Welcome to San Diego
The Padres have made quite a few moves in the last few weeks. Keeps things exciting around here, I guess.
Last week we signed veteran Matt Stairs as our annual pinch-hitter/DH guy. I say annual because we’ve signed guys for this role at least three times in the last three years with little or no success. Example #1: Tony Clark in 2008. We signed him as our veteran bench guy who could be our DH and we traded him in the middle of the season, back to the team we got him from in the first place. Needless to say, he did not work out quite as the Padres had hoped.
Example #2: Cliff Floyd in 2009. Again, we signed him as our veteran pinch hitter dude who would be able to be our DH in our interleague games. I think he got hurt before the season even started and never really came back at all. So much for him.
So that brings us to our third attempt at a guy who can hit well off the bench late in a game and actually do well in the DH spot. If he’s not hurt by then.
I always get excited about these pinch-hitter-DH-type guys, but they always seem to let me down for some reason. I love it when a guy can come into the game late and get an essential hit or walk or whatever. But the Padres just haven’t been able to find a guy who’s really consistent. Let’s hope that this Stairs guy can change that. Welcome to the Padres.
The big signing of the week is pitcher Jon Garland. For some reason, I keep thinking that he was on the Angels. Wasn’t there a Garland on the Angels recently? Anyways, I think this is a very good move on the Padres’ part. He’ll be a great 3 or 4 spot starter, and will hopefully give us a lot of innings.
It keeps some of the younger guys in Triple-A for a while, and that way they can come up in the event of an injury.
The rotation is looking great: Chris Young, Kevin Correia, Jon Garland, Mat Latos, and Clayton Richard. LOVE IT!!
We’re going to have a great corps of starting pitchers this year. As long as they stay healthy and uninjured, it’s going to be a great year. I’m sooo excited!! 🙂
I’m also getting really excited about the Padres Fan Fest!! Just over two weeks away!!
Random Kouz picture of the entry:
MISS YOU!!!!!
GO PADRES!!
Unfinished Business 
Yup, Darth Garland pitched for the Angels back in 2008, even though for most of his career he’s been with the ChiSox. Hopefully he’ll stick with the Padres for a while and become a mainstay in their rotation…
You sure love the picture I found, right? 🙂 I’m so freaking excited for Fan Fest!! As for the Padres news, things are looking very good. Great pickups by Jed Hoyer and he is a genius. Can’t wait for baseball!
http://hyunyoung.mlblogs.com
Thankfully Garland is no longer in the AL. Always hated seeing him pitch against Boston. He’s an amazing pitcher who I hope will one day be a member of the Boston Red Sox. Haha, that’s never gonna happen though. Is it April yet?
-Holly
http://irishsoxkid19.mlblogs.com
Kaybee: Aw, you got Garland! Haha he’s a cutie…I bet Cat misses him. Your Padres have improved quite a bit this offseason. Lol they are competing with my Yanks. SEE YOU IN THE WORLD SERIES!!!!
-Virginia
http://southernbelle.mlblogs.com
http://fanhuddle.com/newyorkyankees
PS: How are you doing about Kouz?
Garland was in our division ALL YEAR last year with the Diamondbacks & Dodgers, helped the Dodgers to the division title, will be a decent pick-up for the Pads.
Garland should help.
http://clevelandbaseball.mlblogs.com/
I love that Cat in the Cat picture. Yes, Virginia, I will miss Garland.
http://catlovesthedodgers.mlblogs.com
Funny photo of Kouz! 😉 I hope Garland can give your pitching staff some stability and mentoring!
Haha Kaybee!
I forgot that I also got that hat at Petco Park last year!
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I am looking foward to the Dodger Caravan next week but I heard that the rain is coming back next week.
Emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com/