Smells Like Padres in Here: The "It's Always Calmest Before the Storm" Edition

by Drama on Mar 30, 2008 10:07 AM PDT

Tomorrow is first day of the 2008 San Diego Padres baseball season. One of one hundred and sixty-two...plus even more, if we are so lucky. Because it's the Padres, it will be a roller coaster ride so horrifying that even the most evil minds on the Magic Mountain payroll couldn't have imagined it in the midst of a bad LSD trip. But, here we are. Back for more.

There are tons of links this morning...many from the U-T. Enjoy your last day...tomorrow we're all gonna feel like we ate a bad deep-fried Oreo - and it's not gonna go away for months.

Meet your 2008 Padres.

Chris Jenkins has an in-depth look at our Rule V outfielder, second baseman, shortstop, third baseman...Callix Crabbe.

Tim Sullivan has a nice piece about our Opening Day centerfielder...Scott Hairston.

Sez Me...Nick Canepa is a cantankerous old man.

Jody Gerut is going to be so awesome.

Jake's number is already getting retired.

Beer or Rent? Beer or Rent? Beer or Rent?

Corey Brock gives us a look at the changes from last season.

Tom Krasovic has a bunch of great stuff this morning: Are we playing it smart...or cheap?. A breakdown of "Sandyball". Paul DePodesta does it all.

A Petco Park map showing points of history.

KT and Aid FINALLY get some love.

Tomorrow night. 7:05pm PDT. Home Opener. The first regular season Open Thread on the 2.0. Don't miss it.

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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Chris Young..the fattest Padre?

Course you can't. Wait...it says that Merv Rettenmund is the hitting coach for 2008? I think that's a mistake unless I missed something. And Heath Bell's cousin is Drake Bell? That's pretty funny. Who knew? That and he likes chocolate chip cookies and his wife is half Chinese.

Sorry Sam the Cooking Guy, but that happens when you sell out.

by TheVinylCrocodile on Mar 30, 2008 3:14 PM PDT reply actions

Any excuse

While I *totally* appreciate that Adrian was recognized as one of the most underrated players and that KT is awesome, it drives me nuts the way people come up with any excuse to give Jake less credit for what he did last year than he deserves.

The argument that Jake struck out 28 pitchers while Johan struck out only 1, and so Johan is obviously better pisses me off (I may be biased).

If nothing else, starting pitchers are better players in the NL than in the AL - for the simple reason that they always know they have to pick up the bat every ninth at-bat as well as go out and throw the ball. It'll be interesting to see how Santana does when he has to swing as well as throw. But not only does Jake have to hit, all of the pitcher's he strikes out hit too. While a pitcher isn't exactly the toughest guy in the lineup to get out, they're still a challenge. And I would think they're harder to strike out -- they're more likely to make contact and create an easy out on one or two pitches. I'd love to see the numbers on % Ks vs. % other outs.

Whatever. If you want to criticize Jake, talk about how he may have psyched himself out in a big game or two, and how he tends to want to pitch until his arm falls off, but don't make the lamely imply that the 28 Ks against pitchers were worth less than the others last year -- or that Johan's other Ks are worth more.

Sigh. Long season, for sure. . . . I CAN'T WAIT!!

Capri. Baseball will get me through the Bar.

by Demoira on Mar 30, 2008 7:11 PM PDT reply actions