Padres manager Bud Black has been selected as a National League All-Star coach. ...

RHP Mark Prior has been diagnosed with a tear in his shoulder capsule. ...

C Michael Barrett is progressing, however. ...

Tony Clark will see more action as the Padres use a DH in interleague play. ...

LHP Glendon Rusch has become a free agent after declining assignment to Triple-A Portland. ...

SS Khalil Greene visited a Baha'i temple while in Chicago. ...

2B Tadahito Iguchi reminisced about his White Sox days. ...

Coverage of the Padres' 4-0 loss at Chicago on Thursday comes from padres.com, the Union-Tribune, the Associated Press and the Cubs web site, ...

A roundup of Big League debuts includes Luke Carlin and Edgar Gonzalez. ...

Carlin, Gonzalez and the other recent call-ups have brought energy to the club. ...

Minor league games (Thursday):
Portland 7, Las Vegas 6
Corpus Christi 13, San Antonio 10
Stockton 2, Lake Elsinore 0
Fort Wayne 7, West Michigan 5 ...

CF Jim Edmonds was booed in his Cubs debut. ... The Cubs are working out how to split playing time in center field. ...

Missed a day of links, so cleaning up some old news, coverage of the Padres' 8-5 loss Wednesday comes from padres.com, the Union-Tribune, the Associated Press and the Cubs web site, ...

Minor league games (Wednesday):
Portland was off.
San Antonio 4, Corpus Christi 1: The Missions' shutout streak ended at 39 innings.
Lake Elsinore 3, Stockton 2
Fort Wayne 7, West Michigan 5 ...

The Mariners today will honor those college softball players who showed great sportsmanship after a player got hurt while running the bases on a home run. ...

Seattle is coming off a 12-inning victory over Texas. ...

LHP Arthur Rhodes might be turning the corner in his comeback from Tommy John surgery. ...

The Mariners have played shaky defense. ... And they are playing below expectations. Sound familiar?

FJ

Bud Black reached double figures in wins seven times in the Major Leagues, getting as high as 17. But he never made an All-Star team as a pitcher.

The Padres manager is going this year, however.

Colorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle named his Padres counterpart to the National League coaching staff for the 2008 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium.

Check out the MLB press release.

Willie Randolph will be the NL's other coach. Hurdle also will be supported by his Rockies staff.

Although this is Black's first offical All-Star honor, he has All-Star Game experience. In 2003, he accompanied manager Mike Scioscia as part of the Angels staff that worked the game at new Comiskey Park in Chicago. The Angels, of course, were World Champions in 2002 with Black serving as pitching coach.

Congrats, Harry Ralston Black III.

FJ

2000: Third baseman Phil Nevin hits two two-run home runs and finished with five RBI to lead the Padres to a 7-3 victory over the Florida Marlins at Pro Player Stadium.

FJ

Coverage of the Padres' finale at Chicago on Thursday is at padres.com.

Now it's on to interleague play against the Padres' "natural rival." Hope the longstanding animosity between the Padres and Seattle Mariners doesn't boil over at Safeco Field this weekend.

It's amazing these fierce rivals can share the Peoria Sports Complex without hiring extra security to keep them apart.

OK, Friar John has resorted to sarcasm. Very un-Friar-like.

Guess FJ should just present some facts instead.

Here goes: The Padres are 80-96 overall in interleague play. They are 28-28 all-time vs. Seattle. Tony Clark, who will see most of the available time at designated hitter, has played 92 games as a DH. In 325 at-bats, he has batted .255 with a .343 on-base percentage and .475 slugging average. He is just barely less productive at DH than he is as a first baseman. Clark has 15 homers as a DH.

FJ 

Padres (15-26)
Jody Gerut, CF
Tadahito Iguchi, 2B
Brian Giles, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B
Khalil Greene, SS
Paul McAnulty, LF
Luke Carlin, C
Greg Maddux, P

Chicago (24-16)
Alfonso Soriano, LF
Ryan Theriot, SS
Derrek Lee, 1B
Aramis Ramirez, 3B
Kosuke Fukudome, RF
Jim Edmonds, CF
Ronny Cedeno, 2B
Henry Blanco, C
Ryan Dempster, P

Yep, Edmonds in center for the Cubs.

Game time is 11:20 a.m. PDT.

FJ

1984: Every batter in the lineup gets a hit, including leadoff batter Tony Gwynn and pitcher Tim Lollar with two each, but the Padres fall 6-4 at Jack Murphy Stadium to the Montreal Expos, taking their sixth straight loss. The streak extends to seven the next day as the Padres fall to 18-18. Then they win 18 of their next 23 to take control of the National League West en route to the first pennant in franchise history.

FJ

In all honest, Friar John was being run ragged on errand duty last night. So he will defer most comment about the Padres' loss Wednesday at Chicago and direct you instead to the straight news coverage from padres.com.

After hearing the early score, FJ figured it was a good night for the honeydo list. Had a moment to check out the action late and was surprised to see the Padres bring the go-ahead run to the plate in the ninth inning.

Nice to see a team that is having a rough season show no quit. Didn't get the payoff Wednesday, but teams that don't give away at-bats will reap the benefits eventually.

FJ

Padres (15-25)
Scott Hairston, CF
Tadahito Iguchi, 2B
Brian Giles, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B
Khalil Greene, SS
Justin Huber, LF
Josh Bard, C
Jake Peavy, P

Chicago (23-16)
Alfonso Soriano, LF
Ryan Theriot, SS
Derrek Lee, 1B
Aramis Ramirez, 3B
Kosuke Fukudome, RF
Geovany Soto, C
Mark DeRosa, 2B
Reed Johnson, CF
Ted Lilly, P

Game time is 5:05 PDT.

FJ

1995: Brian Johnson hits a pinch-hit grand slam in the eighth inning off left-hander Randy Myers to lift the Padres to a 9-7 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

FJ

Coverage of the Padres' 4-3 victory at Chicago on Tuesday comes from padres.com, the Union-Tribune, the Associated Press, the Cubs web site, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Daily Herald and the Chicago Tribune. ...

Manager Bud Black is among those saluting LHP Shawn Estes for his perseverance. ...

OF Jody Gerut hopes to be in the lineup to stay. ...

Edgar Gonzalez got a start at third base Tuesday, his first start in the Big Leagues. ...

RHP Greg Maddux gave his usual poker face to Chicago reporters' speculation about his future. ...

Padres executive and Hall of Fame player Dave Winfield was at the head of a productive 1973 draft class. ...

The Portland Beavers web site has a Beavers Beat roundup. ...

Minor league games:
Iowa 5, Portland 2
San Antonio 5, Corpus Christi 0: The Missions have thrown 31 straight shutout innings.
Lake Elsinore 5, Stockton 3
West Michigan 11, Fort Wayne 3 ...

The Cubs are getting good results from their bullpen. ...

Felix Pie could be the odd man out in the Cubs outfield. ... Manager Lou Piniella is staying mum about the potential addition of Jim Edmonds to the roster. ... Padres general manager Kevin Towers says Edmonds might have had more time to turn things around in San Diego if the team had been winning. ...

ESPN.com reminds us how good Edmonds was at his peak. ...

Cubs 3B Aramis Ramirez is not a work the count kind of guy. ...

Cubs INF Mark DeRosa has started a blog. ...

Cubs C Geovany Soto an All-Star? The Chicago Tribune makes his case.

FJ

Wow, talk about a well-earned win.

Left-hander Shawn Estes' 100th Major League win came Tuesday night as the Padres beat Chicago at Wrigley Field after more than two years of waiting, of working, of hoping.

Estes suffered a ligament tear in his first Padres start in April 2006 and went through two years of rehabilitaiton before making his second Padres start Tuesday.

Then he fell behind 3-0 in the first two innings. As in his rehab, he didn't buckle under, and he kept the Cubs off the board for the rest of his 5 1/3 innings pitched.

And he scored the go-ahead run as the Padres scored four times in the fourth inning.

"It was never an easy inning today," Estes told reporters in Chicago.

Of course not, not much has come easy for the lefty in recent years. That makes No. 100 all the more impressive.

Kudos, too, to the 1-2-3 bullpen punch of Cla Meredith, Heath Bell and Trevor Hoffman, who preserved that slim lead.

With April behind him, we saw the Hoffman we know. He blew a 1-2 fastball past Reed Johnson. It had plenty of life and was spotted perfectly off the outside corner. With two strikes, Johnson had to offer and he had not chance to do anything with it even if he weren't so late with his swing. Then Hoffman used the change-up to toy with Mike Fontenot, who never had faced him.

Save No. 531. Nice.

So now the Padres have Jake Peavy pitching with the team coming off a win. It's only the second time this season that's happened. Arizona's Brandon Webb prevented Peavy from getting a winning streak going on April 27 at PETCO Park. This time, it's Ted Lilly trying to prevent the Padres and Peavy from getting on a roll.

FJ 

Padres (14-25)
Jody Gerut, CF
Tadahito Iguchi, 2B
Brian Giles, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Hairston, LF
Khalil Greene, SS
Edgar Gonzalez, 3B
Luke Carlin, C
Shawn Estes, P

Chicago (23-15)
Alfonso Soriano, LF
Ryan Theriot, SS
Derrek Lee, 1B
Aramis Ramirez, 3B
Kosuke Fukudome, RF
Geovany Soto, C
Mark DeRosa, 2B
Reed Johnson, CF
Jason Marquis, P

Game time is 5:05 PDT.

FJ

Coverage of the Padres' 12-3 to the Cubs on Monday night comes from padres.com, the Union-Tribune, the Associated Press, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Daily Herald, the Cubs web site and the Chicago Tribune. ...

Goose Gossage toured the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Monday, a prelude to his summer induction. More coverage comes from mlb.com, the Rocky Mountain News, the Daily Star, the Associated Press, the Times Union and the New York Post. ...

INF Edgar Gonzalez has joined younger brother Adrian in the Big Leagues. ...

LHP Shawn Estes makes his first Major League start since April 2006 tonight. ...

New blogger Paul DePodesta tackles the PETCO Park effect. the Padres executive's blog already is a hit, with lively debate among the reader comments. Nicely done, DePo. ...

It appears the Cubs will sign CF Jim Edmonds once he clears waivers. More on that from the Daily Herald and the Chicago Tribune. ...

If the Cubs pick up Edmonds, it might increase the chances the Padres go after a Cubs outfielder. ...

Discouraging news for Padres RHP Mark Prior. ...

C Michael Barrett saw some old Cubs teammates. Barrett is doing well in his rehabilitation from an elbow injury. ...

They still love RHP Greg Maddux in Chicago. ...

Corey Brock opens his Padres mailbag on padres.com. ...

A two-homer night got Triple-A Portland OF Will Venable up to .300 this season. ...

Minor league games:
Iowa 10, Portland 6
San Antonio 4, Corpus Christi 0
Stockton 9, Lake Elsinore 8
Fort Wayne 2, West Michigan 1 ...

Here's another report on Fort Wayne's win. ...

Tribune Co. chairman Sam Zell intends to sell the Cubs and Wrigley Field in a private transaction. ...

An unsettled rotation hasn't slowed the Cubs. ...

RF Kosuke Fukudome is delivering for the Cubs. ...

Cubs OF Daryle Ward has come through big lately. ...

Columnist Mike Downey points out that Chicago is a Cubs town.

FJ

2007: Making only his second Big League appearance of the season, right-hander Justin Germano throws seven shutout innings and allows only three hits and no walks to lead the Padres to a 3-0 victory over St. Louis at PETCO Park. Scott Linebrink pitches a scoreless eighth, and Trevor Hoffman takes care of the ninth for his 10th save of the season, No. 492 of his career.

FJ

It was a chilly Monday night at Wrigley Field. And, as pitcher Randy Wolf pointed out, things snowballed in the cold air.

Wolf gave runs right back after getting a fifth-inning lead. Padres pitchers issued nine walks. The defense made a mental error in the sixth inning as Adrian Gonzalez vacated first base, thinking the third out had been recorded on a force out at third base. It hadn't, and Kevin Kouzmanoff's subsequent throw to first found no glove waiting.

Never good to take another L, but it was a real shame to let the game get out of hand when there were two truly good things going on.

First, Jody Gerut had a breakout game, signaling that his comeback from multiple knee surgeries just might take. He hit his first Major League home run, a no doubter onto Sheffield Avenue, and reached base in four of his five plate appearances.

Second, Edgar Gonzalez got his first Major League hit -- and RBI -- with his brother Adrian there to see it. After nine minor league seasons, Gonzalez joined the Padres on Monday for his first Big League appearance and entered the game in a sixth-inning double switch. His seventh-inning single up the middle off Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano drove in Scott Hairston.

The Gonzalezes are the fourth pair of brothers to play with the Padres at the same time. Here's the list:

Sandy and Roberto Alomar, 1988-89
Tony and Chris Gwynn, 1999
Brian and Marcus Giles, 2007
Edgar and Adrian Gonzalez, 2008

FJ

Padres (14-24)
Jody Gerut, CF
Tadahito Iguchi, 2B
Brian Giles, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B
Khalil Greene, SS
Scott Hairston, LF
Josh Bard, C
Randy Wolf, P

Chicago (22-15)
Alfonso Soriano, LF
Ryan Theriot, SS
Derrek Lee, 1B
Aramis Ramirez, 3B
Kosuke Fukudome, RF
Geovany Soto, C
Mark DeRosa, 2B
Reed Johnson, CF
Carlos Zambrano, P

Game time is 5:05 PDT.

FJ

The Padres officially promoted Edgar Gonzalez to the Big Leagues on Monday. He joins younger brother Adrian on the Padres roster.

The Padres purchased Edgar Gonzalez's contract from Triple-A Portland after they designated utilityman Callix Crabbe for assignment.

Although Edgar is nearly four years older than Adrian, this is his first regular-season assignment in the Major Leagues. He is a career .297 hitter in nine minor league seasons.

Edgar Gonzalez, 29, batted .293 with four home runs in 27 games with Portland this year. He played first base, second base, third base, left field, right field and designated hitter.

Edgar Gonzalez signed with the Padres last winter as a nonroster invitee and spent spring training in Big League camp. He has played with his brother before, both in spring training and in the Mexican winter league.

FJ

PETCO Park gets some love in this ESPN.com story about cool baseball seats. ...

Coverage of the Padres' 6-1 victory over Colorado on Sunday comes from padres.com, the Union-Tribune, the Rockies web site, the Associated Press, the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post. ...

LHP Randy Wolf has the ball today. ...

C Josh Bard had a cortisone injection in his right wrist. ...

1B Adrian Gonzalez is buoyed by the Padres' recent play. ...

Several Padres used pink bats on Sunday to promote breast cancer awareness. ...

Triple-A Portland OF Will Venable is getting another look in center field. ...

Double-A San Antonio 1B Kyle Blanks is raking. ...

Jake and Katie Peavy are doing good in their hometown of Mobile, Ala. They have acquired a suite at the ballpark of the Double-A Mobile BayBears that will be donated for use by charity groupls. ...

Minor league games:
Iowa 3-3, Portland 0-2
San Antonio was off.
Modesto 11, Lake Elsinore 0
Fort Wayne was rained out. ...

RHP Greg Maddux's sharp win Saturday means he won't be getting win No. 350 at his old home, Wrigley Field. ... A Chicago-area columnist waxes poetic about Maddux. ...

The Cubs are coming off a dramatic victory over Arizona. ... That completed a sweep for Chicago. ...

RHP Carlos Zambrano is pitching against the Padres today after being scratched Sunday because of dreary weather. ...

The Cubs look like a playoff team to mlb.com's Mike Bauman. ...

The Cubs are going so well that even Jay Mariotti has nice things to say. ...

Goose Gossage is taking his Hall of Fame tour today. ...

Former Padres RHP Ed Whitson is pitching coach for his son's high school team. ...

This Bay Area columnist likes the designated hitter.

FJ

2001: Florida's A.J. Burnett throws a no-hitter in a 3-0 victory over the Padres at Qualcomm Stadium. Burnett walks nine, tying the modern record for walks in a no-hitter.

1998: The Padres game at Qualcomm Stadium against the Mets is rained out. Big deal? Well, it's the first Padres home rainout since April 20, 1983, breaking a streak of 1,172 home dates without a rainout.

Before departing for Chicago on yet another road trip, the Padres made one more roster move. Rookie utilityman Callix Crabbe was designated for assignment, which means he is off the active roster.

As a Rule 5 draft pick, Crabbe must remain on a Major League roster or be exposed to waivers and offered back to his former club, Milwaukee, for $25,000. There are reports the Padres are trying to work out a deal with the Brewers that would allow the Padres to send Crabbe to Triple-A.

More likely is a trade -- the Padres have 10 days to find a taker -- a waiver claim or a return to the Brewers organization.

Infielder Edgar Gonzalez, older brother of first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, was expected to join the team Monday in Chicago.

FJ

Padres manager Bud Black was smiling at the podium, cracking jokes with the reporters. Must be better days in Padres land.

Scoreboard check: Padres 6, Rockies 1. Yep, better days.

The Padres' victory Sunday at PETCO Park was their second straight and secured their first series win since they took two of three games at Dodger Stadium from April 11-13.

"That's more like we expected to play baseball," Black said. "Good pitching, good bullpen work, solid defense, a couple homers."

Check, check, check, check.

You need more evidence that the dark days are clearing? Try this on for size: A Rockies runner was thrown out stealing while Chris Young was pitching!

If Friar John's check of the stat lines is correct, opponents had been successful on 56 straight steal attempts against Young. Although he has done a better job this year of holding runners and cutting down on the number of attempts, his 6-foot-10 frame and unique delivery made it next to impossible for catchers to get the ball to second base quickly enough to have a chance once a runner took off.

Until Sunday.

Rookie Luke Carlin ended the streak with a strong peg to second base in the sixth inning to nail Jonathan Herrera with room to spare. The force is strong in young Luke.

With starter Josh Bard resting his surgically repaired wrist, Carlin has had a heady first two days in the Big Leagues. First, he catches Greg Maddux's 350th win on Saturday. Then he ends Young's stolen-base streak and collects his first Major League hit, a double off Manny Corpas in the eighth inning.

No wonder Black was in a good mood.

For the record, the last runner caught stealing with Young pitching was Rajai Davis, then a rookie with Pittsburgh, on Sept. 22, 2006. Mike Piazza was the catcher.

FJ 

The Padres honored a "Breaking Barriers" essay finalist before Sunday's game. ...

RHP Bryan Corey was acquired from the Red Sox. ...

LHP Sean Henn has a clean slate with the Padres. ...

OF Chase Headley is waiting patiently for the call to the Majors. ...

RHP Heath Bell talks about his toys. (For more about Bell's childlike ways, check out Padres Magazine. He's the cover story.) ...

Coverage of Greg Maddux's 350th win Saturday night comes from padres.com, the Rockies Web site, the Associated Press, the Union-Tribune and the Denver Post. ...

U-T columnist Tim Sullivan wonders whether Maddux will finish the season in San Diego. ...

1B Adrian Gonzalez lists the top five reasons he used a pink bat on Sunday. (Don't forget, he's scheduled for a live chat with fans on padres.com and padresbeisbol.com on May 27 from 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.) ...

he Padres' top draft pick this year very well could be a position player. ...

Minor league games:
Portland was rained out.
San Antonio 5, Midland 0
Modesto 7, Lake Elsinore 2
South Bend 4, Fort Wayne 3 ...

The Rockies optioned LHP Mark Redman to Triple-A Colorado Springs to clear a roster spot for Sunday's starter, Greg Reynolds. ...

Because of bad weather in Chicago, Cubs RHP Carlos Zambrano was scratched from his scheduled start Saturday and will face the Pades today instead. ...

LHP Scott Eyre is off the DL and giving the Cubs a veteran lefty in the bullpen. ...

Tony Gwynn shot 119 on Torrey Pines South as the U-T put together a foursome of San Diego sports figures to test how hard the U.S. Open golf course really is.

FJ

The Padres on Sunday traded for Boston Red Sox reliever Bryan Corey. They will send cash or a player to be named to the Red Sox.

Left-hander Joe Thatcher was optioned to Triple-A Portland to clear the roster spot.

Corey, a 34-year-old right-hander, will join Cla Meredith and Wil Ledezma as the primary options in the sixth and seven innings, Padres manager Bud Black said.

Black praised Corey's ability to throw strikes and his aggressive pitching style. A fastball-change-up type, Corey is working to improve his slider.

Corey appeared in seven games during two stints with the Red Sox this year and posted a 10.50 ERA. He has 52 Big League appearances and a 4.40 career ERA.

Twenty percent of the Padres active roster -- Corey, outfielder Jody Gerut, pitcher Shawn Estes, catcher Luke Carlin and pitcher Sean Henn -- was not on the roster a week ago.

Black also explained the reason catcher Josh Bard was absent from the lineup for a second straight day. Bard recently took an injection in the right wrist that bothered him last season and required surgery.

Black, however, said the recent procedure was one doctors said would be an expected follow-up to the surgery. "It's no big deal," Black said.

The manager said Bard was available for duty, if needed Sunday.

FJ

Paul DePodesta, the Padres special assistant in baseball operation, has started a public blog. You can check it out at this link.

DePodesta is a bright guy, one of the influential figures in baseball as statistical analysis gained greater use in the game.

Thumbs up to DePo for going interactive with the public. Friar John will be reading (and learning).

FJ

Colorado (15-22)
Willy Taveras, CF
Jonathan Herrera, 2B
Todd Helton, 1B
Garrett Atkins, 3B
Brad Hawpe, RF
Ryan Spilborghs, LF
Chris Iannetta, C
Clint Barmes, SS
Greg Reynolds, P

Padres (13-24)
Jody Gerut, CF
Tadahito Iguchi, 2B
Brian Giles, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B
Khalil Greene, SS
Scott Hairston, LF
Luke Carlin, C
Chris Young, P

Reynolds, the Rockies' pitcher, is making his Major League debut.

Game time is 1:05 p.m. See you there.

FJ

Friar John will leave it to the numerologists to determine the significance of Greg Maddux getting win No. 350 in the same game Trevor Hoffman gets save No. 530.

350/530, hmmm.

The Padres' victory Saturday night has meeting to Friar John not just because of the coincidental numbers -- congrats to Maddux, by the way -- but because of that three-run home run by Adrian Gonzalez.

There is nothing bigger for an offense struggling to manufacture runs than getting them grouped in one swing. The stresses on the ballclub seem to melt away. The pitchers stay in rhythm. The defense is on its toes.

Three is a wonderful number.

FJ

Cleaning up the flurry of roster moves: LHP Glendon Rusch was assigned outright to Triple-A Portland on Saturday, clearing the roster spot taken by LHP Sean Henn. Henn was claimed on waivers from the Yankees on Friday.

Rusch was 1-2 with a 6.41 ERA in 12 relief outings. He has 72 hours to decide whether to accept the assignment or become a free agent.

FJ

Colorado (15-21)
Willy Taveras, CF
Omar Quintanilla, 2B
Matt Holliday, LF
Todd Helton, 1B
Garrett Atkins, 3B
Brad Hawpe, RF
Yorvit Torrealba, C
Clint Barmes, SS
Ubaldo Jimenez, P

Padres (12-24)
Jody Gerut, CF
Tadahito Iguchi, 2B
Brian Giles, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B
Paul McAnulty, LF
Khalil Greene, SS
Luke Carlin, C
Greg Maddux, P

Two things jump out. First, Carlin gets his first Major League start, catching a future Hall of Famer, no less. Second, Giles has been moved from the leadoff spot to the three hole, with Gerut atop the lineup.

Game time is 7:05 p.m. It's Jake Peavy T-shirt Night, presented by Cox Communications/4 SD.

See you there.

FJ

OK, these links are kind of cold. Morning readers might have already clicked a few, but for those who sleep past noon, they're still news. ...

The release of CF Jim Edmonds was headline material. ...

Union-Tribune columnist Tim Sullivan gets the reasoning for why Chase Headley didn't get the first call to replace Edmonds. ...

The roster changes bring an opportunity for OF Jody Gerut. ...

C Luke Carlin got a call; he has replaced Colt Morton as Josh Bard's backup. ...

The Associated Press has coverage of the roster changes. ...

LHP Shawn Estes will join the pitching rotation. ...

RHP Greg Maddux again pursues career win No. 350 tonight. ... Vaunted Washington Post columnist Thomas Boswell cites Maddux as a bastion of integrity. ...

Game coverage of the Padres' 4-2 loss to Colorado on Friday comes from padres.com, the Union-Tribune, the Rockies web site, the Associated Press, the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News. ...

RHP Jake Peavy has been helping himself at the plate. ...

Recent moves left Triple-A Portland a bit shorthanded, so INF Tom King jumps from Singe-A Lake Elsinore as a reinforcement. ... 

Minor league games:
Omaha 9, Portland 5
Midland 9, San Antonio 3
Modesto 4, Lake Elsinore 0
South Bend 2, Fort Wayne 0 ...

Suddenly, the Rockies are on a three-game winning streak. ...

Rockies C Yorvit Torrealba got a vote of confidence from manager Clint Hurdle, and a start. ...

Colorado 2B Omar Quintanilla has made the most of his opportunity. ...

RHP Greg Reynolds, who will start for Colorado on Sunday, got to the Big Leagues quickly. ...

Friar John presents these links as a service. You judge the content. But this one gets FJ's hearty endorsement: The Long Beach Press-Telegram has a piece about the old days of the Pacific Coast League. ...

MLB.com goofs around with the topic of at-bat music.

FJ

Here's a fact that makes Friar John a bit nervous. The 2003 Padres also were 12-24 after 36 games. That team lost 98 games.

The roster shakeup Friday did not precede a slump-stopping victory, but that will come. Unlike the 2003 Padres, this club still has some good pieces in place: Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Kouzmanoff in the middle of the order, good defense and still-strong starting pitching.

It will get better.

There will be a roster move today as the Padres create room to add LHP Sean Henn to the roster, a day after he was claimed off waivers from the Yankees.

FJ

Colorado (14-21)
Willy Taveras, CF
Omar Quintanilla, 2B
Matt Holliday, LF
Todd Helton, 1B
Garrett Atkins, 3B
Brad Hawpe, RF
Yorvit Torrealba, C
Clint Barmes, SS
Aaron Cook, P

Padres (12-23)
Brian Giles, RF
Tadahito Iguchi, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B
Jody Gerut, CF
Paul McAnulty, LF
Khalil Greene, SS
Josh Bard, C
Jake Peavy, P

Game time is 7:05 p.m. Family Fireworks after the game.

See you there.

FJ

The whispers of the week became reality on Friday. Padres management, seeing the team sink to 12-23, took action to try to spark better days ahead.

Outfielder Jody Gerut, the Pacific Coast League player of the week last week, was recalled from Triple-A Portland and veteran center fielder Jim Edmonds was put on unconditional release waivers.

Edmonds, 37, came into the season with high hopes for a return to form after a busy winter working out with a Los Angeles County Sheriff's SWAT team member. But he suffered a calf injury in spring training and was unable to play to his customary standards once he returned. Edmonds batted only .178 with one home run in 26 games.

His career is one to be admired: .286 batting average, 397 doubles, 363 home runs, 1,127 RBI, 1,160 runs and eight Gold Gloves.

Gerut is a feel-good comeback story, Knocked out of the Majors for two years because of knee injuries, he tore up winter ball in Venezuela to earn a look from the Padres. He made the Opening Day roster but got only six at-bats before he was optioned to Portland when Edmonds came off the disabled list.

Gerut, 30, did not sulk. Instead, he batted .308 with the Beavers to earn the return to the Majors. He had nine doubles, two triples, five home runs, 18 RBI, 22 runs and four stolen bases in 27 minor league games.

Meanwhile, the Padres have swapped out backup catcher. Luke Carlin, 27, had his contract purchased from Portland, and Colt Morton was optioned back to Double-A San Antonio. Carlin is considered a superior receiver, and he threw out four of eight runners attempting to steal in 11 games with Portland this year. Backing up Nick Hundley at Portland, he also batted .387.

The Padres also have picked up a pitcher. They claimed left-hander Sean Henn off waivers from the New York Yankees. He will be added to the active roster on Saturday, requiring a corresponing roster move.

Henn, 27, is 1-0 with a 0.84 ERA in eight relief outings with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Single-A Tampa this season. A first-round pick in 2000, he has made 36 Big League appearances from 2005-07 and gone 2-6 with a 7.53 ERA.

FJ

Coverage of the Padres' 5-4 loss at Atlanta on Thursday comes from padres.com, the Associated Press, the Union-Tribune, the Braves web site and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ...

RHP Jake Peavy is in the role of stopper again. ... RHP Aaron Cook goes for Colorado. ...

The U-T's Chris Jenkins and the Rocky Mountain News' Tracy Ringolsby point out that both the Padres and Rockies have struggled since that 22-inning game at PETCO Park on April 17 (and April 18). ...

LHP Shawn Estes is excited about being back in the Big Leagues and says he needed the time in Triple-A to complete his comeback. ... Manager Bud Black says Estes is much improved from spring training. ...

MLB.com is sending electronic Mother's Day postcards from players to their moms. Heath Bell does the honors for the Padres. ...

If you're afraid of the word sabermetrics, don't click this link. But a mathematically-oriented blogger has a complex and fascinating look at RHP Greg Maddux's pitch sequences. ...

Sports Illustrated illustrates the Padres' offensive problems. ...

Triple-A Portland LF Chase Headley was 5-for-5 Thursday and is 19-for-39 in his past nine games. ...

Minor league games:
Portland 8, Omaha 7
Midland 11, San Antonio 6
San Jose 4, Lake Elsinore 2
South Bend 6, Fort Wayne 5 ...

The final game of their sweep of the Padres was a rough one for Braves pitchers Jo-Jo Reyes and Buddy Carlyle. ...

The Rockies come to San Diego with a bit of momentum, their first back-to-back victories in three weeks. ...

The Rockies have a new double-play combination since the Padres last saw them, Clint Barmes and Omar Quintanilla. Barmes is filling in for injured SS Troy Tulowitzki, and Quintanilla is up from the minors. ... 

C Chris Iannetta has made five straight starts for Colorado, seemingly supplanting Yorvit Torrealba as the regular. ...

The Rockies shot down a rumor they wanted to trade for pitcher Josh Fogg. ...

Los Angeles Times columnist Helene Elliott profiles Charles Steinberg, the former Padres executive who is now a marketing/PR chief with the Dodgers. ...

Former Padres manager Bruce Bochy had a scare in the Giants dugout Thursday. He slipped on wet ground while dodging a foul ball and hit his head hard. He was OK and finished the game, however. ...

And let's not forget about Madonna. She may now live in the land of cricket, but she will be in concert at PETCO Park on Nov. 4.

FJ

1979: Dan Briggs doubled in the seventh inning for the only Padres hit off Dick Ruthven in a 2-0 loss to Philadelphia at San Diego Stadium.

1971: Clay Kirby throws a franchise-record 161 pitches in a 7-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at San Diego Stadium.

1960: Tony Gwynn is born in Los Angeles. Happy 48th birthday, Coach Gwynn.

FJ

Another tough loss Thursday to wrap up a 2-7 road trip. A 4-1 lead evaporated as the Braves rallied to complete a three-game sweep at Atlanta.

At 12-23, the Padres are searching for a way to turn things around. It would be no surprise to Friar John to hear of roster changes as the team heads home for a three-game "homestand" against the Colorado Rockies.

There are two Padres who deserve a little extra leg room on the flight home. Corner infielders Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Kouzmanoff have done their part in trying to get the team going.

In his past 11 games, Gonzalez has batted .375 (18-for-48) with nine runs, three doubles, four home runs and 11 RBI.

In his past eight games, Kouzmanoff has batted .394 (13-for-33) with four runs, three doubles a home run and five RBI.

The middle of the lineup is in good hands. It will be interesting to see what names surround them when the Padres next take the field.

FJ

Madonna's fall concert tour includes a Nov. 4 date at PETCO Park. So the field that is home to future Baseball Hall of Famers Greg Maddux and Trevor Hoffman will be home for a night to a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.

The press release put out by Madonna's people on Thursday lists the on-sale date as June 1.

Check out Madonna's web site for the particulars.

FJ

Coverage of the Padres' 5-2 loss at Atlanta on Wednesday comes from padres.com, the Union-Tribune, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves web site and the Associated Press. ...

LHP Wil Ledezma makes his first start of the year today. ...

Union-Tribune columnist Tim Sullivan speculates that CF Jim Edmonds stay with the Padres might be a short one. ...

Newly called-up LHP Shawn Estes is best suited to starting, according to manager Bud Black. ...

The Padres' struggles have meant little action for closer Trevor Hoffman...

Injuries have abounded in the National League West. ...

RHP Edwin Moreno has been promoted from Double-A San Antonio to Triple-A Portland. ...

Portland C Luke Carlin discusses his life A-Z on the team web site. ...

Minor league games:
Omaha 7, Portland 1
San Antonio 4, Midland 3
San Jose 6, Lake Elsinore 0
Burlington 7, Fort Wayne 4 ...

The Braves are high on today's starter, LHP Jo-Jo Reyes. It's the second note in that link. ...

Atlanta had a roster move for the series finale: Utilityman Omar Infante up from Triple-A Richmond and backup C Bryan Pena to the disabled list because of a back strain. ...

LF Matt Diaz will see increased playing time in the near future with Atlanta. ... The Braves are seeking their second straight sweep. ...

The Padres' next opponent, Colorado, has dropped LHP Mark Redman from the rotation, leaving Sunday's starter as TBA. ... The Rocky Mountain News says it will be Greg Reynolds making his Major League debut. ...

Columnist Dave Krieger says the Rockies aren't hopeless.

FJ

2001: The Padres steal eight bases in a 7-1 victory over Atlanta at Qualcomm Stadium. Rickey Henderson, Mark Kotsay and Ryan Klesko notch two stolen bases each, and Tony Gwynn and Damian Jackson get one apiece. Four steals come against Braves starter Greg Maddux, three against reliever Kerry Ligtenberg and one against reliever Matt Whiteside.

1980: Jerry Turner steals home in the eighth inning of a 9-6 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. He's the first Padres player to steal home since 1974.

FJ

Padres (12-22)
Brian Giles, RF
Callix Crabbe, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B
Scott Hairston, CF
Khalil Greene, SS
Justin Huber, LF
Colt Morton, C
Wil Ledezma, P

Atlanta (17-15)
Omar Infante, 2B
Yunel Escobar, SS
Chipper Jones, 3B
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Matt Diaz, LF
Mark Kotsay, CF
Corky Miller, C
Jo-Jo Reyes, P

LHP Shawn Estes has joined the team in Atlanta. Ledezma gets his first start of 2008.

Game time is 10:10 a.m. PDT.

FJ

Padres starter Randy Wolf induced four double-play balls in the loss Wednesday at Atlanta. Friar John couldn't help but wonder how close the Padres came to a team record for turning double plays.

Well, they were darned close. The team record is five twin-killings in a single game. It's been done four times, the last on April 12, 2002 against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Qualcomm Stadium.

So we know the Padres can turn two. Let's hope they can turn around their recent fortunes. They get a quick turnaround to put Wednesday's loss behind them. Game time today is 10:10 a.m. PDT.

FJ

PETCO Park is a fun place to come see a ballgame. That's not just Friar John's opinion: It's yours, too.

So says a fan survey conducted by Sports Illustrated. The results of the online survey rank PETCO Park first among the 30 Major League teams for the neighborhood it plays in. That's right, PETCO Park's home rates ahead of Wrigley Field's Lakeview neighborhood and Coors Field's LoDo.

More than 82 percent of respondents rated the neighborhood surrounding PETCO Park as excellent.

So, here's to you, East Village. And you, too, Gaslamp Quarter.

No doubt, it's nice to take but a few steps from your favorite happy hour spot to the ballpark gates. And it's great that the neighborhood has a liveliness, an energy that you just don't get in a stadium planted in the middle of an expansive parking lot.

PETCO Park also rates highly in hospitality (No. 5), promotions (No. 5) and traffic (No. 6). The overall mark is 11th, and you can bet the Padres will be listening to fan feedback to raise that overall mark into the top 10.

Progressive Field in Cleveland took top overall honors.

At PETCO Park, team quality (No. 14) and game atmosphere (No. 14) also ranked in the top half. Padres employees will aim to improve satisfaction in the areas that did not rank among the best: affordability, food and tradition.

There's one ranking that's entirely up to the fans themselves: fan baseball I.Q. Remember, it was a fan survey, so those were Padres fans calling themselves out on that one.

Friar John doesn't necessarily share that opinion, though he is heartened by the fact he sees The Wave happen less and less frequently.

FJ

Manager Bud Black told reporters Wednesday in Atlanta that left-hander Shawn Estes will take the roster spot vacated by right-hander Kevin Cameron. The move was not announced officially but is expected to come Thursday before the Padres play the finale of a three-game series at Atlanta.

Estes, 35, was 4-2 with a 3.67 ERA in six starts with Triple-A Portland. He had 25 strikeouts and only seven walks in 34 1/3 innings and had a 1.86 ground ball to fly ball ratio, a sign he is back physically.

Estes has been on the comeback trail since he injured an elbow ligament in his only appearance with the Padres, back in April 2006. He is 99-90 in his Major League career.

Cameron suffered a sprain of his ulnar collateral ligament while pitching Tuesday vs. the Braves. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

FJ

Padres (12-21)
Brian Giles, RF
Tadahito Iguchi, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B
Paul McAnulty, LF
Jim Edmonds, CF
Khalil Greene, SS
Josh Bard, C
Randy Wolf, P

Atlanta (16-15)
Kelly Johnson, 2B
Yunel Escobar, SS
Chipper Jones, 3B
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Brian McCann, C
Matt Diaz, LF
Mark Kotsay, CF
Tim Hudson, P


Game time is 4:10 p.m. PDT.

FJ

Game coverage of the Padres' 5-3 loss at Atlanta on Tuesday comes from padres.com, the Union-Tribune, the Braves web site, the Associated Press and the Atlanta Journal Constitution ...

Hall of Fame manager Dick Williams willed the Padres to win in the 1980s. ...

Padres executive Dave Winfield prompted the "draft" for former Negro league players that will be held in conjunction with the amateur draft in June. ...

LHP Randy Wolf gets the ball for the Padres today.

LHP Wil Ledezma will make his first start of 2008 on Thursday. ... That means more seasoning for several prospects. ...

RHP Will Inman and 2B Eric Sogard were the best of the Padres minor leagues in April. ...

Minor league games:
Portland 12, Omaha 11
Corpus Christi 6, San Antonio 5
San Jose 8, Lake Elsinore 0
Burlington 5, Fort Wayne 4 ...

USA Today takes interest in the reunion of RHP Greg Maddux with his former rotation mates John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. ...

RHP Tim Hudson has assumed the role of ace for the Braves. ...

The Braves bullpen is aching. ... Newcomer Greg Norton has landed in a good situation in Atlanta.

FJ

1929: Dick Williams, the Padres manager from 1982-85, is born in St. Louis. Happy 79th birthday to the 2008 Hall of Fame inductee.

FJ

There's a roster move coming today. Right-hander Kevin Cameron suffered a sprained ulnar collateral ligament during the Padres' loss Tuesday night at Atlanta and will land on the disabled list. The UCL is the ligament replaced in Tommy John surgery. No word yet whether Cameron's injury is that severe.

Corey Brock's game coverage is on padres.com.

FJ

Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is scheduled to take time Tuesday, May 27 to participate in a live chat with fans on padres.com and padresbeisbol.com. It's free to participate, but you would have to register on one of the sites to ask a question.

Gonzalez is due to chat from 2:30-3 p.m. before a home game against the Washington Nationals.

General manager Kevin Towers and manager Bud Black have participated in previous chats this year.

FJ

Padres (12-20)
Brian Giles, RF
Tadahito Iguchi, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B
Jim Edmonds, CF
Khalil Greene, SS
Paul McAnulty, LF
Josh Bard, C
Chris Young, P

Atlanta (15-15)
Kelly Johnson, 2B
Yunel Escobar, SS
Chipper Jones, 3B
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Brian McCann, C
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Mark Kotsay, CF
Gregor Blanco, LF
Jair Jurrjens, P

Also got word out of Atlanta that LHP Wil Ledezma will start Thursday. That means RHP Justin Germano is bumped from the rotation. Ledezma faces a Braves team that he spent time with in 2007.

Game time today is 4 p.m. PDT.

FJ

The San Diego Padres have selected Will Inman and Eric Sogard as their minor league pitcher and player of the month for April.

Inman, a 21-year-old right-hander, went 3-1 with a 1.95 ERA for Double-A San Antonio. He was one of the three pitchers acquired from Milwaukee for reliever Scott Linebrink last July, along with Joe Thatcher and Steve Garrison.

Sogard, a 21-year-old second baseman, batted .388 with 15 doubles, 20 RBI, 23 walks and 24 runs in 27 games with Single-A Lake Elsinore. It doesn't count toward the April award, but Sogard hasn't slowed down since May started. He's 7-for-14 this month.

FJ

These Padres are the Ramona Pinto Padres. They were kind enough to come to a Padres home game and send along a note about their experiences afterward. Seems the kids are big Adrian Gonzalez fans. Friar John hopes they enjoy the A.G. gloves, hats and stickers that the Major League Padres sent their way once they heard about their visit.

Thanks, Pinto Padres, from the Padres.

FJ

When the Padres have an off-day, it's always interesting to see which way the papers go with their coverage. It's a chance to get away from the formulaic and get creative. Some take advantage; some don't ...

The Union-Tribune examines the Padres' relative lack of team speed. ...

Padres.com has a piece on Callix Crabbe fulfilling a dream by playing at Turner Field. ...

Triple-A Portland LHP Shawn Estes, a candidate to start in the Big Leagues on Thursday, says he likely would exercise his option to become a free agent if he isn't in the Majors on May 15. ...

RHP Clay Hensley is backing off his rehab for a few days. ...

RHP Chris Young his happy with his fastball heading into today's start. ...

Triple-A Portland OF Jody Gerut was named Pacific Coast League player of the week. ...

Padres pitching coordinator Mike Couchee is working with the arms in Portland. ...

Minor league games:
Portland 7, New Orleans 1
Corpus Christi 3, San Antonio 2
Lake Elsinore was off.
Fort Wayne 4, Burlington 3 ...

Here's a more complete game story on San Antonio's loss, but it's from the Corpus Christi paper and has a heavy home slant. ...

The Braves web site celebrates the Three Amigos of yesteryear: pitchers Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and Tim Glavine. ...

The Braves added a player Monday, pinch-hitter Greg Norton, but INF Martin Prado is off to the DL.

FJ

2001: The Padres' 8-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Cinergy Field is manager Bruce Bochy's 500th career win. Rickey Henderson doubles in the game, the 5,000th time in his career he has reached base safely.

1972: Bill Greif strikes out five straight New York Mets batters in a 6-2 victory at Shea Stadium.

1971: Houston's Larry Dierker tosses a one-hitter in an 8-0 Astros victory at San Diego Stadium. Ollie Brown's seventh-inning single prevents the no-hitter.

FJ

Coverage of the Padres' 10-3 loss at Florida on Sunday comes from padres.com, the Marlins web site, the Associated Press, the Union-Tribune, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Miami Herald and the Palm Beach Post. ...

RHP Justin Germano might lose the No. 5 spot in the Padres pitching rotation. ...

Injured C Michael Barrett has resumed throwing. ...

The Sun-Sentinel guesses how much longer RHP Greg Maddux will pitch. ... The Palm Beach Posts reads a lot into Maddux's exit from Sunday's game. ...

Today is a timely off-day for the Padres. ...

The San Antonio Express-News examines Brett Dowdy's 22-game hitting streak:

Minor league games:
Portland 9, New Orleans 5
San Antonio 5, Corpus Christi 3
Lake Elsinore 13, High Desert 11
Cedar Rapids 4, Fort Wayne 1 ...

RHP Chris Young gets the ball Tuesday at Atlanta. ...

The Padres' visit to Atlanta means a reunion of great pitchers Maddux, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. ...

The Braves are coming off a three-game sweep of the Reds. ... Atlanta 1B Mark Teixeira is in the groove. ...

Braves INF Martin Prado hurt his thumb. ... LHP Jo-Jo Reyes, who faces the Padres this week, has been more settled as a Big League sophomore. ...

3B Chipper Jones is one tougher batter for Padres pitchers. ...

Padres CEO Sandy Alderson is quoted in a long New York Times piece about education for Latin American ballplayers. ...

1B Adrian Gonzalez had one of his records broken. That's his CIF-San Diego Section record of 29 straight games with a hit, set in 1999 with Eastlake High School. Josh Barber of Mountain Empire is up to 37 games.

FJ

2000: Outfielder Eric Owens reaches base in his 27th straight game, dating to the start of the season, in a 5-3 loss to Arizona at Qualcomm Stadium.

1998: First baseman Wally Joyner hits a grand slam off Paul Wagner in the second inning to lift the Padres to a 13-4 victory over Milwaukee at County Stadium.

1978: The Padres tie a franchise record with four triples in a 2-1 victory over St. Louis at Busch Stadium. Future Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith has two of the triples, and Gene Richards and Oscar Gamble have one each.

FJ

The Padres' loss Sunday at Florida is in the books, and today is an off-day. Friar John is thinking off-day thoughts.

Such as ...

Just how good is Adrian Gonzalez, really?

Talk about flying under the radar. Padres fans know Gonzalez can pick 'em and swing it, but he really doesn't have a national profile.

Part may be his workmanlike attitude, the fact that he goes about his business quietly and doesn't make a big deal about it. Part, no doubt, is not enough people are factoring the ballpark effect when they look at his numbers.

Gonzalez's low-key nature extends to the difficulty o