Hairston - Denorfia - Salazar

Scotty "Bombs" Hairston, Chris "Choate Rosemary" Denorfia, and Oscar "Pepe" Salazar, comprise the Padres starting outfield in today's game against Johan Santana and the Metsies.

What a pack of beasts.

Who Is This Oscar Salazar Fellow?

It flew under the radar in the mainstream press, but KT dumped Cla Meredith on the O's last month and, in the process, picked up the above-pictured Oscar Salazar.

Yet another KT snake in a long line of KT snakes.

Since joining the Drinos, Oscar is smoking to the tune of .333/.356/.524. He also made an incredible, over-the-shoulder, knee-banging-against-the-wall, game-saving catch in left field last night, and, tonight, hit a big solo bomb in the bottom of the 7th to give the Pads a 3-1 lead.

A quick perusal of the Internet tells me that Oscar has been a journeyman since debuting in the Bigs back in '02. He has bounced around the minors and played in the Mexican League, and now is getting a bit of an extended shot with the Drinos.

Might he be a pinch-hitter, utility guy on a pennant-contending Drino team in 2010?

I believe he might.