... Reading the Sunday paper, with a cup of coffee. And I love my Sunday paper and coffee.
... The dog deciding to "sleep in," which means not getting up at 4:30 to, you know, pee.
... Trying to figure out who No. 78, No. 92 and No. 68 are during a Cactus League game.

Folks, it's Opening Day and no matter how you slice it, it's pretty cool. Personally, I'm looking forward to my second season covering the Padres. As usual, we'll make this, not just this blog but our Padres site, the place to stop for all the details on the team, before game, in-game and, of course, after game.

Anyway, leave a comment if you like today. I'll try to get to them the best I can today and during the game against the Astros. Here's today's starting lineups:

ASTROS (0-0):

CF Michael Bourn
RF Hunter Pence
1B Lance Berkman
LF Carlos Lee
SS Miguel Tejada
3B Ty Wigginton
2B Mark Loretta
C Brad Ausmus
P Roy Oswalt

PADRES (0-0):

RF Brian Giles
2B Tadahito Iguchi
3B Kevin Kouzmanoff
1B Adrian Gonzalez
CF Scott Hairston
SS Khalil Greene
C Josh Bard
LF Paul McAnulty
P Jake Peavy

So, I was thinking: Do the 2-3-4 hitters in the Astros lineup scare you as much as they scare me? Wow, I like Pence a lot and having Tejada hit fifth. Not bad. The rest of the lineup doesn't do much for me, though. As for the Padres, as promised, P-Mac in left. He'll see a lot of time against right-handed pitchers.

Oh Peoria, you have given me so many wonderful memories over these six or so weeks -- five, if you count the trip to China. Where do I begin?

There were all those mornings at the Coffee Bean, the errant golf shots I hit, the trips to the Salty Senorita and, of course, the baseball. Saw a lot of baseball and, with the regular season upon us, that doesn't figure to change.

Anyway, the car is packed, the gas tank is filled (Costco gas, the only place to shop these days) and I'm headed back to Diego after the game today.

Anyway, here's the final lineup for spring with a new face thrown there on the last day in Peoria. Enjoy!

CF Scott Hairston

RF Paul McAnulty

1B Adrian Gonzalez

3B Kevin Kouzmanoff

DH Tony Clark

SS Khalil Greene

C Michael Barrett

LF Justin Huber

2B Callix Crabbe

SP Chris Young

Cheers, Corey

PEORIA, Ariz. – Don’t pencil center fielder Jim Edmonds out of the Opening Day lineup just yet.

Edmonds said on Wednesday morning that he plans to test his strained right calf in Minor League games between now and the regular-season opener at PETCO Park on March 31 against the Astros.

“It’s getting better. I’ve been running and doing everything,” Edmonds said. “I know I’m going to try and get in as many [Minor League] games as I can in the next five days and get as many at-bats as I can.”

The Padres play their final Cactus League game on Thursday against the Mariners before breaking camp for an exhibition game Friday in San Diego against the Angeles. The two teams will play again on Saturday in Anaheim.

Edmonds, who injured his calf on March 6 and hasn’t played since, said he would likely remain behind in Arizona to play in Minor League games.

Edmonds thought his calf was making significant progress before suffering a setback of sorts earlier this week.

“The other day, I did [think he was turning the corner on the injury] then it was a little swollen, so I’ve had a little bit of tightness,” he said.

On Tuesday, San Diego manager Bud Black said Edmonds’ status for Opening Day was “questionable to doubtful.”

"I guess you would say I'm a little more pessimistic," Black said on Tuesday.

PEORIA, Ariz. – Standing inside the dugout at Miller Field in Milwaukee in September, Padres general manager Kevin Towers talked glowingly about the job first-year manager Bud Black did.

"I think he's handled it very, very well," Towers said. "I think that for the first year, you couldn't ask for more. To have us where we're at right now, he's done a remarkable job."

That job will now extend through the 2009 season, as the Padres on Tuesday picked up the option on Black’s contract.

“While we exercised Buddy's option for next year, we believe that he will continue to grow and develop as a Major League manager for many years to come," Towers said.  "He has exceeded our expectations and we are excited for the future of the Padres under his guidance."

Black led the Padres to a an 89-74 record in his first season, one victory shy of the postseason. The 89 wins were the most for San Diego since the club won a franchise-record 98 contests in 1998.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Padres .546 winning percentage under Black was the best for a first-year manager (minimum 50 games) since Ken Macha with Oakland (.593, 96-66) and Bob Melvin with Seattle (.574, 93-69) in 2003.

The last National League manager with a winning percentage that high in his first season was Bob Brenly for Arizona (.568, 92-70) in 2001.

“When the San Diego Padres hired Bud Black as manager, we knew of his knowledge and passion for the game," Padres CEO Sandy Alderson said.  "His abilities to communicate, teach and lead are tremendous. Buddy's passion and energy are contagious, not only at the Major League level, but throughout the entire organization."

San Diego pitcher Jake Peavy, who had previously played only under one manager in his Major League career (Bruce Bochy), said he enjoyed working under Black last season and that his personable approach made him easy to play for.

“I think Bud is just relaxed, he doesn’t kind of put any pressure on anybody. He let’s us be,” Peavy said. “I was, not concerned, but interested to see how he handled the pitchers, being a pitching guy, if he was hands off.

“He does a nice job of letting his coaches coach and be the manager of the team, oversee everything, and when the call has to be made, to be the final voice in that. I think Buddy does a nice job in doing that.”

Black was hired on Nov. 9, 2006 and originally agreed to a two-year deal with an option for 2009.

Listen, general manager Kevin Towers and manager Bud Black might already have a good idea of how some of these final roster spots -- the bench job, Callix Crabbe and spots in the bullpen -- will finally shake out, but they're not saying, so we're left to speculate what might happen this week.

Chase Headley's departure to Minor League camp clears the picture some, as Jim Edmonds, I have to think, begins the season on the disabled list, meaning Paul McAnulty, he who is out of Minor League options, makes the team, as does non-roster invitee Jody Gerut, who will likely start in left field on Opening Day against the Astros.

But what about the bench, and the backup infielder with defensive on the brain, the guy the Padres want for that spot? Oscar Robles or Luis Rodriguez? A little interesting that neither is in the lineup today against the Angels but Crabbe is at third base. Maybe Crabbe is more on the bubble than we have thought?

Here's today's lineup for the 1:05 p.m. game in Tempe:

RF Brian Giles
2B Tadahito Iguchi
DH Adrian Gonzalez
1B Tony Clark
CF Jody Gerut
SS Khalil Greene
LF Scott Hairston
C Josh Bard
3B Callix Crabbe
SP Randy Wolf (scheduled to go six innings)

Cheers, Corey

Hey, so let's hear it one last time for a true Chinese favorite (among Padres players, at least) ... the scorpion, which can be had (and was) on a stick, on just about every street corner in Beijing at any hour, which, of course, is helpful when KFC Select (in case just regular KFC doesn't suffice) isn't open.

Anyway, back in Arizona to finish out Spring Training. There should be a lot of interesting decisions to be made in the last eight or so days before the team breaks camp -- the outfield, bullpen, fifth starter, water boy. One of the main candidates -- and possibly the leading candidate -- for the fifth starter spot is pitching tonight, Justin Germano.

Here's the lineup for tonight's night game against the Mariners:

RF, Brian Giles
2B, Tadahito Iguchi
3B Kevin Kouzmanoff
1B Adrian Gonzalez
SS Khalil Greene
LF Jody Gerut
CF Scott Hairston
C Josh Bard
SP Germano

Also throwing tonight: Kevin Cameron, Trevor Hoffman, Heath Bell and Jared Wells.

Cheers, Corey

Get it ... Mao, like instead of now? Seriously, I just made that up. I'm glad to see that while I lost my Wednesday last week due to travel that I haven't lost my sense of humor. Unless that wasn't funny at all? Anyway, rambling a little here.

Hey, I've got great trip. Seriously, it's been a lot of work, I wrote a bunch, took pictures, blogged and manged to visit Starbucks each day of my visit in Beijing. I'm excited to head home to see wife and doggie for a few days before heading back to Peoria.

That's right, hello Salty Senorita. I've missed you so. Found some snake wine here (see picture) but it's just not the same. Yes, that's a snake inside the bottle. I'd bring some home though I might get shipped to outer Mongolia for trying to sneak that through. And, last I heard, there's no wireless in outer Mongolia, just dial-up.

A few random thoughts from my whirlwind visit to China:

People drive poorly here, change lanes on a whim, don't signal, don't seem to know they don't really belong on the road. Each day has been an adventure driving here, whether that be in buses or vans. Had a few cars make a u-turn around the front of our bus the other day ... while we were driving.

Pedestrians cross the street when they feel like it. Maybe it's the urge to get to the next KFC on the block (yes, people love their buckets o' chicken here) quickly. I'm not sure. They will stand in the middle of the road and not blink even when a buses whizzes past them, all while honking. Crazy.

This might well be a communist country but there's certainly no shortage of cultural or commercial endeavors going on. There's a lot of museums and plenty more on the way. Part of that has to do with the upcoming summer games I'm sure. There's no shortage of shopping malls, complete with Coach, Dairy Queen and everything other stores you can think of under the sun.

The trips to the Great Wall and even the clinics here were ones I'll remember for a while. Honestly, I don't know what the future holds for baseball in China. After all, Ping-Pong is pretty **** cool and doesn't need so much equipment or even a field. These games here this weekend will certainly help spread the word, though.

Would I come back? Maybe, but I feel there's other parts of the world I would like to visit first. Get back to Europe, Costa Rica, maybe even Japan (and I thought traffic was bad here). The list goes on and on. Seeing Tienanmen Square was amazing even if most Chinese will never likely understand why.

That's it for now. Got one more game today then flying back to Phoenix, through Seattle to refuel. I'll be back in San Diego at this time tomorrow, which is crazy. What an experience! Thanks to all (family and otherwise) who checked in during the trip.

See you soon, Corey

After what I've witnessed here in Beijing these past few days (from the safety of a van or a bus, and not by foot) I'm not entirely sure that when I return to San Diego that I'll ever drive again. Seriously, I think I've developed some sort of astigmatism about driving after watching what might be the worst drivers in the world nearly drive over, under, around and through each other this week.

And the traffic here is awful, making a commute on I-405 in Seattle at rush hour (for my Northwest peeps) or a pass through PB (that's Pacific Beach, my friends) on a Saturday night look like a stroll.

Anyway, enough with the vent. And really, giving up driving might be hard to pull off unless the dog gets her license. But that would certainly cut into Sofie's sleep time, so I guess I'm stuck behind the wheel for a while.

Hey, Corey, how about China? Still enjoying myself here, despite the near brushes with death. And did I mention how every van or bus driver we've had this week has gotten lost at some point and that they want to argue with you about it ... in Chinese? Here's a picture from today on our way to the stadium for a press conference. Looks like Beirut, not Beijing!

You can certainly check my stories out on the Padres site but we visited a school clinic today where Padres Adrian Gonzalez, Justin Germano and Heath Bell worked with kids. Pretty neat. If baseball is to really grow here, they need to start with these kids early.

We were at the stadium today for a few hours for a press conference and workout. The stadium is pretty spartan, though that's somewhat expected considering the Chinese are going to celebrate the Olympics by tearing the stadium down after the summer games for a hotel.

Maybe these should build a monorail instead, you know, to avoid all the traffic. Man, that's brilliant.

Cheers, Corey

Hey, just got back from the Great Wall or, what they should call it, the Great Hike Up Some Old Stone, though that probably wouldn't fit on a t-shirt, coffee mug or about any other merchandise that was for sale at the base of the Great Wall on a cloudless day here Thursday.

As pitcher Jared Wells said afterwards: "I've been doing a lot of running [in Spring Training]. But I didn't think I would be breathing that hard up there."

The bus trip took about an hour and a half to cover the 50 or so miles from the hotel to the Great Wall and one of it's prime points of entry for tourists (Baldeling), as getting through traffic here is no easy task.

That's where we emptied our four buses and set on foot up the wall. From what I gather, not many made it to the top of the hill, which once served as a military outpost during the Ming Dynasty.

Now, it's just an In-and-Out Burger.

Only kidding. Anyway, had a great time, as did the players, as you can read in my article that should be up on the website. Even the Friar got in the act. Not sure what he's doing here, though it might be some ancient tribal break-dancing that I here is huge in these part. You go, DJ Mao!

Cheers, Corey

No, it means good morning in Chinese and that's appropriate here people because, well, I'm in China, having already digested a wonderful breakfast and found a quaint locally-owned, mom-and-pop coffee shop around the corner called Starbucks. Yes, I'm all about supporting the local vendors.

Saw pitcher Jared Wells at breakfast this morning and he said he had trouble sleeping. He woke up at 3 a.m. and couldn't get back to sleep. I got my eight or so hours in, even if I woke up several times. Yes, I essentially willed myself back to sleep.

So we're heading to the Great Wall here in a few hours which should be interesting. Not really sure what to expect. Maybe manager Bud Black (pictured, with me) will have the team run sprints to get the legs ready for those two games this weekend that no one, at least locally, is talking about. We'll see. Me? I'll be there to document this historical visit.

Be sure to check out the website later for pictures and stories. We will even have a player blog done by pitcher Heath Bell, who will give his insights on the day.

Cheers, Corey

So, I made it, in one piece, with some semblance of sanity, though my hair as clearly seen better days. But, hey, I'm in Beijing and fast approaching a full day without sleep, though that certainly won't keep me from blogging from China.

What a day! We started this morning in Peoria, where we did our TSA check (see picture) at the team's Spring Training facility before boarding buses (four altogether) for Sky Harbor Airport where we got on what might have been the biggest airplane of all time, a mammoth Northwest 747, where the 105 or so people in the traveling party rode in style, non-stop to Beijing.

Talk about smooth sailing, wow. It was essentially like riding in first class, complete with wine, good food (again, see picture) and a portable video player where you can choose games, TV shows and, of course, a handful of movies. I knocked off Gone Baby Gone and Michael Clayton while passing the flight that was 13-plus hours, door-to-door. No this wasn't a trip on Southwest by any means.

People mostly passed the time by sleeping, though some watched movies, players played cards and at least one Padre, Scott Hairston, who was hit in the arm by a pitch Tuesday night, had treatment on the plane by assistant trainer Paul Navarro. Treatment at 40,000 feet, how nice.

Arrived at the Grant Hyatt after sitting in traffic coming in from the airport (ah, felt like I was back in Seattle) before hanging out with some media types because, really, after spending the last 15 or so hours together, there was no sense (or energy) in branching out.

Anyway, tomorrow should be fun. We're going to the Great Wall, where I'll take some more photos to post tomorrow. And, the reason I'm here, I'll have some stories on the main Padres page, so check back for all the details from Beijing.

Cheers, Corey

It's not often you can answer that old tiresome question, "What did you do today?" with, oh, juts went to China. Usually, it's like, went to the gym, hit a bucket of balls, maybe even did a pass through the Coffee Bean, you know, when I'm feeling adventurous. But China? Never before today.

Arrived here at the team complex in Peoria early to drop off my bag and check email, blog a little and purchase life insurance so the dog can live a comfortable life after I'm gone. Move on Sofie Bean ... you will be fine eventually, someone else will be there to pick up your poop.

Kidding, of course, though my media relations people here with the Padres were kind enough to hand me a packet this morning that, silly me, I figured had some important documents for the upcoming trip. What did I get? A few printed articles from the aircrash.org.

Man, it's nice to have such thoughtful friends. Guess who's not getting a budda statue or a pirated DVD copy of The Other Boleyn Girl? That's right.

Anyway, my next post will be from Beijing sometime tomorrow. Wish me luck friends.

Cheers, Corey

So the wife and dog have left me -- relax, they went home to San Diego -- leaving me alone here again in Peoria so that I can resume my daily routine of covering the Padres and stopping by Salty Senorita, where I already know too many of the staff by first name and can probably recite the drinks specials without benefit of a menu.

Yes, it's been a productive spring for me. Hey, I took golf lessons and saw the Foo Fighters. Really, what more can you ask of me?

Anyway, since we have a night game today, I'm doing a little laundry, packing and also downloading Season 2 of Weeds for the Ipod to take on the trip.

Warren Miller, head media relations honcho for the Padres, has already warned me not to bother him on the trip, leaving me 12 or so hours to read, sleep and watch the Ipod before we land in Beijing at, according to my clock, sometime around Memorial Day.

I'll double-check that before we leave, but I know it's a pretty long flight.

Anyway, the plan in Beijing is to write some stories, blog some and generally just enjoy myself. We'll have stories each days and my plan, as it stands, is to take pictures and try to post them.

That's about it, if you have any questions or comments, email me or leave them here. I'm open to any suggestions on places to go, things to do. FYI, someone has already told me about Tsingtao  beer, so I've got that covered. Anyway, until next time ...

Yours truly, your intrepid Padres reporter, Beijing bureau. Corey.

I'm not sure Arizona outfielder Eric Byrnes will be in Peoria today to face the Padres -- the D'Backs have a split-squad thing going on -- but I'm always curious to see how the guys hair is looking. Really, it's a shame the dude has to wear a helmet. I appreciate the big hair, seriously.

Anyway, another first look at a NL West team today -- yesterday it was the Rockies and Matt Holliday, who, still hasn't .... nope, not going to say it. We're moving ahead folks, so keep up. If you are still stinging from that Holliday play, why not rant about Jeff Salazar's catch or that home run Stephen Drew hit off Trevor in April?

On to baseball, here's the lineup:

CF -- Scott Hairston
RF -- Jeff DaVanon
3B -- Kevin Kouzmanoff
1B -- Adrian Gonzlaez
LF -- Jody Gerut
C -- Josh Bard
2B -- Oscar Robles
SS -- Luis Rodriguez
SP -- Chris Young

My thoughts: No Jim Edmonds today, as we expected. He'll likely miss two games with the strained calf. We'll know more after we talk to the manager today. So we get to see Hairston in center field, which is something we were going to see at some point this season anyway.

Edmonds update: Looks like Edmonds will get an MRI today, the results of which we might know later on Friday. Bud Black said "I worry it's worse than it appears" but also cautioned that "we just don't know yet."

Cheers, Corey

Seriously, it's time to stop. I promise I will if you will. I only bring up the need to stop the jokes about Holliday never touching the plate -- you know, we're still waiting, blah, blah, blah -- because Colorado is stopping by the Peoria Sports Complex today to play the Padres.

Well, I'll post a picture here of the Holliday slide and then we won't talk about it ever again, ok? That seems fair and, really, I needed a picture otherwise this post that I've so very carefully put together would look pretty land.

I know, shut up Corey and just post the lineup. So here it is:

LF -- Scott Hairston
2B -- Tadahito Iguchi
CF -- Jim Edmonds
1B -- Tony Clark
SS -- Khalil Greene
C -- Michael Barrett
RF -- Paul McAnulty
3B -- Luis Rodriguez
SP -- Jake Peavy

My thoughts: Look for Peavy to establish his fastball low and away and possibly mix in a slider or two with a few change-ups. Glendon Rusch will throw two innings after Peavy. There's not a whole lot to say about the lineup other than I'm really enjoying watching McAnulty hit. The guy took a good walk yesterday, showing good patience at the plate.

Cheers, Corey

OK, after poorly navigating our way to Maryvale the other day, I'm determined not to get us lost on our way to Phoenix where the Padres play the A's today at 12:05 p.m. PT. Not making any promises here, so if my next post is from, say, El Paso, you'll know something went wrong.

So here we go, today's starting lineup:

DH -- Jeff DaVanon
CF -- Callix Crabbe
3B -- Kevin Kouzmanoff
1B -- Adrian Gonzalez
RF -- Jody Gerut
C -- Josh Bard
LF -- Chase Headley
2B -- Marshall McDougal
SS -- Oscar Robles
SP -- Randy Wolf

My thoughts: Bud Black talked Tuesday about getting Crabbe more time in the outfield and, what do you know? There he is in center field. Also, there's a 'B' game this morning. We'll have all the details on the website later today.

Cheers, Corey

The Padres get their first look at the San Francisco Giants today at Peoria Sports Complex at 12:05 p.m. PT. Greg Maddux gets the start today, his first of the Cactus League season.

I get asked a lot about when Maddux is going to retire. The best answer I can give is that we'll know when he knows, meaning that he's given no indication that he wants to hang it up. This is a guy who said that last year was one of the best times he's had in his career.

He keeps himself in great shape -- must be the 27 holes he plays each day -- and still has that wicked movement on his pitches that has made him so successful over the years. No, he doesn't usually work beyond six innings anymore but as long as you have that understanding and you have someone ready in the bullpen you're fine.

Anyway, here's the lineup for today's game:

LF -- Scott Hairston
2B -- Tadahito Iguchi
CF -- Jim Edmonds
1B -- Tony Clark
SS -- Khalil Greene
C -- Michael Barrett
RF -- Paul McAnulty
3B -- Craig Stansberry
SP -- Greg Maddux

My thoughts: McAnulty is back in the lineup for the second time in as many days. He hit a three-run home run on Monday in Maryvale and has looked good in the field. The guy is in great shape. He did a nice job of cutting a ball off in the corner the other day, preventing an extra-base hit. He's out of options so if he doesn't make the team, he could very well end up elsewhere. Wonder if the Padres are showcasing him for other teams?

Cheers, Corey

Seriously, that isn't some goofy metaphor for the Padres first road game of the spring. They're actually packing the bus (it's actually bigger than the one pictured, otherwise it would make for a cozy ride) in Peoria for Maryvale, where there will be a 'B' game at 9 a.m. PT and later the regular Cactus League game between the Padres and Brewers.

I see Prince Fielder is ticked off about his contract. Wonder if he'll take out some of his angst on the Padres pitching staff? Yikes. The last thing we need here is another three-hour game, which is about all we've had thus far.

Anyway, back to baseball, because that's why you've come here. Here's the lineup for Monday:

CF -- Jeff DaVanon
RF-- Jody Gerut
3B -- Kevin Kouzmanoff
1B -- Adrian Gonzalez
C -- Josh Bard
LF -- Chase Headley
2B -- Edgar Gonzalez
SS -- Oscar Robles
SP -- Chris Young

My thoughts: I know we talk about this each day but it's very obvious the Padres are trying to see what they have in the outfield with DaVanon and Gerut as well as Headley, who has four hits over his last two games. Edgar Gonzalez has looked good at the plate and might be the best offensive option of the bench guys (not including Tony Clark). And he's everywhere in the infield thus far.

Cheers, Corey

Good morning from Peoria, where defending National League Cy Young winner Jake Peavy will make his Cactus League debut against the Padres parking-lot, "natural-rival" Seattle Mariners. We will see Peavy throw two innings today, followed by Glendon Rusch and a cast of others who will hopefully throws more strikes than we've seen thus far.

So, to the lineup already, right?

LF -- Scott Hairston
2B -- Tadahito Iguchi
CF -- Jim Edmonds
2B -- Tony Clark
SS -- Khalil Greene
C -- Michael Barrett
DH -- Chip Ambres
RF -- Paul McAnulty
3B -- Luis Rodriguez
SP -- Jake Peavy

My thoughts: As you've likely noticed, the position players have been cut in half. They start every other day with everyone else capable of coming off the bench. More at-bats for Ambres and LRod (just made that up) with Hairston getting  a look at the top of the order. Also, it will be interesting today to see how many change-ups Peavy throws. He has vowed to throw some this spring.

Cheers, Corey

You know, just because you share a parking lot with a team doesn't mean you have to play them, say, every other day! I'm just saying. Honestly, the Padres could care less who the play, especially if they don't have to venture too far away from the cozy confines of the Peoria Sports Complex.

Anyway, onto today. The Padres play the Mariners in the first of two consecutive games here with new left-handed pitcher Randy Wolf getting the start. He'll go one inning with Justin Germano throwing two innings.

Here's today's lineup:

CF Jeff DaVanon
RF Jody Gerut
3B Kevin Kouzmanoff
1B Adrian Gonzalez
C Josh Bard
DH Paul McAnulty
LF Chase Headley
2B Craig Stansberry
SS Oscar Robles

My thoughts: Again, no surprise in that we're seeing some of the non-roster guys (DaVanon, Gerut) and guys on the bubble (Robles, Stansberry, Mac) in the lineup today. Granted, the Padres would much rather have Brian Giles (pictured) healthy enough to get some reps in right field but having him miss these early games allows Bud Black to get an extended look at some of the outfielders.

Cheers, Corey