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Edgar Gonzalez won't wear new protective batting helmet until he gets one that fits

Fans look on as San Diego Padres Edgar Gonzalez, center, is taken from the field after Gonzalez was hit in head with a pitch  during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies Saturday, July 18, 2009 in San Diego.  (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

More photos » by Denis Poroy - AP

3 months ago: Fans look on as San Diego Padres Edgar Gonzalez, center, is taken from the field after Gonzalez was hit in head with a pitch during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies Saturday, July 18, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Mark Neely and Mark Grant mentioned today that Edgar Gonzalez wasn't wearing the new protective batting helmet.  I hadn't noticed, but apparently he stopped wearing the bigger helmet after it popped off when he tried to avoid a pitch from Dan Haren earlier in the week.

I was so quick to judge Edgar before knowing the whole story.  I thought vanity had reared it's ugly pretty head again, but as usual I was wrong.  Edgar threw insults at the ill fitting helmet on Sign on San Diego:

It wasn't Haren's pitch that bothered the Padres.

It was what happened when Gonzalez jumped back. His new helmet, the one designed to give him more protection, flew off his head. Replays showed the helmet was coming off Gonzalez's head as Haren's fastball sailed by.

"That can't be good," Gonzalez said. "The problem is that it doesn't fit and it sits too high. My hat size is 7 1/8 and the helmet says for sizes 7¼ to 7 3/8. What kind of protective helmet fits several sizes?"

Padres trainer Todd Hutcheson made some changes to the helmet overnight.

"Once it fits properly, Edgar will have more protection," Hutcheson said. "But it rides too far up on his head. It needs to be seated lower and better. It's not his size."

It still strikes me as odd that a Major League Baseball team can't get a helmet that fits the player correctly.  They only got one helmet?  They didn't order it in his size?  They couldn't just put a chin strap on that sucker and get it back in action?

I still think every Padres player should be wearing these new helmets. 

2 comments  |  0 recs |

Padres lay down against the Pirates 5-1

"Go out there and relax. Do you hear me? Take it easy out there! RELAX!" (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

More photos » by Gene J. Puskar - AP

"Go out there and relax. Do you hear me? Take it easy out there! RELAX!" (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Let me think about this. Record-wise, the Pirates are the second worst team in baseball. They've lost 8 of their last 10. And yet, they throw five up on us like it ain't no thing?

If the Padres are going to be competitive in 2010, they need to learn how to not only play up to their competition, but not come back down against a team who they should be able to beat handily. That is my strategic advice.


Final - 9.18.2009 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
San Diego Padres 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 0
Pittsburgh Pirates 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 X 5 7 0
WP: Charlie Morton (4 - 8)
LP: Tim Stauffer (4 - 7)

Complete Coverage >


10 comments  |  0 recs

Around the Mission: 9/18 Padres Links

Padres pitching is a bunch of clinical giants via media.signonsandiego.com

Padres pitching is a bunch of clinical giants via media.signonsandiego.com

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Around the Mission: 9/17 Padres Links

San Diego Padres' Everth Cabrera (1) is mobbed by his team after hitting the game winning RBI single in the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009 in San Diego.  Luis Durango scored on the play and the Padres won 6-5.  (AP Photo/Chris Park)

More photos » by Chris Park - AP

about 1 month ago: San Diego Padres' Everth Cabrera (1) is mobbed by his team after hitting the game winning RBI single in the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009 in San Diego. Luis Durango scored on the play and the Padres won 6-5. (AP Photo/Chris Park)

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Padres beat the Diamondbacks 6-5 in the 10th!

San Diego Padres' Edward Mujica delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Chris Park)

More photos » by Chris Park - AP

about 1 month ago: San Diego Padres' Edward Mujica delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Chris Park)

I will fully admit that I had gotten a head start on a post talking about how we got swept by the Diamondbacks.

I will also fully admit that I have no idea who Luis Durango is, and yet, he came in and he contributed and now I am gay for him.

I also will admit that when Heath Bell was in during the 9th, I figured a guaranteed loss, and his mere presence is what prompted me to get a head start on posting the L post.

Adrian Gonzalez is awesome. Eric Byrnes thinks he has a future in Hollywood. Luis Durango, on the basis of his one steal, is like the fastest guy I've ever seen.


Final - 9.15.2009 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Arizona Diamondbacks 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 4 8 0
San Diego Padres 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 1
WP: Dan Haren (14 - 8)
SV: Juan Gutierrez (5)
LP: Heath Bell (5 - 4)

Complete Coverage >


32 comments  |  0 recs |

Around the Mission: 9/16 Padres Links Part II

Baby faced Heath Bell.  Now he just has to get rid of that camo undershirt.  via sandiego.padres.mlb.com

Baby faced Heath Bell. Now he just has to get rid of that camo undershirt. via sandiego.padres.mlb.com

8 comments  |  0 recs

Around the Mission: 9/16 Padres Links

San Diego Padres pitcher Heath Bell, left, looks into the outfield as Arizona Diamondbacks' Mark Reynolds, right, rounds the bases after hitting a two-run homer during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009 in San Diego. The Diamondbacks won 4-2.  (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

More photos » by Denis Poroy - AP

about 1 month ago: San Diego Padres pitcher Heath Bell, left, looks into the outfield as Arizona Diamondbacks' Mark Reynolds, right, rounds the bases after hitting a two-run homer during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009 in San Diego. The Diamondbacks won 4-2. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

6 comments  |  0 recs

2010 San Diego Padres Schedule Breakdown

I finally had a chance to look over the 2010 schedule. Let's see what we uncover:

April

We start out with a 6 game road trip in Arizona and Colorado. MLB must be making a bid to make Opening Day a National Holiday because it's on a Monday and there's a start time of 2:10 PM Pacific. Why would they do that unless they assumed we'd be able to get the day off to watch the game? They must have thought that through.

We then come home for a nice 9 game series. No travel day after Colorado, but the Padres can get their rest during one of those annoying days off in the middle of a series. Just so we know it's not just us, I just looked at theBraves schedule and, while they start at home, they get the day off in the middle of their opening series before immediately travelling to San Francisco and then down to San Diego (back to back day games) and then they get another middle of the series break. 

May

The notable thing here is the 13 game stretch where we'll be in SF (after a 3 game series in Houston and a travel day), home against Dodgers for 3, home against SF for 2, away for the Dodgers for 2, and then at Seattle for 3. Maybe not the worst stretch we've ever had travelwise, but still.

June

Not a lot to note except that we go from Philly to New York (Mets) on subsequent dates for night games. There's a nice homestand in June against Seattle, Toronto and Baltimore. We then move on to Tampa after that. I'm hoping that's a good homestand for Padrs fan representation, pulling our hated North East rivals, the Canadian team and Baltimore, who nobody roots for.

One other interesting thing to note is that while the NL West draws the AL East for interleague play, we don't face the Yankees or Red Sox. Tampa I'm guessing will be more like 2009 Rays as opposed to 2008, Baltimore is Baltimore and Toronto is a wild card. Still, if we're competitive next season, and if the Yankees and Red Sox are reloaded and dangerous, that may turn out to be a nice little break for our guys.

July

We get Fourth of July at home against Houston. 1:05PM start time for the fourth so go watch your fireworks somewhere else (or the night before most likely). 

A roadtrip in Washington and Colorado finishes our All-Star Break.

August

August is our month on the road. Ten games at home and nineteen on the road (19! The Tower ya ken) By then, we'll either be so sick of the team that we'll be glad to see them go, or we'll be anxiously hovering by our televisions and radios, hoping our boys come home safe.

September

Start off with a 10 game homestand against the Giants, Rockies and Dodgers. This is where we get well or play spoiler. And then a 10 game road trip at Colorado, St. Louis (for 4!) and Los Angeles.

We end September with 4 at home against the Cubs. Much nicer to play the Cubs at home towards the end of the season when most of the vacationers are back to school. Any Cubs fans that show up during that series will be transplants who we can freely heckle  with things like, "If your city's so great, why do you want to be so far away from it?"

October

The season ends with 3 in San Francisco.

**********

Overall, there appear to only be a few annoying spots in the schedule and a quick check of a few other schedules makes me believe that the Padres aren't worse off than others. In some ways (the AL East scheduling), we may actually pull an advantage. I wish we could start the season off at home, but at least there aren't any "home for 3" bits to it.

So when do you want to plan some Gaslamp Ball Meetups? 

17 comments  |  0 recs |

Padres lose 4-2, Heath Bell not holding it down

Manny Pacquiao threw out the first pitch and then punched his fist through a batting helmet to demonstrate the need for improved safety equipment. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

More photos » by Denis Poroy - AP

Manny Pacquiao threw out the first pitch and then punched his fist through a batting helmet to demonstrate the need for improved safety equipment. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Well, my bold prediction of a Padres win did not come through and you know who was responsible? That's right. Heath Bell. Again.

Bell gave up a home run in the 9th to Mark Reynolds with the score tied. Is anybody else worried about Heath not holding it down in the ninth? Is anybody worried that next year's Padres will be able to beat "good" teams, but then play down to bad teams? Is anybody even paying attention anymore?


Final - 9.15.2009 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Arizona Diamondbacks 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 4 8 0
San Diego Padres 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 1
WP: Dan Haren (14 - 8)
SV: Juan Gutierrez (5)
LP: Heath Bell (5 - 4)

Complete Coverage >


9 comments  |  0 recs

Ouija Board interviews, flesh eating bacteria and ghosts

Jeff Moorad High School Photo???

Jeff Moorad High School Photo???

  • I was thinking last night that a good weekly feature for Gaslamp Ball would be us interviewing spirits about the Padres using a Ouija board.  If I were reading a baseball blog that's exactly the kind of thing I'd want to read.  Two dudes with their hands on a planchette talking to dead people about baseball.  Maybe even summoning deceased Padres.  The problem is that I've heard too many scary stories about people opening themselves up to demonic attacks by using Ouija boards.  No thank you.
  • As soon as I heard that Kyle Blanks had heel pain way back at the beginning of August, I knew his season was over.  I knew because I got me a case of the Plantar Fasciitis last Spring.  I thought I got mine from a dirty mattress in the orient, but after reading everything on the internet I found that you can't catch it that way.   Plantar Fascia takes forever to heal, especially since people have a hard time staying off their feet.  Some people suffer from it for years and even decades.  It doesn't help either when you weigh the same amount as a baby elephant.
  • Speaking of "fasciitis"... did you hear that Jeff Moorad got himself a case of necrotizing fasciitis 12 years ago?  It's a viscous flesh eating disease.  It has to be treated aggressively within the first 72 hours or you're dead.  He obviously survived and he took inventory on his life and decided from that day until his last that he wanted to own baseball teams.
  • I emailed Pad Squad Andre to see if he had heard the rumors that Petco Park was haunted.  He told me that it was good to hear from me, which wasn't even close to an answer to my question.
  • We should talk more, this was fun wasn't it?

6 comments  |  0 recs


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