They exist in a strange purgatory, perched in first place, yet not delivered from punch lines.
The San Diego Padres are marching backward into history, threatening to become the first division winner with a losing record. They have been casts as stars in the “West Slide” story. Most of the attention they receive is unwanted and unflattering.
Never has being good felt so bad.
“Once you get into the playoffs anything can happen,” insisted Padres outfielder Brian Giles, his team saddled with a 75-75 record. “I really believe we are not a .500 team.”
On Tuesday night, the Padres were not a competitive team, suffering a 20-1 beat-down to the last-place Rockies.
Colorado’s most lopsided victory in franchise history was to Padres pitchers what “Jaws” was to swimmers, rubberstamped with notable distinctions, including Sean Burrough’s first mound appearance presumably since the Little League World Series and Matt Holliday tying the club record with eight RBIs.
With one out in the third inning, every Rockies starter already having collected a hit including pitcher Jamey Wright, Holliday stepped into the box against reliever Scott Cassidy. He clubbed a fastball with such authority that it appeared it might leave the stadium.
It landed 442 feet away on the left-field concourse, bouncing off a closed concession stand. Had it been open, a patron could have had the proverbial gopher ball with an order of Rocky Mountain oysters.
“Oh my (God),” mouthed Wright in the dugout as he watched Holliday’s home run.
