The San Diego Padres ended the first 12 games of the season tied for first place in the National League West.
Think on that a minute.
The Padres — a team that traded their starting shortstop, Khalil Greene, failed to sign closer Trevor Hoffman, changed owners after the former owner’s bitter divorce, and rebuilt the bullpen with baseball’s version of welfare (the waiver wire) — were in first.
General manager Kevin Towers didn’t think his team would be as bad as everyone thought, but he wasn’t expecting this. He told me this spring that a good start could really instill confidence given his club’s youth. But 9-3? Can they stop now and accept a Holiday Bowl invitation?
The Padres were at the epicenter of news all winter because of ace Jake Peavy. The hot rumor had Peavy being traded to the Cubs. Then something weird happened. The Padres never got an offer they liked, and they changed hands, with Jeffrey Moorad taking over ownership. Peavy and Chris Young give the Padres two frontline starters.
In Adrian Gonzalez, they have an MVP candidate. Did you realize he was the only player in the NL West to eclipse 100 RBIs last season? That he puts up numbers in Petco is amazing. Hitters would rather rub a cheese grater on their shins than hit there. Teams are going to eventually stop pitching to him, opening the door for Fountain- Fort Carson’s Chase Headley to post a breakthrough season.
The Padres’ charm is in the mutts. They have gone from Hell’s Bells to Heath Bell in the closer’s role. Bell has converted his first seven save opportunities. The rest of the relievers, save for Cla Meredith, are known only to friends and relatives, a list that includes Eulogio De La Cruz, Luke Gregerson, Edwin Moreno, Edward Mujica and Luis Perdomo.
Worst to first? That’s doubtful. But the Friars are hardly living on a prayer.
Catch of the day.
Florida starter Josh Johnson lives in Oklahoma in the offseason, fitting for a guy who pitches like sawdust on the mound. He’s old school and this season’s new sensation. He is 2-0 with a 2.91 ERA in his first three starts, posting the big league’s first complete game.
Rockies TV analyst George Frazier worked with Johnson during the winter as part of a pitching camp he runs in Tulsa. What impresses Frazier the most about the 6-foot-7 right-hander is his ornery streak. In topping the Mets, Johnson reached 97 mph on his fastball in the ninth inning when, as Frazier noted, “He needed to go and get a pitch.” Since returning from elbow ligament transplant surgery last July, Johnson is 9-1. Everything suggests that he will not only be the Marlins’ ace, but a Cy Young candidate.
Bird of youth.
News of Mark Fidrych’s accidental death last Monday hit Rockies reliever Jason Grilli hard. Grilli’s father, Steve, was a teammate of Fidrych’s with the Detroit Tigers. Jason still keeps a picture of Fidrych at his house.
“I was in the clubhouse with my dad. I was a baby in diapers, and there’s Fidrych playing with me,” Jason said.
Footnotes.
Washington’s Lastings Milledge didn’t just get sent down to the minors for his poor performance. It was the latest attempt to get the outfielder to grow up. He continually showed up late to games, according to friends of the player, including on opening day. . . . Speaking of underachieving young players, what’s up with Justin Upton? My pick of the Diamondbacks winning the NL West was predicated on Upton having a breakthrough season. Instead, he’s going backward. Upton began the season 0-for-15 with seven strikeouts. Now, he’s hitting .185.
EYE ON…
Roy Halladay, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
Background: Halladay is the face of the Blue Jays’ franchise. Every Colorado kid who laces up his cleats should know Halladay’s name. And they could do worse than to aspire to be him. Or Brad Lidge, for that matter. Forget about their success. Both deserve to be emulated for their work ethic.
What’s up: Rockies catcher Sal Fasano didn’t hesitate when asked in spring training who the big leagues’ smartest pitcher was, now that Greg Maddux is retired. The answer: “That’s easy, Roy Halladay.” Halladay reinvented himself eight years ago, transforming himself from an over-the-top hard thrower to a three-quarter delivery pitcher who features a sinker, cutter, slider and changeup. But mechanics are only part of his genius. He follows a detailed scouting report. Fasano marveled at Halladay’s regimen last season when the two were teammates. Halladay has begun this season 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA.
Renck’s take: Judge Halladay by his impact. Yankees starter A.J. Burnett said he believes he can handle New York because he learned to be a professional under Halladay’s tutelage. Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi doesn’t want to trade Halladay, but if his team falls out of contention, the right-hander will likely be shopped. If that happens, the Rockies need to unload the farm to land the hometown ace, budget be damned. With all due respect to Aaron Cook, Darryl Kile, Jeff Francis, Mike Hampton and Pedro Astacio, the Rockies have never had a pitcher like Halladay. He’s a beast who keeps his pitch counts down, allowing him to consistently reach the 220-inning threshold.
AT ISSUE
Anger toward WBC likely to intensify
What: The Boston Red Sox have never embraced the World Baseball Classic, and now they have reason to despise it. Reigning American League MVP Dustin Pedroia is off to a terrible start after getting injured in the WBC, and the Red Sox placed Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Team Japan ace, on the disabled list with arm fatigue. Matsuzaka pitched 14 2/3 high-stress innings to earn MVP honors in the WBC, then lasted one inning in his second start of the big-league season.
When: The second version of the WBC took place during spring training, the only possible time to hold the event since Major League Baseball has no appetite for staging it in the middle of summer.
Background: There isn’t a single general manager who likes the WBC, but none publicly blast the event. It’s commissioner Bud Selig’s baby, and he told team executives and owners last month, in no uncertain terms, to deal with it.
Renck’s take: Here’s why the Red Sox complaint carries weight. Manager Terry Francona expressed concern about the WBC’s impact on the Red Sox five weeks ago. This isn’t a knee-jerk reaction to injuries to his stars. Going forward, there needs to be a limit on the number of players a team can provide. It’s easy for the Pirates to embrace the WBC when they might have one player affected. For clubs such as the Red Sox and Mets, with double-figure participants, it’s a real issue. No Boston fans are going to remember the WBC champion, but a first-round playoff exit will be singed in their brains.
THREE UP
1. Padres: Starter Walter Silva, a veteran of the Mexican League, is one of many heartwarming stories.
2. Mariners: Have 15 foreign-born players and a defense that is more secure than an armored truck.
3. Royals: Bullpen leads league in strikeouts, led by nails closer Joakim Soria.
THREE DOWN
1. Giants: Ace Tim Lincecum’s velocity is down as he tinkers with his delivery.
2. Nationals: The Manny Acta watch has begun. Will be shocked if he’s not the first manager fired.
3. Yankees: Open up new stadium by getting buried by Indians. Where’s their traditional sense of the moment?
