It might not matter by the time you read this, but the Padres managed to put the Dodgers NL West Division title celebration on hold with a 3-1 victory on Tuesday at PETCO Park.

I must admit, for the first time in a wild, there was some electricity at the ballpark, though some of that might have come from fans dressed in blue and white. Whatever. There was a buzz there.

The Padres continued their nice run since July 28 with the same formula that has allowed them to go 35-23 since then: Strong starting pitching, great work from the bullpen and enough offense to make it stand up.

I thought left-handed pitcher Cesar Ramos pitched well and might have earned another start in the regular-season finale on Sunday against the Giants. Better still, Ramos is a lifelong fan of the Dodgers, as you can read here in my game story.

How big a fan? The guy skipped school to go see games.

SAN DIEGO — By his own estimation, Cesar Ramos figures he attended
every Dodgers home opener from the time he was 8 to 18, which meant
that a shift in plans from where he normally was supposed to be on
those sun-splashed afternoons.

“Oh yeah, I would skip classes to be there,” Ramos said, almost
proudly. “… That was something I wouldn’t miss. They [Ramos' parents]
understood. They’re Dodgers fans.”

Anyways, what were your thoughts on Tuesday’s game? Does waylaying the Dodgers for even one night mean anything to you or is seeing the Padres continue to develop their young talent what excites you the most at this point in the season?

Corey Brock, MLB.com, Padres.com, @FollowThePadres, Facebook

Last week in Denver, I sat down with Padres general manager Kevin Towers to talk about a few things, things we’ll discuss here on the blog, on Twitter and I’m sure on the Facebook page in the coming weeks.

One of the things I asked Towers about was the element of speed and the upgrade in athleticism this team has over the 99-loss team of a year ago or, really, even the one that started the year in April.

I’m not just talking stolen bases here, though it’s worth noting that the Padres have more than twice as many stolen bases this season (79) than a year ago (36). But the speed shows up on defense — think Everth Cabrera ranging in the hole for a ball or Will Venable laying out for a ball — as well as taking an extra base on a throw home, etc.

Here’s a snippet from the story that can be found at Padres.com:

“To me, where speed really shows up is late in ballgames. The eighth
or ninth inning and you have a guy like (Everth) Cabrera gets on,” Towers said.
“It can change the whole game. It’s almost more dangerous than the one
power hitter.

“The speed guys are less prone to the strikeout. They put the
ball in play. They put a lot of pressure on the opposing team late in
the ballgame.”

What are your thoughts about the speed and athleticism of this team? Is this what you want to see. Is this the type of players the Padres need to have to have success at PETCO Park and beyond?

Corey Brock, MLB.com, Padres.com, @FollowThePadres, Facebook

Here’s a snippet from a story I wrote yesterday about the Padres plan for more affordable ticket options for 2010.

Corey Brock, MLB.com, Padres.com, @FollowThePadres, Facebook

DENVER — Holding true to a mantra that they want to “create affordability,” the Padres announced on Thursday that a majority of their tickets for 2010 will either be reduced or remain at the pricing level they were this season.

Season tickets for next season will come at a 35 percent discount from individual tickets. As for those individual tickets, 60 percent of those that are sold will go for less than they did this season.

“We sent out a survey to our fans and conducted focus groups, and one of the things that came back consistently was that the economy has affected people,” Padres COO Tom Garfinkel said before Thursday’s game at Coors Field against the Rockies.

“This [new pricing plan] is a testament to our commitment to that. It allows us an opportunity to create affordability.”

San Diego vice chairman and CEO Jeff Moorad made the announcement on Thursday and said in a statement: “When we closed our transaction, I said affordability was a critical goal of our ownership group,” Moorad said.

“We are now providing our fans with more affordability, more options and enhanced value. We are excited about next season and inspired by the loyalty and emotional attachment of Padre fans.”
The Padres begin next season on April 5 in Arizona and will play their first game at home at PETCO Park on April 12 against Atlanta.

“We proactively asked our fans what was important to them and they told us that this economy has affected everyone and affordability was a priority. We listened and we’re responding,” Moorad said.

“We want to do everything we can to make it easier for fans to watch what will continue to be an energetic, athletic and youthful brand of Padres baseball.”

Good morning everyone, getting ready to start another week — and we’re running out of them very quickly — of the season. The Padres wrap up a four-game series today in Pittsburgh before they begin a three-game series in Denver on Tuesday.

I’ve got a question for you. What are your thoughts on speedy outfielder Luis Durango, who has, to say the least, run himself into some sort of prominence in his week or so with the team. The 23-year-old was at it again on Sunday, turning a walk into a stolen base, moving to third on an error by the catcher (trying to throw him out) and then scoring on a fly ball to left field.

Last week, of course, he had three hits, none leaving the infield, stole a base and managed to score the winning run on a ball hit to Justin Upton, who might have the best arm in baseball.

Really, it’s reminded me of the way Everth Cabrera has run himself into runs this season. That kind of speed is impressive, it’s rare and it can be, when used smartly, a legitimate weapon to beat teams.

Do you want to see more of Durango over these final weeks of the regular season? Would he be talking at-bats away from anyone else. I’m asking this as Kevin Kouzmanoff is set to come back and reclaim third base with Chase Headley moving back to the outfield.

I’m not entirely sure Durango is a prospect. He has, from what I’ve seen, one legitimate tool: His speed. He had 11 extra-base hits in 456 at-bats this season, though he’s willing to take a walk (.390 on-base percentage).

Is there room on the 25-man roster for Durango next season. Let’s hear your response on here and as on the Padres Facebook page.

Corey Brock, MLB.com, Padres.com, @FollowThePadres, Facebook

Happy Thursday everyone, here’s a little off-day Padres reading and a question to tie you over until the team begins a four-game series in Pittsburgh.

My story, linked here, is about the development of 22-year-old Everth Cabrera, from a Rule 5 draft pick in December to the Padres everyday shortstop moving forward.

Here’s a small snippet for you:

“Every general manager is asking me how we got that
shortstop,” Padres general manager Kevin Towers said. “Middle
infielders who can run and play defense like Everth are, well, those
guys are hard to find. Yes, he has exceeded our expectations.”

Cabrera, a Rule 5 Draft addition from the Colorado Rockies, is
hitting .263 with 23 steals in his first taste of the Major Leagues.
He’s probably stolen more runs than he’s driven in (28), adding to his
worth, especially at a premium position. 

At any rate, where does Cabrera’s development this season rank on your list of highlights?

What is your favorite storyline from the 2009 season? Cabrera, Mat Latos, adding young talent in two trades, avoiding 100 losses, the All-Star seasons of Adrian Gonzalez and Heath Bell.

Let’s hear what you have to say.

Corey Brock, MLB.com, Padres.com, Twitter: @FollowThePadres

Happy Tuesday, Padres fans. The 2010 schedule has just been released. My story is below and here’s a link to get a better look at the schedule.

Corey Brock, MLB.com, Padres.com, @FollowThePadres

SAN DIEGO — For the first time since 2007, the Padres will begin on the road next season when they open on April 5 against the D-backs in Phoenix.

San Diego will play three games in Arizona and three in Colorado before returning for its home opener against Atlanta on April 12 at PETCO Park.

That series against the Braves will kick off a nine-game homestand.

The Padres will be paired up to some extent with the American League East Division in Interleague Play, as Toronto (June 14-16) and Baltimore (June 18-20) come to PETCO Park.

This will be the first time since 2004 that the Padres have faced the Blue Jays. They were 1-2 against Toronto that season at PETCO Park.

San Diego faced the Orioles in 2007.

The Padres will also make Interleague trips to Seattle (May 21-23) and Tampa Bay (June 22-24) next season. Seattle also comes to PETCO Park again.

The Friars have played the Mariners in every year of Interleague Play since 1997.

San Diego will close the 2010 regular season on the road, playing three games against the Giants at AT&T Park on Oct. 1-3.

Here’s a little story I wrote Sunday about right-handed pitcher Sean Gallagher, who was obtained in the July 5 trade with the A’s for Scott Hairston. Gallagher is pitching out of the bullpen now but will certainly be considered for a spot in the rotation in Spring Training.

Gallagher suffered a slight tear to the patella tendon in his left knee in June and underwent what is still a relatively-new procedure called platelet-rich plasma therapy to help him heal quicker and get him back out on the mound.

Here’s that story.

Corey Brock, MLB.com, Padres.com, @FollowThePadres

SAN DIEGO — When it comes to tolerance, it’s easy to gauge exactly where Sean Gallagher stands when it comes to needles.

“I’m a big scaredy cat when it comes to needles,” said Gallagher, a Padres reliever who was the player to be named in the Scott Hairston deal with the Oakland A’s in July.

“I can get tattoos for hours, but I just can’t do needles. I don’t have any idea why that is.”

Gallagher discovered just how edgy he was with needles earlier this summer when he had platelet-rich plasma therapy to help repair a slightly torn patella tendon in his left knee.

The procedure, still considered a relatively new medical approach, helped get the right-hander on the track toward resuming his season.

The procedure occurred when Gallagher was still with Oakland’s Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento. Gallagher was trying to field a ball down the first-base line and his knee all but buckled on him.

“It just gave out on me,” he said. “I wasn’t sure what I was going to do.”

Luckily for Gallagher, Sacramento head trainer Brad LaRosa was familiar with platelet-rich plasma therapy. He suggested it to Gallagher, who made a few calls around, having never heard of such a procedure.

“It’s still fairly new,” Gallagher said. “I called around and a lot of guys had either heard a little about it or not at all.”

The procedure took about eight ounces of plasma from Gallagher’s arm and placed it in a centrifuge. That produced concentrated platelets — which contain growth factors that accelerate tissue repair and regeneration — that were injected into his left knee.

“I guess the natural antibodies of the body help the healing process,” Gallagher said. “It’s been shown through tests that the plasma helps the healing process up to 700 percent.

“There was pain. The pressure that you feel from the amount of fluid they inject in there is tough.”

The procedure has gained traction in professional sports, where Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward used it on his sprained right knee to prepare him for the Super Bowl against the Arizona Cardinals in February.

In baseball, Texas All-Star third baseman Michael Young opted for the procedure earlier this month for a left hamstring injury in order to get back on the field soon for the stretch run.

Last October, Dodgers pitcher Takashi Saito had a PRP injection that enabled him to be available for the National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs. Others who have had the PRP injections include Andrew Miller of the Marlins and Xavier Nady of the Yankees.

Gallagher, who has had tendinitis issues in his knees in the past, is happy to be pitching again this season. He originally figured, at the time of the June injury, that he might be done for the season. He thinks the PRP injection accelerated his return.

Gallagher hadn’t allowed a run over three innings in three appearances entering Sunday. He notched his first victory as a Padres pitcher on Saturday, tossing a scoreless 10th inning. He’s pitching out of the bullpen this month but figures to get a shot to win a job in the rotation next spring.

That, he said, certainly beats heading to Spring Training coming back from knee surgery, which was an option for Gallagher, though not one he was interested in.

“There was no just letting it heal. The tear was going to be there unless we did something to it to repair it,” Gallagher said. “My choices were to play on it and hope that it lasted. It was running the risk of blowing it completely.

“I wanted to do what was going to get me back out there the fastest.”

SAN DIEGO – Members of Chula Vista’s Park View Little League that won the Little League World Series last month were at PETCO Park on Saturday though they weren’t just taking in the Padres game against the Rockies.

The players from Park View and their coaches were in the clubhouse prior to the game, having their Padres jerseys – complete with their names on the back – autographed by San Diego players who were more than happy to oblige.

“It’s awesome,” San Diego manager Bud Black said, watching the players get ready to shag fly balls in the outfield during batting practice. “They’re excited and our guys are pumped to see them. It’s good stuff.”

The Park View players also got to take batting practice after the Padres concluded their pregame batting practice session.

Prior to the game, the team was honored during a pregame ceremony that included video highlights from their run to the World Series title in Williamsport.

The Park View players also spent time before the game with Padres CEO Jeff Moorad and senior vice president of brand development, Laura Broderick.

The Padres also unveiled a billboard on the back of the stadium scoreboard that showed two images of the team in Williamsport, including one with the World Series banner. The billboard can be see from parts of downtown outside the stadium.

Corey Brock, MLB.com, Padres.com, Twitter

Happy Saturday! Only a few more hours until my Oregon Ducks try to get that first win of the season against Purdue. But, alas, this is a Padres blog, so let’s get to a little news.

I talked to Kevin Kouzmanoff late last night after the game. He wasn’t limping around nearly as much as he was Wednesday morning in San Francisco, a day after he strained his left calf as he planted with the left foot and made a throw to first base.

Kouzmanoff said the calf was feeling better to some degree though when he plants with it, it still bothers him. He was told that he could expect to be out between seven and 10 days. That would mean somewhere between Sept. 15-18, when the team is on the road next week.

Padres manager Bud Black said Friday that Kouzmanoff might return sometime when the team goes on the road. The Padres are home through Wednesday, are off Thursday and start a four-game series in Pittsburgh on Friday.

That likely means a minimum of six games (counting Friday) without their RBI’s (84) leader. They surely could have used another right-handed bat in Friday’s 4-1 loss to the Rockies.

Corey Brock, MLB.com, Padres.com, Twitter

Happy Friday everyone. Back at PETCO Park after the 4-2 road trip to Los Angeles and San Francisco. The Padres play the first of three games against Colorado and three more against Arizona.

Anyway, here’s a few injury updates on third  baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff (strained left calf) and outfielder Kyle Blanks (strained arch, right foot).

Remember, the best place for breaking Padres news is at @FollowThePadres on Twitter or even at the Padres.com page.

Corey Brock, MLB.com, Padres.com, Twitter

SAN DIEGO – Padres third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, who leads the team in RBIs (84) and is the current Major League leader in fielding percentage at his position, will likely miss the next six games.

Padres manager Bud Black said that Kouzmanoff, who strained his left calf Tuesday in San Francisco, “won’t be available the next few days.”

“I think probably the road trip makes sense,” Black said.

The Padres opened a three-game series Friday against the Colorado Rockies with three more games following this series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Padres head out on their final road trip on Sept. 18.

Kouzmanoff said the injury occurred when fielded a ball hit to him by San Francisco’s Juan Uribe to start the eighth inning on Tuesday. Kouzmanoff missed the Padres game Wednesday against the Giants.

“It was a ball to my left, and when I got it, I planted on my left foot to get in position to throw to first base,” Kouzmanoff said on Wednesday. “That’s when it happened.”

Black said Friday that Kouzmanoff was “sore.” Kouzmanoff was getting treatment prior to the game and wasn’t available for comment.

The Padres gave Chase Headley his second consecutive start at third base. Headley will likely see most of the playing time at third base with Kouzmanoff sidelined.

Kouzmanoff is hitting .257 with 17 home runs and 84 RBIs, which ties his career high he set a year ago. He’s hitting .281 since the All-Star break with 37 RBIs in 52 games.

Kouzmanoff also leads all Major League third baseman in fielding percentage for players at his position (.990) and has committed three errors this season.

Also on the injury front Friday, outfielder Kyle Blanks, on the disabled list since Aug. 29 with a strained arc in his right foot, has been fitted for insoles and prescription orthotics that will likely arrive in the next few weeks he said.

With 20 games remaining after Friday’s game against the Rockies, it’s not looking good for a return for Blanks.

“I would love to think so [that he can play this season] but realistically, it’s tough to say,” Blanks said. “My goal is to be physically ready to play. I want it to happen fast.”