Around the Mission: 10/4 Padres Links

Housecleaning not over - SignOnSanDiego.com
"There's a gentleman's agreement to avoid Arizona," said Moorad, who was the CEO of the Diamondbacks before entering into an agreement to purchase the Padres from John Moores early last spring. "DiPoto is not on our list."

Bottom line: Moorad blew it in firing Towers - SignOnSanDiego.com
"He never told me exactly what the reason was," Towers said.

PADRES: Moorad wants Towers' replacement to focus on player development
"We've made it clear that we intend to focus on scouting and player development going forward," Moorad said. "I think there will be a greater focus in those areas, probably more planning and more discipline in those areas. This was the important (decision) on the baseball side. ... I'm not here to point fingers at track records. I think we need to excel in the draft and development process."

PADRES NOTES: Moorad says 2010 payroll will be about $40 million
Padres CEO Jeff Moorad indicated on Saturday afternoon that the team's 2010 payroll would be at least $40 million, which should give Kevin Towers' successor some wiggle room when constructing the roster.

PADRES: Who's next GM?
Here's a look at some of the candidates

Jeff Moorad Answers Questions on Towers Firing
Padres Vice-Chairman/CEO Jeff Moorad just concluded a press conference discussing the firing of general manager Kevin Towers. When Moorad finished at the podium, he answered questions from the collected San Diego sports media

KT: "A Gunslinger Shoots First, And He Wins The Battle"
In strikingly candid comments, Towers told the media he thought the Padres might lose 120 games this year when they broke spring training.

Outgoing Padres GM Towers addresses being fired
"I never thought about losing this post, but I know it is part of the baseball world," Towers said. "New owners want their own people."

Towers Fired :: Friar Forecast
My biggest concern is losing some of the great non-G.M talent the Padres have had on payroll the past few years.

Season winds down as wins pile up - SignOnSanDiego.com
"I really don't know what (the change in GMs) means for us," Eckstein said. "I only know that a lot of good is going on in this clubhouse."

SHOOTING THE BREEZE: A Q&A with Padres announcer Mark Grant
I want to be different. I feel by being different that I can still analyze the way I analyze and still help people understand. I'm not going to be one of those guys who overanalyzes one play, one pitch. It is what it is. I want to be one of those guys who sits down to talk baseball and is having fun. This game is 95 percent analysis and 5 percent fun.

Friar John's Blog: Padres visit SEAL base
After a firearms safety briefing, the Padres group got the chance to go to the indoor practice range and actually fire various weapons used by SEALs.

Le-blank: Padres lefty subdues Giants | padres.com: News
Left-handed pitcher Wade LeBlanc tossed seven scoreless innings Saturday as the Padres defeated the Giants, 2-0, at PETCO Park.

Padres take one last look at Ramos | padres.com: News
It's probably only fitting that the Padres will run a rookie pitcher out to the mound in the season finale against the Giants at PETCO Park.