Don't Look Now...

I know, some of you can't look now. I sincerely empathize. It is by luck only that my parents have had Cox for as long as I can remember, and thus I am able to watch every Padres game on FSSD via the fantastic technology that is Slingbox. I'm an apartment dweller here in the Cleveland suburbs, so I know about limited cable provider choices. The fact that the only real alternative to Time Warner for many San Diegans is AT&T U-Verse, and FSSD can't even come to an agreement with them, is perhaps the most ridiculous aspect of the whole situation. But that is not what this post is about.

Anyway, if you haven't been paying attention the past week, and I can't blame you if you haven't, the San Diego Padres have now won 6 games in a row. They aren't heading to the playoffs, but they're climbing out of the gutter. I've watched about 80% of the games this year, and these have been 6 of the most fun thus far this season (other than the part where Andrew Cashner couldn't make it through his 3rd start without hitting the DL).

Tonight's glorious walk-off victory was a complete thriller. The rival Reds (well, in Cleveland they are the rival Reds) came to town for the start of a 3 game set, and the first pitching matchup is two guys who were once opening day starters for the other team and who were traded for each other in the offseason? That's intrigue.

Mat Latos rode into town and killed it, throwing 7 really strong innings. The last time I watched him pitch was against the Indians a couple weeks ago, and he was absolutely shelled. Afterward, he claimed the Indians were stealing signs. The Indians claimed he was tipping pitches (see what I mean about the rivalry?). What I saw was a pitcher throwing thigh high fastballs right down the middle. Tonight's version of Mat Latos was a completely different guy. His release point was better, his pitch locations were better, he didn't leave anything out over the middle of the plate.

Volquez was strong too. He struggled early, throwing a lot of pitches and giving up a run, but he settled down nicely and was able to get through 7 strong. His off-speed pitches were electric, and he relied heavily on them late in the start. And he only walked 3, 1 intentionally, so by his standards his command was excellent.

Latos got lucky in the 7th. Cam Maybin got called out sliding head first (why? I have no idea) into the first base bag when he was clearly safe. Bud Black was ejected. He may even have cursed. He didn't fight long. Maybe he knew something we didn't, because in the 8th bench coach Rick Renteria sent up Logan Forsythe to pinch-hit and Forsythe crushed a game-tying home run. In Petco Park. After 9:30pm pdt. Off one of the best setup men in the game, Sean Marshall. Crazy.

The game stayed tied going into the bottom of the 9th. The revelation that has been Yasmani Grandal (your loss, Reds fans!) doubled to start the inning. The Reds walked Yonder (I wish your last name was Rizzo) Alonso intentionally to set up the double play. Cam Maybin bunted a sky high chopper off home plate for an infield single to load the bases. Up strode Everth Cabrera, who crushed a one-hopper over the wall in left-center for a game-winning ground rule something or other (single? double? Everth never touched 2nd, Alonso never touched home), flipped his bat like an absolute boss, and that was that.

Padres win. So many injuries this season. So much underperformance. So much ownership nonsense. None of that has mattered the last 6. It can't last. Not with this pitching staff. Doesn't matter. I'll take what I can get. Good baseball right now is good enough. There's an argument to be made for tanking for the #1 pick in next year's draft. I'd counter that with guys like Grandal, Alonso, Everth, and Maybin out there playing every day, it's more important for the team's future to see them succeed as much as possible the rest of the season. The 2009 Padres stunk up the first half then battled back to 75 wins by the end of the year, building momentum that continued almost to the end of the 2010 season (so bitter). Maybe this team can do the same thing.

Bud Black is never getting fired. Ever. Sorry to end on a sour note.