HOME OPENER: PADRES WIPE OUT BRAVES 17-2

Maybe it was because San Diego Chargers football star Philip Rivers threw out the first pitch- because the opening day game yesterday that I attended produced a football- like score.

San Diego scored a Petco Park record 17 runs on Monday, and Blanks and Venable led the charge. Blanks finished with a homer and five RBIs.

Blanks still has nine strikeouts in 25 at-bats, but his power potential remains more than a fantasy temptation. Mixed-leaguers should double check the wire to see if he's available.

He's a bench play that will be an ever-day starter in the near future. Same goes for Venable (3-for-5, HR, 4 runs, 2 RBIs SB).

Both Venable and Blanks were on hit short for completing the cycle.

Perhaps it was just the energy of the day- being at home in front of their fans made these guys play like a major league team. Or perhaps they took a good look at the kind of ball Colorado played and decided they wanted to emulate them.


Out of the 17 runs there we only two home runs that accounted for 5 of the runs. The rest came from the Padres doing what they failed to do on their first road trip- playing small ball, getting timely hits that move the runners either into scoring position or all the way home.

That is how you win ballgames.

You don't leave multiple men on base and squander scoring opportunities because each batter is trying to get that big hit. Pitcher Kevin Correia proved that even a bloop single- just feet behind the first baseman can produce runs and help lead to a win as opposed to a loss that should not have been.

So it was an exciting day yesterday- from the great street party behind the stadium to seeing friends I haven't seen since the 2009 season ended it was a perfect day for baseball and a hell of a way to start the season in our home field.

Hopefully that momentum will carry into Wednesday when we take on the Atlanta Braves again.

I just had to take a picture of the scoreboard-we watched Padres history yesterday and I hate to cast a shadow on anything but I doubt that we will see scores like this a lot this seaso0n...but then again miracles can happen...look at the 1969 Mets!




You can right click here for the game wrap up via the San Diego Padres website!

TWO MORE DAYS

Two more days until I can go back home...well at least the place feels like home during the baseball season.

I am really excited to see friends and fellow fans at Petco Park Monday as we have our home opener against the Atlanta Braves.

What I am not too thrilled about is the state of play I have seen thus far. Yes I know the season has barely started but there are some fundamental playing mistakes that bother me.

On the top of the list is the head first slide.

I cannot understand why players do that- ok it is easy to sit here and second guess but seems like spikes up when sliding is always more effective. Then the defense has to worry about getting a spike in the face while trying to make the play.

The elimination of Chris Young from the Atlanta series worries me as well. The pitching has been ok- although I think the middle relief needs some work. But once again this year, small ball seems to elude the Padres players.

Seems like every time we get a base runner he is either left there or thrown out.

Bases loaded in the top of the 8th today and again they were not able to capitalize on that- that has been the problem with this team the last few years. Plenty of scoring opportunities but when it counts they somehow can't manage to get it done.

In the top of the 10th there were some timely hits that got Kyle Blanks to third base...then a pitching change...and just like in the 8th Venable was unable to move the runners.

Same scenario in the 12th- bases loaded again and no deal- a fly out that ended the inning.

Sometimes I think these guys try to hard, in these situations, to hit it out of the park rather than trying to hit a bloop single that would have put the team ahead by a run. That's 9 men left on base since the 8th inning as of the 12th inning.

Finally in the 14th Adrian Gonzales doubled home the go ahead run making the score 5-4. And that means it's Heath Bell time.

And of course after a double play with two outs there would be a bloop single stretched into a double...tying run on second base. An intentional walk, which was a good move in my opinion by Buddy Black, and then Bell - who I think purposely creates drama strikes out the side...and finally...

The Padres win 5-4 and Heath Bell gets the second save in two tries.

On a positive note the bullpen was awesomely good tonight.

So we will see what happens- maybe when they come home, in front of the hometown fans they will start playing like a major league team ....so far I have seen AAA at best and that just will not do because I believe we have the talent on the team...they just need to tighten up and play like a team.

RIGHT CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S GAME RECAP

HE'S BACK!!

Really happy with the performance of Chris young this evening.

Until the bottom of the 7th inning Young held on to a one hit, 5-0 shut out against the Arizona Diamondbacks.



Luke Gregerson came in as a relief pitcher and quickly gave up a run and blew the shut out. Maybe it is because it is his first outing this year but this guy didn't really have good command tonight. After loading the bases Cesar Ramos came in followed by Adams who was able to serve up a fast ball that resulted in a long fly ball out taken care of by Scott Hairston.

The 7th ended with a score of 5-3...which at least gives us a chance to see Heath Bell for the first time this season.

Tonight's game didn't exactly make me feel super confident about our middle relief pitchers. Hopefully that will be worked out because along with good starting pitching, that stays healthy, we need solid and reliable middle relief paving the way, if need be, for Heath Bell to come on and get a save.

In the bottom of the 8th inning Mike Adams was in again and after a walk - with the tying run on first base ended the inning leaving the score remaining 5-3. Adams was sharp and on the money tonight and I can see this guy being a possible closer if he stays with the Padres.

In the top of the 9th Adrian Gonzales came through with his second home run of the season with a big time insurance run making the score 6-3. There was talk during the off season of a possible trade- I am so glad hometown guy Adrian stayed home with the Padres.

With that Heath Bell came in for his first save attempt of the 2010 season and true to form he did the job giving the Padres their first win of the regular season and his first save in one attempt this year.


FINAL SCORE:

SAN DIEGO- 6
ARIZONA- 3

1-1 ON THE SEASON SO FAR.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH HIGHLIGHTS FROM TONIGHT'S GAME

GO PADRES!

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

Finally after a real long winter the 2010 baseball season is here and we didn't start off very well today playing in Phoenix against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

From the AP:

"Stephen Drew hit an inside-the-park home run and Dan Haren held San Diego to three hits in seven innings in the Arizona Diamondbacks' 6-3 win over the Padres on Monday."

"For the second year in a row, someone hit an inside-the-park homer on opening day — former Diamondbacks player Emilio Bonifacio did it for the Florida Marlins last year, which was the first one after 41 years."

"Drew's was the sixth inside-the-park home run in the franchise's 13-year history and the fifth by any player at Chase Field."

"Adrian Gonzalez and Kyle Blanks hit consecutive two-out homers off Bob Howry in the ninth for San Diego".

It would have been nice to start the season off with a win but who would have thought that there would have been another inside the park homer in this game.

The one that really matters is our home opener, here at Petco Park on April 12th. In that game we will be taking on the Atlanta Braves.

I am pleased that Adrian started the year off with a homer and am really glad that we held on to Kyle Blanks...I have a feeling if he stays healthy this year he will do well.

So hurray!

It really is spring when baseball starts.

The Friars try again tomorrow starting at an odd 6:40PM PT start time and you can catch all the action on XX SPORTS 1090...BE SURE TO TUNE IN AN HOUR EARLY FOR PRE-GAME STUFF...ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE AT HOME!


JUST RIGHT CLICK HERE TO VISIT XX SPORTS 1090!

My favorite American League team- the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (still think they should go back to being the California Angels) are about to start their home opener.

You can catch the play by play for that game on AM 830 KLAA and you can right click here to listen online!

GO PADRES!

GO ANGELS!