Luke Carlin:  Why haven't we seen this kid until now?  I don't care if he's traditionally been a weak hitter until his slugfest of this year.  He is the best defensive catcher I've seen in a Padres uniform in some time (since Benny?)  I played baseball for a good many years and when I did I caught and I want to tell you, from the way the kid sets up to the way he receives and frames pitches to his intangible "presence" behind the plate to his arm (watching him throw it to second before the game and between innings -- I don't recall anyone trying to steal on him last night), the kid is a "plus" defensive player and a bright spot in the dreary beginning of this season.

Go Luke.  Go Padres.

If the Padres were willing to pay $10,000,000 per year for Fukudome, would they pay a bit more for Godzilla?

December 15, Newark Star-Ledger
"A person who has spoken to Minnesota management and asked not to be named because he is not authorized to speak for the team said the Yankees told the Twins they would get back into the Santana talks if they can shed the contract of left fielder Hideki Matsui. The San Francisco Giants had interest in Matsui -- who has two years and $26 million left on his contract but also a full no-trade clause -- but instead signed free-agent center fielder Aaron Rowand. Philadelphia and San Diego might still be looking for outfield help. "

A 162 game season comes down to a single elimination game in Colorado to determine the Padres postseason fate.  Why?  Head-to-head records?  No.  It is because KT called "heads."  Anyone who has played the game knows you always call tails.  Heads is for losers.  "But Enzo, KT played in the minor leagues and each flip of the coin is an independent variable with a 50% chance of heads or tails."  Nonsense.  Maybe KT should have played football.  If so, he'd have called tails and we'd be going to a game at Petco tomorrow.

1/13/07 -- According to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal, it's possible the Padres will acquire Geoff Jenkins to play left field. The Brewers would eat some of the $7.5 million they still owe Jenkins in order to move him. Still, the Padres don't have a lot to give up in return. This is one trade possibility in which Scott Linebrink's name should not surface.

I'm going to start an Internet rumor here with the hope that it reaches John Schuerholz and catches his fancy: Brian Giles and Scott Linebrink for Jeff Francoeur.  Francoeur is an outstanding right fielder.  Maybe the best in the game (now that Ichiro is in CF).

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In today's U-T, Kevin Towers is quoted as saying, "our one common goal is to win the NL West championship again."  Winning a 5-team division is not a championship.  I hope this is not what Sandy Alderson means when he says the team's goal is to yearly compete for championships. The Padres' goal should be to win the pennant.  

I received a bill for $2,430.00 for playoff tickets for two field box seats.  That represents the cost of the team playing all the way through the World Series.  If the team's goal is to win the lousy NL West and get swept in the first round of the playoffs, my bill should be a lot less.  

Tim Sullivan's column today is titled, "Anger Surfaces in Clubhouse."  He writes that players question the wisdom of waiving Vinnie and not doing more at the trade deadline.  Tim Krasovic writes that the front office deemed Castilla merely average defensively.  We now see how wrong that observation was.  And as I said at the time, if you are going to give up Vinnie's defense, you need a whole lot of offense to replace him.  Which got me thinking whether we can revive those Beltre rumors.  Adrian Beltre was the only third baseman I saw pass through Petco this year who was superior to Vinnie with the glove.  Though not matching his numbers from his contract year in LA, he is a young player with power.  He just might clear waivers.  Then, the Padres could waive Bellhorn, who is of no use, and use Walker as a dependable role player and pinch hitter.  The million dollar questions are what would the Mariners want in return and does Linebrink still have substantial trade value?

Bochy's move of Giles to the 2-hole is long overdue for five reasons.  First, with the absence of Loretta, Giles is the team's only "ball striker" -- a compact swinger that can hit the gaps (double entendre intended).  Second, he can get the ball to the right side more often than Cameron.  Third, he does not strike out 150 times a season.  Fourth, in RBI situations, he is historically too eager to draw the walk, as if he is passing the baton of responsibility to the next hitter.  Finally, Cameron is an aggressive hitter with power; he may not be a high average guy but he drives in runs and A-Go can't hit everywhere.

Tonight's game was enjoyable game despite the loss.  I like the smaller Monday crowds.  Cameron showed what a real center fielder can do and tore up the base paths, too.  But the best part of the game was watching Chan Ho almost pitch a complete game, only to be yanked by Boch with two outs in the 9th.  Chan Ho left the field very reluctantly, leaving behind a stream of Korean f-bombs.

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