Notes: Pads react to Castilla's release

07/19/2006
SAN DIEGO -- News of veteran third baseman Vinny Castilla getting released by the Padres hit teammates hard on Wednesday as they were getting ready to face the Phillies at PETCO Park.
"He's an absolute class guy, the ultimate pro," closer Trevor Hoffman said. "Those are the guys you don't like to lose -- substance guys. He's just a good dude. It's the part of the game that's not fun."
Castilla, whose spot on the roster was taken by Wednesday's starter, Mike Thompson, gave the Padres solid defense at third and a positive, supportive clubhouse presence. But his bat, which had produced 315 homers and 1,078 RBIs along with a .278 average before his arrival, never came alive. Castilla is batting .232 with four homers and 23 RBIs in 72 games, with 254 at-bats.
"It was hard, after the career he's had, seeing him go through it," Hoffman said of his former rival, whose prime seasons were spent with the Rockies. "He was pressing, wanting to do anything he could for the club. Whether he was in a pinch-hitting role, playing defense, whatever you needed, he kept a great attitude. He's a team player."
Castilla was close with first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who is enjoying a breakout season (.287, 18 homers, 49 RBIs through Tuesday) in part because of the steady, uplifting counsel and advice from the other half of what manager Bruce Bochy liked to call his "Mexican connection."
"The strength he had for him ... he was like a grandfather figure for Adrian, a calming influence for him," Bochy said of Castilla, who turned 39 on July 4. "I talked to Adrian; he understands."
Castilla also was understanding of the Padres' decision, Bochy said, as difficult as it was to accept. The club will go with Mark Bellhorn and Geoff Blum at third -- each had 14 starts there through Tuesday -- as speculation continues to swirl that a deal involving a third baseman will be made by the July 31 trade deadline.
"Vinny enjoyed his time here," Bochy said. "Vinny could see something [was] happening through the media, the talk about trying to get more production out of third base. He's been through it before at Tampa [in 2001]. He came out of that and put together a few good years."
Bochy broke the news to Castilla after Tuesday night's game. Castilla is expected to clear waivers on Friday, at which time he becomes a complete free agent.
"It doesn't get more difficult than that [breaking the news], the respect you have for Vinny, who he has, the career he's had," Bochy said. "It's been a pleasure and an honor to manage him."
Johnson "close": The player who could feel the impact of Castilla's departure most in the immediate future -- outfielder Ben Johnson -- spoke with the veteran third baseman early on Wednesday.
Johnson, who strained his left shoulder on July 4, is eligible to come off the disabled list and could take Castilla's spot with Thompson or another pitcher going to Triple-A Portland.
Johnson, saying he was "close" to 100 percent, had expected to begin his rehab in the Minor Leagues on Wednesday, but he was told he'd be with the club in San Francisco for the start of an 11-game road trip on Thursday.
"Sad day," Johnson said, shaking his head. "Vinny's as good a figure on a club as you could ever want. He's so down to earth, for someone who's accomplished what he has. He's really close to Adrian, but he took an active interest in all of us.
"Guys like that, you hate to lose. Vinny said his goodbyes this morning, and he seemed fine. He's really strong -- just a good dude, in every way. I hope something happens for him."
One hit away: Mike Piazza, who wasn't in the starting lineup on Wednesday with Josh Bard behind the plate, is one hit from 2,000 and becoming the seventh active player to reach 2,000 hits and 400 homers. He'll join Barry Bonds, Gary Sheffield, Ken Griffey Jr., Jeff Bagwell, Frank Thomas and Manny Ramirez.
Piazza, batting .335 with 11 homers and 36 RBIs since May 12, covering 49 games, is two runs away from 1,000.
Blazing hot: The right side of the Padres' infield has been torrid. Coming into Wednesday's homestand finale, second baseman Josh Barfield trailed only Chipper Jones in the Major Leagues with his .538 average for July. Jones was batting .551. Lifting his average to .304, Barfield has had nine multi-hit games in the month.
Entering Wednesday's game, Gonzalez was tied with Chipper Jones for the NL lead with seven homers in July and was second in RBIs to Chipper's Atlanta teammate, Andruw Jones in RBIs. Gonzalez has 21, one fewer than the Braves' center fielder.
Revved for Merv: Merv Rettenmund calls it a "coincidence," but the Padres clearly have caught fire since he replaced Dave Magadan as hitting coach on June 16.
In 27 games since his arrival, San Diego's .295 batting average is fourth highest in the Major Leagues. Since July 4, covering 11 games, the Friars' .333 average is surpassed only by Atlanta.

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Hoffman, Pads unable to finish sweep

07/19/2006
SAN DIEGO -- It was a homestand that began and ended on the same stunning, off-key note: Trevor Hoffman blowing saves in the ninth inning.
After letting a lead get away on Friday night against the Braves, who went on to sweep three games with as much thunder as AC/DC ever generated, Hoffman faced the music again on Wednesday.
Entrusted with a 4-3 lead in the ninth, the game's No. 2 all-time saves machine was quickly out of sync. Hoffman hit leadoff man Shane Victorino with his first delivery, walked Chase Utley on five pitches and then served up a 1-2 fastball that Bobby Abreu yanked to right center for two runs and a 5-4 Phillies victory in front of 32,101 at PETCO Park.
"You get the ball, you've got to do your job," said Hoffman (0-2). "I don't like coming out on the short end of the deal."
The Padres, pursuing a sweep of the Phils, benefited from a three-run first-inning homer by sizzling Josh Bard and six solid innings from Mike Thompson in an emergency start by way of Triple-A Portland. The Friars had taken the 4-3 lead in the seventh when Brian Giles' two-out double delivered Rob Bowen, who'd singled batting for Thompson against starter Jon Lieber.
Scott Linebrink worked out of a bases-loaded disturbance in the eighth inning to get the ball to Hoffman, who had converted 25 of 27 save chances.
The Phillies' Tom Gordon, who would produce his 22nd save in support of winning pitcher Geoff Geary (6-0), had called Hoffman "automatic" at the All-Star Game. That was before Hoffman yielded the game-winning triple to Michael Young, letting a 2-1 National League lead turn into a 3-2 American League win.
That was followed by Hoffman's inability to preserve a 10-9 lead against Atlanta on Friday night, meaning his save on Monday night against the Phils was his only successful venture in his past four.
"The arm feels good," Hoffman said. "You can't hit a guy to lead off an inning. I haven't done that in a while."
Bowen felt that the pitch "was pretty close [to a strike] -- it might have caught the black. [Victorino] was on top of the plate. He did a good job. Not a lot of guys are going to stay in there and take one like that."
Hoffman also excused Victorino, saying he got the pitch too high, in a place where the hitter was able "to take one for his team" with his arm.
After walking All-Star Utley, Hoffman had Abreu down 0-2 in the count, missed on a checked swing and watched the right fielder foul off a "a real good changeup" before lacing an 88 mph fastball to the gap.
With 11 games in 11 days coming up on the road against National League West rivals San Francisco, Los Angeles and Colorado, manager Bruce Bochy replaced Hoffman with Jon Adkins, who finished the ninth with no further damage.
"Trevor will be fine," Bochy said. "We've seen him so long and we're so accustomed to Trevor closing out games. It just so happens he [gave up] a couple there.
"This was a tough loss. Any time you come this close to sweeping a team, sure, it's frustrating."
Thompson, filling in for Chris Young (foot ailment), fought his command but limited the Phils to three runs on nine hits -- including catcher Chris Coste's first career homer in the fourth.
"Being behind in the count so much, I can't go to my strength," said Thompson, who was 3-2 with a 4.30 ERA in nine starts while Woody Williams was sidelined. "For what I had, stuff-wise, I'll take it. Not my best, not my worst."
Abreu's two-out RBI single in the first had the Phils in front, and Coste tied it with an RBI double in the sixth after Bard's three-run bomb, his sixth, had given San Diego a 3-1 lead against Lieber in the first.
The Padres had Mike Cameron erased at home in the third trying to score on a pitch that got away from Coste, and Lieber worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth.
Hoffman blew only three leads all last season while delivering 43 saves, and three more faulty finishes in 2006 are too many to suit the man who has made "Hells Bells" the most popular tune by the border for 13 seasons.
"Everybody's shocked -- because it so rarely happens," said Padres general manager Kevin Towers, whose long day included the release of popular third baseman Vinny Castilla. "Law of averages, I guess.
"The good thing about Hoffy is he's able to put it behind him. I don't think there's anyone you'd rather have as your closer."
Only Lee Smith, with 478, ever saved more games than Hoffman, who stands at 461 and counting.
"This homestand could have been very good," Hoffman said. "Two blown saves ... You saw the way the guys battled, and I didn't finish it off."

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Notes: Piazza edges toward milestone

07/20/2006
SAN FRANCISCO -- Mike Piazza never likes to talk about his hitting when he's on a roll, not wishing to test the baseball gods. So he's been a little quiet lately in the clubhouse.
Showing that he still has snap, crackle and pop in his first season with the Padres, Piazza was in a reflective mood as he got ready to face the Giants on Thursday night at AT&T Park, recalling his first Major League hit against Mike Harkey -- "a double that could have been a triple to right-center at Wrigley Field."
His next hit would be No. 2,000 in his career, making him the seventh active player to combine 2,000 hits with 400 home runs.
"I feel comfortable at the plate," Piazza said. "I'm letting the ball travel, trusting my hands. [Padres manager Bruce Bochy] is really looking out for me. My left leg's a little sore, but that's to be expected. We're staying on top of that. Boch tells me, 'If you need a couple days, shut it down.' And that makes me want to play even more."
More than a few people in baseball figured it was over for the great catcher after he fell to .251 last season with the Mets, 60 points below his career average, with 19 homers and 62 RBIs in 113 games.
The Mets signed Paul Lo Duca, and Piazza went on the market. Surprisingly, the best opportunity arose in San Diego, and the Padres wanted him to catch. He signed a two-year contract with an option for next season, and here he is entering the last week of July with a more Piazza-like .295 average, with 14 homers and 43 RBIs in 237 at-bats, sharing the job with the younger duo of Josh Bard and Rob Bowen.
General manager Kevin Towers said on Thursday night that the club would like to have Piazza back in 2007 if money matters can be worked out. The mutual option is for $8 million, which might be too steep for San Diego's budget.
But it's a long way from October, and Piazza's concerns are with the moment.
"It's like anything," he said. "As long as it's not dead, you can bring it back with watering, positive stuff. At this point in my career, this is what I really needed. It's a good vibe here. The attitude's good. We have good young guys, a nice blend. The energy's good. The little positives are adding up.
"I feel under the radar a little, but I like that. It's the first time in my career I've had that. In New York, I was expected to do a lot -- which I enjoyed. But I had some injuries the last few years, and that gets frustrating.
"My wife last week said, 'Your attitude's good.' And she's right. Some good things have happened here."
Adios, amigo: Adrian Gonzalez spoke with Vinny Castilla on Wednesday after his buddy was released by the Padres. Castilla indicated that he probably wouldn't play again this season, but he wasn't ruling out coming back next year if something enticing comes along.
"He's a great person, respected throughout baseball," Gonzalez said. "Vinny's a guy we all adore, love greatly. He's a great ballplayer. What I'll remember is his personality, the way he came to the clubhouse with a smile on his face every day, no matter how he played the day before.
"It teaches you a lot when you're around someone like Vinny. 'This is the big show,' he'd always say. 'There's no reason to be sad or mad because you had a bad day before. Today's a new day.'
"He really helped me when things were going bad early in the season. I don't know if I'd have gotten out of that hole without him. I won't see his smile every day, but I'm still going to keep in touch with him."
Bard, Muser out: Bard will be unavailable on Friday night as he serves his one-game suspension for disputing balls and strikes calls on June 25.
Bench coach Tony Muser also is sitting out Friday night's game, serving his one-game suspension for leaving the dugout in an argument last Sunday at PETCO Park.
Road bashers: The Padres opened this 11-game road trip against three National League West pursuers leading the league in road batting average at .287. They'd produced 10 or more hits in 10 of their previous 14 road games.
Dave Roberts was given the start against Giants southpaw Noah Lowry in the series opener even though Eric Young, his occasional platoon partner, was 4-for-5 against Lowry. Roberts came into the game batting .353 against lefties, compared to .280 against right-handers.
Johnson rehab: Outfielder Ben Johnson, sidelined since July 5 with a strained left shoulder, is due to begin his rehab with Triple-A Portland at Las Vegas on Friday.
"I'm really looking forward to getting back out there and playing," Johnson said. "I hate sitting around watching."

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Friars falter against lurking Giants

07/21/2006
SAN FRANCISCO -- Chan Ho Park shrugged. There wasn't a whole lot to say about this one, in any language.
"It wasn't a good day for us," Park, the pride of Korea, said. "It was a good day for them."
The Giants were living right on Thursday night. Barry Bonds cracked his 722nd career homer, triggering three eighth-inning, seat-finding lasers in succession, and southpaw Noah Lowry shut down the Padres on Thursday night in a 9-3 romp before 42,047 at AT&T Park.
Bonds powered a two-run homer against reliever Brian Sweeney after catcher Mike Piazza dropped Bonds' towering popup in foul territory for an error, Piazza's elbow making contact with the ground and forcing the ball out of his glove.
Bonds' 14th homer of the season was followed by Ray Durham's 16th, to right, and Pedro Feliz's 16th, to left-center. All three blows came against Sweeney, a stalwart in middle relief all season for the Padres.
"He got some balls up," Bochy said. "He's been throwing a lot. It was tough for Sweeney, but he's been doing a good job for us."
The Padres, who were 2-4 on their first homestand following the All-Star break, had their National League West lead shaved to 1 1/2 games over the second-place Giants, who tagged Park with five runs in six innings.
The Padres threatened for four consecutive innings, from the third through the sixth, but left runners in scoring position each time, as Lowry pitched out of trouble to go to 5-6.
Park, falling to 6-6, was stung by the long ball. First baseman Chad Santos, from Hawaii, made his fifth Major League at-bat memorable when he smashed his first career homer. It exited the park in dead center in the second inning following Todd Greene's two-out single.
"It was a fastball, a two-seamer, exactly where I wanted to throw it -- on the corner," Park said of Santos' blast, which happened in front of his parents, visiting from Hawaii. "I never faced him before.
"I just threw it, trying to make a strike. He has pop. The ball carried pretty good. They hit some good pitches. Maybe the selection wasn't good. If I pitched against them, I wouldn't change anything -- except expect the squeeze and not walk the leadoff guy."
Those bothersome things happened when the Giants pushed across three runs in the fifth, Randy Winn's RBI double and a squeeze bunt by Omar Vizquel the key plays.
Park, who charged the Vizquel bunt but couldn't get it to Piazza in time, got in trouble by walking Santos leading off.
"That walk hurt me big time," said Park, who is 1-3 at the Giants' new home with a 6.98 ERA. "And the bunt surprised me. If I kept the score to two or three runs, we've got a chance to win. Our team always scores late in the game."
The Padres did, indeed, make the Giants squirm a bit in the ninth. Adrian Gonzalez's second single, already having extended his hitting streak to 11 games, was followed by a walk by Mark Bellhorn and an RBI single by Josh Barfield that ended Lowry's night.
Dave Roberts' two-run single against Kevin Correia following a walk to Josh Bard made it 9-3, and Jeremy Accardo was summoned from the bullpen. Mike Cameron slapped a single to load the bases, and when Brian Giles laced a shot seemingly ticketed for center field, there was life in the Padres' dugout.
Alas, second baseman Durham intercepted the bullet with a backhanded stab, and it was over when Piazza skied to right, ending a frustrating night for the man who has been afire of late.
"It would have been very interesting if that ball gets through," Bochy said of Giles' shot, adding that Gonzalez lined into a double play in the second inning and Cameron lined to center to leave two runners stranded in the fourth.
"The ball's got to bounce your way sometimes. They got hits when they needed them."
Bochy felt Park "had good stuff but just made a couple mistakes. He had great innings and two rough ones where he made mistakes."
Lowry, who moved to 3-1 in nine career appearances against the Padres, was more fortunate. His miscalculations didn't hurt him -- at least not until the ninth when the Padres finally rallied with too little too late.
"He's a good young talent," Bochy said of the Giants southpaw. "He's been tough on us before. He has a good changeup. When he's on, he's tough.
"We hit some balls well at times but couldn't find a hole. That's how it goes sometimes."

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Notes: Blum looking for hot spring

03/01/2006
PEORIA, Ariz. -- For a guy who isn't getting consistent sleep, the Padres' Geoff Blum is wide awake at the plate.
"It's like Navy SEAL training at my home," said Blum, father of four daughters 27 months and younger in a lively Spring Training abode. "I'm going to see how many straight days I can stay up."
Picking up where he left off with a big swing that decided Game 3 of the 2005 World Series for the Chicago White Sox in Houston, the switch-hitting Blum has doubled and homered in two intrasquad games.
The homer came from the left side Wednesday against right-hander Seth Etherton, attempting to make the Padres staff as a Rule 5 Draft acquisition. The double came from the right side Tuesday against Erick Burke, a lefty hoping to make his mark among a bevy of candidates.
Blum, never the shy, retiring type, doesn't mind mentioning it's important to come out smoking -- in contrast to his dismal 2005 spring showing when, as he put it, "rumor had it I was a question mark to make the team."
"We can't sit back and wait," he said. "We've got to make it happen."
The "we" refers to the five athletes -- rookie Josh Barfield and veterans Blum, Mark Bellhorn, Eric Young and Bobby Hill -- in the mix at second base in the absence of Mark Loretta, dealt to Boston for catcher Doug Mirabelli.
"It's a pretty unique situation," said Blum, who has erred just three times in 139 career games (480 chances) for a .994 fielding percentage at second base. "On the one hand, it stinks to lose a guy in the clubhouse like Mark, a good guy to play with and be around. At the same time, it's an opportunity.
"I want to contribute any way I can. It was a blast last [April/May] when we had that 24-6 run. That was a beautiful thing, everybody pitching in."
In Houston in 2002, Morgan Ensberg, the heir apparent at third base, scuffled early in the season and manager Jimy Williams summoned Blum, who batted .283 with a .440 slugging mark in 130 games. Blum was the Opening Day third baseman the following season, playing 123 games (.batting .262) before getting shipped to Tampa Bay.
"You never know in this game what's going to happen," Blum said. "You just have to be ready."
He was ready in the 14th inning of World Series Game 3 when White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen pointed his way, Blum launching a home run that beat the Astros and paved the way for Chicago's Series sweep.
Now, if the triplets -- Ava, Ashley and Kayla -- and big sister Mia will cooperate, maybe Geoff and wife Kory can get some sleep.
Big Ben delivers: Also driving the ball with authority is outfielder Ben Johnson, his confidence soaring after a solid contribution to the Padres' stretch run, 12 of his 16 hits for extra bases. He has doubled and homered in the intrasquad contests.
Johnson, who homered in three consecutive games late in the season and got a playoff start against Cardinals lefty Mark Mulder, crushed a Kenny Baugh fastball out of the yard Wednesday.
"It was a pitch he was supposed to hit out, a sinker that didn't sink -- and he got it," said Baugh, who had more movement on his pitches than he wanted.
"Ben looks good," manager Bruce Bochy said, noting how Johnson is going the other way effectively. "He's swinging well."
Johnson, who figures to back up in all three outfield spots, could emerge as a platoon partner in left with Dave Roberts.
"I feel pretty good up there," Johnson said. "I'm just looking to have a good spring and see what happens."
Classic departures: The clubhouse will be missing a few prominent faces for a spell after Thursday's charity game with Seattle at the Peoria Sports Complex.
Catcher Mike Piazza boards a flight before the game for Florida, where he'll join his Italy teammates for the World Baseball Classic. Third baseman Vinny Castilla and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez are leaving to be with Team Mexico, which faces Team USA and Jake Peavy in the Tuesday opener at Chase Field in Phoenix.
Peavy is scheduled to pitch two innings against the Mariners, giving him a taste of competition before competing in the Classic.
"Hopefully, that'll help," said Peavy, who will be part of the host country's first workout Friday.
Pete Laforest, who will catch for Team Canada in a pool with the U.S., Mexico and South Africa, said he's looking forward to taking his hacks against Dontrelle Willis of the U.S. and Mexico's Esteban Loaiza but isn't familiar with the arms of South Africa, the Tuesday opposition.
"I'm getting my body under me," said Laforest, who caught six pitchers in the two intrasquad games. "I'm ready to go. Watch out for Canada."
Hit-and-run: Shortstop Khalil Greene agreed to a one-year deal, putting all 40 players on the roster under contract. ... Shawn Estes and Cesar Carrillo are due to follow Peavy to the mound against the Mariners on Thursday. Right-hander Chris Young gets the nod in the first official Cactus League contest Friday at Tempe against the Angels. ... Bochy said southpaw Sean Thompson has been held back with tightness in his shoulder. ... Clay Hensley was back on the mound Thursday, showing no ill effects from a sprained ankle. ... Gonzalez made the defensive gem of the second intrasquad game, a sprawling stab that grabbed Bochy's attention. "You can tell he's comfortable over there," Bochy said. "He handles the glove very well."

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Sledge grateful to former manager

03/01/2006
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Terrmel Sledge feels he owes it all, his Major League stature and future, to Frank Robinson.
Sledge, 28, is not sure he'd be here, optimistically preparing for the 2006 season with the Padres, if not for Robinson's belief in his talents at a time when Sledge felt like the zero next to his name in the hits column of the box score.
"He saw something in me," said Sledge, a compact 6-footer who bats and throws left-handed. "I don't know what it was; I just played my game. I owe him my career."
As a rookie with the Montreal Expos in their final season of 2004, Sledge, the team's left fielder on Opening Day, got off to the kind of start that has been known to bury a player in an avalanche of self-doubt.
Day after day he came up empty, wondering if he'd ever be able to solve Major League pitching.
That's where Robinson, a Hall of Famer with perspective and patience when young Sledge needed it most, exerted his profound influence.
"He stuck with me," said Sledge, who is moving freely again after hamstring surgery last May ended his 2005 season prematurely. "Not a lot of managers would have done that.
"I started the season 0-for-22, got my first base hit -- single up the middle against the Mets' Braden Looper in New York [on April 19] -- and then was 1-for-34 [through 14 games]. But he never quit on me. He kept encouraging me.
"I heard stories about Willie Mays starting his career like that. It started coming around, and I ended up having a pretty good year. I give him all the credit."
Sledge hammered to the tune of .291 after his 1-for-34 start to finish at .269, ranking among the rookie leaders in almost every offensive category while making the Topps All-Rookie team.
Robinson's Nationals traded Sledge to Texas as part of the Alfonso Soriano Winter Meetings swap. The Rangers then flipped Sledge in the six-players deal that also made Padres of Chris Young and Adrian Gonzalez, with Adam Eaton, Akinori Otsuka and Billy Killian going to Texas.
"Sledge is on his way to becoming a very good Major League ballplayer," Robinson said at the Nationals' camp. "This kid is a very good hitter. He is going to hit for average. He is going to hit for power. He is going to play good defense. I would look at him as a left fielder. He is a pretty decent baserunner.
"He's a super kid -- quiet, unassuming, ready to play when you want him to. If he's not playing, he's ready when he's on the bench. Offensively, he's going to be good for a number of years.
"Certain hitters like him, their abilities stand out before they put it together. You just look at the mechanics of hitting -- the speed of the bat, the way a hitter takes a pitch and go the opposite way. He's tough to pitch to. They stand out -- head and shoulders above the crowd."
Having grown up in the San Fernando Valley and attended Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, John Elway's home turf, Sledge said he's delighted to be back in Southern California after summers in Montreal and Washington.
He has impressed Padres manager Bruce Bochy in camp with his all-around talents and his ability to hit the ball with authority to all fields.
"He's got good plate coverage, short to the ball -- that helps your discipline," Bochy said. "He's got some pop. You look at Terrmel, there's not one thing that stands out -- power, speed, arm. He just does everything well. He's solid in all facets of the game."
Sledge has blended in nicely with his new Padres troupe.
"I love it, being on a team that knows how to win, in a great atmosphere," said Sledge, who played at Cal State Northridge and Long Beach State and signed with Seattle as an eighth-round draft pick in 1999. "Plus, I'm home."
Sledge's '05 season was a painful disappointment. Chasing a fly ball on May 3 at Dodger Stadium, he slipped and tore a hamstring and was lost to the Nationals for the season after surgery. He batted .243 with a homer and eight RBIs in 20 games.
What he doesn't owe to his former manager goes to the medical community, Sledge said. The surgery was such a success, he is running without pain. The only physical issue has been a nasty blister on his right hand from getting his stroke down.
"It feels like I never had surgery," Sledge said. "The technology now is amazing. Ten years ago, it would have been a lot different.
"I try to play the game the old-school way. I'll do whatever they need me to do. I just want to be part of a winning team."
If that means pinch-hitting and playing spot duty behind Dave Roberts, Mike Cameron and Brian Giles, Sledge said he will do so enthusiastically.
He has shown he can handle the pressure of late-game situations. With a 12-for-21 late-season eruption in '04, he led his Expos with a .337 average with runners in scoring position.
Sledge's 0-for-22 drought was the longest to begin a career in the Major Leagues since Pittsburgh's Aramis Ramirez went 0-for-24 in 1998.
Rebounding with a vengeance, Sledge produced a season-high 10-game hitting streak starting April 23, batting .533. He hit his first career home run during the streak, a two-run May 4 blast against Colorado's Turk Wendell, and was named National League Rookie of the Month for May for hitting a team-high .316 with four homers and 12 RBIs.
Playing all three outfield positions and six games at first, his season highlight was a game-winning grand slam against Josias Manzanillo in 8-5 win on July 31 at Florida. He homered in back-to-back September wins at Wrigley Field.
Sledge made the final out in the Expos' last game in Montreal, Sept. 29, 2004, against Florida.
"That was a strange year, playing games in Montreal with not many fans there, and going to Puerto Rico to play," he said. "It was an interesting start to my career. I love where I am now."

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Notes: Peavy happy with tuneup

03/02/2006
PEORIA, Ariz. -- His Team USA jersey having arrived in the mail, the familiar No. 44 on its back, Jake Peavy declared himself ready for his opening World Baseball Classic assignment Tuesday after going two innings in a charity exhibition against Seattle at Peoria Stadium.
"I had a real live arm," Peavy said after giving up four hits and two runs, striking out two. "Marcel Lachemann [Team USA's pitching coach] told me my velocity was 90 to 94 -- all two-seamers [sinkers], no four-seamers. The location was better than I thought it would be.
"It was a very productive day, and I'm encouraged going into this [Classic]. I'm going to get my work in there. I'm looking forward to it, to say the least."
Hearing the national anthem for the first time since last October, when he faced St. Louis in Game 1 of the National League Division Series, Peavy got a sense of what it will be like when Mexico and Team USA line the field Tuesday at Chase Field in Phoenix.
"When I heard the national anthem, that was one of my first thoughts -- it's going to be a neat feeling knowing I have a hand in the game," Peavy said.
Peavy has put on five to 10 pounds during the offseason, gaining more upper-body definition. He's up to 198 pounds -- compared to the 170 he weighed when he arrived in San Diego in 2002.
He said the fractured rib, sustained during that playoff game against the Cardinals, didn't bother him as he delivered 39 pitches -- right where he wanted to be with a 60-pitch limit for his first Classic start.
"I thought Jake looked good," Bochy said. "He had a good fastball, curveball, changeup and good command."
Baseball's ERA champion in 2004 and the National League strikeout leader in '05, Peavy would love to stay healthy enough to challenge for the lead in wins in '06.
"Physically, head to toe, I'm as good as I've been feeling in a long time," Peavy said. "Most of the time in Spring Training you have nagging injuries. It's almost scary to feel this good in Spring Training."
Team USA manager Buck Martinez said he was impressed with Peavy's competitive manner in an early spring game.
"Every time you step out there, you can't go through the motions," Peavy said. "You're competing. I've got to get better. You push yourself. I just go hard."
Peavy would be meeting with USA teammates in Phoenix later Thursday night, their first workout Friday morning. Peavy figures to be away until March 21, the Classic ending with a March 20 title game at PETCO Park.
"That's weird," the Padres' ace said. "I'll be seeing the boys on the 21st."
Estes sharp: Shawn Estes couldn't have been much happier with his Padres debut, throwing two perfect innings, striking out a pair of Mariners. He seemed happiest with getting over to first to cover as second baseman Josh Barfield ranged wide to take a hit from Raul Ibanez.
"It was nice to get back on the mound and get that shot of adrenaline," said Estes, a free agent whose 2005 season with Arizona was cut short by an injury to his left foot. "In Spring Training, especially early, I like to focus on my fastball and changeup. I only threw one curveball [for a strikeout].
"Basically, it's about arm strength now, and you do that with the fastball. You get on the mound and it's more about instincts, focusing on getting the hitter out. It allows you not to consciously think about the foot. I just reacted -- and it feels good now. So it's a good sign."
Big Walter delivers: Walter Young, 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds of muscle, slashed a two-run homer in his first Spring Training at-bat against veteran right-hander Kevin Appier.
A free agent signed after Baltimore dropped him from its 40-man roster, Young has been overpowering the ball since he arrived. The man from Mississippi had a full scholarship offer from LSU to play defensive end but opted for baseball.
"That ball got out in a hurry," Bochy said. "He's a very likeable guy. Teammates like him. He's very professional in how he goes about his business.
"He's here trying to make the club. Sure, he has a chance. With Ryan [Klesko] and [Adrian] Gonzalez, he's going to have to beat some guys out. When you have that kind of power, it's not something you teach. Anybody who hits the ball out of the park like that, it intrigues you. In our system, that's something we've been lacking."
Carrillo shines: Also continuing to impress with his confident manner -- and sizzling stuff -- was right-hander Cesar Carrillo, the 2005 first-round pick in the First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Miami.
Carrillo set down all three Mariners he faced Thursday, going to a two-ball count only once while throwing only one curveball along with his fastball.
"I had good life on my fastball," Carrillo said. "I was moving it in and out. I try to throw everything off my fastball.
"It felt a lot different being in a Major League game for the first time. But after you throw that first pitch, the jitters are gone."
Carrillo, Bochy said, "looked very poised. He was throwing 90, 91 [mph], then jumped to 94 when he needed it."

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/