Monday, December 19, 2011

What's going on?

Well, well, well, it certainly has been a long time, but I felt compelled to update the blog, so here goes.  I'm going to try, I repeat, TRY to keep a better handle on this thing as we move forward.  I've been asked by a few folks on Facebook and Twitter these days and recently about how much they liked the blog in the last few years, so I figure, why not, let's give it a go again and see what happens.  Not sure what direction I'll take it, but I have some thoughts.  Maybe I'll ask you folks, which way it should go? 


The way I see it, I can... 


Continue what I was doing, which was giving you my thoughts on the Padres, Toreros, Aztecs and Chargers on occasion, and letting you know where I stand on some of the moves and games.  


Use the blog as a travelers guide to the places we get to visit during my travels with the various teams I work with.  


Or just wing it!  Let me know what you think.  


Recent Happenings...


Back with the Padres...
Not sure if you saw it or not, but I am going to be back with the Padres for the upcoming season.  I have truly enjoyed my now 5 seasons (wow how time flies), and look forward to number 6, which is just around the corner. 


Finally!!
Kudos to the Hall of Fame for FINALLY getting it right with my dear friend Ron Santo.  He's been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame after a stellar playing and broadcasting career.  It hurts a little bit, because Ron passed away last December, and he deserved the chance to speak on stage in Cooperstown.  I know his family is very excited, as I spoke to his son Jeff (producer of the film "This Old Cub") a few weeks ago to congratulate him and the rest of the crew.  Ron's wife Vicki will deliver his induction speech on July 22, 2012 in New York.  I'm hoping to be on hand to witness the occasion.  Ron was more than a former co-worker to me, he became like a member of my extended family and I miss him every day.  If you haven't gotten the chance to see Jeff Santo's film, I highly recommend it.  Just follow this link for more information on This Old Cub


Latos to Cincinnati...
Many of you out there have strong opinions on the Mat Latos trade the other day as I've read and heard the last few days.  My thought is this.  If you can deal one player and make your team deeper, and better, you need to do it.  Mat can certainly pitch, there is no doubt in my mind about that, but so can Edinson Volquez.  He won 17 games in his first full season of 2008 and should benefit from pitching at Petco Park.  I'm of the opinion that Darren Balsley and Buddy Black know what they are doing, and have certainly helped a few pitchers over the years re-discover what they were or helped them to get better than they've ever been.  Yonder Alonso is an intriguing addition, from everything I hear and have read, this guy is a hitter.  Maybe not a typical slugging first baseman, but a gap type hitter, which will play well at Petco.  I don't know enough about the minor leaguers to comment intelligently so I'll leave it at that.  Sometimes you have to deal away talent to get talent back.  I don't think Josh Byrnes is done dealing either, so let's wait and see what comes next before judging, good or bad, what the off season moves are. 


Alright, that's all I've got time for tonight, want to watch a little Monday Night Football, but I guess there's a power outage in Candlestick Park!  Ugh.


Happy Holidays everyone, and I look forward to hearing from you out there!


Andy