An Open Letter from Gaslamp Ball

by Dex on Aug 1, 2007 8:49 AM PDT in News

Dear San Diego Padres Players,

Shut the hell up. You don't know what you're talking about. I don't care if this open letter screws Gaslamp Ball out of any chance of player interviews for the rest of time, but seriously... Kevin Towers and the rest of the front office is not here to make sure that you have a supply of hunting buddies, or drinking buddies, or dancing buddies, or whatever the hell you think you need beyond having teammates who can actually play baseball.

This team is pathetic and I'd forgive it as a slump if you weren't such a bunch of whiny bitches about it. However, since you feel the need to cry and whine like babies in grown man bodies, then you're going to get treated like babies in grown man bodies.

Shut the hell up.

Why, pray tell, am I reading articles like this?

Six days after seeing set-up man Scott Linebrink shipped to Milwaukee, Hoffman tried his best not to second-guess the front office.

"It doesn't really serve a purpose, other than there's chaos in the clubhouse, and that's not a good thing, either,'' Hoffman said.

Additionally, San Diego -- 7-10 since the break -- fired hitting coach Merv Rettenmund and replaced him with former Padres first baseman Wally Joyner.

"Today's kind of caught a lot of people off guard,'' Hoffman said. "There's a bit of scrambling around, not really knowing what happened or why. I think it forces you to just kind of keep your head down and focus on what you can do to improve the club personally.''

Trevor, you're the greatest. You're one of my favorite players of all time. Terrific guy and I understand that you're frustrated, but seriously... This is not what we need to be reading. Why in the world would anybody even consider firing the hitting coach when the team can't hit? I mean, after all... Merv was a great guy. Great guys deserve to be hitting coaches.

WRONG. People who can get players to hit deserve to be hitting coaches. Merv, appreciate the effort, but get your non-teaching-hitting-ass the hell away from this team.

Also, regarding Linebrink... Trevor, I know that when the team looks like it's up for a save situation, you go take a shower in the 8th. I know this because you've said it. What you don't realize is that when you go into the shower, Scott Linebrink gives up the lead. Sure, there have been a couple games where Linebrink gives up the lead and the Padres manage to come back and we're still able to pull out a save, but still... Linebrink blew the lead.

And these weren't 1 run leads in games where the other team was right in it. These were multiple run leads. These were games where the other team was getting beat.

And regarding Cruz. Who cares if he's gone? He was a journeyman that we got one good month out of and now he's done. Good luck in future endeavors. You're welcome to the house at Thanksgiving. You have no business on this team anymore. And for people who are upset that it isn't Sledge gone, I say, seriously who cares? Would it hurt less if Sledge was gone too? Fine. Get rid of him also. I can't believe that we're being critical of the order in which we bail out on suckass players.

I think non-players put way too much stock in a happy clubhouse. I could give a rats ass if that clubhouse is happy. Am I in it? Do I have to hang out with these people? I don't care if they're happy losers. I care if I'm happy and I'm happy if the team is a winner. I'm considerably unhappy to learn that the Padres would rather have their good buddies in grab ass distance as opposed to getting players who will improve on the recent crap display.

In conclusion: The Padres need to quit being so gay for each other and actually play some baseball. Nobody's going to tolerate another July.

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Finally

Some fire and anger from Dex. Good to see. And I agree one hundred percent with every word. They need to get their crap together and start winning games.

by Winfield's Ghost on Aug 1, 2007 8:52 AM PDT reply actions

I'm glad you wrote this

what boggles me more is something I said in another post, other years this same team is bitching we don't do anything. And then they bitch we do something.

by bktabinga on Aug 1, 2007 8:53 AM PDT reply actions

Hearing

Peavy and Hoffman bitch about moves yesterday was frustrating. These are the team leaders? Say some nice words about the guys that got dropped and then move on.

by jbox on Aug 1, 2007 9:13 AM PDT reply actions

fill in the blanks

The (blank) ace told the (hometown paper) this about management: "I'm not surprised. That's exactly how they are. That's why we're never going to go beyond where we've gone."

He didn't stop there, venting his frustrations at length and at one point saying "Why waste time when you're talking about something that's always going to be like that? It's never going to be beyond this point. It doesn't make any sense for me to be here, you know?"

So, basically, the trading deadline moves piss players off. always. moves or no moves. i've wanted to quit jobs when they fired the cute girl in human resources who was the lone bright spot in the day. i get it. but these people are professional baseball players who probably slept with that human resources girl and 6 of her friends in the last week on sheets woven of hundred dollar bills.

i hope the padres don't start blaming the front office for their july collapse. we are in a tight division race. we need to win baseball games. that's it.

also, the 'blanks' were johan santana talking about the twins. everyone everywhere is pissed. great. now get back to baseball.

by goose1 on Aug 1, 2007 9:13 AM PDT reply actions

A little harsh, Dex

This team is not "pathetic." 2002-03 were pathetic.

I understand your frustration, but your hyperbole is strained. Try to understand the players' frustrations, too. Their expectations are probably higher than even yours.

by Spec20 on Aug 1, 2007 9:32 AM PDT reply actions

Acting like babies

has nothing to do with expectations.

by Winfield's Ghost on Aug 1, 2007 9:39 AM PDT up reply actions

The one key guy they lost was Linebrink

and suddenly the team is in disarray. I don't get this team.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Hoffman is still there...Peavy is still there, AGO is still there, Kouz is still there, Cameron is still there, CY is still there, Khalil is still there, and the list goes on.

Who got traded, Linebrink.
Who got released of note, Cruz jr, Branyan. If your team was built on the contributions and personalities of these guys, then they got problems.

by bktabinga on Aug 1, 2007 9:41 AM PDT up reply actions

Totally agree

well said.

by jbox on Aug 1, 2007 9:44 AM PDT up reply actions

What's "pathetic"

1. Team goes into a slump.
2. Management makes moves.
3. Team whines that they liked that guy and it doesn't make sense that it would help a team by getting rid of such nice people.

All that adds up to pathetic. Kevin Towers is not eHarmony. He's not in the business of finding perfect matches for these people and they shouldn't be in the business of whining when they realize that their performances are *gasp* actually being judged. I don't take back what I said. This team... right now... from everything I've seen and read... Is pathetic. They're rich. They're talented. They have the best intentions in mind. They're also pathetic.

by Dex on Aug 1, 2007 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions

What's Pathetic

Shelling out $7K in season tickets and another $3K for playoffs and having no faith we are going to win after the 3rd inning if we give up a run.

Tell Hoffman to shut the hell up, $7K may be walking around money for one of his kids, but for me it is a BIG financial commitment and I want to see a good product out there.

I am tired of this team having terrible at-bats, swinging at the first pitch after the pitcher has thrown 12 straight balls. Failing to bring in the runner from 3rd with no outs. Blamming the umpire after every bad call.

Champions figure out what needs to be done and then do it.

We are going no where with these crybabies. If its not the park, the umpire, then its the managment taking away their friends.

And another thing, if two teams played 10 games in the grand canyon, do you know who would win? The better team, that's who. The better team always wins in the long run no matter where they played.

"Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"

by Ron Mexico on Aug 1, 2007 11:06 AM PDT up reply actions

I can't argue with that.

Sometimes I get caught up in liking players and it's easy to overlook that they suck and what I want is a winning team not a bunch of guys who are just extra colorful personalities. Hopefully the players will reach a similar epiphany and quit moping around and start worrying about winning that day's game.

"I miss you, Junior Cheo."

by TheThirdGonzalez on Aug 1, 2007 9:48 AM PDT reply actions

ditto

that was very well written dex. as much as i liked cheo because he was sexy and because he had "return of the mack" as his at-bat music, i'm basically over it. actually i'm over everything that happened yesterday and july.

i just wanna win dammit!

"i kinda feel like nevin and klesko were some fling we (the padres) had in the past and now realize were a bad idea and are embarrassed about."

by freelunch on Aug 1, 2007 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions

the team's mood

this is in reaction to Hoffman and Blum. while i agree the team shouldn't bitch every year, this is a team that always seems one big bat away from going deep into the playoffs. granted, that bat isn't on the market every year and doesn't always fill the right hole, but i think morale has dropped because the players are thinking that at the end of the year they'll be looking back at the team and again saying "we were one big bat away from doing something special."

most of this team has been here the last 3-4 years and has seen the building of great chemistry, a fabulous bullpen, a really good rotation and has seen the offensive struggles. they've also seen visiting teams come in with the big bats and destroy us.

there's still time to do something like this:

Kouzmanoff
2 good pitching prospects
for
Glaus

and we'd end up with a lineup that has gonzalez, Bradley and Glaus hitting back-to-back-to-back. you're telling me that move doesn't excite the hell out of the team? doesn't make them look around and go "you know what? we can win on any given night by offense or pitching or both!" sure it does. that's all they want, a little excitement.

by John Gennaro on Aug 1, 2007 10:09 AM PDT reply actions

are you kidding

we could pick up Alex Rodriguez for say, Khalil Greene and this team would mutiny. Really, this team is more concerned about San Diego bar visits after the game and who they hang out with then winning.

by bktabinga on Aug 1, 2007 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions

from what i've read

most of the comments, even Hoffman's, are "we made a bunch of moves, but it doesn't appear we improved at all." so they're in a situation where they haven't improved AND they're losing their friends.

the number 1 priority of this team is winning, i'm sure of it. if we traded khalil straight up for arod, you'd see a lot of interviews of "i can't wait to see him cranking homers for us" and "you hate to see khalil go, but i think the team improved overall with this move." not only that, you'd see the team excited on the field.

by John Gennaro on Aug 1, 2007 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions

Exactly

I think the players reactions would have been tempered if they thought the guys they got in return were going to help them win. They are seeing their friends let go and not seeing much in the way of impact coming back. They should still keep their mouths shut, though. But it's more of a statement about the guys coming in, rather than their "grab ass" buddies who got axed. They just don't believe Ens and Mack are the answer, so why not keep our buddies around if that's the kind of deal you're going to make? I don't think they're right, E & M are a slight upgrade, but they're reacting emotionally, not rationally. No one handed them a stat sheet and told them these guys are slightly less pathetic than the guys they let go, they just heard about the moves and said "Who?" To them it smacks of the team making moves for the sake of making moves, and their friends are getting cut as a result. If a name guy had been brought in (don't ask me who, just making a point), someone the players had heard of and had a track record, there would have been excitement instead of the heartlessness Blum spoke of. They do value winning above grab ass, I think. They just want to be sure that if they have to sacrifice the grab ass, it's for a good cause, and the moves the team made didn't convince them of that.

Padres for life

by sdgaucho on Aug 1, 2007 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions

The problem with that

is that if you bitch about it publicly - which they've done - is that it sends a pretty crappy message to the new guys coming in. And if the guys had done their job - win games - the front office wouldn't have to move for a shakeup. But bottom line, they have not been getting it done. They've pissed away an excellent opportunity to be the frontrunners in the division and instead of grousing about those missed opportunities, they've decided to whine about missing their friends.

I get what you're saying - but it would've been nice for one of the team's leaders to step up and say "You know what? This isn't much fun, but this is what happens when we don't do our jobs. We need to play better baseball and win games."

And for the record - they could all take a lesson from Ensberg on how to handle a trade. He was pretty stand up about failing in Houston and understanding why they let him go. I'm sure it didn't feel very good, but he was a professional about it.

I'd like to see that rub off in the Pads clubhouse.

by Winfield's Ghost on Aug 1, 2007 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Agree

A statement of accountability would have been nice, or just keep your mouths shut and play. We know you value winning over who your shower buddy is, but your performance hasn't reflected that. Really I think Trevor knows this, he was just emotional. Look for him or someone to reach out to Mack and Ens.

Padres for life

by sdgaucho on Aug 1, 2007 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions

I would like to get Glaus

But I wouldn't want to give up a good 3B prospect (Kouz) AND two good pitching prospects to get a guy who makes 12 million a year. Instead, we got Morgan Ensberg, whose career percentages (.266, .367, .475) are about the same as Glaus's (.254, .358, .502), but instead the Padres are paying him next to nothing, and don't have to give up any pitching prospects or Kouz.

Glaus is having a much better year than Ensberg, but it's also the first year he's had a batting average higher than .258 since 2000! Meanwhile, Ensberg's lowest batting average from 2003-2005 was .275. In 2006, a bad average year for Ensberg, he still had a .396 OBP, which would easily be the best of any Padres regular this year other than Giles/Bradley.

Am I saying Ensberg is better than Glaus? No. But based on his track record, I think this is a much better deal because we get to keep those three players that we'd be paying to get Glaus for 1 1/2 years.

"Winfield's head hits the wall! It's rolling toward second base!" - Jerry Coleman

by metalsupplier on Aug 1, 2007 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions

wow

good job on swaying me over to your way of thinking. i still think this team needs a punch in the arm somewhere along the line, and i don't know where it's coming from.

by John Gennaro on Aug 1, 2007 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions

I think we should trade Blum and Hoffman

get there whinning asses out of here.

"Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"

by Ron Mexico on Aug 1, 2007 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions

Was Blum whining?

I didn't listen to it but from what I read it seemed like he was just giving a status report on what he observed. He seemed like he was personally content.

Ah, for the days that we complained about our two hit victories...

by TheThirdGonzalez on Aug 1, 2007 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions

I don't think so

I think he's just happy to have a job.

by jbox on Aug 1, 2007 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions

Trade Peavy too.

He was gettin' his cry on.

Ah, for the days that we complained about our two hit victories...

by TheThirdGonzalez on Aug 1, 2007 11:29 AM PDT up reply actions

Excuse me!?

You better take that back. I know you like him.

by padresgirlforlife44 on Aug 1, 2007 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions

No no no no

It was a joke- the point being that I don't want to see Trevor go anywhere either.

Of course I like him; he's Jake Peavy!

Ah, for the days that we complained about our two hit victories...

by TheThirdGonzalez on Aug 1, 2007 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions

When I read what you said

I actually said outloud "Excuse me?!" Now none of you have ever heard my voice but it is very...jokey, I guess. At least the way I said that was. High-pitched and went up in tone at the end.

I was hoping it was a joke because if I remember correctly, you do like Jake. So basically, I was joking too.

Like we have said before, sarcasm and joking doesnt come through well on the internet.

by padresgirlforlife44 on Aug 1, 2007 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions

jokey "excuse me"

You should've spelled it, "EH. SKEWS. ME!? Oh hell to tha no-no-no!"

by Dex on Aug 1, 2007 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Im not that clever

enough to spell something in video game terms

by padresgirlforlife44 on Aug 1, 2007 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions

another spelling

You could've been like... "Ah SQUEEZE ME?"

This is what I do. I try to figure out ways to say things so that it reads like the way I'm saying it with my facial expressions and stuff... I'm not great at it yet, but I'm practicing.

ex-cuuuuuuuuuse me!

by Dex on Aug 1, 2007 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions

ok

ill try next time. :)

by padresgirlforlife44 on Aug 1, 2007 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Ahhh....

nothing like a nice vent after a month of &^%&^%(*%#$@#@$

by LJbumfool on Aug 1, 2007 10:40 AM PDT reply actions

Well put

AMEN

by poisoneye on Aug 1, 2007 11:02 AM PDT reply actions

Hypocrisy?

It is pretty funny that a blog would object to players expressing opinions...

by Spec20 on Aug 1, 2007 11:46 AM PDT reply actions

The way I see it

their opinions being voiced aloud in a public forum was detrimental to team morale and basically one big cold shoulder to the new guys. Mackowiak didn't want to come here in the first place; he'll really be thrilled to suit up beside guys who don't even want him there. Now that I mention it, he should have kept his mouth shut, too.

Ah, for the days that we complained about our two hit victories...

by TheThirdGonzalez on Aug 1, 2007 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions

If you're comparing a blog to a MLB organization..

..that's an incredibly weak comparison.

by Winfield's Ghost on Aug 1, 2007 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions

No kidding.

We're much more professional in here.

by Drama on Aug 1, 2007 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah

I never complained when we waived Smooth Jazz Man. I just put my head down and kept on working.

by Winfield's Ghost on Aug 1, 2007 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Hey, they were upset when Vinny

Castilla was canned. Another great clubhouse guy. F them and bring in some grumpy jerks that can hit!

by planetjeffy on Aug 1, 2007 12:05 PM PDT reply actions

Bitching...

They also bitched when they let Eric Young go.

by Drama on Aug 1, 2007 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions

They screamed when Mirabelli was traded

screamed with joy. Good job KT. Got to trust you on the moves, though you know pitching and not hitting.

by planetjeffy on Aug 1, 2007 12:23 PM PDT reply actions

Here's my point...

I don't think the players will play less hard because of the trades. Your assumption that bitching equals team weakness is not supported by any facts I know of.

Their blog is the press; yours is GLB. Everybody gets to bitch. Does bitching make you bad fans? Not in baseball. And it doesn't make them bad players, either.

by Spec20 on Aug 1, 2007 12:47 PM PDT reply actions

Um...comments from players like...

they came out on the field with no heart.

Excuse me, sounds like they checked out somewhere on I-5 on the way to work.

by bktabinga on Aug 1, 2007 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions

oops

repeated your point.

by jbox on Aug 1, 2007 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Well

Geoff Blum said they went out and played without any heart last night. So yeah, they do play less hard.

by jbox on Aug 1, 2007 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Heartless?

Why did they play with no heart? Did they not get paid? Was it free admission night? The only guy who looked like he had some fire last night was Milton Bradley.

The firing will continue until morale improves!

Friar Watch

by anthony on Aug 1, 2007 1:47 PM PDT up reply actions

they were crying on the inside

i'll miss you russel.

You were so cool when you missed. Sometimes, Trevor and I would make bets that you would not touch the ball the entire game with your bat. I made so much money off you.

Linebrink, you always did save Trevor's seat on the bench when he took his 8th inning shower.

Cheo, well, you're just so cute.

by bktabinga on Aug 1, 2007 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Now we're talking!

by jbox on Aug 1, 2007 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions

More comments from Trevor

in Sullivan's column today.

by Winfield's Ghost on Aug 1, 2007 1:12 PM PDT reply actions

I wouldn't mind

if he'd just shut up and let it go already. How is that anything but a detriment?

Ah, for the days that we complained about our two hit victories...

by TheThirdGonzalez on Aug 1, 2007 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Completely agree

Fully expect them to get kicked in the teeth tonight because it seems like they are thinking very little about actually playing.

by Winfield's Ghost on Aug 1, 2007 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions

It just happened

These comments are from yesterday, when all this stuff went down. They haven't had time to just let it go already. If they're still bitching tomorrow, next week, next month, then yeah. But I'm going to go ahead and give them a 24 hour grace period before I label Trevor Hoffman a whiny bitch. Just funny that way I guess. And we're going to get kicked in the teeth tonight because we're trotting out an ancient 300 pound man against a team that can actually hit the ball and because our team has been playing like crap for about a month anyway. The players could have the dispositions of Richard Simmons on prozac and it wouldn't make a dam bit of difference.

Padres for life

by sdgaucho on Aug 1, 2007 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions

I think the Pads are jealous

because they're bringing in guys with .250 BA and immediately taking over duties as second best hitter on the club.

They are already envious of Milton Bradely who not only came in here as the team BA leader, but blew up the rest of the ball clubs convenient excuse that PETCO was the cause of their woes.

Wait til Ensburg starts producing, they might put a dookey in his locker.

by bktabinga on Aug 1, 2007 1:38 PM PDT reply actions

The thing is

The only player the Padres traded who was in a regular role was Linebrink (and even he was about to lose his regular role at the time he was traded). Everyone else was a bench guy. Bench guys are journeymen, and now Cruz and Branyan and Bowen and journeying on to some other team. That's how baseball goes. If you're a journeyman who's playing well (Blum), you keep your gig; if you're a proven vet/regular/brother who's playing poorly (Marcus), you get to stick around and work through it.

"Winfield's head hits the wall! It's rolling toward second base!" - Jerry Coleman

by metalsupplier on Aug 1, 2007 1:57 PM PDT reply actions

Buddy

If they came out without their hearts in it last night, that's also a coaching failure. The manager's gotta motivate these guys (not that they should need it, but apparently they do). And I think he will; I just don't think my nerves can handle watching Wells pitch tonight.

by Billy Almon on Aug 1, 2007 2:13 PM PDT reply actions

I dunno

These guys are professional athletes they should be able to motivate themselves. Buddy can help with that, but really I think it falls on them individually.

by jbox on Aug 1, 2007 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Sometimes it seems like it takes

a manager shutting the door, going ballistic and reminding them that they're a bunch of big league ballplayers with an effin job to do. It probably wouldn't hurt if he threw a bunch of stuff and mentioned something about getting their heads out of their asses.

Ah, for the days that we complained about our two hit victories...

by TheThirdGonzalez on Aug 1, 2007 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions

coaching

isn't part of coaching motivational, even at MLB level? The long season and personnel changes are among the key challenges to deal with.

Was it in the DePodesta interview on gaslampball that a good clubhouse was described as a three game win streak away? That's the main thing they need. Starting tonight. Maybe tomorrow.

by Billy Almon on Aug 1, 2007 2:38 PM PDT up reply actions

by TheThirdGonzalez on Aug 1, 2007 3:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Which Padre ISN'T due at this point?:)

by Winfield's Ghost on Aug 1, 2007 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions

There you go.

Using my logic, we'll definately beat the Royals in the World Series.

Ah, for the days that we complained about our two hit victories...

by TheThirdGonzalez on Aug 1, 2007 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions

LOL

Royals or Rangers. It's gonna be a fight to the finish.

by Winfield's Ghost on Aug 1, 2007 5:00 PM PDT up reply actions

You, sir,

are like a fencer with that keyboard of yours.

Ah, for the days that we complained about our two hit victories...

by TheThirdGonzalez on Aug 1, 2007 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Great post, Dex.

I love Hoffy, but I was pissed when I read his comments in the paper. How dare the front office improve the team. Shut up, Hoffman. They don't pay you to critique personnel decisions.

In A.J. We Trust
E-mail me

by Richard Wade on Aug 4, 2007 12:07 AM PDT reply actions