January Doesn't Like Nate Kaeding, At Least Not At The Q

It's hard to say why a kicker like Nate Kaeding has so much success during the regular season - even in critical situations - but then falters with disastrous results in the postseason. The kid seems mentally tough. He had a reputation for being a clutch kicker in college and has become one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history. You don't acheive that level of success if you don't have at least a modicum of the proverbial ice water running through your proverbial veins.

But for some reason when Nate lines up for postseason field goals - especially postseason field goals on his home field at Qualcomm - all that mental toughness turns to squishy mush. Gone is the powerful and accurate right leg that has helped San Diego to so many regular season victories since 2004. In its place is a delicate and erratic pogo stick that pushes kicks left and right or drops them yards short of the goal posts.

It's not pretty.

It's tragic.

Here's a rundown of Nate's playoff field goals. Feel free to stop reading here if you can't bear the pain.

January 8, 2005: Jets at Chargers
Nate's rookie year, his first playoff game, his first playoff field goal attempts. In the 4th quarter, Nate nails his first ever field goal attempt to bring the Chargers within a touchdown on their way to a magnificent 10-point comeback. But then, with a chance to win the game in OT, Nate slides a 40-yard field goal attempt wide right. Maybe his most dagger miss because it would have directly led to a playoff victory.

January 14, 2007: Patriots at Chargers
The Chargers most dagger loss in history had to include a Nate miss. The Chargers blew an 8-point 4th quarter lead to the Pats and were down by 3 with a minute to play. Without a timeout (long story) Philip drove the Chargers into position for a Nate 54-yard attempt as the clock wound down. Though on target, Nater's kick fell a few yards short.

January 6, 2008: Titans at Chargers
The Bolts pulled this game out but don't forget that Nate missed a 45-yard attempt in the second quarter. He hit a 20-yarder in the third quarter to break his string of 3 straight playoff misses, but he was at that point 2 for 5 on playoff field goal attempts at the Q.

January 13, 2008: Chargers at Colts
One of the greatest wins in Bolts history. Though Nate hit all his extra point attempts, he also missed his lone field goal attempt: a 48-yarder in the second quarter. Thanks to Philip, Sproles and Billy V, it didn't matter.

January 20, 2008: Chargers at Patriots
The game when you thought Nate's problems might be behind him. The Patriots D kept the Bolts out of the end zone all afternoon, but Nate kept the game close by nailing all 4 of his field goal attempts, from 26, 23, 40 and 24 yards. Yes, most of them were chippys, but a make is a make is a make, as last Sunday's game against the Jets would prove in the absence.

January 3, 2009: Colts at Chargers
Maybe Nate's most clutch kick ever and further evidence (we thought) that his playoff troubles were a thing of the past. Nate banged home a 26-yard field goal to tie the game with :32 seconds on the clock. Minutes later Sprolesy galloped into Chargers lore.

January 11, 2009: Chargers at Steelers
A frustrating loss with a weird third quarter. Nate didn't play a huge role but did knock home his only field goal attempt - a 42-yarder in the second quarter that put the Bolts ahead 10-7. Nate's field goal record away from the Q is a respectable 5 for 6.

January 17, 2010: Jets at Chargers
My first live playoff game will not be a happy memory thanks in part to Nate. His first miss from 37 yards in the first quarter confirmed the uneasy feeling a lot of Chargers fans had all week. His second miss from 57 yards was understandable, though his career long is a 57-yarder and he hit a 53-yarder at the Q just weeks before. His third miss from 40 yards was the final dagger to the gut in a day of gut daggers.

So that is that. The Bolts will likely make the playoffs again next season, in part because Nate will knock home a record high percentage of field goals from September to December.

Here's just hoping January 2011 reverses his trend of dagger Januarys.

Chargers Lose To The Jets

"You're my hero, Chargers. And you come out and stink like that. Poop. You poop mouth."

A Strong To Quite Strong Night At Petco Park

Friday night was my first visit to Petco Park since June 2007, a span of nearly two years. While I am ashamed to admit that fact, I beg your pardon because I do live many many many miles away from San Diego. That's not a good excuse for missing Petco for nearly two full seasons of baseball, but it's the only excuse I have.

But Friday night was all that is good and true and great about Petco Park and downtown Drino baseball. Peavy threw a gem against a hated opponent, the Scubs, and a young man named Tony Gwynn, Jr. got on base three times, scoring twice. Also, the bullpen threw three shutout innings, Brian Giles knocked in two runs in classic Bri style and Adrian went yard with one of his patented opposite field bomb swings.

Not to mention, because this was 1984 NL Champions Weekend, they sprinkled videos of the '84 squad on the jumbtron throughout the game.

And there were fireworks after the game.

So choice.

So after my return to Petco for the first time in nearly two years, I had a few impressions/observations of the park. For those of you lucky enough to live in the Diego, this is not news. But here they are:

1. Petco Park is really coming into its own. The Padres are letting the hanging ivy grow in the concourses and it looks really choice. Kind of a like a botanical garden. It matches perfectly with the sand beach stucco of the Petco facade. Well played, Petco maintenance staff.

2. Downtown is really coming into its own. When I first went to Petco in April 2005, the view out to centerfield was a hodgepodge of cranes and half-built condos. That seemed to last even until 2007. Now, at least out to the centerfield view, most of the condos are finished and it seems that the views from the Park will be static for the foreseeable future. It's not as dramatic a view as PNC in Pittsburgh, but it is much better use of an urban stadium than, say, Natty Park in D.C. or the new Yankee Stadium, which has no views to nothin'.

3. Beers are 'spensive. Last week I went to the new Yanquis Stadium for the first time. Nine dollar beers. I expected that in the Bronx. Then I went to Petco on Friday and saw the price of a 16 oz. Coors Louie was $8.25. I almost spit up my Rubio's fish taco. And then proceeded to buy multiple Coors Louies.

4. Nate Kaeding. I'm pretty sure Nate Kaeding was sitting six rows ahead of me at the game with a few of his boys. Either it was Nate Kaeding or some mid-sized blonde dude. It's hard to tell with Nate. Given he went to Iowa, Nate is probably a Cub fan. I promise not to hold that against him as long as he is a beast kicker for the Chargers.

5. Tony Gwynn ... Jr.? Tony Gwynn, Jr. made his debut for the Padres on Thursday night. On Friday, the Padres were introducing Gwynn, Jr. as "Tony Gwynn" and the back of his jersey simply read "Gwynn." So shady.

More on Saturday night's game when I get the pictures downloaded.