Another game, another loss

Is it me or are a lot of the Padres games lately coming down to the last out or extra innings? After their 17-inning marathon Sunday, the Friars have fallen to fourth place in the NL West but are still one game above .500.

I don't think you can complain too much when the bullpen pitches 12 solid innings before giving up a single run, and I think the only thing to do here is to get excited for this week because it is just what a struggling team needs as the Padres face the Nationals for three games beginning Monday and the Marlins. If there is one way to get back on track, bringing Washington into town is about the best way to do it and I should know considering I live in Nationals country. An undefeated Jake Peavy facing a winless John Patterson should help too.

Back in the win column

You know it's a good game when these things happen:

1. The Padres snap a three-game losing streak by beating the Dodgers 3-2.

2. Trevor Hoffman comes in and saves the game, actually looking like the league's all-time saves leader.

3. Kevin Kouzmanoff actually gets a hit. Now we need to work on getting two hits in the same game. Small steps.

Let's hope the Friars can make it two in a row against the Dodgers.

Ugh

I don't want to talk about what happened with Trevor Hoffman and the fact he blew his second straight save. The only comment I want to make after Friday's game is this: Can we move to the American League so Jake Peavy can DH for Kevin Kouzmanoff on nights he's not starting? I know I am beating a dead horse here but this lack of production at 3B as a whole isn't funny anymore. Here's to hoping we can beat the Dodgers on Saturday and snap the losing streak.

Curse of Ken Caminiti?

It's no secret that the Padres have made a priority of finding a top notch third baseman the past couple of years. But is there a reason why the last five players who have tried to fill the hot corner have all failed?

In a sport where superstitions rule over common sense, it seems the Padres may have their own curse to try to exercise.

Since former NL MVP Ken Caminiti passed away on October 10, 2004 the Padres have tried highly touted prospect Sean Burroughs, the versatile Geoff Blum, the ancient and "I can only hit at Coors Field" Vinny Castilla and the versatile Todd Walker and are now hoping highly touted prospect Kevin Kouzmanoff - who was brought over for highly touted second baseman Josh Barfield - can take control of the role.

But like everyone before him, Kouzmanoff has struggled in San Diego after a promising showing at the end of last season in Cleveland. Kouzmanoff's average before Thursday's game against Arizona was .132, and hasn't been above the Mendoza line since the team's third game of the season, back on April 5. Blum, who has replaced Kouzmanoff late in games, owns an even more repulsive .080 average with only two hits in 25 at bats.

If this is just a slump, hopefully one of these guys will break out of it before they cost the team a chance at the postseason. But if it really is a curse, someone break out the voodoo dolls and lets see if we can't help this thing pass before we wait 80+ years like some teams have had to wait to break their curses causing their World Series droughts. I would actually like to be alive when the Padres finally win the big one.

Hopefully, Kouzmanoff will straighten out and prove there is no curse, but if he fails to secure the role

Unbelievable Implosion

Even the best players have off days but who would have thought that Trevor Hoffman would have blown a save against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday. What's worse, is he gave up the home run to a struggling Stephen Drew, who had no home runs and only five RBIs before that.

It seemed like Jake Peavy pitched a terrific game, striking out 16 over seven innings - including nine straight, one short of a MLB record held by Tom Seaver - and giving up only two hits. What a waste. But again, even the best players - including Hoffman, have off days.

If this was a rookie or combustible closer - think Brad Lidge - I would be worried but I think after a game like this you just have to feel that we'll get the Diamondbacks the next time we're in that situation. And Hoffman, who is closing in on 500 saves, will be money when he faces Arizona again. Because in San Diego, it's always Trevor Time.

Welcome back Johnson

So Randy Johnson picked up right where he left off last season, looking like he should have retired a couple of years ago. Giving up six runs in five innings isn't exactly the most dominating performance, especially coming from a pitcher whose mere size alone used to be enough to intimidate even some of the best hitters.

Luckily for Johnson - and nerve wracking for us Friar fans - the Diamondbacks decided not to roll over as easily as he did. And Kevin Cameron did his best to let things get interesting as well but the Padres did prevail 10-5. Good thing Trevor Hoffman is still around to clean up the messes left by other pitchers.

The win was not only the a great way to start off the team's three-game set at Arizona, but it also got David Wells his first win of the season, meaning all five of San Diego's starters now have at least one win with 3-0 Jake Peavy taking the hill tomorrow.

Day off for me too

While I am still new at this and have a lot going on in my personal life, I am also going to take today off like the Padres in hopes of getting some other things done.

Let's hope the down time does David Wells some good and he can pick up his first win Tuesday. Let's hope Randy Johnson still has some of that Yankees rust on him.