Results tagged ‘ Chase Headley ’
Home Sweet Home: 2011 Padres Fan Fest
Where do I start? Saturday’s Padres fan fest was incredibly fun. The atmosphere, the smell, and the sight caught my attention immediately. When the schedule for the fan fest came out on the Padres website, first thing that came to my mind was getting Mat Latos’ autograph. I was with my friend for the entire day and our first priority of the day was to get in the line to get Mat’s autograph.
Yes, it’s supposed to be M-A-T Latos.
After we got our ”passes” for the 12:30 to 1:30 session, we decided to walk around Petco Park for a bit because we had plenty of time. I knew Friarhood and RJ’s Fro had their booths at section 122 so we decided to drop by and say hello.
By the way, if you haven’t checked out Friarhood or RJ’s Fro, please do!
It was great seeing familiar faces again! I haven’t seen them since last year so I was stoked to see my favorite Padres bloggers. We talked Padres baseball and chatted for a good amount of time. I also got to be ”The” Fro.
And I was the very first one!
After we dropped by their booths and said hello, we walked around Petco Park. It was great to be home again, especially since the weather was absolutely perfect. I was able to wear shorts AND sunscreen in middle of February.
We saw our Twitter friend Daniel later. The three of us also saw Denise. It was great seeing Daniel and Denise again! Last time I saw them was at the Padres game/Twitter meetup from last year, which was full of fun.
Denise had to go with her family and friends so we parted our ways. Daniel, my friend, and I toured the Padres clubhouse together later.
I’m posting two pictures of doors because I did an interview with Ashley Eckstein last year inside the first door or the second door. They brought back great memories.
First, there was the weight room.
I also spotted Yoda!
Couple of minutes of walking, we finally saw a glimpse of the clubhouse. So I present to you the clubhouse of the San Diego Padres!
Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to take a ton of pictures of the clubhouse because the tour was a pretty quick process. But all of the pictures are my favorites and I especially love Heath Bell’s locker. We headed out to the dugout after the tour.
The three of us saw Chris, another Twitter friend of ours. He couldn’t see us for the first time but we eventually met at the Padres blogs section later. Before we met Chris, we sat on the outfield and took couple of pictures.
The turf was so nice that I was able to take a nap.
After couple of minutes of relaxing, I got in touch with Robert, and yup, he’s another follower of mine. He gave me some cool Padres stuff like Kyle Blanks and Everth Cabrera bobbleheads. I also got in touch with Kaybee, my Padres buddy! We met up and we were able to pass out cupcakes, cake pops and our blog cards to our friends. Even though our goodies were pretty much melted, they were homemade and made with love. Of course I saw Scott as well. He’s the one who gave me cool nick names like “Jedi Ninja”. Plus his birthday is today as well (we’re like twins) so wish him a happy birthday! It was almost 12:30 so we headed up to the seats to get autographs from Mat Latos and Tim Stauffer.
I was impressed with how nice and cool they are. Both of them asked me how I was doing and they were very friendly. I finally got my hands on Mat’s autograph! There was Mat’s fiancee behind him and she gave me a big hello when she saw me. It was great seeing her again. We asked each other how we were doing and chatted for couple of minutes. She’s absolutely stunning and cool at the same time. I hope to see her again in the future!
We finally met Chris and his friend after the autograph session. At the Padres blogs booth, we saw Matt from Twitter. He carried the one and only Yoda backpack and it was full of win. He looked pretty busy but it was sweet of him to stop by and give me a big hug, a high five and a fist bump. He’s a great guy and not to mention he’s hilarious too. The five of us went our way to the Channel 4 San Diego’s booth. There we saw channel 4′s crew John Weisbarth, Jane Mitchell, and Jenny Cavnar. It was a pleasant surprise that Jenny Cavnar remembered me from last year. We talked about things like school and lacrosse. She also asked me who’s going to be my favorite Padre this year since there will be no Scrappy this year. :( I told her that I’m still deciding but I might go along with Orlando Hudson, Jason Bartlett or Cory Luebke. But I still love David Eckstein and no one can stop me from that. It was great seeing her again!
Jane also remembered me from last year’s fan fest. I am honored that two broadcasters remembered me, the ordinary teenager who is an aspiring baseball reporter. Both Jane and Jenny also asked me if I am still blogging. Yup. They know that I still blog.
Daniel was having trouble taking a picture with my camera. John made some entertaining comments and I was clearly cracking up. It was so much fun!
Then we headed to the Padres garage sale. We also bumped into Ashley, a fellow Tweeter. It my first time seeing her in person and I’m glad I was able to!
Padres had few Q&A sessions with the players and the fans. Daniel, my friend, and I attended the session that featured the infielders Jason Bartlett, Chase Headley, and Brad Hawpe.
I was able to see the trio up close. I’m definitely looking forward to see them play during the regular season. I love their positive thinking and determination for the upcoming season. Chick alert: I may have found a new Padre crush and his name is Jason Bartlett.
I still think Jon Garland is absolutely adorable too. It’s unfortunate that he signed with the Dodgers but I’m hoping to see him when the Dodgers come down to San Diego. I do have a feminine side and drool when I see cute players. It was a pleasure seeing Jason Bartlett up close. I really think he’s cute. What do you think, ladies?
After the Q&A, we decided to go down the field and take pictures at home plate. While we were waiting in the line, we saw Cameron Maybin signing autographs for the fans.
Couple of minutes later, it was our turn to take pictures.
So that is all we did at the 2011 Padres fan fest. It was great seeing familiar faces and finally meeting “new” people. For example, I was finally able to see Chris in person. They are awesome people and great fans. I didn’t get a chance to see more awesome people like Scott, Ken, and Cecily. During the regular season, I’m definitely looking forward to meet them. I love attending fan fest not just for autographs, but also for interacting with fellow Padres fans. It’s great to hear what they have to say and I’m glad we’re part of the Friar Faithful. Going to Petco Park is like Christmas.
Being able to attend fan fest and having fun was my early birthday present. I’m telling you it’s so much better than going to a concert or a movie theater.
Final Adventure at Petco Park of the 2010 Regular Season
I want to first start off by apologizing for the lack of entries yet again. School is keeping me busy and I have been neglecting my blog due to my first priority. Because I am on break right now, I had an opportunity to go to Petco Park to watch a great Padres game on a Wednesday night. It’s extremely rare for me to go to Padres games on weekdays so this meant greatly for me. Padres hosted the Chicago Cubs.
I arrived at Petco about 45 minutes before the first pitch and the atmosphere was just incredible. There was a great mixture of Padres and Cubs fan at Petco Park. This game was also the final night game of the 2010 regular season. I caught up with my Twitter followers Denise and Danny first. We headed down to the field level to wait for David Eckstein. I was told by Ashley, David’s wife, that he would be looking out for me and my friends. Around 6:30, he greeted me with a big smile. I introduced Denise and Danny to David and we took a picture together.
The “Fear the Scrappy” sign is for David. I made this for him because I really felt like I needed to give something back to him. I really respect that he takes his time to talk to me whenever I go to Padres games, starting from last year. This is an incredible honor because this special connection I have is with a baseball player. It saddens me that seeing him yesterday means that I saw him for the last time during the 2010 regular season. I am definitely looking forward to see him next season. Thank you David!
After a nice chat with David, the three of us quickly headed down to the VIP/Player Will Call area by the homeplate gate where Ashley was waiting for an interview. Yes, you read the word “interview” right. Thanks to Ashley’s generosity, she allowed me to interview her. As some of you know, I am an aspiring baseball reporter so having this interview means everything to me for my future career. Because the lighting was not so good outside, the interview had to take place inside a room as a better location.
This allowed access to the building which connects to the Padres clubhouse. The long hallway included bunch of rooms and the four of us found a quiet room to do the interview.
Quest for the Postseason
Here baseball fans stand today on September, anxiously waiting to determine which teams will reach to the 2010 playoffs. The thirty teams have about twenty games left to play during the regular season and it’s do or die for the six best teams in October baseball. Currently, the San Diego Padres are on top of the National League West, proving that impossible is possible for this team.
This season is filled with faith, perseverance and determination by both the players and the fans. The one word that I frequently use to describe this year is as simple as ”believe”. I believe this team can go all the way to the top. Many Padres fans and even the players relate to the word “believe” as well. The way this Padres baseball is played continues to amaze for those who have faith in this team.
Despite the non-believers and doubters, Padres are holding their heads up high by playing baseball by their style. They do every little things possible and turn them into enormous results. For example, Padres move the base runners as far as they can in order to score and keep the momentum going. That momentum can continue to the point when the opposing pitchers struggle to escape the trap. David Eckstein is not only a veteran but the king of moving the base runners for the Padres. Even though the offense is not very powerful, they have days when the bats become explosive and unstoppable. Adrian Gonzalez continues to work with his strong bat and showing a definition of a professional hitter. Other players such as Miguel Tejada, Yorvit Torrealba, Chase Headley are on top of their games to provide the offense for the team.
As for pitching, the Padres are on top. Both the starters and the bullpen possess jaw-dropping numbers. The young pitchers are stepping up their games to help out not only the pitching staff but for the entire team. Recently, Cory Luebke and Tim Stauffer earned their important roles as starters. Cory Luebke was a September call up and he is making a great impression so far by earning his first Major League win against the Dodgers. Tim Stauffer replaced starter Kevin Correia and is currently on the starting rotation. Kevin Correia has been struggling which allowed to land himself with the bullpen. This was a good choice because he needs time to cool off and take time to fix his pitching. Tim Stauffer filled in the hole right on with no problems. He, like Cory Luebke, is making a great impression and I want to see both young pitchers grow thorughout their baseball careers.
The veteran pitcher Jon Garland does have his ups and downs but he knows his role perfectly. When he has an atrocious outing, the look of his face tells everything. The frustration and anger really defines himself as a pitcher who wants to win badly. I really respect him for the effort he put in every time he gets the call to pitch. He is stepping up and setting a great role as a quality veteran pitcher.
The pitcher that stands out is Mat Latos. His pitching is like the presence of CY Young award winner. He’s only 22 but fear him. The youngster is not only a great pitcher but matured himself by listening to the veteran pitchers and following directions. Every time he gets a start, I see a luminous glow on the mound. He truly shines and the light never seems to fade away. This year, he can be a NL CY Young award candidate because he is that impressive. Having Mat Latos is an incredible honor.
The question is, will the Padres win the division with pitching? My answer is no. Padres cannot afford to win multiple amount of 1-0 games. I personally don’t see that happening. Sure, 1-0 games are nail biting and exciting at times, but winning too many of them makes me want to scratch my head and wonder, “Can the offense step up?” I’m a pitchers’ duel girl because I absolutely love pitchers. The problem with winning not only 1-0 games but low scoring games is that pitchers have to step up their even more without any cushion and comfort. Physically, pitchers can’t win every single game because they can get easily worn out. It will be great if the Padres offense can step up and help out the pitchers.
Postseason baseball is so close that I can smell it. I truly believe that the San Diego Padres will be one of the six teams to play October baseball. Possibly, this team can go all the way to the World Series. In order to do so, the Padres have to continue play baseball with their style. They cannot back down and collapse. The boys have to fight for the ultimate prize and play in the hard way. I’m always supporting the Padres every time, everywhere. I really believe in this club.
Game 2 of 2010
Yesterday I went to Petco Park with my friend Woo Jin for the 4th of July weekend. We were hoping for another great win and you bet we were stoked throughout the day. This area is where we sat.
We saw pitcher Mat Latos near this area. Mat is becoming my favorite pitcher. I mean, he’s only 22 but his pitching is nasty. He’s just incredible and I really love watching him continuing to grow as a pitcher. Evertime he goes up to the mound, I see a bright light from him.
We were walking around the park and saw my Twitter follower Danny again. It was fun talking Padres baseball together. It was around 4:30 so the three of us decided to wait for David Eckstein because Eck signs autographs at 5 every single day at Petco. I mentioned this so many times but I really respect him for doing this for the fans. Petco Park environment and Padres fanhood would not be the same without him.
For some odd reason I was extremely nervous waiting for Eck. While we were waiting, I kept saying “Where is he?” or ”Be 5 already.” Eck finally came out to sign and I had to say hello to him. Unfortunately, pictures of Eck are not available this time because he was busy signing. However, I’m so glad that he stopped for a minute and talked to me. I introduced my friend and Danny to Eck and trust me, they were stoked. Thanks Eck!
According to Eck, his wife Ashley was in the stands too! I was ecstatic because I really wanted to see her in person. Eck also told me that she reads this blog and I was extremely shocked and happy. It was time for my friends and I to get to our seats and it was hard saying bye to Eck. We went on a little scavenger hunt to find Ashley but we had no luck.
It was almost game time and I saw Friarhood founder Steve and a fellow Padres fan, Scott, who called me a David Eckstein stalker. And please, I did not stalk Eck! Scott was playing around with me. The three of us took a quick picture together before the game.
I met Steve at the Padres Fan Fest this February and he is so down to earth. He is the one who runs Friarhood and please check it out. The gentleman on my left actually had seats next to each other.
It was game time and starting pitcher for the Padres was Kevin Correia.
He has been struggling lately but he turned things around yesterday. He threw seven solid scoreless innings and I was very impressed. Unfortunately, runs didn’t come until the eighth inning.
I started laughing when I saw this.
That’s Nick Hundley and Heath Bell rocking on the guitar and Chase Headley on the drums. Yes, they were playing Rock Band. I love the enthusiasm these three brought.
Sometime during the game, I saw my another Twitter follower, Charisma. Yes, her name really is Charisma. We waved at each other and said hello. She is a Padres fan, of course.
Because both teams didn’t score until the eighth, I was pretty bored in the stands, to be honest. But I stood up couple of times and cheered on my boys. Aaron Cunningham started the show by getting a double.
Tony Gwynn Jr. drove in Aaron Cunningham and the Astros made a throwing error as well.
We finally saw Heath Bell for the first time this season! His entrance song “Blow Me Away” by Breaking Benjamin really suits him very well and I was screaming like crazy.
Heath ended up getting the save and Padres beat the Astros with the score of 1-0!
Overall, I had a great day at Petco Park again and I am 2-0 this season so far! I love meetups with Padres fans. The interaction is so much fun and very easy to talk Padres baseball. I hope to do this more throughout the season.
First Game of 2010
The title of this entry is straightforward. On a gorgeous Saturday afternoon, I went to Petco Park with my friend for the very first time this season. It was his first time this year as well. On my way up to Petco, I was extremely nervous and my heart was beating non-stop. I know it sounds very silly, especially since this is coming from a huge Padres fan. I didn’t know what to expect for the 2010 season at Petco Park and I was excited above and beyond. I also wanted my plans to work out smoothly as possible. My plans were:
1. Talk with David Eckstein and see if he remembers me.
2. Meet up with my Twitter follower.
3. Watch a great Padres win without missing an action.
I waited for my friend and after I found him, we went inside the Petco Park for a great adventure. First person I saw was the one and only David Eckstein taking a batting practice. Several minutes later, Scott Hairston was signing autographs. I was able to get his just in time.
Pretty picture of Scott Hairston’s autograph, I know.
About ten minutes or so later, I saw my follower from Twitter, Danny. We promised to meet up and we did. I love bloggers/twitter people meetups. It’s so easy to talk Padres baseball together and I enjoy meeting new people.
Not too long later, pitcher Clayton Richard started signing as well. I was able to get his autograph as well and I even took a picture with him. He was extremely nice and I was very impressed.
After Clayton Richard signed, none of the Padres showed up to the field. However about an hour later, David Eckstein came out from the dugout or clubhouse to sign autographs for the fans. I figured out that he still signs everyday at Petco and I really respect him for showing class and doing the very best for the fans. He is a wonderful guy and San Diego will not be the same without him.
While he was signing, I just had to interrupt and say hello to him. It was so nice that he still remembers me! He gave me a big hug and I nearly fainted. No dialogue of the conversation this time because I was freaking out and became way too excited. But he did ask me how is everything going and I replied to him I’m doing very well. We even took a picture together that is literally made up of win.
I asked him nicely if he can take a picture with me showing a thumbs up sign and he did! I was very, very impressed but at the same time, I knew he would do such things like this because he is an overall excellent person. It was sad and hard saying bye to Eck but I told him good luck.
According to my friend, he didn’t sound too enthusiastic when he was signing to other people but when he turned around and saw me, his eyes really lit up. My friend also said that the fans gave a “What?! How does he know her?” look. I felt such like a celebrity among the crowd. The best part is that Eck gave me a big “Hey!” that everyone can hear about 10 feet away. His “Hey!” is really adorable, by the way. So as a conclusion, this is now my new profile picture in my blog and it will probably not change, unless Eck and I take another picture that is just as great as this or even better.
It was almost game time so my friend and I quickly settled into our seats.
The lineups looked like the following.
This was literally starting pitcher Wade LeBlanc’s first pitch.
Wade started to struggle already in the first inning but he settled down and was very consistent throughout his outing.
David Eckstein’s very first at bat was a hit!
Chase Headley grounded into a force out so David Eckstein was out at second base. But thanks to Adrian Gonzalez, he hit a two-run shot to drive in Chase. At this point, Padres took the lead with a score of 2-0.
Starting pitcher for the Mariners was Cliff Lee. At first, I was very nervous that he will dominate the Padres because he is one heck of a good pitcher. But rather, he struggled which was a very good thing for the Padres and the fans.
It was also fun seeing Ichiro with my own two eyes at a ballpark. We all know that he is a big shot in Japan and even here in the United States. It was a pleasure watching him but of course, I did not root for him.
Yesterday’s promotion was a soccer-style scarf and it was spectacular. At some points during the game, we put our scarves up like so shown in above.
Jerry Hairston Jr. got a productive out with a sacrifice fly and catcher Yorvit Torrealba scored. At this point, the game was 3 to 1, Padres with the lead.
Bottom of the 8th was when things got very interesting. Chase Headley hit a double to drive in Will Venable. It was now 4 to 1 Padres. Oscar Salazar came up to pinch hit and he responded a pitch by hitting a three-run shot to drive in Chase Headley and Adrian Gonzalez.
Now the score was 7 to 1. Reliever Edward Mujica did a good job not giving up any runs to the Mariners in the ninth inning. The Padres ultimately beat the Mariners 7 to 1!
It was very nice to start off the season (Well, for me.) with a win. I was very impressed with Wade LeBlanc and he out shined Cliff Lee. This win was very nice, especially because I was in the stands rooting hard for my Padres.
So in the end, I got:
- Two autographs (Scott Hairston and Clayton Richard)
- A big hug from David Eckstein
- A nice conversation with Eck
- Padres soccer-style scarf
- Great Padres win
- Over a hundred pictures
- Perfectly worked out plan
Feel free to click here to check out more. This night was another fun one at the ballpark and unforgettable. I hope to make more trips to Petco Park this season.
April Evaluation
First month of the regular season has come to an end which means it is time for evaluation. For this season, I’m going to post top 5 greatest moments for each month. Without further ado, here are the top 5 for the month of April:
5. Epic Win on Padres Home Opener
Padres had a very tough first week of the regular season. They returned home for the second week to play against the Braves in the Padres Home Opener. After the introduction of two teams, Colbie Caillat’s National Anthem in the rain, and San Diego Chargers’ quarterback Phillip Rivers’ first pitch, it was time for the Padres to shine. They made the fans stand up on their feet so many times by scoring 10 runs in one inning and ultimately winning the game with a score of 17-2.
During this game, not one but almost every players in the lineup took roles for contributing the team. Even pitcher Kevin Correia helped out his teammates by driving in two runners. The Padres were hitting and hitting, scoring and scoring. The sound of “crack!” from the bat was definitely a main event for the Home Opener of 2010. The Padres showed a true example of winning and most importantly, teamwork. I hope to see this San Diego Padres throughout the season.
4. Wade LeBlanc’s rise to the majors.
Wade LeBlanc, a young lefty pitcher, is looking really good on the mound recently. He is consistent and knows how to blow away the fans. I am very impressed to see his actions so far this season. He started the season off with Triple-A Portland but due to the injury of starting pitcher Chris Young, Wade was called up filled in the missing spot. I see a lot of promise from the 25-year-old. He may be even competing for a spot in the Padres’ pitching rotation. Wade can be a number five or four starter someday.
He is continuing to grow, which is a pleasure. I’ve been following him closely ever since he made his major league debut in 2008. When he gets sent down to Triple-A, I will be definitely upset. He is a hidden gem for the Padres and hopefully the gem will become bright for many fans to see.
3. Two walk-off dingers from Chase Headley and David Eckstein.
Chase Headley and David Eckstein hit two hair-raising walk-off home runs. Chase hit his home run on the 16th while Eck his his on the 19th, both coming from the home stand. The best part is that Chase and David hit those two long balls against the two NL West teams, Diamondbacks and Giants. I love when my Padres ultimately beat rival teams in a dramatic fashion.
Chase Headley’s home run gave me goosebumps and screams while David Eckstein’s almost gave me breathing problems. It is very rare to see Eck hitting a home run. Plus, he is my favorite player which means that shot is very special to me. Either way, both long balls were thrilling to watch. I’m a walk-off home run girl so these two were definitely amazing. I have to give credits to Chase and Eck for making the fans scream on top of their lungs for winning in a very exciting way. I hope to see more walk-off hits from my boys throughout the season.
2. Eight-game winning streak.
From April 16th to the 24th, the Padres were rolling and rolling. They were unstoppable. The comebacks were amazing and once again, this team worked together throughout those games of winning. This eight-game winning streak is the most in the majors so far this season. What bothered me so much is this did not make a huge headline, which I didn’t approve at all. The Padres totally deserved to get recognized for the baseball fans. Their incredible winning streak was hidden inside.
Other than not getting a lot of recognition, the eight games were so much fun to watch. This even lead to my anti-baseball friends to not talk smack about the Padres. I was a bit disappointed when they couldn’t win nine games in a row but I still love my boys. What more I can say? This winning streak was incredible and led to become number one in NL West.
1. First place in NL West with 15-8 record.
San Diego Padres are number one in the National League West. Not the Dodgers, Rockies, Giants or Diamondbacks, but the Padres. This team does not back down from anyone. I repeat. Anyone. So the other teams need to watch out if they do not want to suffer with a game loss or two. I am tired of the Padres being called as a struggling young team. We are young but that is not an excuse. We know how to play good baseball, the way it should be played. The Padres have the ability to rally, play spectacular defense and most importantly, win games with teamwork.
I do not want this team to be known as an underestimated team. We deserved to be called with a much better name. I want this team to be called as a winning team. This season is still young and there are plenty of baseball actions left for 2010. Padres can continue to rise towards the top or can sink and struggle towards the bottom. Who knows for now?
Expectations in May
Of course I want to see these Padres for the month of May. But what I really expect from this team are:
- 100% healthy Chris Young back in action.
- More teamwork win.
- Not being called as an underestimated team.
- Making huge headlines on television.
This San Diego Padres is an amazing team. I am so proud of each and every boys in Padres uniforms. Overall grade for the month of April is an A. I hope to see this grade stay in the same place for second month of the regular season.
Padres Progress
I can’t believe second week of regular season is over already. Throughout the two weeks, I definitiely saw players rising towards the top and players who were struggling in the bottom. It was a great oppertunity to see my boys progress.
The Good:
Kevin Correia had a hard time controlling his pitches when he made his first start in 2010. He did get his first loss of the season against the D-Backs. However on Opening Day and yesterday, I saw a whole different side of Kevin. I personally think he looked more confident on the mound. He even got two RBIs Petco’s Opening Day which made my mouth hanging wide open. Yesterday, I really enjoyed watching him pitch. He was on fire and whenever he stepped on the mound to pitch, I immediately thought, “Yes!”. This guy is continuing to impress me and I have no problems with that at all. As the time rolls on, he is going to get better and better.
The Bad:
It’s not so hard to mention Jon Garland in “The Bad” category. He is not impressing me so far and I am a bit disappointed. When I think of Jon, the words “innings eater” comes to my mind. He did not eat up innings over the past three starts he made. Basically, he is looking bad on the mound. We also know that he is known for his pace of the game. I don’t mind how slow he goes. He is thinking what to do for every single pitch. I like that game plan from him. He only made three starts so far, which means I don’t need to grab my hair and start groaning and moaning. However, Jon needs to step up his game or this Padres fan will not be happy throughout the season.
The Ugly:
Chris Young is on the DL… again. This is getting old and I am sick of this process repeating over and over again. I really wanted Chris to have a full, healthy season. His first start of the 2010 season was great and I assumed he is back and rock out on the mound anytime he goes up there. At this point I honestly don’t know what else to say about him. A healthy Chris Young is a big, big must for the Padres but he let the team and the fans down. When he is off the DL, I expect him to return 100% fresh.
Stay hot Chase!
He has been on fire lately. I always get excited when he comes up to bat because he pumps me up even though I am not at Petco Park. Chase gets things done by getting key hits to help his team score and win. He even got his first career walk-off hit against the Diamonbacks on Friday. The only problem with him is that I am not very comfortable watching him at thirdbase. He made couple of errors already this season and when he does that, he makes me want to miss Kevin Kouzmanoff, now with the A’s. Besides that, I really like this guy. It’s always show time when he has the bat in his hands. So stay hot Chase!
Introducing… the 2010 San Diego Padres (Part 1)
Spring training has come to an end which means 2010 regular season is quickly approaching. I had a great opportunity to take a good look at the players we have during spring training. Veteran players are no problem and young players impressed me very much. I had so much fun listening and watching the Padres play. This entry will be about my hopes for each Padres and a much better season.
1. Young players: non-pitchers
What more I can say? These guys are tough. So the other teams better not underestimate these guys.
Everth Cabrera
He has a great arm, can handle the ball extremely well and nail almost every defensive plays I can think of. He reminds me of 2004-2007 Khalil Greene. As we all know, Khalil is still struggling in the majors and I hope this will not happen to Everth. When Everth came to the majors, I immediately thought he was going to be a huge impact for the Padres. He is the guy who only played single-A baseball. No double-A. No triple-A. To come to the majors by playing single-A ball is absolutely incredible. He is still young but grew so much when he became the starting shortstop and did not miss a single start ever since the day he came back from DL in 2009. I always have high hopes from him because he is extremely talented. 2010 season should be not be a problem for Everth.
Kyle Blanks
If I am the opposing pitcher, I better watch out when Kyle Blanks comes up to bat. Like Everth, I was happy to hear when Kyle made his major league debut last year. The defensive plays he make are eye-popping wheter he is playing at first base or outfield. Power is the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of him. That power lead him to hit inside the part homerun last year against the Cubs. He is so much fun to watch. He did miss couple of weeks because he was injured and it was last month of the season. I want him to stay healthy throughout the season and hope to see the same Kyle Blanks on the field and on the plate; Power and energy.
Will Venable
When I think of Will, defense comes to my mind first. Yes, he can hit well but I personally think Will looks stronger when he plays at the outfield. I like him a lot. He made his major league debut in 2008 and I saw promise of his bright future as time progressed. He may look like a soft-spoken player but he does not back down from anyone in the majors. I repeat. Anyone. For example, on August 23rd, 2009, Will and Albert Pujols had some sort of fight. I was thinking to myself, ”WOW. Will? And Albert Pujols?!” As we all know, Albert Pujols is like the king of Major League Baseball right now. I was shocked when Will did not back down from Pujols. This was great for Will because he did not make an excuse of being young but rather stepped up his game. I had to give two thumbs up to Will for the extreme courage. He is fun to watch and I hope to see him grow as well in 2010 and so on.
2. Not-so-young-players-but-young-in-a-way-players: non-pitchers
I don’t think that makes sense but I continue.
Chase Headley
His natural position is third base. When he made his major league debut during the 2007 season, he was called up because Kevin Kouzmanoff, unfortunately now a former Padre, was injured. His playing time at third base got short as the season rolled on because Kouz was already locked in at third. So he had to shift his position to outfield and did a great job. Now that Kouz is not with the Padres anymore, he is moved back to his natural position and it is finally time for him to shine. I hope he does well in 2010 and so on now that he is at where he started.
Tony Gwynn Jr.
2010 will be his first year starting the season off with the Padres. When he came to San Diego from Milwaukee, I was screaming in joy. As the son of Mr. Padre, Tony Gwynn Sr., I was glad to hear that Tony Jr. joined us. I forgived him when he forced the Padres to unable to clinch in 2007. Besided that terrible memory, he is an overall a great player. He can run extremely well, which is a good thing since San Diego Padres is not well known as speedy. Speed can actually win games by base stealing and forcing the runner to be at scoring position. I hope to see Tony a lot throughout the season with the mixture of talented outfielders.
3. Veteran players: non-pitchers
These guys know and have the ability to help out the young players we have. The leadership skills from the veterans will surprise many teams.
David Eckstein
I just know that he will continue to deliver what he has in 2010. His leadership skill is excellent for the young players and I can always depend on him when the Padres are slumping. The former World Series MVP is a great players to have in the young team. Extending him was a great move and he deserves to be the everyday starter at second base. When he was injured last season, the Padres were slumping and Eck could not help the team. His absence sunk the club and I hope this will not happen in 2010 season. I want him to stay healthy throughout the season and continue to do his job very well. With the word “grit” all over his face, I’m sure he can handle the bat by moving the runners over to scoring position and driving them in.
Adrian Gonzalez
According to my book, he is now one of the veterans for the Padres. He won two Gold Gloves and he represents San Diego by playing for his home team while helping out the city as well. There is still a trade talk about Adrian and I do not want to see him go. The young kids growing up in San Diego playing baseball who are looking up to Adrian will be devastating. As for the Padres, he is a key towards winning games because of his power at the plate and strong defensive plays at first base. Without him, this team will look shaky and I hope this will not happen in 2010. First step for the Padres is keeping Adrian.
Scott and Jerry Hairston
Did I mentioned that they are cute? Anyways, Both Hairstons experienced in the majors for a long time and it’s an honor having them together in a team that is rebuilding. It’s great to have Scotty back from Oakland because I missed him so much when he left in middle of 2009 season. Jerry recently won the World Series with the Yankees and it’s fun to have former World Series winners with the team that needs a bit of help. I like both of them a lot and it’s going to be very exciting to see them play together. Their offense is great because they can hit bunch of homeruns that’s going to make the fans stand on their feet and cheer on the Padres really loudly. I want to see that a lot throughout the season.
4. Catchers
I already wrote about them. You can check out the entry here.
So that will do for part 1. Tune in for part 2!
Goodbye Kouz; hello… Scott Hairston?!
Padres sent third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff to the Oakland A’s. I am not joking.
Once again, I feel sick. This trade is just as bad as when Jake Peavy got traded. And you know what? I figured out this breaking news when I was not surfing on the Internet, again. When Jake got traded, I realized that the trade occured when I was in school. This time, I was at a lacrosse practice when dear Kouz got traded. I would much rather know these when I’m on the computer, not when I’m gone. I still can’t believe this is true. Somebody pinch me please.
Oh dear Padres front office, why must you do this to us? This is the biggest move made by General Manager Jed Hoyer so far. Let me ask a simple question: Why Kevin Kouzmanoff? Why him? He is a fan-favorite and it is most likely that the female Kouz lovers are crying their hearts out right now. I am not the biggest fan of Kouz but I love this guy. He is an excellent and very talented third baseman any team would want to have. Remember, Kaybee LOVES Kouz and I feel so sorry for her right now. Her favorite player of all-time left and I completely understand what she is going through right now, I’m her Padres friend. I know her situation. It is not the very smart move made by the Padres, to be honest.
I am not very happy right now. I understand trading favorite players are heartbreaking, but it is part of baseball buisness and fans just have to deal with it and move on. Currently, I can’t seem to calm down just a bit. I eventually recovered after crying nonstop when Trevor Hoffmand and Jake Peavy got traded.
Kouz is out of the house and I wish him nothing but the best with the A’s, even though he is going to look unnatural wearing green and white. Sorry A’s fans. Kouz have been playing for us more than three years and it is going to look so weird watching him wear a different uniform. Unfortunately, Kouz is gone so we obviously got players in return. One of the two guys we got sounds so familiar. In fact, it’s Scott Hairston. Yes, him. The man. The beast.
I missed this guy so much. Padres traded him to the A’s on July and we got three young picthers in return. Unfortunately, all three pitchers didn’t satisfy me enough. Scott Hairston on the other side, was a king for dramatic walk-off hits. I can tell you right now, he had the best ones I have ever seen from a Padre. When he left, I was extremely devistated to see him go. He was the one who didn’t want to leave San Diego as well! I’m really happy to have him back but I am still not over with trading away Kevin Kouzmanoff. This trade is the most bitter-sweet one I have ever heard so far.
Everytime I saw Scotty Hairston, he was always ready to rock and roll on the field. He is a very talented player and I was anxious to see him what he can do when this team was down by one run, when a game was tied, etc. He is our new Padre, and it sounds weird. I know. It would have been very cool if Kouz and Scotty played for the same team again but having a former Padre back feels so great. I still miss Kouz, that’s for sure.
What I’m also gonna miss from Kouz is his friendliness. I will never forget when I got his autograph on August game against the Cardinals. I was waiting to get his autograph but since I was way in the back, I thought I had no chance. But he signed longer to give autographs to everyone who wanted his. He even made eye contact with me and smiled. I definitely appreciate that from him.
As for third base, I have a situation to deal with and it involves Chase Headley. Honestly, I didn’t really enjoy watching him play at third base. Rather, Chase playing left field made me very comfortable. I never wanted him to outshine Kouz at third. Third is Kouz’s home and he is a Gold Glove candidate almost every year. Chase Headley’s natural position is third base as well but the Padres suggested him to move him to outfield since Kouz was taking over when Chase arrived in the majors. Now that Kouz is gone, Chase can be comfortable playing his natural position and I expect him to play his best since he got his home back. So good luck to him this season and I know he is not going to disappoint the Padres fans.
As for dear Kevin Kouzmanoff, I would like to thank him so much for the positive things he brought to us over the past three years as a Padre. It just had to be Kouz which I do not approve at all. I am going to miss him so much. No doubt about that.
Here are some classic moments of Kouz and Scotty:
(Everth decided to join them.)
From the bottom of my heart, I will sincerely miss you, Kouz. Goodbye and have fun with rest of the A’s!
Q’s and A’s
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