A Weekend In The Burgh

To commemorate these next two games against the Buccos, I wanted to put up a few photos from my trip to Pittsburgh during the Bucco-Drino series at the end of July. Along with my advisor, JJ Geleaux, a trip to the Burgh for the Drinos series has become a biannual rite of summer. This marked our third trip in the last 6 seasons.

This year we definitely did it right. We stayed at the Omni William Penn Hotel which I highly recommend everyone should do when visiting the Burgh. We also frequented a number of excellent watering holes, including The Tap Room, the Oyster House, Primanti Bros. and Mullen's. It was stiflingly hot throughout the weekend so we made sure to keep the drinks flowing like wine, and hung out in spots where the air condition flowed like wine.

Here are a few photos from the trip. I hope you enjoy them.

The epic Roberto Clemente statue outside the stadium. Clemente was a favorite player of my Dad's, and he passed that admiration on to me. Seeing this statue makes me glad the Padres got the Tony Gwynn statue done. Both statues are similarly awesome.

Another shot as the sun peeked out from behind some clouds.

A final shot of the statue profiled against Clemente Bridge and the downtown skyline. Note the Drino fan with the big calves walking out of the picture. I don't know who the guy was, but like me, he was excited to get a photo of the statue.

Our seats for Friday night's game might be the best in all of baseball. For only $40 a pop we had Club access (a/c, beer sales until the final out of the game, a/c) and seats right above home plate. The view of the game is outstanding and when you couple in the stunning view of downtown Pittsburgh, there may not be a better seat in sports.

The view from our seats after sunset. How about that moon.

For Saturday night's game we splurged and bought Lexus Club seats. They're pricey - we paid $140 each - but the access and amenities are excellent. You can enter the stadium early and have access to a full bar and buffet dinner. Plus there's a/c. Oh and it basically feels like you're in the dugout.

Adrian warming up his bat.

I'm pretty sure that's Scotty Hairston, and not Jerry Hairston Jr., warming up before the game. I know I could look it up real easy, but I kind of like that I can't tell just by looking at the photo.

This was the first time I saw the Yoda backpack they make the junior guys in the bullpen wear each night. Fantastic idea. I'm on board.

The next manager of the Marlins?

Bud. Puffing out his chest like a proud father for his first-place ballclub.

Adrian in the on-deck circle.

Readying himself for battle.

Just fouling off a pitch.

The Bucco pitcher - I think it was Jeff Karstens - warming up before an inning.

Mat Latos. Dealing.

The mood surrounding the Buccos in the Burgh is not positive.

One of the best parts of the weekend: the Steve Miller Band played after the game on Saturday night. It started raining halfway through his set, but Steve gamely stayed on stage and played all of his recognizable hits. The fans loved it.

The rain in the spotlight.

Finally, let me leave you with this choice shot of a Padres fan roaming the club section at PNC. Rollie would be proud.

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.

Up In San Fran

Last night's game between soft-tossing lefties Wade LeBlanc and Barry Zito felt interminable. And that last inning when Heath Bell kept throwing breaking pitch after breaking pitch to the immortal Eli Whiteside aged me about 14 years.

That's right. I'm now 47.

Another thing I didn't like about last night's game: Scotty "Bombs" Hairston making the final out of the 2nd inning at third base, leaving Adrian standing in the on deck circle. C'mon, Scotty. You've got to stay at second there and let Adrian blast you in.

A thing I did like about last night's game: after Kyle Blanks looking horrendous on Ks in his first two at bats, the camera cutting to Adrian talking to Kyle on the bench. Kyle walked in his final three at bats and took noticeably more aggressive swings. Nicely done, Adrian.

Tonight we've got Clayton against Matty Cain. If the Drinos pull this one out too - and I'm at the point where I almost expect the Padres to win every night - then I'll continue to be very pleased.

Opening Day For The Drinos: Hairston

Hey Scott Hairston,

You master of the clutch, late-inning bomb and all-around good dude ... how about having a year, huh?

Today you can start perhaps with a game-winning bomb or, if you feel like saving a couple of those for the stretch run, maybe a late-innning go-ahead single. You know, something from your patented arsenal of clutch knocks. I'll look forward to it.

Now get out there and Hairston it up.

Best,
Bevormo

All Hail The Return Of Scotty Bombs, But Say Goodbye To Kouz

Scotty "Bombs" Hairston is back with the Padres and, dare I say it, all is now right with the Drino world.

Yesterday, Jed Hoyer pulled off his first major deal as the Padres GM, sending Kevin Kouzmanoff and Eric Sogard to the A's for Scott Hairston and Aaron Cunningham.

I heard the news as I was driving my rented Chevy Impala along N. Harbor Dr. to pick up my wife from the San Diego Airport. In my excitement I nearly drove the car into the harbor.

The dark side of the move is that Kouz is no longer a Padre. Images like the one above won't be happening in any Drinos games next season. Don't feel bad for Kouz though. He gets to stay on the West Coast and play for a team that almost always competes for a division title. No doubt he'll fit in well with the citizens of Oakland. They seem like good people.

Au Revoir Scotty Bombs

Scotty,

The Padres traded you tonight to the Oakland A's for a couple minor league pitchers. I understand the reasoning behind the decision - the Padres want to free at-bats for young outfielders like Blanks, Venable and Macias and they want to add power-arms to increase minor league pitching depth - but I'm trying to hard to keep my composure here. For one, I just saw Up tonight and my emotions are already overextended. But even more so, I realized when I read about the trade that you had become one of my favorite players over the past couple years. I guess I knew that in the back of my mind, but now that you are gone it really hits home.

I don't know what else to say here so I've decided to pay you a brief tribute by listing my favorite bombs you've hit as a Padre since your arrival in July 2007.

What a beast you've been.

1. August 3, 2007: your first bomb as a Padre, a game-tying 2-0ut, 3-run bomb in the bottom of the 8th off the Giants' Vinnie Chulk;

2. August 3, 2007: your second bomb as a Padre, a walk-off bomb in the bottom of the 10th off the Giants' Jack Taschner;

3. September 14, 2007: a lead-off, solo shot in the bottom of the 9th to start a rally leading to a 5-4 10-inning Padres win;

4. September 19, 2007: a 2-out, walk-off 3-run bomb off Matty Capps of the Buccos;

5. October 1, 2007: the one-game playoff against the Rockies, you hit a go-ahead two-run bomb off Jorge Julio in the top of the 13th that had me off the edge of the sofa and high-fiving everyone in my apartment (my wife) ... alas;

6. May 25, 2008: a solo shot off Francisco Cordero to tie the Reds in the bottom of the 9th, leading to a Padres win in 18 innings;

7. June 7, 2008: a walk-off bomb off Pedro Feliciano in the bottom of the 10th;

8. July 27, 2008: a go-ahead bomb in the top of the 8th at PNC Park leading to a Padres win (I was in attendance);

9. April 17, 2009: at Philly, a 5th-inning bomb off Cole Hamels to start a miraculous Padre comeback; and

10. May 30, 2009: a go-ahead bomb off Huston Street of the Rockies in the top of the 9th.

I'm never going to forget any one of those bombs.

If I shed a single tear tonight, please don't think any lesser of me as a man.

Best,
Bevormo

Moneyball Movie Script

Finished reviewing Steven Zaillian's December 2008 draft of the Moneyball script.

I'm not gonna lie. I enjoyed it. Paul DePodesta (pictured above) has a key supporting role in the proposed film, as he did in the book, and he, among other characters, has plenty of choice baseball-related conversations, the kind only about a couple hundred thousand baseball fans around the country would really have any interest in watching play out on screen. It's probably for that reason, at least in part, the movie is not going to be made.

Had they shot Zaillian's script, however, methinks my fellow Padre fans would have been a bit perturbed at the final few scenes. I'll summarize the final moments of the script below and you can ponder on them at your leisure:

1. Beane and Red Sox owner John Henry standing at home plate at Fenway with Henry reaching a deal to hire Beane away from the A's, while Bill James looks on from one of the dugouts eating a salami sandwich;

2. DePodesta later calling Henry and convincing him to agree to trade Kevin Youkilis to the A's as part of the deal to hire Beane; and

3. Beane telling DePodesta he's changed his mind and is staying in Oakland and the A's aren't getting Youkilis. DePodesta is disappointed for a second but then says there's a guy in AA Mobile who the Padres don't realize "what they've got." A guy named Jason Bay. Then the movie fades to black as Beane and DePodesta continue to discuss moves for the '02-'03 offseason.

Pretty dicey ending if you ask me. For one, I'm pretty sure Kevin Towers was well aware of Bay's talent. And two, even if he wasn't, I'd rather have Scotty "Bombs" Hairston now than Jason Bay anyway.

They should make a movie about Scotty Bombs.

Now that's something I'd pay to see.

Numbers Of A Contender

Take a look at these numbers:

.190 2 19 .285
.239 0 14 .318
.326 5 20 .386
.285 18 34 .385
.234 4 19 .290
.237 4 19 .310
.219 1 4 .286
.182 3 6 .262
.095 0 0 .136

What is this list of numbers? It's the batting average, bombs, ribeyes and on-base percentage of the Padres starting lineup in yesterday's 8-5 win over the D'Slacks.

In order:

Giles
Eckstein
Hairston
Adrian
Kouz
Headley
Burke
Blanco
Peavy

What a pack o' beasts.

I smell Wild Card.

I'm Not A Good Padres Fan

Scotty,

I'm ashamed to admit it, but I missed your heroics last night. The only part of the game I watched was the final out of the top of the 9th and then the bottom half when Heath closed it out for his sixth straight - thrilling - save. I missed your bomb, your go-ahead double, Nick's bomb, Luis' bomb and Chase's laser from right field to nail Greg Dobbs at the plate and preserve the Padres slim 1-run lead in the 8th.

I missed all that and I have no one to blame but myself.

Actually, I guess I can also blame the cable guy who never fixed the television feed upstairs at McGee's, where I was for happy hour with Geleaux, McGally and Tatt Mareeco. Knowing McGee's has the baseball package, I asked the bartender promptly at 7 PM EST if he could put the Pads-Phillies game on one of the four upstairs televisions. He told me that the cable was broken upstairs and the guy had not come around to fix it yet. He was kind enough, however, to confirm that they were showing the Padres game downstairs. Literally, a six second walk down the stairs from where we were standing.

Of course we didn't go downstairs. The main reason, I'll admit, was that the bar was crowded and we didn't want to lose our spot by the upstairs bar. But also I happened to glance at the score around 7:20 and saw that the Phils were already up 5-0. I'm not gonna lie ... that put a damper on my desire to watch the game.

It wasn't until about two hours later that Geleaux happened to glance at the score again and said the Drinos were only down 7 - 5. Even then I didn't rush downstairs. Instead, I casually finished another Stella and by the time we got downstairs you had already put the Padres ahead with that choice double down the third base line.

I was extremely pleased but immediately felt the pangs of regret.

I promise I won't miss anymore of your heroics.

Best,
Bevormo

Padres Off To Solid Start, As Are Union-Tribune Photographers

Scott,

Nice air on that leaping grab in the top of the 8th to preserve a 2-run lead over the Giants last night. Great placement of your right hand and right leg on the wall for support, and nice stylish lift of your left leg behind you. No doubt you intended that.

Spicoli in the front row looks impressed.

Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't give you a shout out for your 3-run bomb in the bottom of the 8th off the Gints' Merkin Valdez. That ball flew out of Petco like it had jet thrusters attached to the seams. You had your arms fully extended on a ball out over the plate and really put the Hairston into it. Nicely done.

Nice job as well by those U-T photographers, eh? First, Sean M. Haffey snaked that sweet photo of Nick Hundley and Heath Bell in front of the mound right after Bell closed out the hated Dadgers Thursday afternoon (see photo in yesterday's post). And then, John R. McCutchen caught you leaping against the wall last night and robbing Bengie Molina of at least a double. It's like he knew you were going to make the catch.

Well done, guys.

Best,
Bevormo