First Place Padres, First Place Padres,

Monday April 13, 2009

First Place Padres.

I like the sound of that so much that I may keep saying it over and over again until my head hits the pillow tonight.

Or chant it like a mantra until I reach nirvana.

I know that I have been arguing that:
A - This Padre team was not as bad as the pundits and most fans thought they were.
B - That their offensive production in 2008 was actually the best in the NL West when you adjust it for playing in Petco Park.
and
C - That the bullpen that KT has cobbled together seemingly with spit and chewing gum in the last 3 weeks of spring training was going to be much better than most people expected.

But even I never expected a spunky, firey, fight from behind Padres team that would be in FIRST PLACE with a 6-2 record and have the pitching staff with the lowest ERA in baseball and a bullpen era under 1.50 after 8 games.

After tonight's game;
After the little thought of Padres strode into New York city and Jody Gerut christened Citi (some call it Shitti or Bailout) Field with a home run;
After the Padres spoiled the Mets home opener in their brand new, $850 million ballpark with a gritty 6-5 team win to improve their record to 6-2,
I have drunk deeply of the Kool-aid and I am not sure I want to stop believing they can play like this all season.

So bear with me if I revel in it for a while.

First Place Padres, First Place Padres, First Place Padres...

Padres sign Sanchez to provide depth for bullpen

Sunday March 15, 2009

Today the Padres signed former Met righty Duaner Sanchez to a minor league contract.

Sanchez, who was waived by the Mets earlier this month, was a very effective reliever before being injured in a taxi accident in 2006.

He has struggled through 2 shoulder operations in 2 years and missed the entire 2007 season. He has never fully recovered the velocity and control he showed earlier in his career. Even with the injuries, Sanchez appeared in 66 games for the Mets with a 4.32 ERA and a 1.32 whip. He was particualarly effective against left handed batters, limiting them to a .200 BAA.

If healthy, (there is that statement that is heard so often in regards to the Padres) Sanchez could compete for a late innings spot in the Padres bullpen.