I'm not real big on conspiracy theories or reading between the lines, but sometimes things just jump out at you, and something did upon learning that the Padres planned to release pitcher David Wells today.
It seems like it was just yesterday that I was reading that manager Bud Black planned to trot Boomer back out to the mound for his scheduled start Sunday in Cincinnati. Sometime after I read that news, Black and GM Kevin Towers were informing Wells of his retirement, apparently.
Rewind a couple of weeks ago. Reliever Scott Linebrink had a couple of rough outings, causing Black to say that he'd take the pitcher out of his normal eighth inning spot until he sorted out his problems with locating his pitches. That day, or the next one, Towers traded Linebrink to Milwaukee for three minor leaguers.
Sense a pattern here?
The Padres sent former manager Bruce Bochy packing last offseason because he was no longer on the same page with the front office. But there were never any obvious splits between Bochy and Towers of this sort that I can remember.
I wonder how Black will respond to media inquiries on struggling players from now on. "I don't know, ask KT?" Weird.
As far as Boomer himself goes, hearty hometown congratulations for a marvelous career and thanks for the years of entertainment. Hope you get picked up by a team, hope you don't beat the Friars if they're still in the race, and best wishes to you and your family.
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The news the other day that San Diego might host the Davis Cup finals this fall is good news for the struggling local tennis scene. However, I think it goes to prove my point. If we're good enough to host the finals of this prestigious tournament, then how come we no longer have a mens or womens tournament?
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Very curious to see how things go in this month's preseason football camp at San Diego State. The coaching staff in the offseason has seemed to push all the right buttons and say all the right things, which made the Aztecs' 3-9 record in 2006 seem so obtuse. In the months since, they recruited pretty well, picked up what appears to be a solid defensive end transfer from Ohio State, installed a 3-4 defense that reflects the recruiting realities of a non-BCS school, and increased summer workout participation to record levels. How that translates into the 2007 season will be interesting to watch.
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