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."

I had a chance to talk to Padres closer Heath Bell the other day about his season, one that now includes 40 saves, an All-Star appearance and, since he's arbitration eligible, likely a contract for 2010 that will exceed the one he agreed to last season.

For all that, Bell isn't satisfied. He's not happy about the way he's pitched lately and he really didn't want to blow more than four saves, which is what Trevor Hoffman did last season. So far, Bell has blown six saves.

What's your take on Bell? Is he being a little hard on himself? Do you like him as the closer moving forward into 2010 and beyond or do you think the team should move him a trade during the winter?

Here's a snippet of the story:

"You've got to take the good with the bad," Bell said. "I'm trying to keep the team in the game. I've pitched two or three times in this bad spell where we have come back to win the game. That's all that matters."

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

Happy Tuesday from Denver, where it's cold, like it-feels-like-I'm-back-in-Seattle cold. OK, it's 48 degrees this morning, but, apparently, three years in San Diego has spoiled me.

Anyway, the Padres arrived here late last night after a wild victory in Pittsburgh, where they took three of four games. They start a three game series today against the Rockies, who are tying to hang on to the NL Wild Card spot.

Looking at the game last night, Chase Headley had five hits, including the game-winner in the 11th inning. He's put together a very nice second half and is hitting .311/.386/.461 since the All-Star break. Walks are up, strikeouts are down. He hit .232 in the first half.

So I'm wondering about his future with the Padres, specifically, where does he end up playing next season. Will we see him again in left field, where he's gotten better defensively but still isnt' -- and this really isn't a knock on him -- the kind of defender the Padres likely want out there moving forward.

Do you think the Padres will move him in a trade? I know for certain that at least a couple of NL teams have shown interest in Headley this season. If the Padres opt to move Kouzmanoff -- I'm not convinced that's a good idea, either -- does Headley slide back to third base?

Other than Adrian Gonzalez and Kouzmanoff, Headley has had the most productive bat on the team this season. He has 45 extra-base hits, has shown, like a lot of other players, to be a much better hitter on the road than at home, can run a little (nine steals) and isn't afraid to take a walk. The downside? The strikeouts and his defense.

What do you think will happen to Headley in 2010? Is he in your starting lineup, if so, where?

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

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

A clean-shaven Heath Bell showed up in the Padres clubhouse on Wednesday morning, sans facial hair for the first time since 2004. He felt the need to change something after a bad spell recently and the goatee was the first to go.

No worries, Bell is already growing it back, at the behest of his 7-year-old daughter, Jordyn. We have a photo of Bell up on Padres.com. Take a look for yourself.

Here's my story.

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

SAN DIEGO -- The way Heath Bell figured it, something had to change after a miserable stretch where he blew two saves and was charged with losses in three games, the last one coming Tuesday against Arizona.

"I know I didn't need to change anything mechanical, but something had to change," Bell said. "So on the drive home last night [Tuesday] I decided to shave my goatee."

Bell showed up at PETCO Park on Wednesday with a clean-shaven face, the first time he hasn't had a goatee or any kind of facial hair since the 2004 season when he was a pitcher for the Mets.

The decision wasn't exactly warmly embraced at home, though.

Bell's 7-year-old daughter, Jordyn, when presented with a fresh face to kiss Wednesday, shrieked in horror.

"She told me ... 'Dad, beard, go put it back on," Bell said. "She told me she was mad and she was going to go cry. She went into the hallway and pretended to cry."

Bell made the decision to shave in the quiet of the home he and his family are renting in Carmel Valley close to midnight, hours after he allowed a two-run home run to Arizona slugger Mark Reynolds in the ninth inning of a 4-2 loss.

Bell, who has 37 saves in his first season as a full-time closer, has allowed seven earned runs in his past three combined appearances. His ERA has gone from 1.98 on Sept. 11 to 2.90 entering play on Wednesday.

"I've had a couple of bad outings and I was frustrated," Bell said. "Now my chin feels cold."

Bell was having fun with his freshly-shaved face on Wednesday, surprising teammates and staff. He even went as far to draw in a fake mustache before the game.

Have no fear, though, the goatee isn't gone forever, as the complaining Jordyn Bell did Wednesday morning was enough to convince Bell to grow it back. He said he'll have a goatee by the weekend.

"I have no problem growing facial hair," he said.

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."

I've done this a little bit on my Twitter page but let's give it a whirl again here on the blog. Please feel free to leave a comment (easy registration) and let me know what you think the rotation will look like on Opening Day of 2010.

As always, I'll take the plunge first. Before doing so, let me say this: Despite the number of arms the team has added this summer -- seven alone in the two deals for Scott Hairston and Jake Peavy -- I think general manager Kevin Towers might add another arm this winter.

But for now, we'll work with the guys on the current 40-man roster. Anyway, we'll work on the rest of the team in the coming days. But lets hear what you have to think about the rotation.

1. Chris Young, minor shoulder surgery will be fine for Spring Training.
2. Mat Latos, fine rookie showing, fearless (unlike other young pitchers), should get better.
3. Clayton Richard, like Latos, should only get better, sinkerball could play well in 2010.
4. Kevin Correia, under club control for '10. Innings-eater and one of baseball's best bargains.
5. Aaron Poreda, splitting up lefties. Could go Gallagher here, but Poreda has nice, raw stuff.

Anyway, now it's your turn.

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

Here's an update from Wednesday on Padres third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, who left Tuesday's game in the eighth inning with a strained left calf.

Corey Brock, MLB.com, Padres.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- Third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff walked with a noticeable limp Wednesday morning, a day after he strained his left calf when he planted for a throw to first base in the Padres' 4-3 victory over the Giants at AT&T Park.

San Diego manager Bud Black said that "we hope he is back within a week, that's what we're hoping."

Kouzmanoff himself didn't have any different timetable, though he'll benefit from a day off Wednesday against the Giants and then Thursday's scheduled off-day.

"I've never had this before, but I think that calf is tough because it's [involved] in every movement," Kouzmanoff said. "We don't know how long. I guess the first 48 hours are important as to how it responds after that."

Kouzmanoff said the injury occurred in the eighth inning Tuesday when fielded a ball hit to him by Juan Uribe to start the inning.

"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. "That's when it happened."

Chase Headley moved from left field to third base for the ninth inning with catcher Nick Hundley taking over in left field. Headley got the start at third base Wednesday and likely will do so more often than not with Kouzmanoff out.

"As the game went on, it got progressively tighter," Black said.

Kouzmanoff pulled himself out of the game after the injury, when he decided he could be a liability on the bases or on defense.

"At first, I wanted to finish the game," he said. "But I felt if I were to get on base and in scoring position, I wouldn't be able to score."

Kouzmanoff is leading the Major Leagues in fielding percentage at his position (.990) and has committed three errors this season. Offensively, he hit his 17th home run of the season Wednesday and leads the team with a career-high 84 RBIs.

"It's tough; we've been playing some good ball," Kouzmanoff said. "Whenever you're injured, it's not fun."

Now that left-handed pitcher Aaron Poreda has joined the Padres -- see story below -- there are three of the four pitchers the team obtained in the Jake Peavy deal on the active roster. Not too bad a haul for a pitcher who still hasn't thrown a pitch for the White Sox.

But this isn't to belabor the Peavy trade, but more to talk about Poreda, his struggles and what is ahead for him. I watched him throw in the bullpen and like his streamlined delivery, his smooth mechanics and the pop he gets on his pitches.

Remember, this guy was the key to the Peavy deal, a pitcher the White Sox thought very highly of. We'll see what he becomes. He wants to start in 2010, as stated in the story, so that could make for some very strong competition for those five rotation spots in Spring Training.

Corey Brock, MLB.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- Within in his first few minutes of throwing on a Padres jersey Tuesday, left-handed pitcher Aaron Poreda was throwing off the mound in the visiting bullpen at a nearly empty AT&T Park.

Poreda, the 22-year-old who was recalled from Triple-A Portland on Tuesday, pitched while pitching coach Darren Balsley, bench coach Darrel Akerfelds and the Padres manager, Bud Black, intently watched from the side hours before the game.

Poreda, regarded as the key piece in the July 31 deal that saw the Padres trade pitcher Jake Peavy to the White Sox for four pitchers, officially joined the team with fellow left-hander Cesar Ramos, who was also with Portland.

Poreda was 0-3 with a 7.16 ERA in seven games with Portland that followed the trade and a combined 5-7 with a 3.95 ERA in the Minor Leagues this season and 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in 10 games with the White Sox.

Poreda, inexplicably, experienced command issues with Portland that even now baffle him. He walked 30 in 32 2/3 innings with 37 strikeouts. Opposing batters were hitting .239 against him.

"It did snowball a little bit, you know, getting traded, going from a starter to the bullpen to a starter again; stuff like that can mess you up," said Poreda, who was used as both a starter and reliever with the White Sox.

"Psychologically it can mess you up. But it's a learning experience. I learned a lot about myself and feel like I'm on the right track of where I need to be."

Black said there's no timetable as to when Poreda will pitch in a game or if he will appear as a starter or a reliever when he does. For now, the Padres want him to work on the side with Balsley and reach a point where he's completely comfortable.

"We're going to put our eyes on him, Darren, Ack [Akerfelds] and myself," Black said. "I know he finished Triple-A with not the results he wanted. We want to get him feeling comfortable on the mound. From our conversations, he didn't feel right [in Portland].

"We're going to offer advice as we move along. ... I could see him pitching in a game."

Poreda said he wants to start in 2010 but certainly understands that decision rests in the hands of the organization. At the very least, the competition for the five spots in the rotation could make for an interesting spring.

Ramos, 25, will pitch in relief for the time being. He went 5-6 with a 3.99 ERA in 15 starts with Portland. He was chosen by the Padres with the 35th overall selection in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft.

Ramos tossed six scoreless innings in Portland's regular-season finale Monday. Because of that, he won't be available to pitch in the next few days, Black said.

Hello from San Francisco, where we're settling in for the second game of a three-game series before heading home.
I wrote a story last month while we were in Milwaukee about the season Kevin Kouzmanoff is having on defense, saying that by fielding percentage alone -- yes, there are other ways to evaluate the defensive worth of a player -- he should at least be in the conversation for the NL Gold Glove.
We've had a lot of conversations and dialog about it. There's the UZR component to all of this, though that's not a perfect defensive metric. For my money, there isn't one. And remember, it's the managers and coaches who vote on the Gold Glove.
At any rate, here's a story I wrote about the Padres making a push for Kouzmanoff, sending out DVD's to National League managers.
What do you think about Kouzmanoff's chances?

Corey Brock, MLB.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Padres are going high-tech to help get the word out about Kevin Kouzmanoff's strong defensive play at third base this season.

Last week, the Padres overnighted a DVD to the other 15 National League managers with a note that supports the team's push for Kouzmanoff to win a Gold Glove Award.

The DVD, produced by Sandy Gonzalez, the Padres' video producer/editor, covers one minute and 15 seconds and shows several plays that Kouzmanoff has made at third base this season.

Kouzmanoff goes into Monday's game against the San Francisco Giants with the highest fielding percentage of any third baseman in the Major Leagues (.990). He has committed three errors in 296 chances.
No other National League third baseman has committed fewer than six errors in a single season where they had at least 300 total chances, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

What does Kouzmanoff think of all this?

"It's cool, because they're supporting me, they've got my back and they're pushing for it," he said. "I don't know how it works. I know the coaches and managers vote on it. ... But I guess the more information you can get out there, the better."
San Diego manager Bud Black, who played with two Gold Glove third basemen in his career, said Kouzmanoff "deserves to be in the conversation" for the Gold Glove.

"Personally, I think he deserves it," Black said. "I haven't seen a better defensive third baseman this year. I was fortunate to play with two of them, George Brett [in Kansas City, 1985] and Matt Williams [in San Francisco, 1991, 1993-94]. Kouz is every bit as good as those guys in their Gold Glove years."

Black said he has talked casually to other managers about Kouzmanoff's defense but sending DVDs, especially for a team that is in last place in the NL West and doesn't normally garner a lot of national attention, isn't a bad idea.

"I think in our market and where we are in the standings, I think the thing to do is to make people aware of how good he is," Black said. "He's not a household name across the country, based on where we are in the standings this season and there are other guys nationally who get more exposure."

The Kansas City Royals are also promoting outfielder David DeJesus for a Gold Glove, sending fliers out to American League managers. The Gold Glove is voted on by the managers and coaches from each league, and they may not vote for their own players.

Last season, Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez won his first Gold Glove. Other Padres who have won a Gold Glove include Dave Winfield, Ozzie Smith, Tony Gwynn, Benito Santiago, Ken Caminiti, Steve Finley, Mike Cameron and Greg Maddux.

A fun little story emerged this weekend when it was discovered that Clayton Richard hit a home run off teammate Joe Thatcher in the spring of 2000 when both were playing high school baseball in Indiana.

Here's the link to the story, which includes the box score from the newspaper and the short story that ran with it.

Here's the text:

 LOS ANGELES -- When pitcher Clayton Richard arrived in San Diego shortly after he was obtained in the Jake Peavy deal, he thought he recognized a familiar face in Padres reliever Joe Thatcher.

As it turns out, the two had played against each other in the spring of 2000, when both were playing high school baseball in Indiana. Thatcher was a senior for Kokomo High, and Richard was a freshman at McCutcheon High in Lafayette.

Richard thought he remembered hitting a home run off Thatcher and told the lefty that recently, but Thatcher brushed it off. So Richard enlisted the help of his old high school coach, Jake Burton, who saved a newspaper clipping from the game in 2000.

"He told me he hit a home run off me," Thatcher said. "I didn't believe him."

On Friday, after his coach faxed the box score and story from the game, Richard showed it -- proudly, of course -- to Thatcher. Richard was right -- he hit a home run and ended up the winning pitcher in a 7-4 McCutcheon victory over Kokomo.

The two schools are separated by 44 miles, and Thatcher and Richard think they played against each other in basketball during that school year as well.

"I was pretty lucky," Richard said of what was his first home run in high school, which came on a curveball. "I don't think I had a chance at his fastball."

As for Thatcher, who was relieved to see he had two hits off Richard during the game in question, the details were still a little hazy to him.

"I didn't remember it, to tell you the truth," Thatcher said. "You wouldn't think a game nine years ago would be brought up in a big league clubhouse."

Thatcher would go on to play baseball at Indiana State, while Richard was later named Mr. Football and Mr. Baseball for the state of Indiana before accepting a scholarship to play football and baseball at the University of Michigan.

"Its' really a neat thing if you think about it," Richard said. "That's where we both came from. It's exciting to look back at that."

Corey Brock, MLB.com

On Sunday here at Dodger Stadium, Dodger pitcher Hiroki Kuroda makes his first start since he was hit in the head with a line drive on Aug. 15. Kuroda suffered a concussion and missed what amounts to two or so weeks while recovering.

I talked to Padres pitcher Chris Young this morning about what Kuroda might be thinking when he gets back on the mound on Sunday. Young, of course, was sidelined for two months in '08 after he was hit in the face with an Albert Pujols line drive.

Young's injury, of course, was much more serious, as it required surgery and kept him from the team for two months. Here's a link to a story I wrote this spring about Young and coming back from such an ugly incident.

Anyway, this is what Young had to say about his first start being hit with a line drive.

"By the first time I appeared in a Major League game again, I had thrown live to hitters five or six times with either simulated games or Minor League rehab. By the time I got back, it wasn't an issues, I wasn't afraid of the ball or fearful," Young said.

"The first time I threw a simulated game, they gave me the option of having a [protective] screen, I told them no. I'm glad I did. For me, I felt like it was a one time, freak thing."

Corey Brock, MLB.com

Greetings from Dodger Stadium, where we are a month away from the end of the regular season. For some, it probably can't come soon enough. Not Mike Adams, though.

The Padres reliever is going to play catch on Saturday as he attempts to work his way back from a shoulder strain.

"I don't think he's going to end the season on the DL [disabled list]," Padres manager Bud Black said.

It was initially feared that Adams, who went on the disabled list on Aug. 26 (retroactive to Aug. 22) might be shut down for the remainder of the season. Remember, Adams underwent shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum last October.

While this current injury is affecting the same shoulder, Black said the symptoms and severity of Adams' current injury are far different than what bothered him last season. That's good news for everyone involved.

In 30 appearances this season, Adams has a 0.92 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings pitched. He's been one of the most reliable set-up pitchers in the National League and has allowed Luke Gregerson to handle the seventh inning as the Padres build a bridge from their starter to closer Heath Bell.

The Padres are currently using a mix of Adam Russell, Joe Thatcher and Gregerson to cover the seventh/eight innings to get to Bell.

Corey Brock, MLB.com

He was born Anthony Keith Gwynn Jr., though that might be the one name that Padres outfielder Tony Gwynn -- you know, the son of that other Tony Gwynn -- hasn't been called yet.

To be sure, Gwynn, who joined the Padres in May after the team traded Jody Gerut to Milwaukee, has heard and gone by many variations of his name during his life.

You think following in the shoes of a Hall of Famer is difficult? Try being named after one.

"As long as it's my name, it really doesn't matter to me what people call me," said Gwynn, who takes a .266 batting average into Friday's game against the Dodgers.

It's a good thing Gwynn is ambivalent about his name, as he's entertained any variation of names as a child, a player at San Diego State and in the Major Leagues.

The easiest, to be sure, is Tony Gwynn, which is what he goes by now. But there's also been Anthony, Little Tony and Little T.

Get all that?

"Other than my father and people who are near my father, no one really calls me Anthony," Gwynn said. "My mom calls me Little Tony, my sister calls me Little Tony, my cousins call me Little T. It's always been a mixture of names."

Former San Diego State baseball coach Jim Dietz, who coached Gwynn as well as his father, took it upon himself to mix things up during Gwynn's freshman year with the Aztecs in 2001.

"It was my first collegiate game and we were in Yuma," Gwynn said. "I didn't really have a bad game, just a game where I didn't get hits. I think that he [Dietz] felt that it would alleviate some pressure if they started calling me Anthony instead of Tony."

So Dietz marched up to the public-address announcer and insisted that Gwynn be called Anthony Gwynn. The name stuck -- sort of.

"I think from that point on, when I started to play in college, the word kind of gets out there and they called me Anthony," Gwynn said. "That's when it started to stick."

Gwynn was fine with that since it replaced the family nickname he was stuck with early on, one that didn't go away until he was 13.

"I probably shouldn't be telling you this," Gwynn said, smiling. "My nickname as a kid was 'Pooh-Pooh.' It was a nickname right up until an age where it wasn't going to fly anymore."

Corey Brock, MLB.com

The 2010 Major League schedule is still a few weeks away from being released, though the Padres are moving ahead with several significant time changes for weekday day games and Saturday night games.

In a shift from what the team previously offered, the Padres will begin Saturday night games at 5:35 p.m. PT and their weekday day games at 3:35 p.m.

Previously, Saturday night games have started at 7:05 p.m. with weekday day games at 12:35 p.m. The Padres had eight weekday day games this season, and that number does not figure to change in 2010.

"There are a lot of reasons to do it," San Diego president and COO Tom Garfinkel said Wednesday. "It creates a lot more options and opportunities for fans."

Garfinkel said an earlier start time Saturday night gives fans an opportunity to not only get home earlier, but a chance to go out after a game, whether that be at events held at PETCO Park or nearby in downtown.

In Arizona, where Garfinkel and vice chairman and CEO Jeff Moorad were before with the D-backs, the earlier start actually helped with Sunday attendance, especially with fans who attended Saturday's game, as they didn't have to feel like they were choosing between going to either Saturday or Sunday's game.

As for the weekday day games, the later start, Garfinkel said, will potentially "make it more likely to play hooky from work at 3:35 p.m. than 12:35 p.m."

"This is an exciting thing for us," Garfinkel said.

Corey Brock, MLB.com

After watching him making diving catches in each of the last three games, I'm starting to wonder a few things about Will Venable.

a.) Will he ever dive and not get a ball?
b.) What will he do today for an encore?
c.) What are your thoughts on Venable's play?

Honestly, I thought he was a fourth outfield type heading into the year and I challenge anyone to tell me they saw this coming. Not only has he put himself in the Padres plans for next season but we has probably locked down a starting spot.

Check out the Will Venable highlight reel.

Corey Brock, MLB.com