The Invitations have been sent out. The rules are being laid out as we speak... Gaslamp Ball's CBSSports.com Commissioner League is up and running! You could always get your own league, or you could follow along with us.

Now here are your contestants and I believe I am looking for two more:

1. jordan_ming and sdsuaztec4

2. TTG (yet to confirm)

3. Axion

4. Wonko

5. Section135 (yet to confirm)

6. JBRO

7. onthemark

8. Padres_Hobo (yet to confirm)

9. Wes (yet to confirm)

10. whithd3 (yet to confirm)

We've had one invitee chicken out. I won't say who it is, other than to say he or she chickened out and I'll leave it at that.

I've also turned on multiple owners, but from what I can tell I have to manually add the second owner myself. Let me know if you have an invite already and a co-owner in mind.

Also, can you not change your team names? If you want a different team name, let me know what it is.

In other news, as commissioner, I have to be an owner, but I'd rather be more of a figurehead than an actual owner. If you would like to manage my team, please let me know.

OK. That's the logistics. I have not set a time for the league draft yet nor have the custom stat categories been finalized. If you still want in, there's still time! Let me know in the comments. If you want to co-manage a team, then you have the list of Gaslamp Ballers who can grant you that wish. Don't be shy. Now's your chance to meet someone new.

***BONUS***

Also, the winner of any league that signs up through Gaslamp Ball will get a FREE T-SHIRT! Now, this is something super crazy exclusive because SB Nation is going to spring for the tees and they will be based on the Gaslamp Ball logo, which is something jbox and I have avoided offering because we like things to be obscure and unadvertised properly. If you sign up for your own CBSSports.com Commissioner League, the winner of your league will get the t-shirt. I'm sure I could work it out so that the commissioner of the league also gets a shirt, but we'll see.

So sign up now! It is the bomb.

OK. Give me a bit to figure out this scoring and talk amongst yourselves a while.

More photos » Lenny Ignelzi - AP

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I'm sitting here eating some fruit snacks.  I wish Fruit Snacks were the official snack of Major League Baseball instead of peanuts and Cracker Jacks.  If I was the baseball commissioner, that's the first change I would make.  After that I'd do away with the mound.

Line up courtesy of the SDPadres twitter:

Durango 8, Eckstein 4, Stairs 3, Torrealba 2, Denorfia 9, Cunningham 7, Forsythe 5, Zawadzki 6, Garland 1

Corey Brock has the pitchers:

The pitchers: Garland will go four innings followed by Thatcher (1), Russell (1), Adams (1) and Stauffer (2).

PSA from PSA are Public Service Announcements from Pad Squad Andre. PSA keeps Gaslamp Ballers informed of happenings that we should know about if we are to spend more time with Pad Squad Andre. -Dex

"The rest of those who have gone before us cannot steady the unrest of those to follow."

William Forrester

My family and I have just returned from a great week in AZ. We saw a lot of games, did not spend very much money and made a lot of great family memories.

The Padres Peoria Ballpark is a great complex. They lowered the price of parking down to $5 and lawn tickets are still just $7. So you guys can see a game for $19.  That is a great value.

I am glad to hear that the Gaslampball Boys are returning to Peoria this year, so I figured I would provide some new tips for their trip. Here are my top 5 and together maybe we can create a top 10.

#5 Do not buy 50 McNuggets for $9.99 if there are only two of you eating them. No person should ever eat more that 20 McNuggets in one sitting.

#4 Gas in AZ is about $.30 cheaper than SD. Plan to fill up in AZ and then do it again before you cross back into CA.

#3 Walk around the concourse area of the Peoria Stadium. Lots of free food, including an awesome Rock Bottom Brewery BBQ sandwich.

#2 Bring some spending money for the Padres store. They have a ton of discounts on items that have the home plate Padres logo.

#1 Go early to the Peoria complex, probably around 9 or 9:30 and watch the Padres practice on fields #1, #2 and #3. This is the best access you will have to talk directly with the players and coaches.

Also, if you decide you want to see another Spring Training facility, I would suggest the Surprise Ballpark. Free parking, inexpensive tickets and a great atmosphere for baseball and just 10 minutes away from the Padres Peoria facility.

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Dex and I are driving out to Spring Training on Friday.  I'm trying to estimate the number of stops we'll need to make in order to properly plan out our schedule.  With my weak bladder and Dex's beef jerky cravings I'm thinking 14 stops seems about right.

Last time I went I flew into Phoenix.  Is there anything good to stop and see on the drive out to Peoria?  I saw that someone mentioned that there are Traffic Cameras that catch speeders in Arizona. That's a helpful hint that I'm glad I found out before the drive.  What else do we need to know? 

Dex was wondering if anybody can recommend any good books on tape that we can download?  We'll probably need a break from playing slug bug for a few minutes.  We favor really sad books on tape, but baseball related books would be nice too.

Who wants souvenirs? If you want us to send you a postcard email us your mailing address and we'll send you one from a truck stop or a brothel.

At this point, since I've run out of things to say, I'll recycle my treasured stories from my last trip to Spring Training two years ago to get you me psyched for this trip.

Gaslamp Ball is headed to Peoria for Spring Training

Spring Training Trip: Part 1, "I'm bored, sad and lonely"

Spring Training: Part 2, "Entering Peoria Stadium, sadness gives way to baseball"

Spring Training: Part 3, "Brooks Conrad Love Fest"

Spring Training: Part 4, "Spring Training is A-O-K"

Spring Training: Part 5, "Champagne Wishes and Cavnar Dreams"

More photos » Lenny Ignelzi - AP

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• XX Sports Radio: Matt Vasgersian Interview (MP3)
  Matty V checked in from Padres spring training for MLB Network's 30 in 30 on why he doesn't like twitter, working w/Peter Gammons & when or if the Padres should trade Adrian Gonzalez.
  
• XX Sports Radio: Anthony Gwynn Jr. Interview(MP3) Part 1 and Part 2
  What can we say- he loves his Aztecs. Tony Gwynn discussed his bet w/Chase Headley, working with Dave Roberts & why he changed his batting stance.

• insidethepadres: KT and LT
  "I'll be another set of eyes and ears for Brian," said Kevin Towers, the self-described Gunslinger. "I'm going to still live in San Diego, but I'll get out and scout. At times, I'll be like an advance scout. Maybe I'll go up to Anaheim to look at the Angels or whoever's in Anaheim. Beyond the scouting, Brian said he'd just like to be able to pick up the phone and get my opinion on things."

• Padres shortstop Cabrera climbed out of poverty - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
  Cabrera said, smiling. "A lot of people love me. I’m very proud that people see me that way."

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More photos » Lenny Ignelzi - AP

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I caught a few innings of the game yesterday and listened to pretty much the whole game on Saturday.  It's been nice watching the Padres offense rally back when they get behind. It's been fun knowing that any moment the team can hang a few runs on the board.

You know what makes me nervous? Girls, quizzes, cats and creepy music. You know what else? Moving the games back to Petco Park.  Is this team better offensively or is this just because they are hitting minor league pitching in a smaller park.?

I admit I'm totally psyched out by Petco Park.  I get real nervous that we are incapable of scoring inside that monstrosity.  It's like an offensive black hole.  Just the thought of watching a season full of 0-1 games makes me feel sick to my stomach.

Hopefully Hoyer and crew have found the right formula for our ballpark.

Here's the line up for tonight courtesy of Corey Brock:

Gwynn 8, Hairston Jr. 4, Gonzalez 3, Blanks 7, Headley 5, Venable 9, Hundley 2, Cabrera 6, Latos 1. Gallagher now Wednesday.

The game will be on Channel 4.

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Bob Scanlan just wrote an impassioned blog post about the danger of the continued use of maple bats.

I understand his frustration, Major League Baseball knows about the problem, but instead of acting on the problem to protect players, umpires and fans they drag their feet.

MLB’s response?  More studies, of course! More studies to investigate the affects of grain angles, moisture content, and wood density.  More committees to review policy on bat handle thicknesses.  More meetings to discuss every option OTHER than obvious, sensible, and prudent solution…banning Maple bats from use in competition.

In 2008 Sandy Alderson was put in charge of a committee of nerds to study the problem to death.  They made nine recommendations and upgraded bat policies were supposed to be put in place by 2009.  Whatever those nine recommendations were, they aren't working.

Scanman continues...

Whatever the reason, it is now beyond simply being short sided and irresponsible – the term now is becoming criminal recklessness.

Here is Gaslamp Ball's unscientific solution to the Maple Bat problem, simply change the rules so that if a bat breaks the batter is out.  Batters will start using different bats real quick when they see their averages fall.

More photos » Charlie Neibergall - AP

"I don't play for the name on the front of my jersey... I have no comment about the name on my sweatshirt."

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The boilerplate response to any questions about the Padres trading away popular players has been the same since the end of the 2009 season.

Moorad tells students his strategy for Padres

"My first and foremost commitment is to the name on the front of the jersey," Moorad said. "I understand that individual players are a critical part of how fans relate to the organization, but I also believe that it’s our responsibility to always do the right thing for the long-term interest of the Padres."

It's not a coincidence that Adrian references the name on the front of his jersey in his comments to CBS Sports.  How can Adrian's comments not be taken as a direct response to Moorad's strategy?

Padres camp report: Gonzalez plays on as trade winds swirl - MLB - CBSSports.com Baseball

"It's sad to say, but having been traded a couple of times, I play for the guys in the clubhouse, the players, Buddy [Black] and his staff," Gonzalez says. "I play in San Diego, but I'm not playing for the name across the jersey. I play for the guys in the clubhouse. You learn that you play for them."

So while I agree with the Sacrifice Bunt that his comments remind me of Peavy's prior to leaving the Padres, I don't think this was a stupid comment. I think it was a calculated comment that he knew would send a message to ownership while not drawing too much ire from San Diego fans.

Maybe Adrian's just blowing off some steam, because he's frustrated.  But make no mistake, the Padres are not signing Gonzalez beyond this contract and Adrian isn't going to sign with the Padres either. I just don't think Adrian wants to play for the Padres another two years, while his value may decline.

Adrian spent his youth traveling back and forth between San Diego and Tijuana, but when it came time for him to choose between the two countries in the World Baseball Classic he chose Mexico twice.  Maybe it's just me, but I've never thought that playing in San Diego meant that much to Adrian.  His loyalties always seemed to lie elsewhere, so when he's described as the perfect player for San Diego, I just don't see it.

He only lived here part time in his early years.  His numbers on the road dwarf those at home so San Diego fans only get to see his excellence on TV during road games. His quiet demeanor hasn't made him much of a spokesman for the ball club and his popularity among fans has never even been close to less talented players like Kevin Kouzmanoff  and Khalil Greene.

Adrian would be a better fit on a team where he didn't need to be a team leader, where he could quietly go about his business without getting too much attention.  As a player with no speed in a ballpark that robs him of hits and home runs and on a team that can't afford his services much longer this seems just about the worst place for him.