With The Padres At Fenway: Vol. 2

Game 2 of the Padres series in Boston ended a 5-4 Drinos win. Like last night, the game was mostly close, tonight's difference being that the Sox didn't explode for a 10-run inning. I'm telling you, if the Padres played the Red Sox in a 7-game series, and the Sox were forced to start Andrew Miller and Alfredo Aceves in games 1 and 2, the Padres just might pull that sucker out.

Among the notable events tonight was that Rizzo again hit a rocket to the deepest part of the ballpark, nearly 420 feet away from home plate. Tonight, however, Jacoby Ellsbury ran it down so it will read on the scorecard as a measly F8. Rizzo also doubled off the monster in the third and knocked in the winning run in the 7th on a groundout to Adrian Gonzalez. He - Rizzo - is a quality baseball player.

I walked to the game again tonight and passed by the Boston Common. This picture doesn't do it justice, but the Common is a broad green expanse with walking paths, tennis courts, park benches, statues, and what not. A very nice place.

My walk was down Boylston St. toward Fenway Park. I'm a big fan of buildings that reflect other buildings, but then again, who isn't?

Latos striding (lollygagging?) out to the bullpen before his start.

Chase stopped to sign a few autographs on his way out to stretch before the game. The more I learn about Chase, the more I realize that the only real flaw in his character, other than being a Steelers fan, is that he has no home run power whatsoever. Still, he was on base three more times tonight, pushing his season OBP is up to .392.

What on Earth were the Red Sox thinking with their logo in the 1950s?

Wachusett Brewing Company's own Green Monsta IPA. There are worse ways to spend $7.50.

This is the view from the Standing Room Only spots near the Pavilion Boxes along the first base line. I think these run for $20 face and you have a ledge to rest your food and adult beverages.

This Tony Gwynn fan was loving the SRO spot. He was a good guy. He saw I was wearing a Padres shirt of my own at one point - not nearly as beastly as his Gwynn jersey - and said, "Go Padres." To which I said, "You too," which made absolutely no sense then or now.

Latos deals through the sun rays.

I took this photo because I like the colors, but also because I think it says that Chase's career batting average with the bases loaded is .150. Huh? Can that be right? I thought it was easier to hit when the bases were loaded because pitchers have to throw strikes. I think we've found another flaw with Chase Headley!

It's always a bit sad when the sun sets on the longest day of the year. Now every day gets shorter for the next six months. #buzzkill

I was going to make a "why is Adrian doing Blue Steel?" joke, but the more I look at the photo, the less it reminds me of Zoolander, and the more it reminds me of just a scary looking person with an intense glare.

Just a random, poetic shot of the Monster.

The blessed sight (and site) of a Padres victory.

Finally, on my way out of the stadium I stopped and took this photo from behind Grandstand section 16. I really like the Grandstand sections around the infield, especially the last row near the concourse. If you can get a seat in the last row on the aisle you can avoid the tight rows and have easy ingress (and egress) to get beers and food and hit the restrooms during the game. And the views are solid, and old-timey. Baseball at its finest.

With The Padres At Fenway: Vol. 1

The Padres are playing three games at Fenway this week, and, for better or worse, I decided to take the train up from New York for the series. Today was Game 1 of the series and suffice to say it didn't end well for the Padres.

Most people will forget this when looking at the final score for tonight's game, but other than the Red Sox half of the 7th, it was an evenly played, exciting contest, with both sides threatening to score nearly every inning. Orlando Hudson's bomb was an absolute rocket, and for nearly three full innings Cory Luebke looked unhittable.

But then came the bottom of the 7th and the better team used hustle, elite batting eyes, and just plain skillful hitting to start a rally, and then pile on once the Padres young relief pitchers (well, young, other than Pat Neshek) got flustered.

But despite the end result it was a good night at the ballpark. I had incredible seats, the weather was perfect, and, as Hemingway might say, the Monstah IPA flowed pure and true.

To the photos.

It was weird but I didn't see any Red Sox fans wearing Eric Patterson jerseys.

Here was the view from my seats a few minutes before the first pitch. Apparently the Sox allow some people to stand on the field behind home plate before the game.

The Sox also have installed TVs in the base of the wall facing the expensive seats. They are wholly unnecessary but do allow the Sox to charge more for the seats.

Buddence Black handed over the lineup card before the game to someone who was decidedly not Terry Francona. I think the manager should always be the one to exchange the lineup card. I know managers sometimes allow their coaches to do it as some kind of honor, but I'm not a fan of that tradition.

Adrian roped a line single to left in his first at bat. Seeing Adrian's patented opposite-field swing work so well tonight made me realize that Tony Gwynn would have batted .468 in this ballpark.

Big Papi during his 14-pitch at bat in the first inning. It started 0-2 and Papi fouled off pitch after pitch. The radio guy during my cab ride back to the hotel said it was the most pitches Papi had ever seen in a single at bat.

Anthony Rizzo waits on deck for his first at bat at Fenway Park.

Andrew Miller deals to - I believe - Cameron Maybin. Maybin's a player, though his 0-4 with a walk tonight didn't really show it.

A sweet view to the right field roof deck. I sat up there once during a cold, rainy doubleheader between the Sox and Rangers. Tonight was better.

That for sure is Maybin. I think I took a lot of photos in a row at this point in the game.

And here is Rizzo at the plate. Great stance. Has the Batting Stance Guy done Rizzo yet? Because he should.

Adrian K'd to end the 4th, the first of 5 straight Ks by Luebke. The Padres would tie the game on Orlando's 3-run bomb during that stretch and things were indeed looking up.

This is Luebke during his stretch of Ks. He'll be a starter on the Padres pretty soon, especially if Jed can deal Harang and/or Moseley for some mid-range prospects in the next few weeks.

During the 7th inning stretch, mere minutes before the wheels came off for the Padres, I turned and admired the grandstand and press boxes rising up behind me. One of the best views in baseball.

This is Rizzo's final at bat in the top of the 8th where he hit a high fly ball to J.D. Drew in right. In his previous at bat Rizzo hit the hardest hit ball of the night - yes, harder than O Dog's bomb and harder than Jesus Guzman's triple - that hit the 420 sign on the fly for a double. Rizzo's going to be a very good hitter in this league. (Incidentally, it bears mentioning that the Padres had the three hardest hit balls of the night and still lost by 9 runs).

After the Red Sox opened up the game in the 7th, I'm pretty sure Terry Francona moved up to the Field Boxes to take in the rest of the game with a cool beverage.

Here's Yawkey Way after the game. For those who don't know, Yawkey Way is a street that borders Fenway that is closed off during the game and basically becomes part of the stadium and you can just wander around, booze, eat, shop for baseball gear, and basically live the dream. I've seen worse set ups.

And to close, this was cool. After the game I was standing on Yawkey Way eating a sausage and noticed a group of people standing around all wearing Rizzo shirts. I thought I recognized a couple of them as Rizzo's parents because Channel 4 showed them sitting in the stands about 47 times during Rizzo's first few games at Petco. Sure enough, a few minutes later, I hear the group start cheering and there was Rizzo walking out of the stadium toward them. He gave them all hugs and shrugged as if to say, "Yeah, I did hit that laser off the 420 sign, but we really got pounded. I'd rather get a W."

Anyway, the Rizzos seem like good people who are very proud of their son, and are prepared to support him and the Padres even on nights that don't end up so well for the team. I'm happy to have Anthony and the rest of the Rizzos on board for the inevitable Padres World Series victory in 2015.

Anthony Rizzo's Odd Beginning

Through his first 25 plate appearances, Anthony Rizzo is hitting .176 ... with a .440 OBP and a .529 SLG.

Has anyone ever batted under .200 and had an OPS over .950?

The First Annual Anthony Rizzo/Jaff Decker/James Darnell April 2011 Padres Minor League Honor Roll

After last night's glorious 5-2 victory over the Hated Dadgers, the Padres finished April 10-17, 8 games back of the Colorado Rackies. From an offensive standpoint, they played about as poor as they could possibly play, finishing at the bottom of the NL in all three triple-slash categories. These are not numbers for the faint of heart: .211/.293/.308. But that's why I feel some optimism heading into May. The Padres can't continue to hit that poorly - they really can't - and they have 11 games this month against the Pirates, DBacks, and Nationals. Sure, they get the Rockies too, but I'm guessing they finish May just a few games under .500, poised to hit the ground running in June.

In the meantime, and speaking of optimism, let's take a look at the top Padres minor league performances in the month of April. A lot of guys swung some big time wood last month, and a few other guys pitched well, so it would be an oversight not to commend them.

Tucson Padres

1B - Anthony Rizzo: .400/.471/.744
3B - Jesus Guzman: .344/.439/.467
2B - Logan Forsythe: .313/.429/.525
RHP - Jon Leicester: 1-0, 2.84, 11/8, 1.16 WHIP

If Rizzo doesn't make the May Honor Roll, it's because he's raking in the Diago.

San Antonio Missions

3B - James Darnell: .410/.520/.705
CF - Blake Tekotte: .375/.474/.675
OF - Jaff Decker: .316/.449/.759
LF - Dan Robertson: .270/.405/.460
1B - Cody Decker: .298/.337/.714
RF - Sawyer Carroll: .333/.377/.579
C - Kyle Phillips: .344/.362/.500
SS - Beamer Weems: .324/.390/.500
RHP - Anthony Bass: 3-1, 3.45, 18/7, 1.15 WHIP
RHP - Casey Kelly: 2-0, 4.10, 19/9, 1.48 WHIP
RHP - Brad Brach: 7 saves, 3.97, 19/1, .97 WHIP

Who plays second base for the Missions? That guy needs to get his act together (just kidding: it's usually Vinny Belnome who just missed making the April Honor Roll).

Lake Elsinore Storm

3B - Jedd Gyorko: .380/.442/.652
3B - Edinson Rincon: .369/.419/.524
CF - Reymond Fuentes: .306/.344/.400
RHP - Chris Fetter: 1-2, 3.32, 22/2, 1.29 WHIP
RHP - Jerry Sullivan: 3-1, 3.32, 13/8, 1.58 WHIP
RHP - Matt Lollis: 1-4, 5.13, 29/8, 1.14 WHIP
RHP - Erik Hamren, 4 holds, 1.69, 15/1, .66 WHIP

Fuentes: feel free to go ahead and start flashing some power anytime you're ready.

Fort Wayne TinCaps

3B - Jake Blackwood: .321/.360/.631
C - Tommy Medica: .323/.397/.523
RHP - Keyvius Sampson: 3-1, 1.29, 28/8, .67 WHIP
LHP - Mark Hardy: 1-3. 2.31, 13/7, 1.07 WHIP
LHP - Andrew Werner: 1-3, 3.27, 21/6, 1.09 WHIP

The lack of name prospects in the everyday lineup when Tate and Williams are injured is startling. But all hail Keyvius, and a shout out to Peorian Andrew Werner.

The relentless progression of time continues. May starts today.

The Day Spring Training Begins

Today is the day all the Padres players report to Spring Training. The pitchers and catchers reported last week, and most of the position players already checked in, but today's the day they all have to be there. The team gives them physicals today, and then tomorrow they start workouts.

I once told my boss that I hoped to be in a position one day where I could just take off the entire month of March, go to Arizona, and watch Spring Training games. He sighed and said, me too. I appreciated that response because he just as easily could have said, "You want March off? Fine, take it. And take the rest of the year off too, without pay."

Here are the storylines I'll be following in Peoria:

1. Will Cameron Maybin offend every member of the Padres front office with his tweets?

2. Will the Red Sox prospects - Rizzo, Kelly - look noticeably better than all the Padres prospects?

3. Will any pitcher stake a clear claim to the #5 spot in the rotation?

4. Will Kyle Blanks demonstrate that he has any semblance of a hitting stroke back?

5. Will Aaran Harang look like he can be a dependable innings eater throughout the season?

I'm sure more stories will develop but this is what I'll be looking at in the first week or so.

What a glorious time of year.