Some things just make sense from the start. Such is the Padres' new partnership with the California Interscholastic Federation-San Diego Section. The Padres will host five official CIF baseball games from April 11-12 at PETCO Park.

They aren't the title games, and it isn't a tournament. But they are games that count, and a chance for young players to live the big-league dream for a day.

"Break out those aluminum bats and see what you can do," Padres pitcher Mark Prior exhorted a collection of high school players gathered Thursday afternoon at PETCO Park when the series of games was announced.

Prior is evidence that the high school players don't have to assume their first venture onto a big-league field will be their last. He recalled playing a section championship game for University of San Diego High School at Qualcomm Stadium.

In fact, the Padres' spring roster is littered with former CIF-San Diego Section players: Prior (USDHS); first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and his brother, second baseman Edgar Gonzalez (Eastlake); infielder Oscar Robles (Montgomery); and, of course, outfielder Brian Giles (Granite Hills).

Let's not forget Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley, who was the starting pitcher for two championships at Mt. Carmel High School, 1981 and '82. The local baseball circle is tight, as Balsley's high school coach, Sam Blalock, was at the press conference. Blalock (pictured) is now at Rancho Bernardo High School and will lead his team against La Costa Canyon High School in one of the games at PETCO Park.

"The thing I remember most about Sam is he was organized with his practices, same as a big-league club," Balsley said. "We had the same routine every days. Everything was structured. Our bunt plays, pickoff plays - it became routine for us. When I got into professional ball, I felt I had a head start."

Balsley thinks it's no coincidence that another Blalock pupil, Mt. Carmel graduate Billy Beane, has found success as an executive. And if the name is familiar, yes, Blalock is related to Rangers third baseman Hank Blalock. He's his uncle - and former coach.

Balsley recalled his first CIF title game, played at the University of San Diego. A junior, Balsley was pitted against David Wells of Point Loma. Decades away from coaching Wells, Balsley beat him 1-0.

Not that he outpitched him.

"I remember Boomer gave up one hit, and I gave up like eight," Balsley said. "But we won it. What really stands out is that I gave up a double to the first batter, and I'm thinking, 'Here we go.' But I picked the runner off second base, and it was one of those plays we practiced over and over. It was routine even in a big game."

Balsley beat Helix as a senior, and showed his all-around skills after a brawl between the teams led to several ejections. Short-handed, Blalock moved Balsley from the mound to first base to the outfield and even to shortstop.

"He always thought he could play anywhere," Blalock recalled. "He really could hit, too."

Friar John has no doubt that somewhere among the 10 teams that get to play at PETCO Park are a couple big-leaguers who will have stories to share in a quarter-century.

Check them out, and you'll be able to tell a few stories, too.

Tickets are $5. Parking is only $3. The schedule follows:

Friday, April 11

La Costa Canyon vs. Rancho Bernardo, 4 p.m.

Granite Hills vs. Grossmont, 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 12

Montgomery vs. Eastlake, 10 a.m.

Calexico vs. Brawley, 1 p.m.

Mission Bay vs. University City, 4 p.m.

See you there,

FJ

A little whisper heading into the weekend reminds Friar John that the Padres pitcher of the year award he received Thursday won't be his last trophy of the week. The New York chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America is holding its annual dinner Sunday in Manhattan. It's where the top MLB awards are handed out, and Peavy is scheduled to attend and receive his 2007 National League Cy Young Award.

Well worth a trip to the city for the country boy. Well done, Jake.

FJ

Now, you just know that someone named Friar John is going to like the FriarFest. Even after ol' FJ learned it was about the team, not himself, Friar John still had a soft spot in his heart for this event.

The winter caravan is a tradition in baseball, but the FriarFest goes one better. When else can fans mingle with the players in their office, aka PETCO Park? You can tour the clubhouse, step onto the field, gather autographs and attend a question-and-answer session. Scout seat locations for the season, order tickets, get your picture taken with the Swinging Friar (a close personal friend). Friar John can't wait.

The event is 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is only $5, and children 5 and younger get in free.

As of 4 p.m. Friday, the forecast on weather.com is promising for Saturday. The expected rain could hold off until the late afternoon, after the FriarFest festivities. Sunday, well, rain gear is in order. Fear not, Friar John has a slicker to wear over his robe, and the players will be there.

Cool thing about the FriarFest is that it brings out a mix of the star players and the minor-leaguers on the rise, maybe as excited to be on the PETCO Park field as you are.

The Padres 12th Annual Blood Drive will be held in conjunction with the FriarFest. Replica Adrian Gonzalez jerseys, promotional items and other benefits are available for donors.

See you there.

FJ

A quick congratulations from Friar John to the Padres' 2007 organizational award winners. The official press release is posted, so we'll just give a quick rundown here:

Padres MVP: Shortstop Khalil Greene (pictured).

Clyde McCullough Award for pitcher of the year: Right-hander Jake Peavy.

Chairman's Award for community contributions: First baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

Madres Favorite New Padre: Third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff.

Fireman's Award: Right-hander Heath Bell.

Minor League Player of the Year: Third baseman Chase Headley.

Minor League Pitcher of the Year: Right-hander Josh Greer.

Jack Krol Award for player development: Randy Ready.

Denny Galehouse Award for scout of the year: Scott Littlefield.

Again, congratulations.

FJ

It's hard to believe, but Kevin Towers has been on the job with his current team longer than any other general manager in baseball. The Padres have benefited from his sharp eye on pitchers and ability to tilt the scales in trade talks since Nov. 17, 1995.

Now it's certain Towers will be on the job through 2010. Padres CEO Sandy Alderson made that official Wednesday during an afternoon press conference at PETCO Park. Reporter Corey Brock will have all the details on the padres.com home page.

Friar John can't help but get nostalgic when thinking about Towers' dozen years on the job. He rose from Padres scouting director to GM before Friar John had a blog. Heck, before anyone had a blog, probably. A guy who once wore out his boots on the dusty trails of Texas as an old-fashioned area scout who made his judgments with his eye now is the dean of GMs during the Internet Age, working for the avant garde Alderson, no less.

It nearly never happened.

Towers was but 34 years old when then-Padres president Larry Lucchino tabbed him to be GM, replacing Towers' good friend Randy Smith. Towers had served on the team's search committee, and Lucchino was impressed by Towers' baseball knowledge and personality during the interview sessions. Without ever applying for the job, Towers got the nod over such esteemed baseball men as Gerry Hunsicker, Dan Evans, Frank Wren, Roger Jongewaard and Frank Robinson.

But only after Billy Beane turned it down.

Beane was Alderson's assistant GM in Oakland then, and he had the inside track for the job. Towers and Beane were both products of the San Diego baseball scene (MiraCosta College and Mt. Carmel High School, respectively). They were close in age. And they were friends from the scouting circuit.

Towers wanted to work for another friend, and he lobbied Beane to take the job.

"Oh, I lobbied hard for a couple weeks," Towers recalled Wednesday. "It was, 'C'mon, Billy, it will be great working together."

Despite the lure of his hometown and his first GM job, Beane stayed put. He wasn't ready, he said. He took over for Alderson soon enough, and things seem to have worked out OK for both Beane and Towers.

"I guess I have him to thank," Towers said.

More nostalgia

Towers' first significant trade as GM was sending Bip Roberts to Kansas City for first baseman Wally Joyner, Towers' former teammate at BYU. Joyner was a key cog on two first-place Padres teams, 1996 and '98, and Towers still lists that deal among his best.

But Towers nearly had a blockbuster before that. He revealed he had a 5-for-1 offer to get Oakland slugger Mark McGwire during his first week on the job. His counterpart in those trade talks? Alderson.

"I can't remember who the players were anymore," Towers said. "But I remember it fell apart because Sandy was insisting on a sixth player."

Alderson's memory failed, too, though he offered that right-handed pitcher Marc Kroon was among the Padres prospects he coveted. Kroon is the closer for the Yomiuri Giants these days.

China trip set

The Padres will play the Los Angeles Dodgers in exhibition games March 15 and 16 in Beijing, China. Alderson, a longtime proponent of international baseball, had no small part in putting together the series.

"To be part of this event is incredibly significant for our franchise," he said.

Winter Warm-Up

The weeklong series of appearances by Padres players is going strong. Alderson and Towers joined several players at Camp Pendleton on Wednesday afternoon before heading south for the press conference. Another Winter Warm-Up event is on tap for Wednesday night at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido.

Thursday sees the Padres visit fire victims at Ramona High School and the Poway Kiwanis Club at the Doubletree Resort in Rancho Penasquitos. The team banquet is Thursday night downtown. Friar John suspects he might know who will be named team pitcher of the year. Humming, "Sweet Home Alabama."

Don't forget the best chance to mix and mingle is at the weekend FriarFest from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at PETCO Park. The Padres 12th Annual Blood Drive is part of the FriarFest, so you can help others in between gathering autographs. It's a cool event, and only $5 admission. Children 5 and younger get in free.

FJ

With all due respect to the Super Bowl, Friar John will skip the first week of hype. The golf swing needs help, but there's too much going on to make it out to Torrey Pines next week to see Tiger and Lefty do what the Friar can only dream of.

No, Friar John is expecting a busy week next week with the Padres busing around the region for a packed calendar of Padres Winter Warm-Up events. It's a great chance to meet Padres players, coaches and executives and get the scoop on the 2008 season straight from the horse's mouth.

Things start at 7 p.m. Monday in Temecula, building toward the FriarFest from Jan. 26-27 at PETCO Park. The FriarFest is a cool event where fans, for a low $5 admission, can step onto the field, tour the clubhouse, get autographs and purchase some unique memorabilia.

Here are some details on the busy week, straight from the Padres' media announcement:

Monday, Jan. 21, 7 p.m.
Padres visit Temecula
Temecula’s Old Town Community Theatre
42051 Main St., Temecula, CA 92590
The event will be presented in conjunction with the Padres' Single-A California League affiliate, the Lake Elsinore Storm, and feature approximately 10 Padres players.

Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2:30 p.m.

Padres visit the Padres Baseball Store

Plaza Rio Mall, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico

Tijuana native and Padres infielder Oscar Robles, recently acquired pitcher Randy Wolf and infielder/outfielder Paul McAnulty are scheduled to sign autographs.  Radio stations La Poderosa (860-AM) and Invasora (94.5-FM) will be present.

Tuesday, Jan. 22, 7 p.m.

Padres visit Chula Vista

Ruth Chapman Performing Arts Center at Eastlake High School

1120 Eastlake Parkway, Chula Vista, CA 91915

Approximately 13 players will attend.

Wednesday, Jan. 23, 1 p.m.

Padres visit Camp Pendleton Marine base

Main Exchange – Country Store

Padres CEO and former Marine Sandy Alderson will lead a group of as many as 18 players and coaches from “The Team of the Military” as they visit with troops and families.  The players will receive a behind-the-scenes look at some of the base operations.

Wednesday, Jan. 23. 7 p.m.

Padres visit Escondido

California Center for the Performing Arts

340 North Escondido Boulevard, Escondido, CA 92025

The team will be represented by more than 10 players in this hotbed for Padres fans.

Thursday, Jan. 24, 11:30 a.m.

Padres visit fire victims of Ramona

Ramona High School

1401 Hanson Lane, Ramona, CA 92065

Padres players & coaches will visit with students from four Ramona-area schools affected by last fall’s wildfires.

Thursday, Jan. 24, Noon

Padres Visit Poway/Penasquitos

Poway Kiwanis Luncheon

Doubletree Golf Resort

14455 Penasquitos Drive, San Diego, CA 92129

The Poway Kiwanis will again host Padres players & coaches in this annual event previewing the 2008 baseball season.

Thursday, January 24, 6:00 p.m.

United Cerebral Palsy of San Diego-Padres Awards Dinner

Manchester Grand Hyatt

One Market Place, San Diego, CA 92101

The Padres will present their minor league and Major League award winners for 2007, while UCP presents its annual Community Spirit Award winner.  San Diego Fire & Rescue officials will announce the “Padres Fireman of the Year” award.

Friday, Jan. 25, 2 p.m.

Padres visit Rady Children’s Hospital

3020 Childrens Way, San Diego, CA 92123

Several players and coaches will pay their regular visit to the hospital patients.

Padres 2008 FriarFest

Saturday, Jan. 26 and Sunday, Jan. 27, 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

The Padres will host their third annual FriarFest at PETCO Park.

Admission is just $5 (children 5 and younger are free).  Featured activities include:

* Autographs with Padres players, coaches and alumni. (Each player signing session will be limited.)

* Opportunity to go on the playing field and receive sneak peaks at behind the scenes areas of PETCO Park, including the Padres clubhouse.

* Thirty interactive displays and booths.

* New to FriarFest: Padres 12th Annual Blood Drive with replica Adrian Gonzalez jersey, promotional items and other benefits for donors.

* Game-used memorabilia will be available for purchase with proceeds benefiting the Padres Foundation.

* Padres Season Tickets, the new Flex 13-game Plan, Spring Training tickets and Junior Padres will be on sale at FriarFest.

Whew, that's a lot. Friar John's going shopping now for a new pair of sandals, in case the current one wears out with all that travel next week. See you there.

FJ

Yes, Friar John went into hibernation this winter for a long rest. Nothing to make a weary old Friar toss on a fresh robe and start stirring again like the sounds of baseball. Bat was striking ball Thursday morning as the Padres held a 90-minute workout at PETCO Park.

Friar John learned one important fact: The first-base side of the ballpark is darn cold on a January morning. The sun had not risen high enough to erase the shadows on the south side of PETCO Park when the players stepped onto the grass at 9:30 a.m. Next year, Friar John will remember to wear long johns under the robe.

It was worth a little discomfort to see our first baseball of 2008. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez was there. Pitchers Chris Young and Mark Prior, off-season regulars at PETCO Park, continued their workouts and were joined by Joe Thatcher, Clay Hensley and Cesar Carrillo.

But it's the outfield that drew the most attention. All eyes were on Chase Headley and Matt Antonelli as they started their possible conversions to new positions. Antonelli, a second baseman last year at Single-A Lake Elsinore and Double-A San Antonio, might be shifted to center field. And Headley, the MVP of the Texas League for his monster season with San Antonio, will wander from his familiar third base to see if he can win a big-league job as a left fielder this spring.

Along with natural outfielders Scott Hairston and Chad Huffman, Antonelli and Headley took about a dozen fly balls in center and left field. Friar John was impressed by coach Glenn Hoffman's ability to get the ball airborne and headed in the proper direction each and every time from a cold start in mid-January.

As far as the players, mlb.com reporter Corey Brock will have a complete account on padres.com. The short version: Both were fine in center field, with Antonelli's athleticism apparent. Headley lost a ball in the sun while going back on a deep fly in left. Fear not, however, for Friar John doubts Headley will be challenged by 10:52 a.m. sun fields come the regular season. They serve hot dogs at PETCO Park, not breakfast burritos. Anyway, Headley redeemed himself one minute later by making a diving catch while charging a short fly ball. That drew a cheer from manager Bud Black, who was standing only yards away.

"It was fun to be out here and get things started," Headley said. "It's good to get an early start and get that momentum started toward, hopefully, a winning season."

Friar John left the workout wanting more. Good thing pitchers and catchers report less than a month from now. Heck, spring training game tickets went on sale last weekend. Peoria, here we come.

In the meantime, Friar John will take comfort in the knowledge Padres players, coaches and brass will be out and about at various community events next week. We'll give details of the Padres Winter Warm-Up and FriarFest in Friday's post.

Winter Warm-Up. Sounds good after a morning chill.

FJ