Farewell, Mr. Padre

I knew this day was always a possibility, but I never wanted to believe it would actually happen. I don't generally read the news or check my cell phone during the day until I leave work to grab a bite to eat. That's when I saw the text message from my dad.

"Did you hear Tony Gwynn died?"

No...I had not. Nor was I prepared for that kind of news. My heart sank and I quickly searched the Internet for confirmation. I already knew it was true. My dad would never text that unless he was certain. Tony Gwynn, my childhood hero, and the reason that I have been a Padres fan since I was 9 years old, was gone.

Chargers make Raiders look legit, lose 27-17.

New general manager, new head coach, new offensive coordinator...same old problems.  After a very late night in the O.co Coliseum in Oakland where the Chargers dropped a very winnable game to the Raiders 27-17, our worst fears were confirmed.  This team is a lot closer to being the worst team in the AFC West than being a playoff contender.  Sure, injuries aren't helping, but the problems with this Chargers team are far more mental than they are physical.  Here are a few key mental mistakes from last night.

Huston, we have liftoff: The decline of Huston Street

It is a feeling that has become all-too-familiar for Padres fans.  Ninth inning.  With the game either tied or a slim lead hanging in the balance, in from the bullpen jogs our All-Star closer.  But something is different.  The jog seems to require a little more effort.  The exhubarent cheers have now turned to nervous groans.  The anticipation of certainty victory is buried beneath layers of doubt.  It's the same old story with a new name in the headline.  Trevor Hoffman...Heath Bell...and now, Huston Street.

Huston Street walks back to the dugout after giving up a walk-off home run to Evan Longoria on May 11, 2013.
(AP Photo/Mike Carlson)

Clayton Richard: Rehab Edition

First off, I would like to apologize to AvengingJM for not having a Luigi fathead made for Clayton Richard's rehab start in Des Moines.  I hope that I will be forgiven since the money that could have been spent on a gigantic Luigi head was, instead, spent wisely on craft beer.  It was very hard for me to spend money on Luigi in any way possible.  Had I gone through with the fathead, it would have likely wound up in a dumpster outside of Principal Park, because I'll be damned if that was going to find a home in my apartment.

Carlos Quentin: MLB's new bad boy

Like a lot of dedicated Padres fans, I couldn't wait to see how the national media would react to the brawl last night between Carlos Quentin and Zack Greinke. As expected, the national media has absolutely torn Carlos Quentin apart, with many "reputable" sports writers and radio personalities calling for Quentin to be suspended, not just for a few games, but for a few weeks.  An overreaction? Perhaps.  First, we need to revisit the events of last night...as if we haven't already done that at least a dozen times already.

Padres Week 1 Review: Yuck

With week one in the books for the 2013 season, you don't have to be a diehard Padres fan to know that this team is in serious trouble.  In fact, you didn't even have to pay attention to most of the games to know this.  The record speaks for itself...1-5, tied for worst in MLB with the Astros, Brewers, Pirates, and Marlins.  Sure, the Padres aren't alone in the basement, but losing getting their asses handed to them by the Mets and Rockies, two teams likely to finish below .500 themselves, is rarely suggestive of a team that is going to be competitive.  However, the Padres have been the worst of the worst by recording a run differential of -26.  That's right.  In six games, the Padres have been outscored 14-40 and are ranked 29th in runs scored and ERA.  Yikes, indeed.

Mike McCoY: The day after

No, that's not a typo.  I intentionally spelled McCoy's last name with a capital "Y".  Do you see what I did there?  CoY stands for Coach of the Year.  Okay, perhaps hanging the kind of accolade on a guy that is barely 24 hours into his first stint as a head coach is a little bold, but make no mistake, I am very excited about this hire.