Well, I got back from my trip last night at about midnight. It was a long day of travelling, that’s for sure. It’s great to be back in the Promised Land (San Diego). North Carolina weather is pretty crazy. I really missed blogging about my Padres, and boy do I have a lot of catching up to do.

By the way, I thought my sister did a great job filling in for me. I loved her entries!! Thanks #1clameredithfan. I think it would be very cool if she started her own blog, yeah?

I think the biggest thing I should deal with tonight is the Jake Peavy trade. I’m sure you all have heard about it. It went down yesterday, a suprise trade really. I was at the airport in Raleigh and saw a TV with ESPN on. I was like, oh yeah! SPORTS!!! They were naturally talking about the trading deadline, which I had forgotten about. They were talking about the Victor Martinez trade to the Red Sox mostly. I felt sad that Justin Masterson got traded. I love Masterson! I hope he does well in Cleveland.

Anways, a little while later, they talked about a potential Heath Bell trade to the Dodgers. What on earth?? No way. I was pretty upset about that. I’m like, well who’s going to close for us?? Then, literally just as we were about to board, the news came on that Jake Peavy had been traded to the Chicago White Sox for four pitchers. I was sooooo upset!! I just started groaning. Nooooo. Noooooooo. NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Oh man, I was so upset. I cried all the way to Dulles. It was so devistating.

Yesterday, San Diego lost more than a pitcher. They lost an ace, a CY Young award winner, a friend, a brother. I seriously feel like a very close family member has moved away and I won’t get to see him again. It’s sad.

I just accepted that the Padres are going through a rebuilding season. But I didn’t realize that rebuilding would involve getting rid of Jake. I’d say that Jake is one of the best pitchers in Padres history. The guy goes out there with a fire to compete, and he’ll fight his hardest to get you the game.

He was worth a lot, that’s for sure. He was headed out of here too, that was for sure. But things had gotten very quiet once he went on the DL. It seemed so likely that he would be hanging around. But then the front office went and traded him while he was on the DL. Is that even allowed? I mean, the guy isn’t even making the team lose or something. He’s just working hard to get back so he can help the team win.

He loved San Diego. Still does. He’s been here for eight years. He’s been on two championship teams. The Padres selected him out of high school, and he’s never been anywhere else in his career. Just a few offseasons ago, he got a $52 million contract. He moved his family, his wife and three boys, out here from Alabama just a year or so ago. He was ready to stick here for a long time.

But then the 2008 offseason came around. Trades to the Braves and the Cubs fell through. Jake started the game on Opening Day as a Padre. Then, during a ten-game winning streak, the Padres tried to trade him to the White Sox. He turned it down, saying that it was in the best interest for him and his family to stay in San Diego. So he did. Then he got hurt, and things quieted down. And finally, out of the blue, he became a White Sock.

He’s excited about being on a winning team. He’s REALLY excited about being on a team that has a chance for the World Series this year. I can’t blame him. I would love to be a fan of a team that really has a chance to win. I definitely understand that this seemed right for him. I’m not mad at him. I can’t be. He’s going to get a chance to win on the White Sox, and that’s all I could want for any of my boys. They want to win. That’s why they’re playing baseball. And I’m willing to let them go if it means they get to win. Well, not to the Dodgers though. I would never forgive them if they went there 🙂

One of the worst parts of this whole situation is that Jake consented to the trade. That’s really really tough on the fan. It’s one thing when a player doesn’t have a choice when he’s traded, but when he talked with his family and his friends, thought about it, and wanted to leave, that’s hard. He was just sick of losing, I guess.  

So when I saw the comic in the newspaper today (it was actually yesterday’s paper), I thought it was so perfect for this situation. The Padres’ front office seems to like to lose. At least, they’re looking so far ahead into the future that the players who could help us win now are getting traded away. It seems like the front office gets a neurotic pleasure at losing all the time. Man. I’m not mad at Jake for leaving, but I’m certainly mad at the front office for sending him out the door. It’s plain wrong.

One of the things I thought about as I was on the plane crying yesterday was what a person Jake is. He’s not only an excellent baseball player, but he’s a great guy. He was involved in so much charity work. He’s a Christian. He’s got a beautiful family. And he’s a country boy. I think I’ll cry every time I hear “Sweet Home Alabama.”

He was great to the fans, too. I couldn’t help but remember a certain Fan Fest at the beginning of the season. Jen and I got in the overflow line for Jake’s autograph. It looked very unlikely that we would get in, but Jake kept signing and signing and he got through a ton more people than he needed too. I’ll never forget that.

Chicago, you are getting an incredible player and person here. I am so happy for you 🙂 I’m really going to miss Jake, and it’s going to be hard to talk about him for a while. But you know what, Jake’s going to be happy in Chicago. That’s important for him. If he went somewhere like say, Oakland, things would be a lot different. But he went to a team we won’t have to face. He’ll get to pitch on a winning team. He won’t get to bat, but obviously he’s OK with that. Jake will always be a Padre, though. Always. He was “born and raised” with the Padres. He’s OUR ace. Man, what a rotation for the White Sox!! Anyways, we’re going to miss him a lot, but these guys we got in return had better do well for us in the future. 

I love you Jake. Just like I told you at the Fan Fest. We all love you. The Padres are deeply different without you, and it’s going to be a hard adjustment. But you’re in a better place 🙂 You went from dead last to a winning team in a matter of minutes. You’re going to have a lot of fun in Chicago, I know it. It’s going to be a huge adjustment for you too, but you’re strong. You’ll get through. So will I.

Wow you guys, I feel soooo much better just writing this all out. Blogging really is therapy 🙂 Whew.

OK, I should probably mention that the Padres are on a four-game winning streak. That’s soo cool!! They’ve been playing really well.

In other news, we got Sean Gallagher from the A’s to complete the Scott Hairston deal, our hitting coach was fired and Randy Ready replaced him, Mark Prior was released. Trevor is in town with the Brewers and I think I’m finally over him too. Whatever.

Clayton Richards is pitching for the Padres today. We got him yesterday. I know that Jen’s talked about him a lot, so he must be really good. And he has been today. So cool!! It’s good to see the trade have immediate impact.

Well, I should probably go to bed. It’s soo good to be back, you guys. I missed you sooo much!! I hope you have a great weekend!!

GO JAKE!!

GO PADRES!!!!