i agreed with most of Brenly’s moves with his bullpen during their world series run. he kept going back to Kim because he had nobody else and Kim was absolutely dominant that year before the playoffs. the rest of their bullpen during the playoffs consisted of Greg Swindell, Troy Brohawn, Bret Prinz and Erik Sabel. Brenly survived on 4 pitchers that entire year. Shilling, Johnson, Bautista and Kim. by the end of the world series they were all completely gassed. the only reason they were able to pull off the upset is because Randy Johnson manned up in game 7. Brenly really had no bullpen to screw up.

And understand, I’m not saying I disagree with the gist of the letter (indeed, the first game I get to watch on TV gets ruined because of what you describe above) but I’m not sure that signing open letters as “gaslamp ball” is either correct or appropriate. I realize, of course, that you’re the owner, and you can write whatever you want, but gaslamp ball is not merely a website anymore. It’s a community, and even though you own said community, is it correct to speak on our behalf? Was there a quorum for this?

much of the game yesterday, but I can only imagine what it must have been like to watch Joe Thatcher give a game back.

I really don’t know what we can do at this point. It’s not like our bullpen problems are isolated incidents. Everyone has had a meltdown. Right now, Wil Ledezma looks like our best reliever. How scary is that?

I hear Jake got squeezed pretty bad yesterday and gave us some cheapies. That really sucks, but this team has got to get going. We need some life and passion. When do we bring up Hundley?

are pretty often miserable disasters.

Witness Doug Brocail last night (former Padre bitten by the same flesh-eating disease that’s eating the Padre bullpen). Valverde blew the game before he ‘won’ it. Did anybody catch the White Sox meltdown last night? Or the Mets implosion?

The Padre bullpen has been not just good, but spectacular, for the last couple years (partly the environment they play in). It’s hard to believe this will be a season-wide problem. If they come back down to above average, we are all going to see it for the regression that it is, but I have to think that it won’t stay THIS BAD. There were streaks last year where Cla looked awful, Trevor was melting down, Linebrink was sucking, Brocail was giving up runs like he was a secret agent planted by the other team.

I can’t blame Buddy Black, or Kevin Towers, or anyone who wasn’t on the field of play.
Here’s the real problem (as I see it). Our lack of offense makes us a one-dimensional threat. That one dimension is pitching. If the pitching doesn’t show up, neither do the Padres.

Now consider the following brutal truths:

Over the last five games, the starting pitchers have given up 27 runs in 30 innings.

Seven times the Padres have had to use two relievers in an inning because the first couldn’t complete his assignment.

Quite simply, our pitching is taking on water faster than our hitting can bail them out, and the ship is losing buoyancy as a result. So, no sir, I will not blame Buddy Black for relying on the same bullpen he had last year. Nor will I blame Kevin Towers, Sandy Alderson, or lack of “passion, heart, motivation” or whatever other intangibles people seem to imagine for themselves to rationalize a loss.

is, for intents and purposes, maybe we could trade for Chad Johnson. It’d definitely sell tickets and I bet he could play a killer CF.

Damn this morning drinking.

do we have to wait for the all star break before we see some of the farm kids coming up? i’m not believing in jim edmonds anymore. p-mac makes me cry. tony clark is not as advertised.

bring in frank thomas, chase headly. fug it.

Bud Black can’t manage a bullpen. The rest of the team can’t hit. My Compadres Card won’t work. TTG is drunk before noon.

And this is, by far, the worst Gulls blog I’ve ever read.

Maybe 3 or 4 actually. It’s early.

I was gonna tell TTG that, called him a drunk instead!