Heath Bell is more funny than fat. But come to think of it, he does fill out his Padres uniform rather nicely.
He even likes to talk about his, um, big bones.
“We’ve got about 20 games left, so my year’s not up,” Bell said. “After that we have the playoffs. I feel like, with my big shoulders, my thick thighs and my big old butt, I can carry this team.”
And you thought the Padres would be uptight after seeing virtually their entire lead in the National League West evaporate.
The Giants, 6 1/2 games out on Aug. 25, came out of the weekend within percentage points of the Padres. The Rockies, 11 games out on Aug. 22, were within 1 1/2 games.
Stuff happens when you lose 10 in a row. But the Padres are getting back on track. They are 5-3 since ending the streak. And they scored six runs Monday, their highest total since Aug. 25.
They were outscored 55-23 during the streak, and came out of the weekend having scored 38 runs in 17 games. Their .247 team batting average is 15th in the league, their 604 runs 12th.
It’s enough to make a manager panic. Or not.
Padres manager Bud Black laughs at the notion of pushing the panic button.
“You’ve got to be sturdy and steady,” Black said. “Everybody encourages managers and head coaches to turn over the (postgame) spread and air out the team because they’re not trying. And as soon as you do it, it’s, ‘Oh, Black’s lost it’ or ‘(Joe) Torre has flipped’ or ‘(Joe) Girardi is panicking,’ right?”
The Padres aren’t panicking, and for one specific reason: pitching. They lead the majors in team ERA at 3.32 and have allowed 102 fewer runs than they’ve scored: 604-502. Just to put those numbers in perspective, the Rockies have scored 687 and allowed 619.
“Nothing to worry about,” Adrian Gonzalez said. “We’ve had little things here and there, things you go through during a rough streak. Everybody goes through them, and everybody bounces back and starts winning like they’ve done in the past.”
Padres players are wearing their unofficial team motto under their uniforms: Believe! Now, more than ever, the Padres need to do it. And beating the Rockies on Monday made it easier.
“You’ve got to believe,” said Miguel Tejada, who drove in four runs. “We had a 10-game losing streak and we’re in first place. That tells you how good this team is.”
Said Tejada, when asked about Monday’s win: “It’s a huge game for us. Not only because we won the game, but because of the way Colorado has been playing. I think they’re the best team in baseball right now.”
Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com
