OK, so that’s a really long headline, isn’t it?

Well, looking to capture the mood after the latest round of bad news involving Chris Young, it seems appropriate.

We’re not that removed from the end of Spring Training that I can’t remember when fans were calling for the Padres to deal from a position of strength — a rare position of strength, at that — and deal away pitcher Tim Stauffer.

Aren’t you glad they didn’t now?

It’s funny how we make sure a big deal about who is in the starting rotation to open the year but never really care much who will be in it on May 5, July 5 or when Oct. 1. The fact is the Padres explored dealing Stauffer but weren’t satisfied with the return haul they would get in return.

So they kept him, and, boy, they need him now. Not just Stauffer, mind you, but left-hander Wade LeBlanc, who had another quality outing on Tuesday, despite a few rough spots along the way.

The point is you can never have too much pitching. And no matter who begins the season in your rotation, it’s about who stays there. 

I’m not sure what will come of Young’s latest shoulder dilemma — no one is at this point, as MRI’s are being looked at and discussed. I will say this: I have a gut feeling it isn’t good.

We will know more in the coming days, but I fear we’ve seen the last of Young for a while.

I don’t know too many teams that can absorb the loss of one of their top pitchers. But these Padres might be able to do it, especially if LeBlanc continues to command his fastball and another young pitcher, 22-year-old Mat Latos, can string together several good starts.

I’ve read a lot about the Padres decision to move Chase Headley into the No. 4 spot in the lineup behind Adrian Gonzalez — where he’s performed well in a small sample size, such as Tuesday night — as the key turning point of the season.

I disagree. The turning point, for me, takes place every time a starting pitcher works into or past the sixth inning and turns in a quality start before turning the ball over to Luke Gregerson, Mike Adams and Heath Bell.

That will win you more games than anything else, especially at PETCO Park.

Speaking of pitching depth, consider what’s going on in Triple-A Portland. Radhames Liz is 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 21 innings. Will Inman finally looks to have figured things out on the command side. He’s 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA with 13 hits allowed in 21 innings. Even Cesar Carrillo (1-2, 3.24) is pitching well.

Remember these names. They weren’t in the starting rotation on April 5, but they’ll no doubt appear in the starting rotation at some point.

Story of the season so far? It’s pitching. There’s depth here, and from looks alone and from everything I’m hearing, it’s quality depth. That hasn’t happened here in a long time.

– Corey Brock, MLB.com
 

We were asked to get quotes on Tuesday about the passing of longtime Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell, who died at the age of 92.

I talked with longtime Padres radio broadcaster Ted Leitner. His quote is I’ve included it below. For more on Harwell’s passing, check out our special tribute to him on MLB.com.

I don’t have any stories to share about Harwell. I never met him, even during my time covering the Seattle Mariners. I do, however, understand the sentimental attachment of fans to broadcasters.

I grew up listening to Dave Niehaus call Mariners game and I’m not too far removed from my childhood where I can’t remember how important that was to me.

“We played in Detroit in Interleague play and I saw
him in the lunch line. I went to get my tray and go by him to introduce
myself
and he turned around and stuck out his hand and said ‘Hi young man, how
are you?’ That’s so much what I’ve heard about him. That
impressed the hell out of me. He asked me to sit and eat with him. I
thought to
myself, ‘what a gracious guy.” — Ted Leitner on Ernie Harwell.

– Corey Brock, MLB.com

So you say you’re tired of seeing Colorado pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez?

Imagine how the Padres’ hitters feel, especially after they managed one run on four hits with 13 strikeouts in seven innings on Monday at PETCO Park.

Jimenez, obviously, is the real deal. He was before he threw a no-hitter last month. He was the real deal last season and in the playoffs and, honestly, has had no-hit stuff for quite a while even as he struggled with command as a young pitcher.
 
The Padres have already faced Jimenez twice this season and, with plenty of more games on the schedule against the Rockies, you can expect the Padres will see plenty more of him as we move forward.

That’s the National League West for you.

This reminds me of 2008 when the Padres faced Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum six times. Yes, six times. That particular match-up didn’t end real well for the Padres. Lincecum went 3-0 with a 0.62 ERA in those six starts. The Padres hit .172 against him in those starts.

Lincecum, of course, went on to win the National League Cy Young Award in 2008. I have to think Jimenez with his start, is the early favorite to do so in 2010.

This is clearly a case of a pitcher putting all the pieces together. He was 2-3 with a 4.45 ERA in five starts against San Diego in 2008. You could see the talent there, it was just a matter of command. He’s got that now.

And, to be sure, the Padres figure to see plenty more of him this season. That’s life for you in the National League West.

– Corey Brock, MLB.com