Topics covered here: Difference between 4-seam, 2-seam, slider and “back-door” breaking ball; does a bases loaded walk earn an RBI and if so why; middle infielders phantom touch of second base on double plays, in the park grand slam homeruns, Padres current NL rank in errors committed.

Topics discussed here: Padre All-Star candidates; Padres shoppers or sellers and what is current need; details seen on Tony Gwynn statue; Mets’ bullpen choice to bring in lefty; most runs scored by a Padre ball club and my unknown involvement…

Thanks for all the positive input (see Facebook postings by clicking on icon above). Glad to hear there are some Pads fans who are enjoying and appreciating what this team is doing. Giving credit where it is due, to a team that is busting their tails everyday and flat out winning games is not a cop out.

Read the rest of this entry »

“The Padres are who we think they are” I understand that you want people to be pumped about this team. However, let’s wait and see how this pitching staff does the second or third time they face these teams. We know we can’t hit and that the Dodgers, Giants, D-Backs and Rockies have much better hitting lineups. Sadly the Padres are an injury away from falling to 4th place. Please don’t mislead the viewers.

Read the rest of this entry »

Joe Thatcher

For the next few days, the waiver wire will be buzzing.  Now is the time when teams will be keeping their eyes open for tasty scraps being thrown away from another organization’s table. Read the rest of this entry »

John Garland

Honestly I was surprised when Padre skipper, Bud Black, announced John Garland as his opening day starter, but the more I’ve thought about it, the more sense it makes. Read the rest of this entry »

Adam Russell

He pitched in 10 games this spring, throwing 9 1/3 innings and allowing only 1 run to cross the plate for a sterling 0.96 ERA.  Usually that would be more than enough to seal up a spot on a team’s bullpen coming out of spring, but it might not be enough for Adam Russell of the Padres this time. Read the rest of this entry »

Matt Antonelli

Can Matt Antonelli be what everybody thought he would be a couple of years ago? I know that he did some work in the offseason but can he be the second baseman of the future like everybody said he was? – Abraham Read the rest of this entry »

Congratulations to Joe Mauer, the Twins, Twins fans and fans of smaller market teams everywhere, Mauer’s agent, Ron Shapiro, and other agents who value their clients happiness over money, and the game of baseball.   Read the rest of this entry »

Stephen Strasburg

The temptation was certainly enticing enough, but the Washington Nationals did the right thing by opting to reassign pitching phenom Steven Strasburg to their AA team to start the season. After spending $15.1 million to sign him, and watching him pitch 9 solid innings this spring posting a 2.00 ERA, there was certainly pressure, if from no one other than their fan base, for the Nationals to allow their young flame thrower to start the season in their big league rotation. Read the rest of this entry »

Ben Revere

I mentioned a week ago that the Twins would be sniffing around Padres camp in heat for a closer…Heath Bell. Now it’s official, and with the rumors flying hot and heavy about the Twins growing interest in last year’s N.L. saves leader, to replace Joe Nathan who just announced the need for season ending elbow surgery, I thought it might be interesting to look at some of the prospects that the Twins may have to offer. Read the rest of this entry »

Most of the 54 players who came to spring training will not be breaking with the major league 25-man roster on opening day, but that doesn’t mean that their time in big league camp is wasted.  For many it’s their first chance, and for all it’s a prime chance, to make a good impression on the coaching staff and front office decision makers. Read the rest of this entry »

Coming into spring training it seemed like the only spot being fought for was the 5^th spot, but now all indications are that both the 4^th and 5^th positions are up for grabs.   Read the rest of this entry »

How many more players, coaches, umpires and fans need to be injured by exploding Maple bats before MLB finally bans them? Tampa Bay pitcher, David price, was the latest victim a few days ago, and was lucky to escape with only an abrasion to his non-pitching hand. Others haven’t been so lucky.

Read the rest of this entry »

I know Kyle had a couple of hits in the game, but it seems that his been overmatched since the beginning of the season what gives? – Jose

Read the rest of this entry »

Now that you’re done laughing at my A.L. picks, you can prepare yourself for round two of Scan’s soothsaying pre-season prognostications.

Get your Southwest reservation ready to hit the sports book at Caesar’s, because here are the N.L. picks: Read the rest of this entry »

Hey Scan,

Been waiting half a year for you and the Padres.  Concerning the dialogue box at the upper left corner of my screen, re: score, count, inning, etc.  We’re unable to read which inning it is – too small and things seem to run together.  Don’t know if you can get anything done about this problem, but I’m sure you’d know someone who can. – Bill Read the rest of this entry »

Two questions:  Seems like the ground rules should cover strange construction at the Diamondbacks park to affect redirected balls like the one that was hit for the inthepark HR today. In that event should that not have been held to a ground rule doubleAppeared that the ball that Headley caught and was charged error on was clearly out of bounds yet neither 3rd base or home plate officials called it either way yet it stood as a fair ball. Your thoughts? – Brent Read the rest of this entry »

It’s that time of the year when everyone wants to know, “Who are you picking this season?”  I generally don’t like to make these predictions because they are SO speculative, and there are SO many variables that affect the ultimate fates and outcomes for every team.  Everyone’s picks are equally exposed to being rebuked 7 months later as pure idiocy, or hailed as Nostradamus like clairvoyance. Read the rest of this entry »

With all the talk about the Twins losing their closer, Joe Nathan, to season ending surgery many people have overlooked another playoff contending team that may need the services of Padre closer Heath Bell even more than the Twins – the Philadelphia Phillies. Read the rest of this entry »

Signing Yorvit Torrealba was an unexpected coup for the Padres, and is a nice addition for several reasons.   Read the rest of this entry »

The list of players and their representatives who have misjudged this year’s free agent market continues to grow. Read the rest of this entry »

Was anybody really surprised when Mark McGwire recently admitted that he did illegally use steroids during a major portion of his playing career, including the magical 1998 season when he broke Roger Marris’ single season hoemrun record? Read the rest of this entry »

Randy Johnson announced his retirement last week, marking the end of the career of one my favorite pitchers to play against.  After 22 MLB seasons and 303 victories, the 6’10” fireballing lefty decided he didn’t have anything left to prove, and that it was time to start his time clock towards his election to the Hall of Fame. Read the rest of this entry »

Rejected again – is Bert Blyleven Hall of Fame Worthy?

Read the rest of this entry »

There is no question in my mind that Andre Dawson finally deserves to enshrined with the best of the best.  Heres why…

Read the rest of this entry »

Padre fans have a lot of questions as their team gets ready for the 2010 season.  But by far the question asked the most…”Are the Padres really going to trade Adrian Gonzalez?”

Read the rest of this entry »

Congratulations to the New York Yankees for winning their 27th World Series Championship in the franchise’s storied 107 year history! Of course, with a payroll of over $208 million (over $50M more than the next highest team salary in MLB) they should have won…right?

Read the rest of this entry »