Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Pains In The Back...

Greetings from St. Louis, MO, and Busch Stadium.  Here after game two of the three game series, I figured, I would check in and update you on the news of the day here (better late than never)...


Found out this afternoon that Chase Headley would be out of the lineup tonight with back stiffness.  Apparently he'd been playing through it the last few days, and the 13 inning marathon game Sunday didn't help things along.  Headley as you remember missed about 5 games in Spring Training this year with the same injury.  Bud Black doesn't want it to get any worse, so he gave Headley the night off.  Black was pretty confident that Headley could be used later in the game as a pinch hitter.  Headley has been durable, for sure, this is only the 2nd game he hasn't started all season.


We got an update on Mark Kotsay today as well.  He's back in San Diego and received a cortisone injection to help with the pain in his back.  Black said that Kotsay is getting better.


Carlos Quentin is playing again, albeit in extended spring games.  Still good news that he's back and active after a minor set back with his surgically repaired knee.  So we'll wait for further updates.


Want to wish the best of luck to Cory Luebke, who will undergo "Tommy John" surgery Wednesday.  The 27 year old lefty will have the procedure done by Dr. Yocum in Los Angeles.  Adam Wainwright seems to be gathering some steam after a slow start to the 2012 season.  He completed his first game since August of 2010, with his shut out of the Padres tonight.  I can't help but think that he's a little more than a year removed from the TJ procedure, so here's hoping that Luebke recovers this well.  


Good night!


Andy

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

It's May...okay?

I know I'm ready for the calendar to turn to May, after all it is my birthday month!  Yes that's right, birthday MONTH.  Ha!  


I'm sure the Padres feel the same way, 24 games in April and a 7-17 record, May will be a welcome sight or so one would think.  Then comes news today of another injury to a pitcher.  


Manager Bud Black informed us today that Cory Luebke will miss his scheduled start due to a sore left elbow.  Black says pushing Luebke back was mainly a precaution, and the team is hopeful it will only be one start.  Jeff Suppan will come up from Triple-A Tucson to make the start.  A corresponding roster move will be made either tonight or tomorrow.  


Luebke felt some discomfort in the elbow during his last start in San Francisco, right around the 4th inning.   He added, "If this was September, I'd still be pitching", saying that the elbow is "significantly better with the treatment" he's getting on it.  He understands that it's early in the season and the team is trying to "stay on top of it".  


In a twist of irony, Suppan will face his former team the Brewers in the start tomorrow.  The veteran right hander won't be worrying about that, "I"m only concerned about making good pitches", said Suppan.  He thinks he's stretched out enough to make upwards of 90 pitches. "I made two starts in extended spring training and two in (Triple-A) Tucson, and got up to about 65 pitches", he added.  


Lineup tonight:


Will Venable - RF
Chris Denorfia - LF
Chase Headley - 3B
Nick Hundley - C
Yonder Alonso - 1B (current 5 game hitting streak - career hi)
Orlando Hudson - 2B
Cameron Maybin - CF
Jason Bartlett - SS
Edinson Volquez - SP


Volquez is looking for his first win as a member of the Padres.  He comes in 0-2, with a 3.60 ERA.  


News/Notes:


Casey Kelly was in San Diego yesterday to get a check up from the Padres team doctors.  Bud Black says that the pitcher was encouraged by the visit.  Kelly is back in Tucson and will continue resting until the soreness and pain in the elbow are completely gone.  


It will be interesting to see how the team pitches to Ryan Braun tonight.  The Brewers slugger hit 3 homers and a triple, driving in 6 runs last night.  He accounted for 15 total bases a new Milwaukee record.  Braun became the first player to ever hit 3 homers in a game at Petco Park. 


My schedule:


I appreciate everybody asking either here on the blog or by direct message on Twitter or Facebook asking about when I'll be doing a game again.  I have the answer for you here. 


I'll have tomorrow's game with Colonel Coleman on XX1090 starting at 3:30pm, in the final game of the 3 game series with Milwaukee.  


I will be filling in again for Dick Enberg on Fox Sports San Diego this weekend.  I'll work with Mark Grant on Friday (7:05pm), Saturday (5:35pm) and Sunday (1:05pm) for the series against the Marlins.  Tune us in (if you can) on FSSD. 


Alright, that's it, thanks again and take care!

Andy