Peavy on the Padres: "It's a bummer to see"

Presumably Jake Peavy was asked by reporters his thoughts on the state of the San Diego Padres at a press conference today.  I have no idea why they're reaching so far into his past, but I wish they hadn't, because he really needs to move on.

ON BASEBALL: Tough time to be a Padres fan - latimes.com

"It's a bummer to see," Peavy said Friday, at a news conference in which he and his two sons all wore Red Sox uniforms. "From the time I got to San Diego, we made some progress moving into the new ballpark.

"I'll always have a part of me in San Diego and love that fan base and love that organization. But I can tell you this: I've never felt the way I do feel when I put this uniform on."

Bill Shaikin of the LA Times seems to insinuate that if the Padres would have signed both Adrian Gonzalez and Jake Peavy to contracts at market value that the team would be in a better position.  Maybe he's right, but the Padres had these two players in their absolute primes for years and they couldn't make it happen and when they failed themselves and the city they both became disgruntled.  It's not enough to employ two highly paid (albeit talented) players.  Just look at what it took for them to finally succeed.  They're both overshadowed on rosters filled with immense talent and endless supplies of money. They must be really proud of their achievements.

On another note, here's Quintin Berry sharing his defeatist attitude that he claims is common in San Diego:

Quintin Berry, a Red Sox outfielder, grew up in San Diego. He played for civic icon Tony Gwynn at San Diego State. He watched Gonzalez and Peavy play at Petco.

With Boston, he and Peavy are three victories from a World Series title.

"That's what everybody says: You've got to leave San Diego to get a championship," Berry said, "even with the Chargers. That's just the way it is."

Players and fans alike leave San Diego to play and root for a championship.  You know who didn't leave?

Gwynn says. "I started to think about leaving because I had endured all the moves we made and criticism that was leveled at us and started to think about what it might be like going somewhere else. I didn't think about it that much until after the season. And that's when my dad [Charles] and I got into it about whether I should go or stay. He said, 'They're not trying to win, you should get out.' I said, 'No, I like it here, I should stay.' And I still believe I'm where I'm supposed to be. Now, as I get on the cusp of 3,000, I couldn't see myself doing this somewhere else."

Whenever a player decides to leave San Diego to chase fortune and glory I think of Tony the Gwynn.  Remember that old slogan "Eddie Would Go"?  A few years ago I made this shirt, "Tony Wouldn't Go".  It'll never catch on because it's too easy and much more profitable to leave, but it's the reason why Tony is a legend here and why guys like Peavy and Adrian never will be.  I like to think that those fans that stick with the team and don't mope and whine like those two former Padres will be rewarded.  Probably not with championships, but maybe with the sincere enjoyment of watching our team play in the city we love because we like it here.