Pads and Ends 03/23: Demotions, Deadhorse, and Dellin Betances

Welcome to today’s Pads and Ends, a haphazard array of links and inane Peggy Hill-style musings, which is now technically a recurring feature even if it never happens again. And we all know that technically correct is the best kind of correct.

Today’s soundtrack is brought to you by Deadhorse. I listen to them a lot when I’m writing stuff; I guess since there aren’t any lyrics for me to get distracted by. It’s hard to believe this record is nearly eight years old; I first heard it in 2011 when they were touring in support of it and played a show at the punk house at which I was living at the time. I’d never heard anything that hit me like they did within the first 15 seconds of their set. Good times.

Pads bits:

• There will be new eateries at Petco Park this year, if you’re one of those people who like food.
• Lefty starter Eric Lauer won’t be starting his third professional season in the majors, but I don’t think anyone would be too surprised to see him around for at least a spot start before his twenty-third birthday, which is in early June.

• From yesterday’s win: the weirdest double you’ll ever see.

• A story in two parts:

• Today’s game is actually televised, which is equal parts unexpected and awesome.
• Former pitcher Danny Coombs turns 76 today. After spending his first seven seasons as primarily a reliever for the Astros, Coombs was a swingman in San Diego for his final two seasons, 1970 and ‘71.
• On this day in 1989, Trader Jack sent Mike Brumley to Detroit for the third coming of Luis Salazar. Brumley never played a regular season game as a Friar, but did make it onto a baseball card as one.
• Another guy who never played a regular season game for the Padres (or even one of their affiliates), relief pitcher Justin DeFratus, was released by the team on this date... twice. He was cut loose both one and two years ago.
• In 2000, the Padres traded Gary Matthews the younger to the Cubs for reliever Rodney Myers, who would pitch fairly poorly in three major league games that year and 51 the next two after that before heading to the Dodgers as a free agent. Matthews bounced around, even returning to San Diego once, before having one decent year with the Rangers which, combined with an iconic catch, scored him a $55,000,000 deal from the Angels.
• This day in 2009, the player to be named in the Khalil Greene trade was, uhh, named. The Cardinals sent Luke Gregerson to go along with Mark Worrell. They also signed free agent Shawn Hill who would appear in three games with the team.
• In 1977, the Brewers claimed Rich Folkers off waivers. Folkers, of course, was the subject of one of Jerry Coleman’s most famous malapropisms.
• In 1986, Roy Lee Jackson was released and promptly signed by the Twins. He had been very good in 22 games with the Padres in 1985, and continued to be effective in ‘86, his final season.

Elsewhere in baseball:

• Four-time All-Star reliever Dellin Betances is the only active major leaguer celebrating his birthday today. You just read a sentence about a 30 year old.
• Old friend alert: The Reds cut Oliver Perez after he gave up 10 earned runs in 6.2 innings over seven spring appearances. He was in camp as a non-roster invitee.
• Similar old friend alert: The Twins informed Erick Aybar that he won’t be making the team. He can opt out of his minor league deal today, but as late in the spring as it is, it might be in his best interests to go try to impress in Rochester until his services are needed somewhere.
• Mets pitcher Rafael Montero is gone for the season with a torn UCL.
• This was over a day ago, but I didn’t see it until now, so maybe you didn’t see it either: Mariners reliever David Phelps will also miss this season due to a torn UCL and the upcoming Tommy John surgery for it. I hate to hear that for anyone; I can’t even imagine what it’s like to go through the mental process that these guys are just starting to experience, never mind the year or so they have ahead of them to make it back, in the best case scenario.
• Joe Gariagiola died two years ago. Better known as a broadcaster, he had been a major league catcher in his earlier days. I became familiar with him when I was very young, thanks to his books I found in my local library.
• Tim Crews died 25 years ago, a day after the boating accident that injured Bob Ojeda and claimed Steve Olin at the scene. I remember this like - well, not like it was yesterday, but it definitely doesn’t feel like it’s been a quarter of a century.
• The Twins have officially named their Opening Day starter. It’s not who you’d expect it to be, but there’s a very good reason that doesn’t involve anyone getting hurt.
• This profile of Miguel Cabrera by Scott Miller is good stuff, and worth your time.

End hits:

• Dan Sileo, who makes more of an ass of himself every single day, continues to flout his sheer ignorance in regards to all things baseball. I mean, he does that with plenty of things other than baseball, but I don’t have time to list those since I need to publish this while it’s still March 23.

• West Virginia will be facing Villanova in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament this evening, with the winner going on to the Elite Eight. Two Villanova alum have played for the Padres — current outfielder Matt Szczur and an infielder briefly on the 1975 team, Steve Huntz — while just one WVU graduate has suited up for the Friars. However, Jedd Gyorko accrued 2.2 bWAR in his time in San Diego, versus -0.1 combined for the two Wildcats, so this clearly means the Mountaineers will win. Bet accordingly.