The Padres on Friday added three players to the 40-man roster, protecting them from other clubs in the Rule 5 draft.

Right-hander Craig Italiano, left-hander Steve Garrison and outfielder Chad Huffman are Big Leaguers. November Big Leaguers, but Big Leaguers nonetheless.

You can get the lowdown on this trio by reading the Padres press release or Corey Brock's news story on padres.com.

For all three, it's an accomplishment to be protected by the parent club. That means the front office values you -- and thinks other clubs value you too. A major factor on which players get exposed to the Rule 5 draft is whether they might get picked.

The Rockies, for instance, gambled that no clubs would be able to carry a middle infielder on the Big League roster all last season. So they left Everth Cabrera off the roster and eligible for the Rule 5 draft.

That worked out pretty well for the Padres, who not only were willing to jump Cabrera from Single-A ball but quickly made him the everyday shortstop.

Although all three players added to the 40-man roster Friday have every right to be proud, it's a particular accomplishment for Garrison. He's little more than a year removed from shoulder surgery.

This could have been a lost year as he worked his way back, which inevitably would have made it more likely he would be exposed to the Rule 5 draft. He pitched only 34 innings in the regular season, most of that at the rookie level, but he had a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League as the Padres made the wise choice of extending his opportunity to pitch.

Garrison made six starts for the Peoria Saguaros and went 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in the hitter-friendly league. 

The MiLB.com website took notice of Garrison during the fall league season and wrote this piece on him early this month. It's worth a read if you missed it the first time.

FJ 

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The Padres have set the 2010 Spring Training schedule. ...

A multimedia Lee Hamilton types away about the Adrian Gonzalez trade outlook. ...

Peter Gammons, among others, is skeptical about Gonzalez heading to Boston. ...

Tom Krasovic blogs about Padres executive Paul DePodesta, sort of. ...

INF Lance Zawadzki ended the Arizona Fall League season on a 14-game hitting streak. He homered Thursday in the season finale as the Peoria Saguaros rolled to an 8-1 victory over Mesa. ...

The Padres have picked up indy league RHP Nick Hall. ...

Former Padres 2B Roberto Alomar is hopeful he will voted into the Hall of Fame.

FJ

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The Padres aren't likely to be big spenders on the free-agent market, writes Corey Brock on padres.com. ...

Brock also writes about the complications of structuring a three-team trade. ...

Vic Salazar examines the Hall of Fame credentials of two former Padres: 2B Roberto Alomar and 1B Fred McGriff. Vic Salazar? ...

With another two hits for the Peoria Saguaros on Wednesday, INF Lance Zawadazki has lifted his Arizona Fall League batting average above .300. ...

Although it's not really Padres-related, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick offers a fascinating look at defensive metrics. Thought it was worth a link in the wake of the recent Gold Glove debates involving the Padres. ...

Shawn Jefferson, the former Chargers receiver who now coaches the position for the Detroit Lions, has incorpoated some advice from Tony Gwynn into his coaching drills. ...

Former Padres INF Lou Merloni is blogging for WEEI.com, an arm of Boston's top sports talk station. It's more than your typical player stuff. ...

The Brewers claimed former Padres minor league C George Kottaras from the Red Sox. ...

Former Padres OF Brian Buchanan will launch his managerial career in 2010 at the Rookie League level in the Royals organization. ...

Former Padres OF Shane Victorino has been busy lately -- World Series, wedding, hanging with Jon Gosselin.

FJ

The White Sox are reported to be interested in free-agent C Henry Blanco. ...

The San Diego Union-Tribune says Dick Enberg has talked with the Padres about joining the broadcast crew. ...

As the final score -- Peoria Javelinas 24, Peoria Saguaros 15 -- Tuesday was not a good day to be a pitcher in the Arizona Fall League. Padres minor league RHP Mike DeMark took the loss. ...

MiLB.com's rundown of minor league free agent bargains in recent years includes several with Padres connections. ...

Former Padres RHP Paul Menhart is Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg's first pro pitching coach. ...

Former Padres C Sandy Alomar Jr. has joined the Indians coaching staff. ...

Former Padres C Ramon Hernandez re-signed with the Reds. ...

Former Padres INF Tim Teufel is moving up the managerial ranks in the Mets organization, getting the call for Double-A Binghamton in 2010. ...

The Red Sox released former Padres minor league C George Kottaras, a top prospect when he was dealt to Boston for veteran LHP David Wells late in the 2006 season.

FJ

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Despite blaring headlines, a trade of 1B Adrian Gonzalez is far from a certainty. ... In fact, the Boston Globe asks why it would make any sense to move Gonzo. ...

Here is the genesis of the latest rumor. Not exactly the New York Times getting hold of the Pentagon Papers, is it? ... Didn't stop the Chicago Tribune from running with it. ...

Dayn Perry of foxsports.com advocates the Braves making a deal for Gonzalez. ...

Gonzalez is the seventh player to win multiple Rawlings Gold Glove Awards with the Padres. ...

Padres GM Jed Hoyer gets a good writeup from Jerry Crasnick on ESPN.com. ...

Corey Brock's in-box asks about the future of RHP Kevin Correia. ...

OF Cedric Hunter and INF Lance Zawadazki had big hits as the Peoria Saguaros rolled to an 8-0 victory over Scottsdale on Monday in the Arizona Fall League. ... On Saturday, Hunter had his team's only hit off the imposing Stephen Strasburg. ...

Baseball America provides a complete list of minor league free agents. ...

The Rangers have hired former Padres crosschecker Scott Littlefield. ...

Former Padres closer Rollie Fingers landed on TMZ's site. No worries, it's just their silly "Memba Him?" feature. ...

Former Padres INF Alex Pelaez will be a coach next year in the Reds organization. ...

Former Padres SS Ozzie Smith wants to be a manager or coach.

FJ

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The Padres' arbitration eligible players are RHP Mike Adams, RHP Heath Bell, RHP Kevin Correia, 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff. ...

On his blog, padres.com beat writer Corey Brock provides a bit of insight into the arbitration process. ...

OF Cedric Hunter had two hits and a run as the Peoria Saguaros defeated Scottsdale 6-3 on Thursday in the Arizona Fall League. ...

John "the Coach" Kentera, host of the Padres radio postgame show on XX 1090, is returning to work after heart surgery. ...

RHP Mark Prior still wants to pitch. ...

Former Padres RHP Jack Cassel continues to promote environmental causes, and he's getting help from Single-A Lake Elsinore Storm executive Dave Oster. ...

Former Padres minor league OF Todd Donovan, who beat the bushes for 11 years without reaching the Big Leagues, has embarked on a scouting career. ...

This one's been on the shelf a while, but FJ isn't a regular visitor to sandiego.com. It offers a glimpse of former Padres (fill in the blank here) Tim Flannery and his music. ...

Former Padres manager Jim Riggleman grew up a Washington Senators fan. And now he's managing the Nationals without the interim tag. ...

FJ isn't sure how to describe this one: The late Dock Ellis recounting his LSD-fueled no-hitter against the Padres in 1970 has become an animated video.

FJ

There have been, Friar John admits, more than a few Veterans Days in which FJ became one with the couch, remote control in hand.

But Veterans Day should be more than a day off without a care in the world. It's a holiday with meaning, a day to honor those who served our nation and defended our freedom.

Thanks to Padres legend Jerry Coleman, FJ this year experienced Veterans Day the way it should be. FJ was aboard the USS Midway on Wednesday to listen to the Colonel speak about his war experiences and praise his fellow veterans.

Click the link to find video highlights of the day on the Padres Channel on padres.com.

It was an honor to be in the company of so many men and women who served bravely, and family members who lost loved ones. As the veterans -- and active duty personnel -- spoke, you could see a tangible sense of pride.

Military service obviously isn't something that is simply put in the past the moment someone switches back to civilian clothes. It remains a source of pride and identity for a lifetime.

So it is with Coleman.

He has gained fame and as a member of the New York Yankees dynasty of the 1940s and 1950s. He has enjoyed decades of popularity as the Voice of the Padres and achieved his profession's highest honor, the Ford C. Frick Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Yet it is his time in the U.S. Marines that has most defined him.

"To this day, nothing has shaped me more than my five years in the service, in the Marines," Coleman said.

Coleman was invited to speak at this particular event because the USS Midway Museum was adding a World War II-era F4-U Corsair to its collection of military aircraft. In the inset photo, the Corsair is shown being lifted onto the flight deck by crane.

Coleman flew this type of aircraft during his second stint in the Marines, when he was recalled to fly in Korea from 1952-53. He first served in World War II, enlisting as a 18-year-old straight out of high school.

He delayed his dream of professional baseball the first time he served. He put on hold an established Big League career the second time, having already been named World Series MVP in 1950.

"Never, at any time, did I feel I had been put upon to return to the service in 1952," Coleman said.

Coleman entertained the crowd Wednesday with his usual does of humility and humor. But he gave a glimpse into his competitiveness when he retold the story of his World War II stint.

When he enlisted, he did so with the singular goal of becoming a combat pilot. The officer in charge of training wasn't sold. Coleman, it seems, was an indifferent student even as he starred for his high school team in the Bay Area.

The armed services had so many young men answer the call to service after the attack on Pearl Harbor that they were exceptionally selective about those who went to flight school. Coleman's C grades almost got him bounced.

He begged, cajoled, pleaded until he got a chance. Even then, the officer predicted Coleman would not complete the rigorous training.

"On April 1, 1944, I was looking for him," Coleman said. "I got my Golden Wings. That was one of the highlights of my life, and is to this day."

Coleman flew in an SBD Dauntless dive bomber in World War II. That aircraft also is on display at the USS Midway Museum, on the hangar deck.

The F4-U Corsair was designed as a fighter aircraft, but the Marines adapted them for bomber missions with heavier payloads. That increased the challenges of takeoff for pilots, and Coleman told the story of winding up upside-down in the mud after one failed takeoff.

Fortunately, he was OK and retrieved from the mud and muck. That is the gain of every Padres fan, and really every baseball fan.

His service, and the service of his fellow veterans, is the gain of every American.

Thank you.

FJ

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(Photos taken by Shana Siler.)

Friar John had the chance to listen in on Adrian Gonzalez's conference call Wednesday after he was included on the 2009 National League Gold Glove squad.

Again, congratulations to Adrian on his second consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove Award.

After scouring the news coverage to put together today's Hot Links blog entry, FJ must say the mainstream media did a thorough job of covering what Gonzalez had to say. If you read the stories from padres.com, the San Diego Union-Tribune, the North County Times, the Boston Glove and cbssports.com (scroll down a bit on that one), you'll be fairly well-versed in all things Gonzalez.

That leaves little for FJ to add.

There two additional observations made by Gonzalez that FJ found worth sharing.

Noting that teams adjust the year after a player makes his defensive reputation, Gonzalez said he had fewer opportunities to make plays in 2009 because teams would not bunt in his direction. (Base coaches also were careful to remind runners that Gonzalez likes to sling the ball around the infield to get the lead runner in virtually any situation.)

So teams started testing third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff.

"He proved they can't bunt his way, either," Gonzalez said.

True that. Although Kouz had proven himself a reliable fielder, he took his defensive game to a new level in 2009 by showing that he can charge bunts, bare-hand balls when necessary and throw on the run.

Asked about an airtight infield that includes Everth Cabrera at shortstop and David Eckstein at second base, Gonzalez said, "Success is laid in defense, especially in our ballpark."

Again, FJ agrees with Gonzo. That's Golden Rule No. 2: Defense paves the way for success at PETCO Park.

FJ

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(Photo of Adrian Gonzalez taken by Padres team photographer Chris Hardy.)

Padres 1B Adrian Gonzalez won his second Rawlings Gold Glove Award on Wednesday. ... Additional coverage comes from the San Diego Union-Tribune and the North County Times. ...

John Boggs, Gonzalez's agent, will meet with Padres GM Jed Hoyer next week. ... The Boston Globe listened in on Gonzalez's comments regarding that meeting and wrote another "what will happen?" story. Tsk. Tsk. Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's first baseman. ...

The U-T's Tim Sullivan examines why 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff didn't break through with Gold Glove voters. ...

The winner at third, Washington's Ryan Zimmerman, isn't about to spout off about his Range Factor or Ultimate Zone Rating. ...

ESPN's Rob Neyer isn't enamored with the NL Gold Glove voting. ...

Speaking of "what will happen," one statistic-savvy blogger suggests Gonzalez could regress with a new team. ...

LHP Joe Thatcher has helped his former high school coach into a local Hall of Fame. ...

INF Lance Zawadzki extended his Arizona Fall League hitting streak to eight games Wednesday, but the Peoria Saguaros fell 8-1 to the Peoria Javelinas. ...

Congratulations to former Padres manager Jim Riggleman, who will remain in the same capacity with the Nationals.

FJ

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Hearty applause today goes to Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who was named to the Rawlings Gold Glove team for the National League for the second straight season.

Gonzalez is a premier first baseman who is adept at fielding grounders to both sides, scooping throws from the infield and going into foul ground for pop-ups. And no first baseman is in his league when it comes to whipping the ball around the infield to cut down runners.

His aggressiveness in that regard forces bunters to think twice before dropping a ball in his direction, and he has started many a double play on ground balls that most first basemen would simply flip to the pitcher covering the bag for the easy out at first. Instead, he goes for the lead runner, and gets him.

Corey Brock has a news story up at padres.com. And the Padres press release on padres.com has a complete list of Padres Gold Glovers.

Gonzalez is the first Padres repeat winner since third baseman Ken Caminiti won his third straight in 1997. 

It's unfortunate that third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff can't be added to the list of Padres Gold Glovers, but he certainly made his reputation this year. If he maintains his high level of defensive play, his first Gold Glove can't be far off.

FJ hears that Gonzalez will be talking to reporters within an hour. He'll eavesdrop and pass along a few nuggets in a later post.

FJ

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(Photo by Padres team photographer Chris Hardy)