Around the Mission: 9/30 Padres Links

by jbox on Sep 30, 2010 9:06 AM PDT

PADRES NOTES: Gonzalez clears the air after criticism over free agency comments
"The fans' reaction was totally off," Gonzalez said. "Because we're losing, they want to turn this into something else. If we won those two games, I don't think they would have made anything out of it. But because I hit two balls that were at people, and because I made two other outs, all of a sudden it's something else. That's just the way it is.
XX1090 TV
Will Venable and Chris Young on Must Win Game
Hitless Padres threatening to go out with whimper - CBSSports.com
"Baseball works in funny ways," said Latos, now 0-4 with a 10.13 ERA over his past four starts. "The only way I could honestly put it is, we could be like the Giants and go and change our whole lineup, put guys with 'San Francisco Giants' across their jerseys. We didn't.
Latos comments draw quick rebuttal
"It's asinine to say, 'We're a close-knit group and this is our team,' " Ross said. "Every team goes out at the trading deadline and tries to make a deal. It's very rare for an organization to say, 'We don't need any improvements. We're as good as we're going to be.' Every team looks to improve, whether it's one, three or five guys.
Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | CHC@SD: Venable makes a leaping grab at the wall - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia
Daily Recap: The Friars took care of the Cubs and kept themselves in the playoff picture, with Will Venable's spectacular leaping grabs
PADRES: Young's pitching, Venable's defense keep playoff hopes alive
"I love it. I love environments like that ---- the crowd, the energy, the intensity," Young said. "Every pitch matters. It's what you play for, and it's a lot of fun to be a part of it. I'm just thankful to have this opportunity. It's unbelievable and, hopefully, there's more to come.
Keep Hope Alive: Padres Blank Cubs
"It was a huge lift for everybody," said Young of the defensive gems, "I think at that point we knew that hey, we’re not going to lose this game."
XX Sports Radio: Tom Garfinkel Interview (MP3)
Scott & BR ask the Padres President to give away 20,000 tickets to get more Padre fans down to Petco Park.

PADRES: Young's pitching, Venable's defense keep playoff hopes alive
I love it. I love environments like that ---- the crowd, the energy, the intensity," Young said. "Every pitch matters. It's what you play for, and it's a lot of fun to be a part of it. I'm just thankful to have this opportunity. It's unbelievable and, hopefully, there's more to come.

Black not surprised by Tejada's tear | padres.com: News
Miguel Tejada is one of the players who continues to swing a hot bat. Heading into Wednesday's game against the Cubs, he is hitting .286 with five home runs and 17 RBIs in September. None of this surprises Bud Black, who saw plenty of Tejada during his seven seasons as the Angels' pitching coach.

Gonzalez clarifies comments about Cubs | padres.com: News
Adrian Gonzalez reiterated on Wednesday that his current focus is on the Padres' playoff push and not switching uniforms, after an article in Tuesday's Chicago Sun-Times that alluded that the All-Star first baseman is interested in playing for the Cubs when he becomes a free agent in 2012.

Gonzalez says Cubs comments "hypothetical" - SignOnSanDiego.com
"If everyone offers me the same contract I’ll definitely stay here," he said.

Padres top Cubs behind Young and Venable, stay in playoff chase - SignOnSanDiego.com
"We could use some help from some other teams," Venable said. "But right now it’s about us taking care of business."

Venable returns to Padres' lineup | padres.com: News
Outfielder Will Venable was back in the lineup on Wednesday, batting leadoff and playing center field after missing the previous two games against the Cubs at PETCO Park with a stiff lower back.

Padres top Cubs, keep playoff hopes intact | padres.com: News
Behind a shutout performance from a platoon of pitchers and a few doses of small ball, the Padres blanked the Cubs, 3-0, on Wednesday.

insidethepadres: Seamhead stuff
Adrian Gonzalez has appeared mentally tired for some two weeks now. Long season, lot on his shoulders.

Young’s performance, Venable backs his clean bill of health " NCTimes.com Blogs
Said Black: "Two days ago (Venable) could barely walk around the clubhouse. But I kept my fingers crossed. They put him right to the test."

Twelve Thoughts: Huff's MVP Chances, Gillick in Wrigleyville, Eckstein -- MLB FanHouse
I've always been able to take the bat to the ball," Eckstein added. "Even when I was an infant, I had a bat in my hands even though my parents really weren't all that into baseball.

Websoulsurfer: Pathetic Team Performance, Pathetic Fans - A San Diego Padres Blog
Well the answer you whiny biotches is maybe when you actually show up to support a playoff caliber team like the one we have been privileged to see play all year.

Padres Trail: Will Venable and Chris Young save the season
San Francisco has a lot more incentive to win than the Dodgers did in 96. Seeing as the Padres have dominated the season series, I would think the last team SF wants to play in the NLCS is San Diego.

Chris Young’s September Stuff | Chicken Friars | A San Diego Padres Blog
So…it’s going to be tough for Young tonight, in what’s likely his final start of the 2010 regular season. He doesn’t have much other than his height, decent command, and guile to navigate the Cubs lineup. Here’s hoping he manages to cobble together a fourth solid start in spite of it.

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Comments

Meanwhile, back in Adrian Gonzalez's Lair of Evil...

Ehhhh, I don't deserve a signature...

by sdchicken on Sep 30, 2010 9:30 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Meanwhile, back in Drama's Flirt Lair...

"When the going gets tough... TheGrandHatching pops in later." -- WG

by TheGrandHatching on Sep 30, 2010 9:44 AM PDT up reply actions 4 recs

Pepé Le Pew

See! Sometimes you gotta take the p*ssy like Pepé!

by Drama on Sep 30, 2010 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions

hahaha

Oh internet, what a wicked web you weave.

by Mad_Villain on Sep 30, 2010 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions

omg thats like rape

"Get your hopes up. That's what hopes are for by the way, to get up. You don't get your hopes down, you get your hopes up." -Jeffrey Tambor

by Ketchup on Sep 30, 2010 10:14 PM PDT up reply actions

How is this not green?

"You're like the nicest internet person I know." - theodore donald kerabatsos

by Jordan_Ming on Oct 1, 2010 12:30 AM PDT up reply actions

Condescending Adrian is condescending

Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.

by John Gennaro on Sep 30, 2010 9:33 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

No kidding.

Bolts from the Blue // "It is what it is." - A.J. Smith
Bloody Elbow // "Richard is a jewel." - Kid Nate

by Richard Wade on Sep 30, 2010 9:39 AM PDT up reply actions

Yes

I’m glad we cleared THAT up.

by scout1222 on Sep 30, 2010 9:43 AM PDT up reply actions

I'm just glad we found out

that it was our fault.

by jbox on Sep 30, 2010 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions

Sorry about talking to the press during a playoff run instead of being smart and keeping our mouths shut.

We’ll do better next time, Adrian, I promise!

/sarcasm.

Ehhhh, I don't deserve a signature...

by sdchicken on Sep 30, 2010 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions

Really

When ISN’T it our fault?

by scout1222 on Sep 30, 2010 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions

I love how now it's OUR fault.

If we won those two games, I don’t think they would have made anything out of it.

Yeah, Adrian we’re pissed because you lost those TWO games…oh, wait. Actually, no. We’re pissed because you’ve lost 21 of your last 33 games.

Did he hire the same PR Consultant as Peavy?

by Drama on Sep 30, 2010 9:58 AM PDT up reply actions

LaDanian Tomlinson to Adrian Gonzalez

Stop stealing my act! Acting like a drama queen outside the sport is my turf, buddy!

"Since we only live once (that we know of) we should focus on enjoying our lives, not stressing to follow every single thing and trend that society impose upon us." - Thom Yorke of Radiohead

by Jonathan Holmes on Sep 30, 2010 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions

If Arizona was ever going to win a game

it better be tonight. There’s a huge difference between needing to sweep SF, and only needing 2/3 to keep playing past Sunday.

My name is Guybrush Threepwood, and I'm a mighty pirate.
"How appropriate! You fight like a cow!"
Faceless slider-tossing goofs FTW.

by Zach (maestro876) on Sep 30, 2010 9:34 AM PDT reply actions

the game is today

at 12:45

and with the early Padres game today – we will know what is ahead of us before dinner time.

"I post like canned meat."

by Hormel on Sep 30, 2010 11:41 AM PDT up reply actions

Gonna be a game-thread here for the SF game?

Probably listen at work today.

This is a terrible thing for the Padres. - Jerry Coleman

by Padres_Hobo on Sep 30, 2010 11:48 AM PDT up reply actions

Right,

It’s our fault for blowing this out of proportion, not you for talking to that asshat from Chi-town, or for droppping 21 of the last 33 games.

This may have been a misunderstanding, but this is quickly looking like LT all over again.

"Since we only live once (that we know of) we should focus on enjoying our lives, not stressing to follow every single thing and trend that society impose upon us." - Thom Yorke of Radiohead

by Jonathan Holmes on Sep 30, 2010 10:40 AM PDT reply actions

I guess I'm in the minority

but the Latos comments bug me more than AG’s.
A 22 year old pitcher with a Sept ERA of 6.50 should not be providing bulletin board material for the Giants. He came across like a crybaby and whiner.

AG seems just guilty of poor timing.

by strummer on Sep 30, 2010 11:41 AM PDT reply actions

Latos was just making a rather accurate observation.

by Darklighter on Sep 30, 2010 11:48 AM PDT up reply actions

What is accurate about it?

The Padres acquired Tejada and Ludwick at the deadline.

I guarantee his whining is already up on the bulletin board in SF.

by strummer on Sep 30, 2010 11:51 AM PDT up reply actions

Latos is a gangster

Let him be. It’s nice to have someone with a little fire on this team. Adrian sure doesn’t, neither do the fans, and Miggy is the only one remotely close to Latos.

It doesn’t bother me one bit. At least there is some truth to it and he isn’t predicting sweep a la Freddy Sanchez.

Mat Latos is the real deal...Go Lakers, Pads, and Bolts

by mrbarneydangles on Sep 30, 2010 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions

I realize I'm in the minority on this one

but it is a pet peeve of mine to give an opponent motivation right before a big series by criticizing them.

by strummer on Sep 30, 2010 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions

It means way more to the fans than the team.

I highly doubt that anything Latos said or could possibly say would make the Giants any more motivated to win their remaining games.

My name is Guybrush Threepwood, and I'm a mighty pirate.
"How appropriate! You fight like a cow!"
Faceless slider-tossing goofs FTW.

by Zach (maestro876) on Sep 30, 2010 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions

I hope you are right

by strummer on Sep 30, 2010 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't see how the weekend's series

could possibly be more important to the Giants than it already was. I mean, if they were just sort of sitting around thinking “meh”, until suddenly they got fired up by Mat’s comments, then they have pretty big issues.

My name is Guybrush Threepwood, and I'm a mighty pirate.
"How appropriate! You fight like a cow!"
Faceless slider-tossing goofs FTW.

by Zach (maestro876) on Sep 30, 2010 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions