PADRES RETURN TO SMALL BALL AND WIN BIG

As Cory Brock's headline from yesterday suggests "Little things add up as Padres roll over Cards" and the little things are something known as "small ball".

Wikipedia defines it as such:

"In the sport of baseball, small-ball is an informal and colloquial term for an offensive strategy in which the batting team emphasizes placing runners on base and then advancing them into position to score a run in a deliberate, methodical way. This strategy places a high value on individual runs and attempts to score them without requiring extra base hits, or sometimes without base hits at all, instead using bases on balls, stolen bases, sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly balls, the hit-and-run play, and aggressive base running with such plays as the contact play. A commonly used term for a run produced playing small-ball is a 'manufactured run'."

And that is how we managed to beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the second game of the season yesterday by a score of 11 - 3! I am still laughing at the Boston area bloggers who suggested that because we no longer have "power hitter" Adrian Gonzalez we now had the worst line-up in Major League Baseball (see my post from March 31, 2011).

Their beloved Red Sox were slaughtered by the Texas Rangers yesterday by a score of 12 - 5.

The Red Sox are 0 -2 on the season and the Padres are 2-0! Again who has a terrible line-up, Boston bloggers?

On the XX1090 am broadcast, Ted Lightner, kept saying the 2011 team looks like 2010. It may look like it with the two consecutive wins to start the season but there is a big difference.

While we had a lot of great guys on the team last year, it seemed to me and my buddies at Petco Park that many, when it really counted, went up to the plate swinging to get a home run.

In some ways I think it is a blessing that we traded Adrian Gonzalez because now there isn't someone to keep up with. I really liked Adrian- he is a good guy and did a lot for the local community but I think not having a super star power hitter on the team will make a big difference in play this year.

This team, as opposed to last years, seems more into playing the game of baseball rather than playing the game of pumping up individual stats- to hopefully gain a good bonus or a pay hike in the following season. At least that is the conclusion my buddies and I came to watching a lot of the play last year.

I can't tell you how many times adults and kids alike got all excited at the park last year when we had men on base and a big chance to score and we would see whoever was up at bat swinging hard at crappy pitches.

They would either strike out or pop out ending the rally.

The last two days I think we saw a different sort of play. Yes it is nice to get a grand slam or perhaps hit a big homer that drives in a couple of runs. You get a lot of press for that accomplishment.

But it is even better, as proved by yesterday's rally that scored six runs, that timely hits- whether a single, a double or a sacrifice bunt to move the runners home is one of the best ways to play ball.

Go ahead and smack one out of the park if a pitcher makes a mistake and serves you up your bread and butter pitch but don't go to the plate with the idea that you have to hit the ball out of the park.

Chances are that won't happen....as was proved time and time again last season...especially in the last few weeks.

So we will see if we can sweep the Cardinals today.

For the 2011 season the team's success, in my opinion, will be guaranteed if they continue to play as a team and play the game of small ball.

It apparently works out well...the proof in the pudding was yesterday's game!

FOOD AT THE PARK: One of my favorite San Diego restaurants will be serving up their pizza at the park this year. Namely the folks at Filippi's Pizza Groto.

" The San Diego Padres announced today a partnership with Filippi’s Pizza Grotto, making the San Diego-based family of restaurants PETCO Park’s pizza vendor. Padres President and COO Tom Garfinkel made the announcement.

“Filippi’s Pizza is an authentic San Diego brand, beloved among San Diegans, and the Padres are excited to welcome them into our family of valued corporate partners,” said Garfinkel. “We are committed to ensuring our fans have a terrific experience at PETCO Park, and that includes providing them with great tasting food.”

Under the multi-year partnership, Filippi’s will sell their famous pizza (cheese, pepperoni and veggie) at five locations inside PETCO Park (sections 113, 115, 311, 320 and Mercado/Home Plate), beginning on Tuesday, April 5, when the Padres open their season at home against the San Francisco Giants.

"Filippi's is proud to be the Official Pizza of the Padres starting this season," said Bobby DePhilippis. "We look forward to providing baseball fans at PETCO Park authentic restaurant-style pizza prepared in the family tradition of the freshest and finest Italian ingredients."

Filippi's Cash and Carry, the original deli grocery, opened on India Street in 1950, and has grown to become a successful line of 14 family restaurants: 10 within San Diego County and two in Riverside County, as well as restaurants in Napa and Cabo San Lucas. Today, each Filippi's Pizza Grotto is owned and operated by family members of the original founders."

If you are in San Diego and love real Italian food Filiippi's Pizza Groto is fabulous!



The downside is that I suspect the price for a single slice may cost, at Petco Park, nearly as much as ordering a small pizza at the restaurant. It is a little ways from Petco Park but still a great after the game venue to go have a celebratory dinner!

In a post later this week I will look at concession prices (I still think charging $4 for a $1.19 bottle of water is ridiculous the way the economy is these days) and the fact that many people who do the grunt work at Petco may get their hours cut again this year if people don't come out to the games (I have many friends that work at Petco Park so that is where I get my info about this) and why I think the players need to step up to the plate to help out!

Meanwhile...I am dusting off the broom for today- just in case small ball helps us sweep the St. Louis cardinals today!

Game starts at 11:15am Pacific Time today.


PLAY BALL!