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.

Tom Telesco: Savior to the Charger masses

Okay....savior might be a little over-dramatic, but leave no doubt about it, I feel extremely good about this hire by Dean Spanos.  After countless predictions that the Chargers would opt for the familiar and hire internal director of player personnel Jimmy Raye, the search team composed of Dean Spanos, John Spanos, Ed McGuire, and special consultant/former Packers GM Ron Wolf, pulled a quick one on Charger Nation and hired Tom Telesco, the now former vice president of football operations from the Indianapolis Colts.

Chargers beat Jets (I think) in epic battle of awful teams.

I'm not going to lie...I really put forth a half-assed effort to watch this game.  I recorded the game, had the score leaked to me by my dad on the phone before I could get home, watched it three hours after it aired live, and still only paid attention to approximately every other play.  I guess a win is always nice, even in a lost season.  It means that the Chargers haven't completely given up on themselves, and there might be hope in 2013.  Final score: Chargers 27 - Jets 17

Chargers get decimated by Panthers, 7-31

If you watched this game, you already know how awful it was right from the beginning.  If the blackout prevented you from viewing, then you didn't miss anything.  In a season of awful performances, today's game was quite possibly the worst overall performance by the Chargers, not only just in 2012, but the worst of the entire Norv/A.J. Smith era.  This blog will be brief, because frankly, there isn't much to talk about.

Chargers stun everybody with win over Steelers

Nobody saw this coming.  The Chargers, who had not beaten a team with more than 4 wins going into today, completely outplayed a Pittsburgh Steelers squad that is fighting for an AFC Wild Card spot.  Not only were the Steelers outplayed, but Mike Tomlin was out-coached by soon-to-be-fired Norv Turner.  This was the first time in history that the Chargers had beaten the Steelers in Pittsburgh during the regular season, and the first time overall since the 1994 AFC Championship game.  Final score: Chargers 34, Steelers 24.

Chargers shock nobody by failing in 4th quarter against Cincy

We know, Norv. We can't believe you're still coaching either.

Perhaps the local blackouts in San Diego have been a blessing in disguise.  Once again, the Chargers proved to everyone that they are completely incapable of delivering the knockout punch.  No lead is safe, and a 3 point advantage in the 4th quarter was hardly insurmountable for an offense the likes of the Cincinnati Bengals.  With the Chargers completely abandoning the ground attack, the Bengals asserted an aggressive pass rush against the masking-tape offensive line of San Diego, resulting in two crucial turnovers by Philip Rivers.  Final score: Chargers 13, Bengals 20.

Change is coming in Chargerville, and not everyone is going to like it.

There will be a lot of uncertainty going into next season for the San Diego Chargers.  Fan support is on the decline, and future local TV blackouts have become the norm...clearly a disturbing trend for a franchise that was once a powerful force in the AFC.  Injuries and poor performance by the Chargers' "best available" are leaving everyone to wonder who can/will step up to fill the holes.  Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos appear to have this division locked down for the next few seasons.  One thing is for certain though....changes are coming...and not everyone is going to like it.

Chargers end NORVember in heartbreaking fashion

I was still out of town during the Chargers game, so I didn't get to see it live, and I was hoping to avoid knowing the outcome until after my two hour drive from my parents' house.  Unfortunately, my dad let the results slip via a text message before I could get settled into my apartment.  Now armed with the knowledge that the Chargers had failed, I still could not resist watching the game to witness exactly how badly San Diego had performed the final weekend of November.  Not surprisingly, the Chargers found a new way to lose...and a painful one, at that.

Padres keep Bud Black through 2015

Monday afternoon, the Padres made a commitment to the future by picking up Bud Black's 2014 and 2015 club options, ensuring that the second-longest tenured skipper in team history will be around for the next three seasons.

Our new AFC West overlords: The Denver Broncos

It's not official yet, but it might as well be.  The Denver Broncos are the AFC West champions.  This was the Chargers last-ditch effort to claw their way back into the division title race, reach the playoffs, and save the jobs of Norv Turner and A.J. Smith.  Whether Dean Spanos wants to believe this or not, the Chargers are no longer an "elite" team in the NFL.  In fact, they are hardly competitive.  This is not just the opinion of an angry fan base or NFL analysts...this is the new reality in San Diego.

Nick Canepa: The voice of treason

If you read the U-T sports section, then you are already familiar with Nick Canepa.  You're probably already familiar with the fact that Canepa's columns typically reek of mindless drivel.  Well, in his latest column, Canepa suggested that the Padres teach Yasmani Grandal a lesson by cutting him from the team as a result of his positive PED test.  Let's assess Nick Almighty's thinking.

Chargers lose to Bucs in typical Charger fashion

Football is a funny cruel sport.  For most of Sunday afternoon, the Chargers played a very complete game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  The San Diego offense played almost flawlessly for the first three quarters, taking full advantage of the worst pass defense in the NFL.  Danario Alexander, Antonio Gates, and Malcom Floyd each had great days and found the end zone.  The defense played very well and prevented Buccaneers' standout rookie RB Doug Martin and former Charger Pro Bowl WR Vincent Jackson from doing any major damage.  In fact, the defense really did everything they could to win this game.  However, all it took was a hiccup on special teams and a bonehead miscue in the 4th quarter by Rivers to doom the Chargers in Tampa Bay.  Final score: Chargers 24 - Bucs 34.

D'OH! Chargers cleared; Padres rookie suspended

The sports gods love to torture San Diego fans.  Whenever things seem to be going right...something always goes wrong.  On the same day that the Chargers were cleared of wrongdoing by the NFL regarding the tacky Gorilla Gold towels, the Padres encountered a little incident of their own.  Breakout rookie catcher Yasmani Grandal will face a 50 game suspension because of a positive test for testosterone.

Thanks, KC. We needed that.

The Chargers desperately needed a win.  So did the Chiefs.  On Thursday night, one team was looking to make a statement to their fans and to themselves that not all hope was lost.  At the end of the night, it was our boys in navy blue standing tall in a crucial nationally televised game.  San Diego 31 - Kansas City 13.  On this, the first day of November, I can be thankful that the San Diego Chargers are NOT the Kansas City Chiefs.