Quick reminder: The Ducksnorts 2009 Baseball Annual is now shipping. Go buy a copy or five… In case you missed it, we’re doing community projections again this year. Read the introduction to learn more about the comatosely accurate IVIEs, available only here at Ducksnorts. Padres IVIE Pr...

The Padres have signed outfielder Cliff Floyd to a 1-year contract and designated Matt Bush for assignment to clear a roster spot. Floyd’s deal is for $750,000 — or $2.4 million less than what it originally took to sign Bush, who didn’t hit enough to remain at shortstop, converted ...

It’s official: Jeff Moorad’s group is purchasing the Padres. Once the deal is finalized, Sandy Alderson will leave the organization. Moorad will take over for John Moores, who bought the Padres in December 1994, rescuing the team from Tom Werner’s wave of destruction. Although taki...

Chris Jaffe at Hardball Times recently identified 50 great potential closer songs. Thus inspired, I’ve compiled a list of 71 awful potential closer songs. Why 71? Why not. This is actually an updated version of our original list from ‘06 with reader suggestions incorporated. Maybe we can...

Couple things. First off, I’m pleased to announce that The Hardball Times Season Preview 2009 is now available (details from David Gassko, our editor). I contributed the chapter on the Padres. Buy the book. It rocks. And it’ll give you something to read while you’re waiting for my ...

You know the old saw: When the going gets tough, the weak flee screaming like frightened little schoolchildren. Seems one former Padres “fan” has had enough and jumped on the Red Sox bandwagon (I’m flattered that someone actually took my advice). That must have been a difficult dec...

Let me just say up front that I’m a fan of guys who get the most of our their ability. If you aren’t gifted with overwhelming tools and still find a way to succeed, unless you’re a complete jerk, I’m behind you. With that disclaimer out of the way, it should come as no surpri...

While the Padres prepare to celebrate their 40th anniversary in MLB, two members of that original team have died within the span of a week. First, left-hander Dave Roberts died of lung cancer [h/t Baseball Musings via Didi] at age 64 on January 8; then skipper Preston Gomez died at age 85 on January...

I watched a replay of the ‘98 NL West clincher Tuesday night on Channel 4. Mel Proctor and Rick Sutcliffe called the game (with Mark Grant handling the John Weisbarth “roving reporter” role), which made me realize how very dearly I will miss Matt Vasgersian this year. The fun part ...

Trevor Hoffman has signed a 1-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers for $6 million with incentives that could kick it up to $7.5 million. Like football’s Brett Favre, Hoffman now has the pleasure of being almost universally associated with one team despite neither starting nor finishing his car...