Regarding Hoffman - let's not disparage his entire career because he is old and maybe finished. That doesn't negate all of his saves, it just means he may be done. He is SCARY to watch these days; if his location isn't perfect, he gets Hammered. Reminds me of Goose Gossage at the end of his career, when the fastball is gone - location is everything. Look at Linebrink, he still has a fastball, but no movement or location. Maybe it's just time for Trevor to hang it up. We've enjoyed your career, thanks for everything, be honest enough to admit that you don't have IT anymore. That's OK - you were great for the city and we appreciate who you were as a player and as a man. Thanks and Goodbye.
Regarding Peavy - he is an excellent thrower with still untapped potential, but he needs to learn to be a little less macho. The commentators noted that most pitchers don't throw inside to Helton - but Peavy did. Peavy admitted he challenged Bonds, and his final at bat almost was a homerun. Jake needs to grow up a little and pitch more like he did in Milwaukee last week when he said he 'dialed it back'. In that game, he 'threw to contact', threw a lot fewer pitches, only had one strikeout (in the 7th and final inning) and was very effective. It's not about strikeouts or personal victories over individual batters, its about winning with as few quality pitches as you can get away with. As they all say - there are only so many bullets in the holster, Jake wastes a ton of them trying for the strikeout; if he can learn to pitch smarter rather than harder, he could be a perennial Cy Young candidate for many years to come.
Regarding Brady Clark - did he take any outfield practice at Coors before the start? He looked lost - completely lost. I honestly would have put in Cameron after the first miscue - Brady certainly wasn't up to the challenge. It would have been better to see Cameron swing with his one good hand and to play a solid outfield (because it is clear that he could throw and field) than to risk everything on the untested, Alice in Wonderland outfield skills of Brady Clark.
It is frustrating yet again to see a Padre team that may have benefitted from the acquisition of a key free agent with their extra (remember they were under their stated payroll budget) dollars. Maybe it wouldn't have helped - but the only piece of the team that didn't seem to TRY their hardest was John Moores. He has continued to prove himself to be an excellent business man - putting a team on the field that is good enough to be competitive and able to generate revenue this year and next, but not deep enough to go deep enough.
Personally, I'd settle for a couple fewer Public Relations driven youth fields around the city for one good bat in the middle of the line-up. Spend some money John - you are making a ton on the real estate that we practically gave you around Petco. Finally, lets see if any of the media shills have enough guts to buck the Padre party line and risk their relationships with the team enough to honestly report the problems with this team.
A good season, a fun season - could have been better, could have been longer.
Bye Trevor - thanks for the memories.
by casualfan on Oct 2, 2007 10:58 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
gOD
by wiggins4ever on Oct 2, 2007 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
this comment
by freelunch on Oct 2, 2007 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
at least...
by Axion on Oct 2, 2007 5:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
From a Rocks Fan
However, you played well despite your best pitcher not being on his A game. Teams like Arizona, Colorado and San Diego showed this year it was not such much the talent on the field as the when and how. All had major injuries to overcome. AZ (Hudson, Jackson) Colo (Cook, Lopez, Hirsch, Tavares) SD (Young, Bradley, Cameron)
Next year will be a dogfight. LA will spend to get better, as will the Giants. The rest of us will have to eat the scraps and piece together something.
NL west will be tough from start to finish (I still wish the Rocks were in the Central but). At least the division is no longer the joke of baseball.
by PinchHitLancePainter on Oct 2, 2007 11:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Guess what?
by wiggins4ever on Oct 2, 2007 12:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
tough loss
Right there with ya. I woke up feeling like my boyfriend had broken up with me and punched me in the gut right after. It definitely sunk in this morning. Yesterday's game was a VERY tough loss. Trust me. I almost cried. But in retrospect, we played some damn good baseball (despite Brady's inability to catch flyballs, but it's not all his fault :P ). We fought HARD. I think that might've been one of the best games I have ever seen. The better team did win. Don't get me wrong, I still feel horrible, probably more so than I did last night, but coming here and reading what everyone else had to say and remembering the fact that I'm not a Dodger fan (I'll explain later), makes me feel a whole lot better. And how about that Heath Bell? TEAM MVP!
Can't wait for the next season :D
by freelunch on Oct 2, 2007 12:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
CLARK AT TOP OF WIGGINS' LIST
WGGUINHS HA;TJES SUPIOTID CLLARJEK!!!!!!!!!!!!1!
by wiggins4ever on Oct 2, 2007 12:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks all
Can't stand to twist the knife....so see you soon enough.
by Dalton on Oct 2, 2007 12:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks Dex
What can you do? The Rockies were the hottest team in baseball (still are). We had played 21 straight with a patched up starting rotation and two key injuries in the last week. We play in what is now a kick ass division and still finished with one of the best records in the NL. I must say that I love that the two teams from the west who made it in were not on any ESPN talking head's radar in April! Take THAT you morons!!
So, color me an Angels/Indians/Rockies/Phillies fan for now. Meaning, if any of them win out, I wont be dis pleased. Hell, just to ease some Cubbie pain, I might feel a little warm fuzzy if THEY pull it off.
Oh, I will miss our boys. It's quite sad to say goodbye like we did. But as always the ride was exciting and made you know you are alive (if your heart lasted through it).
Now the silly season starts for us here in GLB! What WILL we talk about for the next few months? How low will we sink? What manner of depravity will we display? How much liquid will spew out of my nose as I guffaw while reading? :-) I love you guys!
KEEP THE FAITH (I really want them to go back to that slogan).
by Christina on Oct 2, 2007 1:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Good question!
by JBro12 on Oct 2, 2007 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I vote
You could also look for the playoff team with the most ex-Padres and chat about them.
by thenerdhater on Oct 2, 2007 1:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Giants open thread?
by JBro12 on Oct 2, 2007 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Speaking of such...
Note to self: No hot liquids while reading GLB. I'll have to be careful about that.
by sqrunt on Oct 2, 2007 9:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This Last Week
Today, my cell phone has been ringing with messages of how much "Hoffman sucks". I have always defended him, because statistically he has been one of the best. Of course after the last two appereance he seems to "suck". Everyone wants to compare him to Mariano, and how much better Mo is than Hoff, but from what I remeber, Rivera has blown curcial saves in the playoffs the last 7 years in a row.
Talking with baseball fans, I have realized that all of them don't like their managers (save Cox, LaRussa, Torre till '05), and none of them like their closers after a few years. I guess conventional wisdom is that they ALL "suck".
Reflecting on it I think management did a good job. I read an email yesterday, stating that the Padres don't spend any money and can't be competive. I think that is hogwash. Looking back at last year, there are almost no big free agent signings that I thought could have helped us. We needed a big bat, but I don't like the deals Soriano and Cliff Lee got, and I am not sure they would have been that much more productive playing in the NL West. We had holes in the rotation, but Zito and Schmidt signings were a bust.. Suppan? Meche? Eaton? Garcia? All of those signings were not good and handicapped the franchises in the future. I always ask those critics, okay given the money of those contracts, who should we have signed? Maddux?
I think the expectations of most fans have risen to unreasonable levels. We could be Giants fans, who are expecting AROD to come and save the day next year at $30M a year over 10 years. We could become Braves fans, who don't sell out post season series, because they only won 1 WS in the 14 straight years in the playoffs. We could become dodgers fans and commit suicide.
Anyways I am spent......
by Sammy G on Oct 2, 2007 1:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I really agree with this
I can't think of a pitcher we would have wanted to acquire from that market (Zito probably, but not at anywhere near that price. And he wasn't exactly impressive...). Ditto the ridiculous price for guys like Soriano. The Cubs are clearly prepared to mortgage the franchise for big, big contracts--and it might pay-off in a World Series. But it's just as likely it dooms them for years to come with horrifying payroll obligations for injured players. Arizona won a world series by spending through the nose---and as recently as a few years ago lost 111 games. I think we can avoid that, and steadily build a franchise that wins year after year. The play-offs are such a crapshoot, that getting there consistently (rather than banking it all on once and then having a fire-sale) seems to me a pretty good strategy.
Look at the talent we got out of pretty much nowhere: Heath Bell (for Adkins, who pitched 1 major league inning this year. Anybody see Ben Jonson?) Milton Bradley. Kouz (Barfield was a bust in Cleveland). Even Adrian and CY (for Adam Eaton and Otsuka? Really? The same Adam Eaton who was pulled in the third inning of the Phils game against the last place nationals because he was about to blow their season?). Scott Hairston came from nowhere and almost homered us into the playoffs last night.
Clearly getting good players and having winning seasons isn't about how much you spend. That much is really obvious. And marquee players are just as likely to be despised by fans for underperforming as they are loved for heroics.
Wow. I guess I have some excess energy to burn off after last night....
by goose1 on Oct 2, 2007 2:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Completely agree
This team did a great job competing all year. How different would our year have been if CY had never gotten hurt? What about if we had either Milty or Cameron for the last week?
It's not management's fault that CY screwed up his oblique or that there were two freak accidents two Sundays ago to cripple our outfield. The team played well all year and caught ZERO breaks along the way. The Rox got to play 7 of their last 14 games against the Dodgers, who just completely laid down for them. The Padres faced a Brewers team that were fighting for pride and that never gave up, despite being eleiminated from the playoffs.
The Padres, their fans, and the City, should all hold their heads high. We battled and kicked and fought as hard as we could. In the end, it wasn't in the cards for us this year.
by Phantom on Oct 2, 2007 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Casual fans only look at the superficial numbers, they're too "casual" to look in to why things went they way they did.
IMO, they have no business complaining - they invested nothing into the team short of mild interest. Here we all are, having invested months of energy and emotion, and we're singing a decidedly different tune.
by Axion on Oct 2, 2007 5:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Season Ticket Investment
by Enzo Hernandez on Oct 2, 2007 6:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Perspective
Some people become casual fans after realizing that there is more to life than sports. So what if the Padres or Chargers win or lose? My kid is healthy, I'm healthy, and I have a good job that affords me the opportunity to attend games everywhere in the country. No one ever says on their death bed that they wish that they had been more loyal to their sports team, or that they should have gone to more games. PERSPECTIVE is key.
I've been a Chargers and Padres season ticket holder. For the Chargers, I attended games back in Balboa Stadium, for the Padres at Westgate Park, Qualcomm, and Petco (plus a number of road games across the country). I've been a Padres season ticket holder at both Qualcomm (Field 24) and Petco (RLB 135). I think that over 45 years of watching them play and 7 years as a season ticket holder paying into Mr. Moores coffers gives me the right to voice an opinion or two or three.
I think that Kevin Towers does a great job, like the cook that can turn simple and inexpensive ingredients into a great tasting meal. I think that Bud Black is far superior to Bruce Bochy and I really enjoyed watching his team this year. Finally I think that the players gave everything that they had to give.
I just never feel like John Moores will spend money at all; he is a smart businessman and it is undeniable that he is getting very rich off of the real estate that the city included in the Petco Park deal and in the Padres (regardless of what his official financial statements say). I'd just like once for him to compete for a valued free agent in their prime or a late season acquisition. Even if they are a bust, at least it will show that it matters to the guy with the wallet. I think that he is thrilled to death with the team's performance - but moreso with the teams attendance. Sure he wants to win, who doesn't? But what sacrifices will John Moores make to get there? I think he is the only non-contributing piece of the Padres puzzle. Ever since the departure of Larry Luchino in the big POWER struggle snit that they had, the purse strings have tightened. I think that he has assembled a great team of executives (but mostly Kevin Towers) that can give him a tremendous return on his funds - wasting almost nothing - which is very unusual in the sporting world. If you all want to accept this as fans and do not have any problem with the fact that Moores is getting rich and not re-investing, that is your choice. But I've paid enough to John to have a legitimate right to express my opinion. He is empowered by the media and fans that don't complain about his spendthrift ways - but not complaining is a right as well - you are welcome to that opinion.
But honestly, do you all really think that if you asked Kevin Towers if he would like to have $25 million more per year for payroll that he would say - "no, not really; don't need it - I'm OK, but thanks for asking". Come on, get real. He deals with it and is a good soldier fighting the battle that the general defines with the resources provided to him. When we talk about spending money, it isn't always about big name free agents (sometimes, but not always). Except for those of you that have MLB General Management experience (which doesn't include any of the local talk show apologists), we have no idea how Kevin Towers would use additional funds. I'm confident that he could make a good team a great team with more money - but we may never know that.
It's just a game, the season is over; I enjoyed it all. Obviously it's way better than being a Dodger or Giant fan (or any of the other teams that didn't compete this year) - thanks again Kevin Towers.
Catch up with you all next year.
by casualfan on Oct 3, 2007 8:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Casual Fan
Kevin Towers, free from having his every move under the Alderson microscope -- and being forced to shop at the 99-cent store -- would do a helluva job if he had some extra cash. With some of the incredible trades he has pulled off in the past -- he knows his craft.
Carlos Lee might have done some good in SD. Right-handed hitting power works in Petco.
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Oct 3, 2007 2:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
dex??
by uncle orie on Oct 2, 2007 4:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Just a suggestion
by sqrunt on Oct 2, 2007 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for a great season!
I came to this conclusion- It's been a GREAT ride this season, I've had the most fun this year being a Padres fan than ever before. Thanks to Gaslamp Ball for making it all the more fun- and I promise I will post more in 08.
by SanDiegoPadresMom on Oct 2, 2007 5:54 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
comic relief.
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Oct 2, 2007 9:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
It wasn't a dolphin
by Boy Howdy on Oct 2, 2007 10:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
