It's been a while since I've done one of these full fledged post things. Last season, I tried to keep things on the down low due to working at a TV station with close ties to the Padres, that may or may not have a "Cooking Guy" on it, that may also be one of the top 5 numbered stations for Cox subscribers....OK, OK it was KUSI (just kidding). My thinking was that you can't get in trouble for not writing anything at all, right? If only it was that easy. But that's another post all together.

The point of THIS post is that tonight there will be a "casual meetup of Padres fans" that will "just so happen to be crashed" by one Mr. "Mat Latos" & a Mrs. "Dallas Latos". It'll be at the Fro's favorite place the Randy Jones All American Sports Grill at 7:30pm. I'm going to try and make it & if I do, I'll bring all the #balls shirts remaining (not many) & will have them at rock bottom prices!! (Buy me a beer? 5 bucks?) I think it's a Friarhood event, but I could be wrong. I once ran into Steve at H & R Block during tax time while he was getting his taxes done and there were Friarhood banners everywhere. Dude loves him some events.

It brings a tear to my eye as it's the end of the #balls era here in San Diego. What are #balls you ask? Well first of all how dare you ask such a stupid question! Second of all, if I'm going to explain it then we are going to have to take a trip allllllllll the way back to the year 2011. Ownership in San Diego was uncertain, the Padres were trying to cram ugly uniform changes down our throats and San Diegans were clamoring over breakfast. Wait...not much has changed apparently.

"Padres and Pints" is real. And it's fantastic.

Be on the lookout for Episode 1 real soon, until then here's a tiny preview of what to expect. Spoiler alert...there is lots of beer drinking and baseball talk.

Happy Birthday to our inspiration for blogging! The man, the myth, the legend! The Padres Hall of Famer! The 1976 NL Cy Young Award winner! The number 35 sitting atop the Petco Park batters eye! The BBQ zen master! The coolest dude you'd ever want to meet! RJ himself! Randy Jones!! 

*In all seriousness, I wish all ball players were like him. He takes the time to stop and talk to everyone, signs autographs forever and is just a down to earth guy. I am truly honored to know him and wish him nothing but the best in 2012. Happy 62nd RJ!

(Padres Press Release)

Padres acquire outfielder Carlos Quentin from Chicago White Sox

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Padres today announced they have acquired outfielder Carlos Quentin from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for right-handed pitcher Simon Castro and left-handed pitcher Pedro Hernandez.  Executive Vice President/General Manager Josh Byrnes made the announcement.

Quentin, 29, hit .254 (107-for-421) with 24 home runs, a career-high 31 doubles, 77 RBI and 53 runs scored in 118 games for the White Sox in 2011.  He was also named to his second All-Star team last season as he posted his highest batting average, most doubles, most extra-base hits (55) and highest slugging percentage (.499) since his first All-Star campaign in 2008, a season in which he won his first and only Silver Slugger award and finished in the top five of American League Most Valuable Player voting.  The outfielder also posted his fourth-straight 20-homer campaign in 2011 and tied a White Sox franchise record with an AL-leading 23 HBP.

“Improving our offense is a priority this offseason,” said Byrnes, “and the acquisition of Carlos gives us a proven middle-of-the-order bat. We specifically targeted Carlos because of his production and his hard-nosed style of play.”

So, I was reading up on Mark Kotsay to do a blog post about our new backup outfielder (I know how much SDPads1 loves mocking the months old news about backup Padres players).  Anyway, as I was reading Kotsay's bio I read that he was traded by Boston for outfielder Brian Anderson at the 2009 trade deadline.  Now, you are probably wondering what the hell does this have to do about anything Beautown???  Not much really, I just found it interesting what Anderson was up to the last couple years because he was a pretty high regarded prospect back in 2005 to 2008 and I was wondering what had happened to him.  Well, apparently after not making the Royals team out of spring training in 2010, he asked the Royals if he could give pitching a try.  Apparently, when he was a stud pitcher back at the University of Arizona and also doubled as an outfielder.  Arizona converted him to full time outfield to avoid a pitching injury and after he started his outfield career 8-for-10.  This of course doesn't relate to the Padres, only in that we benefited from a certain future Hall-of-Famer changing positions back in the minors to become one of the greatest closers of all time.  In two season on the mound so far Brian is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA over 25.0 IP in 21 games.   He also has 26 strikeouts to just 6 walks.  He was released from the NY Yankees farm system in 2011 after a bicep injury.  Good luck to Brian Anderson in his resurrgence as a relief pitcher, who knows, maybe the Padres will take a look.

PADRES PRESS RELEASE

Padres acquire RHP Ryan Kelly from Texas Rangers in exchange for C Luis Martinez

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres today announced they have acquired right-handed pitcher Ryan Kelly from the Texas Rangers in exchange for catcher Luis Martinez.  Kelly will be assigned to the club’s Double-A affiliate, the San Antonio Missions.  Executive Vice President/General Manager Josh Byrnes made the announcements.

Kelly, 24, went 3-6 with nine saves, a 3.95 ERA (36 ER/82.0 IP), a .242 (74-for-306) opponents batting average and 64 strikeouts against 23 walks over 40 games, five starts, for Single-A Myrtle Beach last season.  The right-hander was acquired by the Rangers from the Oakland Athletics in January of 2011 in exchange for right-handed pitcher Guillermo Moscoso after the Athletics acquired him from the Pittsburgh Pirates the previous month. Originally selected by the Pirates in the 26^th-round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, he has gone 9-13 with 20 saves, a 4.50 ERA (133 ER/266.0 IP) and 235 strikeouts against 66 walks in 121 games, 16 starts, over parts of five minor league seasons in the Pirates (2007-10) and Rangers (2011) organizations.

Martinez, 26, was designated for assignment on December 17 in order to make room on the 40-man roster after the five-player trade which sent right-handed pitcher Mat Latos to the Cincinnati Reds.  The catcher made his Major League debut for the Padres last season, hitting .203 (12-for-59) with one double, one triple, one home run, 10 RBI and seven runs scored in 22 games for San Diego in 2011.  He also hit .323 (64-for-198) with 17 doubles, one triple, one home run, 28 RBI and 24 runs scored in 58 games for Triple-A Tucson last year.  Originally signed by the Padres as a 12^th-round selection in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, he has hit .272 (361-for-1326) with 75 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs, 136 RBI and 165 runs scored in 397 games played over parts of five minor league seasons (2007-11) in the Padres organization.

PADRES PRESS RELEASE

Padres acquire RHP Edinson Volquez and three Reds prospects for RHP Mat Latos

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres today announced they have acquired right-handed pitchers Edinson Volquez and Brad Boxberger, infielder Yonder Alonso and catcher Yasmani Grandal from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for right-handed pitcher Mat Latos.  In addition, the club has designated catcher Luis Martinez for assignment.  Executive Vice President/General Manager Josh Byrnes made the announcements.

“Our young starting pitching depth allowed us to make a move like this,” said Byrnes. “We've added four credentialed young players who can help us win in the short and long term.”

Volquez, 28, has gone 30-18 with a 4.17 ERA (193 ER/417.0 IP), a .238 (366-for-1540) opponents batting average and 424 strikeouts against 225 walks in 74 games, 73 starts, since being acquired by the Reds in December of 2007 from the Texas Rangers as part of a three-player deal in exchange for outfielder Josh Hamilton.  In his first full Major League campaign in 2008, he went 17-6 with a 3.21 ERA (70 ER/196.0 IP) and 206 strikeouts against 93 walks over 33 games, 32 starts, being named to his first National League All-Star Team that year.  The right-hander was the Reds’ Opening Day starter last season, going 5-7 with a 5.71 ERA (69 ER/108.2 IP) and 104 strikeouts against 65 walks in 20 starts for Cincinnati.  He also went 4-2 with a 2.37 ERA (23 ER/87.1 IP) and 83 strikeouts against 29 walks in 13 starts for Triple-A Louisville in 2011.  Originally signed by the Rangers as a non-drafted free agent in October of 2001, Volquez has gone 33-29 with a 4.65 ERA (257 ER/497.0 IP) and 479 strikeouts against 267 walks in 94 games, 90 starts, over parts of seven Major League seasons with the Texas Rangers (2005-07) and Reds (2008-11).

Boxberger, 23, went 2-4 with 11 saves, a 2.03 ERA (14 ER/62.0 IP), a .152 (32-for-211) opponents batting average and 93 strikeouts against 28 walks and just four home runs allowed over 55 relief appearances last season in the Reds organization, splitting the year between Double-A Carolina and Triple-A Louisville.  A native of Southern California, the right-hander was recently named the No. 10 prospect in the Reds organization by Baseball America, following the 2011 season.  Originally selected by the Reds in the compensation round (43^rd overall) of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Southern California, he has gone 7-14 with a 3.75 ERA (64 ER/153.2 IP), a .219 (123-for-561) opponents batting average and 203 strikeouts against 70 walks over 91 games, 13 starts, across two minor league seasons (2010-11) in the Reds organization.

Alonso, 24, hit .330 (29-for-88) with four doubles, five home runs, 15 RBI, nine runs scored and 10 walks in 47 games for the Reds and .296 (106-for-358) with 24 doubles, four triples, 12 ho me runs, 56 RBI, 46 runs scored and 46 walks in 91 games for Triple-A Louisville last season.  The left-handed hitter also played in the 2011 XM All-Star Futures Game for the second-straight season last year, batting third and playing first base for the World Team.  He was recently named the No. 3 prospect in the Reds organization by Baseball America, following the 2011 season.  Originally selected by the Reds in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Miami, he has hit .293 (345-for-1179) with 85 doubles, six triples, 36 home runs, 179 RBI, 149 runs scored, 148 walks, a .370 on-base percentage and a .466 slugging percentage.

Grandal, 23, hit .305 (114-for-374) with 31 doubles, 14 home runs, 68 RBI, 69 runs scored, 59 walks, a .401 on-base percentage and a .500 slugging percentage in 105 games across three different minor league levels in the Reds organization las t season, his first full professional season.  He primarily split the 2011 campaign between Single-A Bakersfield and Double-A Carolina.   The switch-hitting catcher was also recently named the No. 4 prospect in the Reds organization by Baseball America, following the 2011 season. A native of Cuba, he was originally selected by the Reds in the first round (12^th overall) of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, also out of the University of Miami.

Latos, 24, went 9-14 with a 3.47 ERA (75 ER/194.1 IP), a .233 (168-for-721) opponents batting average and 185 strikeouts against 62 walks in 31 starts for San Diego in 2011.  In his first full Big League season in 2010, the right-hander set a modern Major League record by allowing two-runs-or-fewer in 15-straight starts of five-or-more innings pitched from June 10 to September 7, 2010, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.  Originally selected by the Padres in the 11^th-round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft and signed as a draft-and-follow, Latos has gone 27-29 with a 3.37 ERA (161 ER/429.2 IP) and 413 strikeouts against 135 walks in 72 career starts over parts of three Major League seasons (2009-11), all with the Padres.

Martinez, 26, made his Major League debut for the Padres last season.  The catcher hit .203 (12-for-59) with one double, one triple, one home run, 10 RBI and seven runs scored in 22 games for San Diego in 2011.  He also hit .323 (64-for-198) with 17 doubles, one triple, one home run, 28 RBI and 24 runs scored in 58 games for Triple-A Tucson last year.  Originally signed by the Padres as a 12^th-round selection in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, he has hit .272 (361-for-1326) with 75 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs, 136 RBI and 165 runs scored in 397 games played over parts of five minor league seasons (2007-11) in the Padres organization.

With today’s transactions, the Padres currently have 40 players on their 40-man roster.

PADRES PRESS RELEASE

Padres acquire Cory Burns from Indians in exchange for Aaron Cunningham

The San Diego Padres today announced they have acquired right-handed pitcher Cory Burns from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for outfielder Aaron Cunningham.  Executive Vice President/General Manager Josh Byrnes made the announcement.

Burns, 24, went 2-5 with 35 saves in 37 chances, a 2.11 (14 ER/59.2 IP), a .220 (47-for-214) opponents batting average and 70 strikeouts against 15 walks over 54 relief appearances for Double-A Akron in 2011. The right-hander was named MLB.com's Double-A Relief Pitcher of the Year for 2011, as well as a Topps Double-A All-Star. Originally selected by Cleveland in the eighth round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Arizona, he has gone 6-9 with 88 saves, a 2.02 ERA (33 ER/147.1 IP), a .203 (108-for-532) opponents batting average and 188 strikeouts against just 35 walks in 130 relief outings over three minor league seasons (2009-11) in the Indians organization.

Cunningham, 25, hit .178 (16-for-90) with six doubles, one triple, three home runs, nine RBI and 12 runs scored over 52 games for the Padres last season.  The outfielder also hit .329 (112-for-340) with 34 doubles, four triples, nine home runs, 63 RBI and 65 runs scored in 87 games for Triple-A Tucson in 2011.  Originally selected by the Chicago White Sox in the sixth-round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, he has hit .231 (82-for-355) with 27 doubles, three triples, six home runs, 44 RBI and 42 runs scored in 150 games over parts of four Major League seasons with the Oakland Athletics (2008-09) and Padres (2010-11).

With today's transaction, the Padres currently have 39 players on their 40-man roster.

Posts will pick up once again after the holidays. Until then Merry Christmas guys and gals and see you in 2012.

Wow, it has been a long time!  My band Lexington Field has been pretty consuming these past months and that with the combination of one of the worst offensive Padres teams I have ever witnessed, I took a bit of a sabatical from blogging.  For that I apologize, because SDPads1 and myself have definitely had alot to say, and hopefully I can channel that into blogging more about my favorite sports team.  Okay, apologize to the legions of RJ's Fro fans...check, shamelessly plug my band...check, throw a dig at how terrible our offense was this year...check.  So, I have some opinions on a few things that I will write out in some future posts (the new GM Josh Byrnes, the new uniforms, and some offseason stuff), but to keep this specific to the title, I want to mention the first trade by our GM...acquiring catcher John Baker from the Miami Marlins.

I put my stamp of approval on this trade.  First, for the role we plan on using John in, and the cost to get him, this was a good move.  He is a solid left handed bat, has a track record of being a consistent hitter (proven before he had elbow issues), and a healthy John Baker is an upgrade over all backup catchers we fielded in 2011.  Wade LeBlanc was a decent starter, but a fifth starter, and very expendable with all the talent on the verge of making it to PETCO (see Kelly, Erlin, Weiland, Castro, Lollis).  You upgraded the postion of backup catcher for a at-best fifth starter...win Padres.  This is going to be a long process over this offseason and next year getting us back to the top of the division.  Smart moves like this are a good start.  The talent about to hit the big leagues for us is going to give the Padres a boost, so the idea is to fill in all the pieces, methodically and intelligently.  It will be nice to have a solid left handed bat to spell Hundley and pinch hit.  Good start Byrnes and welcome to San Diego John, sorry you missed out on the new Marlins ballpark, but we have a pretty nice one here too!