Opening Series vs Houston

Well, the 2008 campaign is underway.

Here's a rundown of Opening Day from the view about 10 feet to the right of the Western Metal Building in the upper deck.

- Settle down with the beer prices Petco! $9 for a premium beer, $8.50 for a domestic. Yikes

- There is nothing, and I mean nothing, like the Garlic Fries at Petco. It has been a long winter without you Garlic Fries.

- So, I'm sitting in Sect. 327 in the second row. In front of the first row is about a 50 ft drop. In front of me in the first row is a 4 year old girl which seems to have no problem hanging on the railing, jumping on her seat, and all in all giving me a panic attack. No worries, her mom was as calm as can be, enjoying her beer and chatting with friends.

- Checked out the block party for Opening Day, pretty cool to add some festivities to the neighborhood. Had a distinct Wrigleyville feel.

- Onto the game: Peavy, after a shaky first inning, seemed to settle in. The guy threw a shutout, how much more can you ask for? How about 2 RBI to help his cause? Some areas of concern, the Padres left 12 runners on, had double digit hits and only 4 runs to show for it.

- PMac looked pretty good at the plate in the first two games (NOTE: with Wandy Rodriguez pitching tonight, PMac was given the night off as a left-handed hitter.)

- Wednesday night the bats came to life with Adrian going yard (after narrowly missing on a home run Opening Night. That Michael Bourne can run!) Scott Hairston is swinging a hot bat right now and I love the approach Kouz is taking at the plate.

- Some obvious concerns: 1) Heath Bell was nowhere to be seen tonight in an obvious set-up situation. I thought it was odd when Bell came in on Opening Day in a 4-0 game considering the concern the team had of his workload last year. 2) of potentially bigger concern? Hoffman, after looking great in Game 2, blew his first save of the season. It was an odd sequence. Hoffman got the first two batters out, relatively easily. Then an inexcusable walk to Jose Cruz Jr., a line drive by Hunter Pence JUUUUSSSSTT out of the reach of Adrian at first and then a 3-1 pitch to Berkman that was simply grooved right down the middle. A 6-5 win became a 9-6 loss in the matter of moments.

Now, one can only assume that tomorrow on 1090 and in the UT the Hoffman Haters will be out in force. Calls saying he's done will no doubt rain down tomorrow. And I would be lying if I don't get a bit nervous these days when I see Hoffman in there. But I know that his change-up is working (see Game 2...filthy) and tonights game was a bit of an anomaly. Count me as a Hoffman Believer. Look, you don't step on Superman's Cape and you don't tell a future Hall of Famer and the second most prominent player in your franchises history that he's done. He tells you. He's earned it.

Discovered today that we are being linked by Ducksnorts.com! Great website about the Padres as well with a TON of statistical analysis. Cool stuff, check it out.

Final thought. Thought it was very classy of the Friar Fans to give Geoff Blum, Doug Brocail and Jose Cruz Jr. and nice round of applause on Opening Night. Wouldn't mind seeing more fans at the games though! It's not that cold San Diego, let's go!