Comeback Kids
Back during the 2010 season, the Padres had a bunch of kids on a team that wasn't expected to do a thing. Someone forgot to tell them that they weren't any good. All they did was to compete in the …
Sorting Through the Talent
Most people I know that grew up in America have played some sort of ball - either baseball or softball - and most have some notion as to how the game is played. So far as baseball, so very few …
First Pitch Already Happened
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/mar/29/21816/ In case anyone missed it, Major League Baseball has already had opening day for the 2012 season. In fact, the Oakland Athletics and the Seattle Mariners have already played two games, the Mariners winning the opener early on Wednesday …
Best Pics from the 2011-12 Season
For all 505 photos from the 2011-12 season, visit the Fast Break gallery. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/mar/28/21783/ Ten Vista students cheer on the Panthers during the Division I Finals on March 3 at University of San Diego. The boisterous student section’s cheering was …
Dodgers Sold For $2.15 Billion
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/mar/28/21742/ (Image: Magic Johnson) Late Tuesday evening, embattled Dodgers owner Frank McCourt sold the team and half control of the land surrounding Dodger Stadium to a group headed by former Los Angeles Lakers NBA superstar Magic Johnson. The controlling partner …
The Home Stretch
The last week of spring training - of Cactus League play for the Padres - is more serious in terms of individual performance. Competition for spots on the 25-man roster becomes more intense. With the Padres, Andy Parrino and Everth …
Up The Middle
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/mar/24/21514/ Every ball club has a weakness or two, even the New York Yankees. While the Yankees could use some more starting pitching (as can the Red Sox and the Dodgers), and the Chicago Cubs are weak at the corners …
La Costa Canyon Falls to Archbishop Mitty in State Finals
Mavs can’t slow Gordon, defending champ Monarchs in Division II title game For La Costa Canyon, the best season in school history came to a crashing end Friday night in Sacramento. In the Division II state finals at Power Balance …
Backroom Politics of Baseball Ownership
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/mar/23/21401/ So far as the state of Padres ownership goes right now, we know that John Moores has been and remains the owner of the club with a 51% stake. We know that in January Jeff Moorad, CEO and managing …
Division II State Finals Preview
CIF Division II State Finals Friday 8 p.m. at Power Balance Pavilion, Sacramento (1) La Costa Canyon (34-2) vs. (1) San Jose Archbishop Mitty (30-3) TV: Time Warner Cable - 411, 890 DirecTV - 698 / Internet: socal101tv.com, kbcsports.com Archbishop …
Okay, Now Jeff Moorad Steps Down As CEO
The official press release from the Padres this afternoon reads like this: "JEFF MOORAD STEPS DOWN AS CEO OF THE SAN DIEGO PADRES SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres announced today that Jeff Moorad has stepped down as the …
The Stauf Abides
One of the few things the movie Bull Durham got wrong about baseball was the nickname. Ballplayers have two nicknames. One nickname your teammates give you, which generally sticks with you throughout your career. The other one your manager gives …
La Costa Canyon Looks to Cap Historic Season with First State Title
Mavs face defending state champ Archbishop Mitty on Friday CARLSBAD – La Costa Canyon began the 2011-12 season targeting San Diego supremacy, and throughout the year developed into a state championship contender. The Mavericks end their season Friday night in …
Nicked Up
Padres catcher Nick Hundley was signed to a contract extension which will keep him in a Padres uniform at least through 2014, Hundley told reporters on Tuesday. Hundley is due to receive $2 million in 2012, which will not change. …
CIF State Finals Matchups
CIF State Finals March 23-24 at Power Balance Pavilion, Sacramento Division I Saturday 8 p.m. (1) Santa Ana Mater Dei (33-2) vs. (2) Sacramento Sheldon (29-5) Division II Friday 8 p.m. (1) La Costa Canyon (34-2) vs. (1) San Jose …
All-CIF Selections
Boys Basketball 2011-12 All-CIF Selections Players listed in alphabetical order First Team Anthony Alston, Rancho Buena Vista, 5’11” Sr. Dayton Boddie, El Camino, 6’4” Sr. Dalante Dunklin, Francis Parker, 6’1” Sr. Christopher Jones, Hoover, 6’0” Sr. Joe Rahon, Torrey Pines, …
San Diego Senior All-Star Game Selections
2012 San Diego Senior All-Star Game Friday, April 13 at Horizon Christian Academy BOYS ALL-STAR GAME at 8 p.m. North Roster Anthony Alston (Rancho Buena Vista), Frank Bamford (La Jolla Country Day), Sam Beeler (Poway), Dayton Boddie (El Camino), Sedrick …
La Costa Canyon Wins Rematch Against Lincoln in State Regional Finals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYRmw-lZBsY Mavericks beat Hornets again, make first state championship trip ONTARIO – The high-stakes rematch between La Costa Canyon and Lincoln in the Division II Regional Finals on Saturday didn’t play out as either team planned, and it ended up …
LCC and Lincoln Meet Again, Make History in State Regional Finals
State championship berth on the line in Ontario on Saturday After La Costa Canyon edged Lincoln in the Division II section finals on March 2, the sentiment among both teams was that they would meet again in the state playoffs. …
Take Two
Split-squad games are beneficial, they serve a purpose that would likely go unserviced otherwise. You bring around sixty players into a big league camp. You usually only use five or six pitchers per game unless things get out of hand. …
CIF State Regional Finals Scoreboard (March 17)
CIF State Regional Finals Saturday, March 17 DIVISION II Southern California at Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario (1) La Costa Canyon 47, (3) Lincoln 43 Northern California at Power Balance Pavilion, Sacramento (1) San Jose Archbishop Mitty 63, (2) Newark …
Camera on Cameron
There has been a small vacuum here in San Diego, so far as baseball goes, so far as identity of the franchise goes. Not that the Padres haven't tried. Not for a lack of good veteran players like catcher Nick …
La Costa Canyon Rides Fast Start Past Inglewood in State Regional Semis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0yeg22dmy8 Mavericks advance to Regional Finals for first time in history CARLSBAD – It its current run through the state playoffs, La Costa Canyon’s 2011-12 team has cemented itself as the best in school history. Tuesday night, the top-seeded Mavericks …
CIF State Southern California Regional Semifinals Scoreboard (March 13)
CIF State Southern California Regional Scoreboard Tuesday, March 13 Division II at (1) La Costa Canyon 74, (5) Inglewood 68 (3) Lincoln 53 at (2) Lakewood Mayfair 51 Division III at (1) Mission Hills Alemany 84, (4) Cathedral Catholic 64 …
Cathedral Catholic Quickly Finds Success in State Playoffs
Dons face top-seed Mission Hills Alemany tonight in regional semis CARMEL VALLEY – No team in San Diego has been a bigger revelation this season than Cathedral Catholic. After winning the Division III section title the Dons have continued their …
Power Chase
Third baseman that aren't named Wade Boggs are supposed to have power - at least, that's the conventional thought among baseball's best minds. Exceptions like Boggs are sometimes made (Boggs averaged only 8 home runs per year but finished his …
CIF State Southern California Regional Semifinals Matchups
CIF State Southern California Regional Semifinals Tuesday, March 13, 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted Division II (5) Inglewood (23-10) at (1) La Costa Canyon (32-2) (3) Lincoln (23-9) at (2) Lakewood Mayfair (28-5) Division III (4) Cathedral Catholic (30-3) at …
Making A Case
Most people that follow baseball and are a particular fan of a team, will find a player to root for who is an underdog. The underdog will be someone who performs far above expectations, perhaps a player achieving that which …
Lincoln Swarms Tulare Union in Second Round of State
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB0uDaIuJrk Hornets shut down Redskins, advance to regional semifinals LINCOLN PARK – In its final home game of the season, Lincoln delivered a dominant performance. Saturday night, the third-seeded Hornets relied on stellar defense and never trailed in 69-49 win …
Pay No Attention to That Man Behind the Curtain
At the very least, once the Wizard of Oz was confronted by Dorothy and her pals and then discovered to be an ordinary man, he apologized and told them they all had what they needed all along. He apologized for …
Moorad to Withdraw Application
The Padres say Jeff Moorad will withdraw his application to complete ownership transfer, but will remain as CEO of the San Diego Padres. Moorad headed an owners group that had agreed to purchase the team from John Moores in 2009. …
Finding a Hole in the Wall
With due respect for what outfielder Will Venable did to a Yu Darvish fastball Wednesday afternoon - crushing it off of the tall wall in deep center field - outfielder/first baseman Kyle Blanks figured out how to one-up Venable. The …
CIF State Southern California Regional Second Round Scoreboard (March 10)
CIF State Southern California Regional Second Round Saturday, March 10 Division II at (1) La Costa Canyon 74, (8) Woodland Hills El Camino Real 63 at (3) Lincoln 69, (11) Tulare Union 49 Division III at (4) Cathedral Catholic 89, …
Torrey Pines Falls to Mission Viejo in First Round of State
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOMTt91HYzc Falcons start slow, can’t keep up with athletic Diablos in defeat CARMEL VALLEY – For section power Torrey Pines, a state victory is still elusive. Wednesday night in the first round of the Division I state playoffs, the eighth-seeded …
Yu Might Want To Rephrase That
Thirty-six pitches were closely monitored by over 150 media members on Wednesday, making the Peoria Sports Complex unusually lopsided. Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish made his spring training debut for the Texas Rangers, throwing 2 innings of scoreless ball, striking out …
CIF State Southern California Regional First Round Scoreboard (March 7)
CIF State Southern California Regional First Round Scoreboard March 7 Division I (9) Mission Viejo 72 at (8) Torrey Pines 60 at (5) Etiwanda 57, (12) Vista 50 Division II at (3) Lincoln 76, (14) Fullerton Sunny Hills 64 Division …
Sleeper
The middle girl is always the problem child. I love mine very much, but holy hell. She found out I'm writing about the Padres this evening. "Dad, they suck!" They don't suck, darling. They're under-appreciated. Underachieving. Underrated. 71 1/2 is …
Faith, Who Needs It?
You don't have to believe. No law is written in Western Civilization that commits anyone to a belief. Baseball was born here. That probably has a lot to do with a lot. Faith is something you don't have to get …
Cool Heat
Did Padres newly-acquired reliever Andrew Cashner really throw a baseball 103 mph yesterday afternoon in Peoria? Not likely. If it actually happened then it was by accident. The Padres didn't want for it. Neither did Cashner. No need to interview …
Final Fast Break Top 10
Final Fast Break Top 10 Division in parentheses, final regular season rank follows 1. La Costa Canyon (II) (31-2) 1 2. Lincoln (II) (21-9) 2 3. Hoover (II) (28-5) 3 4. Cathedral Catholic (III) (28-3) 4 5. Torrey Pines (I) …
CIF State Southern California Regional First Round Pairings
2012 CIF State Boys Basketball Championships Southern California Regional First Round Wednesday, March 7, 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted Division I (9) Mission Viejo (27-4) at (8) Torrey Pines (22-10) (12) Vista (25-8) at (5) Etiwanda (30-2) Division II (1) …
One More Game
Used to be, there was a winner in the National League and a winner in the American League, and that was it. The two teams then went on to play in the World Series. The box scores in the newspapers …
Division I Finals: Torrey Pines vs. Vista
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpLcN1BDUKY Falcons control second half to take down Panthers, end title drought UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO – In a wide-open Division I title race, second-seeded Torrey Pines rose to the top. Saturday night at Jenny Craig Pavilion, the Falcons stifled …
Division III Finals: Cathedral Catholic vs. Mission Bay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEr1aeg0Iso Dons steal last-second thriller from Buccaneers with late comeback UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO – Top-seeded Cathedral Catholic spent most of Saturday afternoon trailing third-seeded Mission Bay in the Division III Finals, but in the end the Dons were able …
Division IV Finals: Francis Parker vs. La Jolla Country Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZojuaf0T0U Torreys dominate second half to win first section title since 2002 UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO – Whatever happened in the La Jolla Country Day locker room at halftime of the Division IV finals, it clearly motivated the Torreys. Third-seeded …
Division II Finals: La Costa Canyon vs. Lincoln
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5T7Nj3pzdo Mavericks edge Hornets in OT thriller to claim top spot in section UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO – The top two teams in the section met in the Division II finals on Friday night at Jenny Craig Pavilion – and …
Division V Finals: Foothills Christian vs. The Rock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1jqxAYdrfQ Knights win defensive battle to capture fifth section title in six years UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO – Foothills Christian lost its leading scorer just before the postseason – but the Knights didn’t lose their way in the Division V …
CIF Finals Scoreboard (March 2-3)
CIF Finals Scoreboard at Jenny Craig Pavilion, University of San Diego Division I (2) Torrey Pines 55, (5) Vista 41 Division II (1) La Costa Canyon 58, (2) Lincoln 54 (OT) Division III (1) Cathedral Catholic 65, (3) Mission Bay …
Best Pics: February
For all 397 photos from the 2011-12 basketball season, visit the Fast Break gallery. Five Lincoln guard Tyrell Robinson protects the ball from the tight defensive pressure of Hoover guard Chris Jones in the Division II semifinals on Feb. 28. …
CIF Finals Previews
CIF Finals Previews All games at Jenny Craig Pavilion, University of San Diego Division I (2) Torrey Pines (21-10) vs. (5) Vista (25-7) Saturday 8:05 p.m. Section Titles Torrey Pines – 5 (last in 2001), Vista – 3 (1994) The …
Will the Real Owner of the Padres Please Stand Up?
Pretending to set the opening day roster of the Padres is easy compared to solving the question of whether the ownership of the club will somehow become resolved before April. Technically, John Moores still owns the Padres, regardless of the …