The Return of Brad Hawpe

I won't soon forget where I was when Brad Hawpe hit a go-ahead two-run bomb Saturday afternoon against the Rockies.

I was sitting on my sofa, my 3-month old daughter crying in my lap, the underrated Jay Baruchel film She's Out of My League on the television, the Padres game playing silently on the computer in front of me.

I look up as the count goes to two strikes on Hawpe (and, coincidentally, as Alice Eve walks across the TV screen). I look down and Hawpe is rounding the bases.

One of the more unexpected, outstanding bombs I can remember.

Hawpe's demise appears to have been greatly exaggerated. For the month of May, Hawpe is hitting .385/.455/.615, with 2 bombs and 8 ribeyes. Over the last 28 days, basically a full month according to my calendar, Hawpe is hitting a respectable .290/.347/.449.

Hawpe - and the Padres - have more work to do, but things are progressing nicely.

Heath Bell Is A Winner

What can you say about Heath Bell?

In his own words, he didn't have "it" last night, but despite the lack of stuff, he still managed to pull off his 29th consecutive save. What really impressed me, however, was Heath's at bat in the top of the 9th. He worked the count full with the bases loaded, then hit a scorching liner that unfortunately went right to Seth Smith in right field. But the way he battled at the plate while the entire Padres team laughed and cheered him on from the top step of the dugout, was absolutely outstanding.

Well done, Heath. Another notch on the save belt for you. Another win for the Padres.

Padres Meet The Giants For Four Huge Games

The Rockies won again today in dramatic fashion, which is highly annoying, but won't matter much if the Padres can continue to win ballgames. And an opportunity to win four critical games against the second-place Giants starts tonight out in San Diego.

I'll be watching this series with rapt fascination, in particular paying attention to the following storylines:

1. Which Padres bullpen will show up? All season long the Padres bullpen has been the best in the league. But over their 10-game losing streak, the bullpen looked vulnerable, relinquishing leads or failing to keep games close in the late innings. The last three days, during the sweep of the Dodgers, the bullpen was back in form. The Padres need the bullpen to be in top form if they hope to win the series.

2. Don't let the Giants go yard. The Giants lineup isn't all that power-laden, but they have a knack for timely bombs. The Padres must neutralize the likes of Juan Uribe, Buster Posey and Aubrey Huff, especially with runners on base, and especially in the late innings.

3. The Lincecum - Latos showdown. On Sunday afternoon, Mat Latos faces off against Tim Lincecum in a matchup of pure beasts. We don't know now where the series will stand going into this game, but at a minimum, this is a statement game. If Latos can win this game, he'll have faced off and beaten two of the top aces in division - Clayton Kershaw and Tim Lincecum - in back-to-back games. That would be ever so choice.

Series starts in about an hour.

Just Hours Away From Cory Luebke's Debut

Good thing my man Cory Luebke is starting tonight in a must-win game against the Rockies.

Otherwise I might be worried.

In all seriousness, though, I think Bud and Jed set this up well, giving Cory his first major-league start at home, in the best pitcher's park in baseball. That fact alone should cover up at least a few mistakes caused by early-inning jitters. The timing of Cory's start also gives the other five Padres starters an extra day of rest, setting them up to finish strong over the remaining games of this critical 10-game homestand.

Another factor working in Cory's favor tonight: the Rockies hitters don't know him or his stuff. Sure, they have scouting reports, but none of them have stepped in against Cory in a major league setting. The element of surprise might be the trick to cool down the potent Rockies bats.

Must-see ballgame. Tonight. At Petco.

Padres Go To L.A. For Four

The Dadgers are on the precipice, hanging on for dear life in the NL playoff picture. I like to imagine them balancing on the thin edge of the "D" in the Hollywood sign, ready to spill forward and plunge down the escarpment at the slightest push.

I hope tonight the Padres - led by our boy Clay Richard - can get that nudging started with a win at Chavez Ravine. Tonight's game starts a four game set that, if the Padres sweep or take three out of four, could knock the Dodgers out cold.

On the other hand, the Dadgers could salvage their season if they win three of the four, a move they may be positioned to do with Kuroda, Ted Lilly and Chad Billingsley scheduled to pitch in the series.

Meanwhile, one casts a wary eye East, to Denver, where the Gints and the Rockies start a two game series tomorrow night. The Rockies have won four straight, while the Giants are winners of three in a row. Both teams fancy themselves competitors for the NL West lead the Padres have held since April.

Things could not be more critical these next four August nights.

First Place At The All-Star Break

Yesterday, on the final day of scheduled games before the All-Star break, the Padres salvaged a win over the charging Colorado Rackies to finish the first-half of the season all alone in first place in the NL West.

Nice.

I have been watching the first-half of the season with great interest, but admittedly have had my focus drawn to the World Cup over the last month. Now that the WC is over and done with, the focus is now fully on baseball for what promises to be a solid second half of the season.

Yesterday's game, in fact, provided one of my first fist-pump moments of the season, when Rackies' pitcher Matt Belisle errantly threw to home in the top of the 8th, allowing Aaron Cunningham and Jerry Hairston, Jr. to score the tying and go-ahead runs when the ball skipped past Miguel Olivo. Then our boy Everth topped it off with a two-run pop-up bomb in the 9th to give Heath the cushion he needed to close out the game.

What a fine way to enter the break.

The second half starts for the Padres next Friday and promises to be a tense battle of wits and baseball acumen. To hold on to first place and ice the NL West, the Padres need to improve their play over the next two-and-a-half months, no small feat given their stellar play to date. Production from last August's heroes, Will Venable, Kyle Blanks and E Cab, as well as continued dominance from the starting rotation and bullpen, is a must. A trade for another starting pitcher may be in order.

Suffice to say the roster will change a bit over the next twenty days. Here's hoping Jed makes all the right moves.

Wade Goes Again Tonight

Wade LeBlanc - he of the gaudy 0.52 ERA - throws tonight against the Denver Mountains.

I'm sensing a pure, unadulterated Padres victory.

Venable ... Bomb

Our boy Will Venable already hit a bomb tonight against the Rockies. The Drinos lead 2-0 in the bottom of the third. Stauffer is pitching a gem.

The Drinos will need to stay vigilant, however, because these Rockies don't give up easily.

Man, they're annoying.

The Headster Brings His Hit Show To Colorado

Last night Chase "Headster" Headley helped the Padres win a critical series against the Pittsburgh Buccos by going 5 for 6 with a bomb, 3 dobles, a couple runs scored and a couple ribeyes. He had a shot at the cycle when he stepped to the plate in the top of the 11th, but was forced to settle for a go-ahead double because A-Gon was on the basepaths in front of him, and that's like being behind a slow Mexican-American dude.

Now the Padres head to the mountains to take on the NL Wild Card-leading Rockies.

I expect Chase will continue his barrage.

"Josh Geer is living on the side of a mountain."

That's what the Rockies announcer said a few minutes ago anyway, a reference to Josh's working behind in the count to nearly every Colorado hitter. That's usually not a good sign for a pitcher. Sure enough, Josh has given up 3 runs to the Rockies through 3 innings tonight.

Josh's changeup has a big 12-to-6 break tonight and he's been throwing it for a strike on 2-0 and 3-0 counts. That's a nice ability to have in the arsenal. Unfortunately it's an ability that matters little when you can't locate your 88 mph fastball, as Josh can't tonight.

Gaudin = The One

The fate of the free world - or at least tonight's baseball game between the San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies - rests on the capable shoulders of Chad Gaudin.

I like the world's chances.

Adrian's Patented Opposite Field Bomb Swing

Adrian,

Above, in all its glory, is your patented opposite field bomb swing. This photo was taken in the first inning of last night's dagger 8-7 loss to the Rockies. You jetted a 3-run bomb to left field off the Rockies' Jason Hammel.

David Zalubowski of the Associated Press caught the tail-end of your bomb swing. Looking at your body language in the photo, you obviously know it's gone at this point.

What a beast.

I submit that over the first two months of the 2009 season your opposite field bomb swing represents the best opposite field bomb swing ever. That is, of all time. That is, it's the best opposite field bomb swing in the history of baseball.

If the Padres ever erect a statue of you in the Park at the Park I submit that this should be your pose.

Win today against Colorado.

Best,
Bevormo

CY In The Mountains

CY,

Tonight you throw down with the Rockies at Coors Field. I'm pretty excited for this game because I have a hunch you're going to be at your gangly best and will toss one of those rare pitching gems in the mountains.

Like Han Solo, I'm sure you never want to be told the odds, but here are your career numbers at Coors Field: 3-2, 6.00 ERA, 33 IP over 7 starts, with 17 walks and 26 strikeouts. Your WHIP is 1.55.

Basically, what I'm telling you is that I'm bucking the odds and going with my gut tonight.

And my gut says, "grbglblrglf." (That's "Chris Young will win tonight" in gut.)

Best,
Bevormo

ps - I met your wife once in Pittsburgh but I only talked to her for a second and it was before you were married and there wasn't much chemistry anyway. Not that she's not hot. Because she is. But I wouldn't touch her. Not that she's not hot enough to touch, it's just that I wouldn't. Because we're boys. There, now you know. I'm sorry.