At Tuesday nights game we had an impromptu Gaslamp Ball Tweet-up.  We got on twitter and asked if any followers were going to be at the game and when people started responding we decided that we should meet up or...tweet up out at the Tony Gwynn Statue right as the 6th inning started.  We were a little late getting over there, but the tweet-up was a success because people actually showed up. 

Look here, we got our picture taken:

Everybody was real nice and very knowledgeable about the Padres.  Though things got a little out of control towards the end when out of nowhere, the Impromptu Tweet-Up turned into an impromptu hill rolling festival featuring xtina and matto619.

This is how we roll!

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Tony Gwynn Jr.

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• Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | Gwynn talks about the joys of playing for the Padres - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia
  Tony Gwynn Jr. talks about playing for his hometown team

• Friar John's Blog: K.T. to fly with the Blue Angels
  "I consider myself a military buff," Towers said. "I like to read a lot of miliary magazines, and I have the utmost respect for those who serve in jets and on aircraft carriers. To be in the back of an F-18 Hornet with the top aviators in the world, it's exciting."

• Black expects staff to stay intact - SignOnSanDiego.com
  "It's pretty safe to say they'll all be back if they want to return," said Black, who himself has had his contract extended through the end of the 2010 season.

• Ramos helps keep Dodgers' celebration on ice - SignOnSanDiego.com
  "To pitch against that team and work against that lineup, I was pretty nervous that first inning. But this is great.

• PADRES: Party Poopers
  "We're not in the hunt. It's fun to go out and hurt them ---- to disrupt their chances."

• PADRES NOTES: Rookie Blanks glad to give his boot the boot
  "I'll definitely be more personally aware of what I'm doing," Blanks, who hit .250 with 10 homers and 22 RBIs, said Tuesday. "I'll be doing some more exercises to make sure for precautionary reasons so that it doesn't happen again. ... There's no 100 percent insurance that it can't happen again, but anything that can help with that, I'm more than willing to do."

• LA native Ramos helps deny Dodgers | padres.com: News
  Kevin Kouzmanoff broke a tie with an RBI single in the sixth inning on Tuesday to help lift the Padres to a 3-1 victory over the Dodgers at PETCO Park.

• Kouzmanoff returns after long layoff | padres.com: News
  Never in his wildest imagination did Kevin Kouzmanoff think he would miss 17 games when he was felled by a strained calf on Sept. 8 against the Giants.

• Richard set for final start of season | padres.com: News
  In his last start, Padres pitcher Clayton Richard finished fast, tossing five shutout innings against the Rockies after allowing a three-run home run in the first inning. Richard will attempt to finish fast in a different way on Wednesday, when he makes his final start of the season against the Dodgers at PETCO Park.

• Friars offer 'Shirts Off Their Backs' | padres.com: News
  Gone are the days when Jim Saxton had to peddle scratcher tickets for the Padres annual "Shirts Off Their Backs," the fund-raiser that benefits the Padres Foundation for Children.

• XX Sports Radio: Kevin Kouzmanoff (MP3)
  Kouz discussed why it's important for the team to finish strong, not wanting to watch LA clinch @ Petco & what he's taking from this season personally.
• XX Sports Radio: Grady Fuson (MP3)
  VP of Padres Scouting and Player Development discusses the team, injury situations, the Dodgers, and more.

• Padres Notes: Gonzalez, Bell, Latos: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com
  Goldstein quotes one front-office official hailing rookie Mat Latos as a potential ace if his change-up develops more. “Seeing him in person was one of those ‘holy [crap]’ moments,” the official said.

More photos » by Lenny Ignelzi - AP

about 1 month ago: San Diego Padres relief pitcher Heath Bell reacts after striking out the side in the ninth inning to save the Padres' 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, in San Diego. The Padres' victory prevented the Dodgers from clinching the National League West title. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

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If there's one thing we all know and love, it's that beating the Dodgers makes us feel super happy.

if there's another thing that we all know and are slightly weirded out by, it's Heath Bell. Seriously. I'm not the only one who finds Heath Bell mildly creepy for some reason, am I? I'm pretty sure I like the guy, but I wouldn't turn my back on him. There's a wild animal in there somewhere.

More photos » by AARON J. LATHAM - AP

about 1 month ago: San Diego Padres' center fielder Tony Gwynn attempts to catch a hit by the Arizona Diamondbacks' Chad Tracy in the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009 in Phoenix. The hit was reviewed by officials and was ruled a home run. (AP Photo/Aaron J. Latham)

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• PADRES: Club victimized by improbable duo
  "The telling tale of today's game, we couldn't finish off an inning to get a third out. They got key hits today, from some guys that are not in the middle of their order," Padres manager Bud Black said.

• Gonzalez hits homer No. 40 in loss | padres.com: News
  Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run shot -- his 40th home run of the season -- in the fourth inning of the Padres' 7-4 loss to the D-backs at Chase Field on Sunday.

• Padres head home to close season | padres.com: News
  The Padres head to San Diego for a five-game homestand, which opens on Tuesday against the playoff-bound Dodgers, who are in town for a pair of games. The Giants then come for a three-gamer to end the season.

• D-backs' late slam does in Padres | padres.com: News
  Chad Tracy's grand slam, a solid drive to right-center field off reliever Luke Gregerson, paved the way for an 8-5 D-backs win over the Padres on Saturday night.

• Padres' starters set through Friday | padres.com: News
  Padres manager Bud Black has set up his starting pitching for the next four games, including right-hander Edward Mujica in Sunday's road-schedule closer against the D-backs at Chase Field.

• Hurt by disputed home run, Padres falter in road finale - SignOnSanDiego.com
  "I'm pleased the umpires got together and reviewed it," Black said. "They looked at it from three angles. It was inconclusive to me, although I think Tony might have been able to make a great play."

• Ramos to get his first big league start - SignOnSanDiego.com
  "We're going to skip Tim to take a look at Cesar," Padres manager Bud Black said yesterday.

• Compadres Club Card (1996) " .400 in '94
  This current Frequent Friar BS is lame.

• Chase Headley and the Art of the Comp
  When will Chase Headley show a decent amount of power? Or will he ever?

• Darren & Marty Are Officially Losers
  My official site is twitter.com/Marty1090 so if you want to follow what The Darren Smith Show is up to, feel free to follow.

• SDFriarFan sent me pictures.  He thought that Buckner might have had pine tar on his wrist that he was using between pitches.  It looks more like a birthmark to me.  You be the judge!

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The date was September 28th, 2003, the last time the Padres would play in Qualcomm Stadium. We scored some tickets in the first row on the first base line. I thought I'd share some of Jonny Dub's pictures from that day.

I don't remember too much about the game, I remember all the festivities though. Apparently Jake Peavy pitched too.  A ton of Padres players from our history showed up and took their place on the field wearing their jerseys. Ken Caminiti got huge cheers. Tony Gwynn threw out the last pitch to Bruce Bochy. Mike Darr tragically died during spring training and Gary Matthews Jr. and Phil Nevin carried his son off the field on their shoulders.

Here's the Ducksnorts' post from that day to refresh your own memory.

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

2 months ago: San Diego Padres' Tony Gwynn, Jr., follows the flight of his RBI-single against the Colorado Rockies in the eighth inning of the Padres' 5-4 victory in a baseball game on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009 in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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• Gregerson's first save no act of piracy - SignOnSanDiego.com
  As teammates offered congratulations, Gregerson was dressing himself as a "pirate hooker." He was not alone. Fourteen Padres rookies dressed in costumes in a ritual almost as much a part of baseball as Opening Day. Best of show: Luis Perdomo, who nailed his role as Tinkerbell.

• Gregerson punctuates series victory | padres.com: News
  Waiting for Gregerson at his locker was a female pirate outfit that was part of the Padres' annual rookie hazing event, where players dress in costumes that are as uncomfortable as they are unbecoming.

• Correia in command to close out year | padres.com: News
  Kevin Correia had already impressed the Padres' brass in his first season in San Diego, but he's pitching even better as the end of the year nears.

• Bell not satisfied with 40-save plateau | padres.com: News
  "To me, this year is a disappointment," Bell said.

• Unfinished Business: Saving The Game
  Thankfully, Heath was unavailable, and Luke Gregerson pitched the bottom of the ninth. I trust Luke a lot more than Heath right now, that's for sure.

• The Sacrifice Bunt: A San Diego Padres Blog " Blog Archive " "I don’t know if we need to do a lot this winter"
  The Padres Pythagorean record puts them at 63-90. Paints a different picture than their current actual 70-83 record, huh?

• PADRES: Hundley helps put crimp in Rockies' postseason hopes
  "It's big for this young club," infielder David Eckstein said. "We are a club that wants to shoot for those clubs and be there next year."

• Friar John's Blog: Affordability the theme of Padres ticket pricing in 2010
  As part of the streamlining of the ticketing proces, the Premium and Advanced pricing will be eliminated. Season ticket holders will find a more flexible payment-plan structure.

• Padres create affordability for 2010 tix | padres.com: News
  Holding true to a mantra that they want to "create affordability," the Padres announced on Thursday that a majority of their tickets for 2010 will either be reduced or remain at the pricing level they were this season.

• Cheaper tickets coming in 2010 - SignOnSanDiego.com
  19,676 individual game tickets will be priced at $21 and below and 8,095 individual game tickets will be priced at $14 and below.

• XX Sports Radio: Bob Scanlan talks baseball (MP3)

Look of contender emerging, Towers says

"We could be the 2010 Giants," Towers said. "I think we have the opportunity to go from 70 wins (a number they reached last night) to above .500 and contending for a playoff spot next season."

The 2010 Giants!?  You mean we could be 9 games out of first place at the end of the season with no chance at the wild card?   Okay I realize that Towers is talking about the Giants improving themselves from 2008 to 2009 and that it's better than being 21.5 games out of first place, but the Padres always seem so satisfied and pleased with themselves when they "contend" and are barely above .500.  You think champions talk this way?

Please tell me that Towers and the rest aren't satisfied with being in the hunt and the ability to play spoiler for real playoff caliber teams in September.  That was the message that we always got from the John Moores era: 

"The goal is to play meaningful games in September," he said. "Unfortunately for us, and fortunately, the West is quite competitive.

I thought things had changed.

I see real promise in this club but I was really hoping that they wouldn't just rest on the laurels.

"I don't know if we need to do a lot this winter," said the general manager

This current team has played good baseball for a month and a half, but I am not at all confident that they can play this well over the course of a full season.  I guess they see something that I don't.

I didn't expect Towers to crown this team as 2010 World Champions when interviewed, but I don't like him thinking his job is done because the team could be like the Giants.  That's the not the goal!

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

2 months ago: San Diego Padres manager Bud Black, second from left, rubs the ball after pulling starting pitcher Tim Stauffer, left, as catcher Nick Hundley, third from right, and second baseman David Eckstein, right, look on in the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies in a baseball game in Denver on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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• Look of contender emerging, Towers says - SignOnSanDiego.com
  "We could be the 2010 Giants," Towers said. "I think we have the opportunity to go from 70 wins (a number they reached last night) to above .500 and contending for a playoff spot next season."

• Venable cashes in on Headley's at-bat - SignOnSanDiego.com
  "I had to establish some things with Tim," Black explained later.

• Venable, bullpen fill in for Stauffer | padres.com: News
  "It was ... 'bear down, make pitches and get out of this,'" Stauffer said, summarizing the visit with Black. "He got me out of whatever funk I was in."

• PADRES: Venable helps end Rockies' eight-game home win streak
  "That's been the thing that I've been working on the last couple of days, just trying to tighten up the zone a little bit, just wait for the pitch I know I can hit," Venable said.

• E-Gone: It's been a tough year for Edgar | padres.com: News
  This season hasn't gone well for Edgar Gonzalez, who hadn't played nearly as much with stability at shortstop (Everth Cabrera) and after missing 43 games in July and August with a concussion.

• Richard has had his ups and downs | padres.com: News
  Clayton Richard has had his ups and downs since coming over in the deal for Jake Peavy, but he's hoping to capitalize on his last start in the finale.

• Unfinished Business: It's Back...
  Just be ready by Tuesday, Kouz. Even if you don't get to play in Colorado or Arizona. Make sure you can play in front of the home crowd next week!!

XX Sports Radio: Kevin Towers Interview (MP3) with Darren Smith

• Edgar Gonzalez had a similar injury with his shoulder popping out and back in during college.  He said it took him a few days to feel better.
• In the final 10 games, the Padres are trying to keep momentum going into the off season.  The Padres have only lost 3 series in the last 2 months.  They want to perform well against the division leaders.  Towers wants to continue to evaluate the young guys.  The players never give up and are playing hard.  Towers thought Nick Hundley's drive was going to drop last night,  "We very easily we could have one that ball game."
• Colorado is pretty good. It's great that the players are all home grown.  When they played in Petco, every single guy came through their system.  Offensively they are one of the better teams in the NL, Philadelphia and St. Louis are also good.  "Offensively they are very, very good."
• Everth Cabrera still does things to help the Padres win games.  Cabrera talked to Towers about wanting to play winter ball.  Towers thinks he needs a break.
• Wade LeBlanc has developed a cutter, which works against right handed hitters.  He needs fastball command to be successful.  He has a Trevor Hoffman like change up, but the only way it will work is if he develops his fastball.  Towers saw great things from him in college.  His velocity has dropped though.  After a bad few outings, sometimes you want to give up on them but they battle back and you have to be patient.
  
• Towers says Heath Bell will keep getting the opportunity to make saves.  "He certainly hasn't had the success in September that he's had in the last 5 months."  Towers thinks the work load has robbed him of some of his velocity.
• Darren Smith wonders if Heath Bell's physical size and fitness level has caused him problems.  Towers says Bell does a lot of Wii conditioning in the off season and  that "his big strong lower half" makes him successful. He doesn't do a lot of running, but he rides the exercise bike and elliptical.  The Padres don't have a Wii in the club house.
• Jeff Moorad and Tom Garfinkel is going to continue to evaluate the front office and baseball operations.'
• "The way we've played in the last 6 weeks, I'm kind of enjoying watching these guys play.  Hopefully we finish strong."

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

2 months ago: San Diego Padres right fielder Edgar Gonzalez, left, holds his wrist as he leaves the game after injuring himself pursuing a fly ball off the bat of Colorado Rockies' Clint Barmes in the seventh inning of the Rockies' 11-10 victory in a baseball game in Denver on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009. Barmes hit an inside-the-park home run on the play to drive in two runs. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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• Stadiums, hotels attract 'terrorist interest,' feds say - CNN.com
  The Department of Homeland Security and FBI have issued security bulletins to raise awareness regarding "terrorist interest" in attacking sports and entertainment venues as well as luxury hotels.

• Padres lose wild game, E. Gonzalez in Colorado - SignOnSanDiego.com
  The Rockies scored every way imaginable: on the inside-the-park homer, a balk and twice on wild pitches, and they needed every bit of that wacky production.

• PADRES: Edgar Gonzalez separates shoulder
  He rolled over in pain and stayed down as Barmes circled the bases behind Ian Stewart, who had walked. Gonzalez walked off the field holding his left wrist and was replaced by Will Venable. The Padres later said that Gonzalez had a subluxation, or partial separation, of his left shoulder.

• Hacksaw Returns to XX1090
  The Broadcast Company of The Americas is pleased to announce the addition of Lee "Hacksaw" Hamilton to the talent lineup on Double X 1090 Sports Radio. Hamilton’s show will air Monday through Friday from 3pm to 7pm, beginning on Monday, October 5, 2009

• Friars come out swinging, but can't finish | padres.com: News
  Clint Barmes had a two-run inside-the-park home run Tuesday as the Rockies defeated the Padres, 11-10, at Coors Field.

• Edgar leaves with injury for Padres | padres.com: News
  San Diego right fielder Edgar Gonzalez left Tuesday's game in the seventh inning with a partial dislocation of his left shoulder after attempting to catch Clint Barmes' fly ball.

• Kouzmanoff battling tightness in back | padres.com: News
  "I was supposed to run the bases at full speed yesterday in Pittsburgh, but that's when my back started acting up," Kouzmanoff said. "The calf had gotten a lot better. But now it is hard for me to reach down and touch my toes."

• Friars to stick with current five in stretch | padres.com: News
  The Padres won't tinker with their starting rotation over the final 10 games of the regular season while resisting the attraction to look at several young pitchers in a starting capacity over that stretch.

• Agents fire at vans running the border - SignOnSanDiego.com
  This is how I envisioned the outcome of the Padres trying to bus fans from Mexico to games

• LeBlanc heard wake-up call, answered - SignOnSanDiego.com
  “If you can't, major league hitters are going to look for what you think your best pitch is.”

• XX1090 Bud Black Interview (MP3)