Like a Phoenix Rising from the Funk

by TheGrandHatching on Jul 26, 2007 11:38 AM PDT

Hey everyone. I think it's fair to say that the exodus of perennial trade-bait Scott Linebrink -- regardless of your feelings toward him -- has caused at least some kind of stir on this site. Perhaps I'm misconstruing my own mixed emotions about his departure, but doesn't it feel like something is in the works? Like the wheels have been set in motion for something big? Even if over the next 5 days none of the Milwaukee prospects become trade-bait in their own right, I feel like the Friars are ready to pull themselves out of the funk that is called July Baseball.*

How do we do it? Well, since none of us is either Kevin Towers nor wonder boy Paul DePodesta we have little power over building the 40-man roster. And since none of us is Bud Black we have little power over managing the lineup. However, what we do have in our arsenal is enough unicorns, rainbows and magical robots, enough unconditional love for our team, and enough Wiggins to write the kind of weird and wonderful folklore that will make you shit your pants.

Is it premature or are we ready to bust out the big guns? Is it time to ban Johnny Dub's cats, at least temporarily (I kind of want to see the final installment of his trilogy)? Should we dissuade Dex from posting first comment on the open thread? Is that even a superstition? Are reverse jinxes your thing? Maybe you think the answer is to help Lindsay Lohan get some coke during her stay at Passages Rehab Center. Well, even if it is too early for the big guns, I'd like to hear what your superstitions are regardless. Personally, I can't look at our pitcher's pitch count unless our team is at bat. This has ended disastrously before, whether I take a glance at MLB Gameday or at the wall in left center field. Also, I'm considering wiping the dust off my #8 Mark Loretta jersey for the Houston series, but I don't have the clairvoyance to see whether or not this is a smart move. What do all of you have up your sleeves?

* We're 8-13 and we've lost 5 of the last 6. Chris Young is injured for sure, Peavy is injured and won't tell anyone, Maddux has been crucified by our bullpen so many times that he's grown a beard and now wears sandals when he pitches. Germano is apparently not the real deal, and Wells -- well, he's been pitching like he has gout. And then there's our offense. Actually, forget our offense.

This FanPost was written by a member of the Gaslamp Ball community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Gaslamp Ball managers or SB Nation.

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Yes

It's time to ban the cats. Again. I can't believe more people haven't blamed the cats after what happened earlier this yr with Seattle.

Last night, I repositioned my Trevor Time bank and Pads mini-helmet on my desk and then washed all of my Padre T-shirts, including the GLB shirt (four shirts in total). Then, I went into my closet and collected all five of my SD hats and stacked them together, as if their being together might form some sort of collective energy that could be forwarded to the team.

I wish that I could say I didn't really do any of that because doing all of that is completely idiotic.

But I did it. And it's going to work.

by Winfield's Ghost on Jul 26, 2007 11:49 AM PDT reply actions

Also

When the Pads are ahead, I leave the mini-helmet in place. When they are behind, I turn it upside down.

I don't know why.

by Winfield's Ghost on Jul 26, 2007 11:51 AM PDT up reply actions

Obviously it's going to work

Thanks Winfields Ghost.

"At the end, excitement maintained its hysteria." - Jerry Coleman

by TheGrandHatching on Jul 26, 2007 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: apparel

I almost forgot. I can't wear my Padres boxers on game day. Not sure why, but maybe it has something to do with chafing my own 'lil Clay Hensley.

"At the end, excitement maintained its hysteria." - Jerry Coleman

by TheGrandHatching on Jul 26, 2007 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Thompson?

From Padres.com:

<<It's unknown whether (Chris) Young will make his scheduled start on Sunday after strained his left oblique in his last start on Tuesday against the Rockies. The big right-hander worked two scoreless innings before departing. Young, who leads the Major Leagues in ERA (1.82), will throw on Thursday and Friday in Houston, where it will be determined if he will start on Sunday. If he can't, Mike Thompson of Triple-A Portland appears to be the leading candidate to replace him.>>

MIKE THOMPSON:
REC 0-1 | SV 0 | ERA 7.84 | WHIP 1.35

Uhhhh....I think I'd rather have an injured CY.

by Mr Meadows on Jul 26, 2007 11:50 AM PDT reply actions

i thought

they were considering having justin hampson start?

or was that just me hoping they do so they don't have to bring up thompson?...

Now Scott's messing up people's education too. Perfect. -teemcee

by freelunch on Jul 26, 2007 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm with you

I think I would rather see 4 or 5 innings of Hampson
over Stauffer(unless it's the Dodgers again) or Thompson.

by A Whales Vajayjay on Jul 26, 2007 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Yes...please let it be Hampson.

Have you guys taken a look at the Portland Beavers website lately? Look at the stats section and take a look at the numbers of our starters in Triple A. Horrible. Jack Cassel is probably the best starter we have in Triple A right now. He's 7-10 with an ERA of 3.51...but guys are hitting .305 off of him. Hasn't Hampson earned another start?

by Drama on Jul 26, 2007 2:57 PM PDT up reply actions

superstition

well i did notice that for the entire month of july, i didn't post this picture of my finger on my blog, which i usually do in the beginning of every entry, which i've been doing since the beginning of the season. i completely forgot about it :p

Now Scott's messing up people's education too. Perfect. -teemcee

by freelunch on Jul 26, 2007 12:22 PM PDT reply actions

As far as our pitching woes go

the Dodgers seem to be worse off. Thankfully.

Lowe pulled a groin muscle yesterday, so he's out of the rotation for awhile. They lost Schmidt for the season, gave up on Kuo, and Randy Wolf and Takashi Saito are sitting at the moment with injuries, too. So their bullpen is completely taxed (Lowe was actually sent out to pitch an inning of RELIEF the other night...and he gave up a run!), and their starting rotation is currently down to Penny, Billingsley (mostly good), Tomko and Hendrickson (mostly bad).

The only plus for the Dodgers seems to be their hitting, which has improved a bit. But seeing them lose 2 out of three to the Astros makes me feel better about us losing the same to the Rox. If we can "rise from the funk", as you say, against the 'Stros this week, we might be back in business.

As it is currently, not only are we a game back of the Dodgers in leading the NL West, but we're a mere half a game ahead of the D-Backs and (surprise!) the CUBS in the NL Wild Card! Diagnosis: Critical Condition! We need a big series this weekend, otherwise the funk will continue.

by Mr Meadows on Jul 26, 2007 1:06 PM PDT reply actions

At some point

We need to take our focus off of the Dodgers and start looking at the Snakes (who aren't as good as their record shows) and the Rox (who might be better than their record).

Adrian needs to becom Adrian ASAP!!! Milton Bradley has been good. Kouz approach is the same he had in April, which is not good news.

I am dissapointed on how Black has used the two catchers. Barret KILLS LHPs and Bard is better from the left hand side (with slightly less power), but each time I see the pitching matchup the catcher I think should be starting is on the bench.

As far as the pitching goes, they have just been very unlucky the last 5 weeks. The walks and HRs have gone up, but the BAA is at an amazing rate and can't hold up. They will be fine.

"Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"

by Ron Mexico on Jul 26, 2007 1:17 PM PDT reply actions

Focus

I think we should also start rooting against the Cubs again who are only half a game behind us in the Wild Card.

IT'S A RACE, KIDS!

by Dex on Jul 26, 2007 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions

I root against the Cubs

every day. Even in the off season.

by Winfield's Ghost on Jul 26, 2007 1:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Totally

Carlos Zambrano. Dead. Alfonso Soriano. Dead. SmoothJazzMan. Dead.

"At the end, excitement maintained its hysteria." - Jerry Coleman

by TheGrandHatching on Jul 26, 2007 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Wow...

You been placing any calls to A-Gon lately?

by Mr Meadows on Jul 26, 2007 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions

wow

that was the best post of the day!

by B Dizzle on Jul 26, 2007 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Totally agree with you on Rox and Snakes

The Rox are gonna make a push.

by Winfield's Ghost on Jul 26, 2007 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions

I have a Build-A-Bear

at home named Trevor Greene (I'm not joking about this. I've already gotten confirmation from my fiance that if we have a boy, he's gonna be named Trevor Greene Deming). Ever since the magical come-from-behind against the Dodgers, little Trevor (in full Padres gear - white home jersey with cleats, pants, Cheo socks and hat) has been wearing his rall cap inside out. Maybe it's time to flip that puppy back over.

Oh, and I also broke my watch the night of the magical comeback (don't ask) and I got it fixed during the Oriole series. Maybe I should break my watch again.

by Phantom on Jul 26, 2007 1:43 PM PDT reply actions

Yes

At the moment, the Cubs frighten me more than the Snakes and Dodgers. I think the Snakes are up and down, and ultimately won't be able to sustain their current success through the end of the season. It appears that the Dodgers are very slowly crumbling before our eyes...but then, it sort of looks that way for the Padres, too. If we are going to bounce back, we need to start this weekend.

by Mr Meadows on Jul 26, 2007 2:24 PM PDT reply actions