Padres Marketing Plan: First pitch honorees

by Dex on Jan 15, 2009 8:26 AM PST Comment 30 comments

Don't get me wrong. I'm actually looking forward to this season. Everybody is tightening their belts and getting ready to play poker the way I like to play poker. Back to the wall, short stacked and hungry blinds. Our team is playing some shark dressed like a rock but pretending to be a fish poker. Win a pot here. Bluff a pot there. Don't chase the bad money. Attack the donkeys. Stay clear of the big dogs.

Nevertheless, I'm especially interested in the Padres marketing efforts. Obviously, it's going to be a lean year and they're slowly, but surely, scaling back on the extras to save some chips for the big moves to win this thing. But what exactly can they do? Here... Let us help through a series of potentially ill informed, but hopefully helpful posts.

Post number one. First thing's first. First pitch honorees.

I know what you're saying. First pitch honorees? Who cares about first pitch honorees?

Look at it this way. Do you think that there was a segment of the Padres fan base who showed up a few years back specifically to watch Anna Kournikova throw out the first pitch?

The answer is yes, because jbox and I belonged to that particular fan segment.

Therefore, here's my short list of ceremonial first pitch honorees who I'd like to see at Petco.

#1 Darren Sproles

via brian-oliver.com

I love me some Chargers and I love me some height challenged people and therefore, I love me some Darren Sproles. Sure. We were all disappointed by the playoff exit, but we're still a town that's down with the Chargers. The Padres need to have a series of Chargers throwing out the first pitch at Petco Park and they should start with Darren Sproles. Announce it well ahead of time and use it as an opportunity to get people out to Petco Park to thank the team for another AFC West Championship and to hail our conquering pint sized hero.

#2 Miss California / Pad Squad Carrie Prejean

More Pad Squad Carrie

[Note from Dex 4/21] Hello! I know that you're here to see this bikini photo of Miss California and not for the Padres. That's OK. Could you do me a favor though? Follow us on Twitter before you go. We're trying to win a race and everybody who follows us will be entered in a drawing to win a to-be-determined prize. Thanks! Don't forget to follow us.

This is a no-brainer. The reigning Miss California is on the Pad Squad. She's already there. She's likely wearing underwears. We've seen first hand that she has an excellent arm (for throwing baseballs). She'll be representing us at Miss USA and potentially Miss Universe. Get her on the mound in her dressing gown and sash and have her throw out a pitch. In fact, make her wear the Miss California sash all the time.

#3 Rickey Henderson

via www.padresnation.com

There was a period of time when I was going to Padres games just to watch Rickey Henderson play. I could be wrong, but while he was with the Surf Dawgs, it wouldn't have been tough to prove that 90% of the people were there because Rickey Henderson was on the team. Rickey's my favorite baseball player. He's a Hall of Famer. What the Padres should do is talk him out of retirement for whatever game he throws the first pitch out at just to confuse the Hall of Fame.

#4 Alex Spanos

via www.csus.edu

The owner of the Chargers has had his ups and downs among the Charger fan base, but there's no denying that he's helped put together a winner for us and also been very active in community giving. Recently diagnosed with dementia, I'm sure there are lots of Padre/Charger fans who would want to take the time to show up to a game and express their appreciation for some great Charger seasons.

I'd do whatever it took to get those four on the mound. In Pad Squad Carrie's case, I can't imagine it would be too tough. This is my short list, no brainer, get these people on the mound. Who else is out there? We'll gather up a list and pass them along to the Padres. We'll make this team care about their fans yet.

Poll

Who would you pay money to watch throw out a first pitch?

Darren Sproles

17 votes

Miss California

88 votes

Rickey Henderson

43 votes

Alex Spanos

5 votes

Somebody else

5 votes

Nobody. First pitch ceremonies are for nerdy early birds.

15 votes

173 votes | Poll has closed

3 recs | Comment 30 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Nice, Dex.

#1 – Greg Maddux

#2 – Matty V

"We're not going to be as bad as you think."

by Drama on Jan 15, 2009 9:08 AM PST reply actions 3 recs

I like it

how about David Wells?

by jbox on Jan 15, 2009 9:54 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I love the Matty V one

You have to drag him out of New Jersey though.

1-10-DEN 18 (9:52) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right intended for 19-E.Royal INTERCEPTED by 93-L.Castillo (95-S.Phillips) at DEN 18. 93-L.Castillo to DEN 14 for 4 yards (62-C.Wiegmann). 6-J.Cutler pouts ob to DEN 25 for 11 yards.

by Wonko on Jan 15, 2009 10:06 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This is a genius idea

Matt V would be great.

In protest of adulthood

by Bradicus on Jan 15, 2009 10:28 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Mark Prior

by Dalton on Jan 15, 2009 9:13 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Zing!

"I suggest more bike" ~KSK

www.wellbelowthemendozaline.blogspot.com
www.drinkerswithawritingproblem.blogspot.com

by justdave on Jan 15, 2009 4:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Matt Bush bobblehead doll night

by strummer on Jan 15, 2009 9:54 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I like all these ideas so far

I’d totally be game for letting Anna Kournikova throw out the first pitch again.

by jbox on Jan 15, 2009 9:54 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Somehow

I’ve been to two games (one in San Diego, on in Arlington) where she threw out the first. I’d love to say I’m a horndog who came out to see her, but both times were completely accidental. That being said, I’d be up for another accident.

by Wonko on Jan 15, 2009 10:08 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

STALKER

by Dex on Jan 15, 2009 10:39 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs

TWSS

by Wonko on Jan 15, 2009 11:49 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

literally

"I suggest more bike" ~KSK

www.wellbelowthemendozaline.blogspot.com
www.drinkerswithawritingproblem.blogspot.com

by justdave on Jan 15, 2009 4:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

How about Dex?

Or J Dub with PSA catching.

Padres till the bitter end

by sdgaucho on Jan 15, 2009 9:57 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Are we still talking about the first pitch?

www.PadsAndEnds.blogspot.com
"jbox does not drink coffee, as it makes him clean house big time." ~Kev

by TheThirdGonzalez on Jan 15, 2009 11:24 AM PST up reply actions 5 recs

Trevor Hoffman

Then i’ll cry for the rest of the game.

In protest of adulthood

by Bradicus on Jan 15, 2009 10:09 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

You trying to break the universe?

Trevor throwing out the first pitch of a game? I can’t even imagine it.

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play

by Axion on Jan 15, 2009 11:26 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe he'd throw a pitch

that ended with his middle finger pointing right at the owner’s box. I’d applaud that :)

In protest of adulthood

by Bradicus on Jan 15, 2009 11:35 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Carrie Prejean

I had no clue that a Pad Squad was Miss California, why isn’t the Padres organziation using this to their advantage?! It seems like they would want their fans to know that one of their own Pad Squad is smart enough to have made it that far in a beauty pageant (that also requires brains, community service, personality, etc) and she is also a Padres fan. They would be dumb to not have her throw out the first pitch. Padres, give that girl a call and let me know what date she will be throwing the first pitch, I know me and my friends will go to the game just for that!

by SDBaller on Jan 15, 2009 10:58 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

exactly!

That’s why you have to read Gaslamp Ball to find out about this kinda stuff.

by jbox on Jan 15, 2009 11:15 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Smart Enough???

contestants are based on how smart they are?

by padres1234 on Jan 20, 2009 12:15 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Rickey Henderson night

Just turn the whole night into a retro-style night. Play old videos, make him steal a base in a Padre uniform… for old time’s sake and for today’s youth.

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play

by Axion on Jan 15, 2009 11:26 AM PST reply actions 0 recs