Here's something you might be interested in.
So, the Padres can call their decimation of the team whatever they want. Fact is, it's a fire sale ala Tom Werner (& his gang of thieves). Trading away experienced players and replacing them with AAA, leaves the team without much availibility of dugout "coaching". Everyone will be surrounding Adrian, picking his brain. Even Edgar did that last year. I am in a quandary, wondering why any team would trade a great defensive shortstop, unless they had someone better, at least as good, waiting to step in.
I recently had the pleasure of speaking to Jim Ballweg, who has been with the Padres about 2 years. He told me, several times, that the Padres organization was sick about the 2008 performance by the team. He seemed to get defensive, advising me that the Padres have had winning records the last 4 seasons.
2007: 89-74 finished 3rd
2006: 86-76 finished 2nd Beat by Cardinals in NLDS
2005: 82-80 1st post season since 1998, swept by Cards
2004: 87-65 finished 3rd
That leaves me with thought that we should be happy when we have a lead in the West (2007) with a few games to play, we need one win and cannot manage it. While the Rockies sweep the Dodgers, leaving a tie. The Padres go to Colorado for a one game playoff & lose. Having a winning season is just that, a statistic. There are lots of factors that bring people to the games.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE baseball. I LOVE the Padres. But, the old days of loyalty are gone. It is hard for the fans to be loyal to a team that is constantly changing (thank free agency). AND, this is a 2 way street. The team/organization/management need to be loyal to the fans. It took us 2 seasons of complaining, e-mailing, etc., to get a beer cart on the Upper Deck for every game! That is ludicrous.
The concessions are crazy, using volunteers who don't know the prices, some are underage & can't sell beer, the food is EXPENSIVE and not very good and choices are very limited (on the Upper Deck). In All Star balloting this year, there was a promotion for the fans who turn in 50 or more ballots. The Upper Deck was not advised of this & would not have known except one fan saw the signs on Field level. The Upper Deck has been treated like a "bastard child".
Communication is sorely lacking. Changes are made, with the fans being the last to know. Last year we were treated to a basic elimination of Compadres Club rewards. Sending out coupons to be redeemed on certain dates, at 2 locations on the Field level. The card swiping was gone. The "gifts" are mostly rather cheap stuff. Nothing like the stuff we got before moving downtown.
Kinda got carried away with the Padres stuff!
One more thing about baseball; who decided it was a good idea to play loud music for every break in the action? It would be nice if there was at least a couple of quiet innings where people could carry on a conversation. The scoreboard stuff is silly, especially the lame boat races where we are told which boat to root for!! And PLEASE do not try to come up with a lead in for whomever comes in from the bullpen. Hells Bells and Trevor are a one of a kind. You can't replace it and attempts to do so are nuts (Linebrink & a shark??). Just leave it alone.
So long
So, the Padres can call their decimation of the team whatever they want. Fact is, it's a fire sale ala Tom Werner (& his gang of thieves). Trading away experienced players and replacing them with AAA, leaves the team without much availibility of dugout "coaching". Everyone will be surrounding Adrian, picking his brain. Even Edgar did that last year. I am in a quandary, wondering why any team would trade a great defensive shortstop, unless they had someone better, at least as good, waiting to step in.
I recently had the pleasure of speaking to Jim Ballweg, who has been with the Padres about 2 years. He told me, several times, that the Padres organization was sick about the 2008 performance by the team. He seemed to get defensive, advising me that the Padres have had winning records the last 4 seasons.
2007: 89-74 finished 3rd
2006: 86-76 finished 2nd Beat by Cardinals in NLDS
2005: 82-80 1st post season since 1998, swept by Cards
2004: 87-65 finished 3rd
That leaves me with thought that we should be happy when we have a lead in the West (2007) with a few games to play, we need one win and cannot manage it. While the Rockies sweep the Dodgers, leaving a tie. The Padres go to Colorado for a one game playoff & lose. Having a winning season is just that, a statistic. There are lots of factors that bring people to the games.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE baseball. I LOVE the Padres. But, the old days of loyalty are gone. It is hard for the fans to be loyal to a team that is constantly changing (thank free agency). AND, this is a 2 way street. The team/organization/management need to be loyal to the fans. It took us 2 seasons of complaining, e-mailing, etc., to get a beer cart on the Upper Deck for every game! That is ludicrous.
The concessions are crazy, using volunteers who don't know the prices, some are underage & can't sell beer, the food is EXPENSIVE and not very good and choices are very limited (on the Upper Deck). In All Star balloting this year, there was a promotion for the fans who turn in 50 or more ballots. The Upper Deck was not advised of this & would not have known except one fan saw the signs on Field level. The Upper Deck has been treated like a "bastard child".
Communication is sorely lacking. Changes are made, with the fans being the last to know. Last year we were treated to a basic elimination of Compadres Club rewards. Sending out coupons to be redeemed on certain dates, at 2 locations on the Field level. The card swiping was gone. The "gifts" are mostly rather cheap stuff. Nothing like the stuff we got before moving downtown.
Kinda got carried away with the Padres stuff!
One more thing about baseball; who decided it was a good idea to play loud music for every break in the action? It would be nice if there was at least a couple of quiet innings where people could carry on a conversation. The scoreboard stuff is silly, especially the lame boat races where we are told which boat to root for!! And PLEASE do not try to come up with a lead in for whomever comes in from the bullpen. Hells Bells and Trevor are a one of a kind. You can't replace it and attempts to do so are nuts (Linebrink & a shark??). Just leave it alone.
So long