The Giants Won Again ... Here We Go

Well, Bruce Bochy and the Giants got it dun again today, sweeping the Diamondbacks to drop their magic number to 2. That number could fall to 1 if the Padres don't win tonight against the Cubs.

Last night Will Venable went pure Superman to save the Drinos season. Tonight Bud Black sends Jon Garland to the mound to try to hold the line in the NL West and Wild Card races.

Things. Couldn't. Be. More. Dramatic.

Oh, and it's raining in the Diego so the first pitch is delayed.

Here we go.

The Padres Have Forced Me To Drink Heavily

To prepare for last night's game I went to Three Monkeys and drank six Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPAs.

That was by far the highlight of my evening.

Tonight, Chris Young takes on the Cubs in merely the most important sporting event in the history of the universe.

Bar's open!

Rashard Mendenhall, Brandon Lloyd ... Former Illini Beasts

I'm no fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and I may even hate the Denver Broncos, but when two former Illini monsters play for those two teams, I have to give them props.

As one of my advisors Adam Daleyoney pointed out to me this morning, Rashard is currently the #4 rusher in football, while Brandon is currently the #2 receiver. Rashard has 64 carries for 332 yards, good for a 5.2 yard-per-carry average, and Brandon has 14 catches for 339 yards, a robust 24.2 yards-per-catch. And that's with Kyle Orton as his quarterback.

Both players can thank dominant games last Sunday for their current statistical prowess. Brandon caught six balls for 169 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos loss to Indy. Meanwhile, 'Shard ran for 143 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries as the Stillers pounded Tampa Bay. Quite a Sunday for the ex-Illini.

Here's hoping that they continue to dominate while their current NFL teams falter and struggle.

I Really Hope The Padres Make The Playoffs

My playoff tickets arrived today, including for a potential tiebreaker game at Petco Park. Looking at the strip of tickets has me equal parts excited and feeling like tossing my lunch.

The stretch run to the playoffs started about an hour ago out in the Diego against the Cubs. A win tonight moves the Padres into a first-place tie with the Giants. A loss moves them a full game back in the division race.

So ridiculous.

Miguel Tejada Has Me Stoked ... So Does Marcus McNeill

Miguel Tejada's bases loaded, full-count, go-ahead single in the bottom of the 7th last night, had me fist pumping air in my windowless living room. Now, this afternoon, I learn Marcus McNeill, the Chargers' Pro Bowl left tackle, signed his tender and will report to the team to play some football.

What did I do to get so lucky?

McNeill can't play for three more games because he is on the Roster Exempt List, but I'm fine waiting on him. The Bolts will only be better with Marcus shoving dudes around. Tejada, however, I don't have to wait so long to see. He'll be at bat in less than an hour, helping the Padres notch another win against the Redsies.

Sports in September!

"Playoff Atmosphere" In The Diego ... And I'm Not There

I couldn't be more disappointed that I'm not out in the Diego this weekend for the start of the Padres' critical 7-game homestand. Coupled with the Oktoberfest beer promotion, the playoff implications of tonight's game should have legions of Padres fans rocking Petco.

How choice will that be? Can't believe I'm missing it.

But there is good news. I was just able to talk my wife out of going to see The Town tonight in lieu of staying home and watching the Padres-Reds game on my computer.

Yep. Just another wild Friday night in Manhattan.

Go Padres.

Quite A Day For Current And Former San Diego GMs

Quite a day, indeed. First, Kevin Towers is hired as the new general manager of the Diamondbacks, and then, a few hours later, A.J. Smith refuses to lower his demands for a Vincent Jackson trade, and is accused by rival GMs as being "the Lord of no rings."

To me, all this feels like a retread. Though he did not get the job at the time, KT interviewed for the DBacks job a few years ago. Nor is this the first time an agent or rival GM, spurned by A.J.'s tough negotiation tactics, has resorted to name calling. I'm pretty sure A.J. isn't weeping about it right now. He, and KT, are probably both celebrating jobs well done.

Though probably not together.