2010 Padre Predictions, Prognostications, and Ponderings: Ducksnorts Edition

If you don't regularly read Geoff Young's blog, Ducksnorts, I'll give you two reasons right now:

1. He knows what he's talking about when it comes to the Padres (and other things too).
2. Good analogies/metaphors/literary & musical references.

This was one of my favorite lines from his piece called, "Five Questions: San Diego Padres", published over at Hardball Times.

"Like morning fog and wagonloads of 'Zonies, firing the hitting coach is an annual rite of summer in San Diego."

So true, so true. But 2010 should be different...

Take These Padre Prognostications To The Bank!!! (disregard my miserable NCAA hoops predictions)

A few weeks ago I answered some Padre related questions for Daniel Shoptaw (aka "The Baseball Blogger Alliance God"), author of the St. Louis Cardinals blog C70 At The Bat. Daniel posted my answers in a segment called Playing Pepper. 

Since the day I answered  these questions and forecasted how I thought the Padres 2010 season would shake out many have stepped forth with an opinion on our Friars. Most have assessed the Padres as "terrible" and former announcer Matt Vasgersian even went as far as to predict a last place finish for our hometown nine. ESPN the Magazine did over 100 simulations which yielded an average of 69 wins. Have I reconsidered my stance? The short answer is, NO! I've become even more bullish on this team and can't wait for the season to start...(click below to continue reading)

Better Know Your History: When it comes to picking your NCAA Tournament Brackets.....Don't be an idiot!

As a reminder to myself but also to those who aspire to March Madness greatness, I am posting a poem that I wrote back in 1992.....yes 1992! Somehow it has survived and it is a testament to history unlearned; therefore painfully repeated. Written after the first weekend of March Madness games, eighteen years ago, this was my lament:

Texas Fellows

A Miner killed me today

and five other chaps

A whole state's agony

and mine

condensed into forty minutes

give or take a TV timeout

The poem refers to the University of Texas-El Paso Miners and their 2nd round defeat in '92, of the heavily favored Kansas Jayhawks. (click below to continue reading)

Opinion: Are Scott and BR Angling for Syndication?

Apparently while driving on Friday, I may have listened to Scott and BR for the last time on XX1090. What came to light this weekend was that they are in a contract dispute with the Broadcast Company of the Americas (BCA) essentially involving the tandem's attempt to terminate their contract early (supposed to run through 2012).

Each party is playing it close to the vest with XX1090 owner John Lynch saying that Scott and BR are in violation of the terms of the contract and that there may be tampering by a 3rd party. Scott and BR have only claimed that they are confident that they will be on the radio in San Diego soon.

It wasn't until I read the media column from the North County Times by John Maffei that I received some more insight into this dispute (click below to continue reading).

For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children...

After far too long, I finally made it out to a trail for a run today. Beneath the shady comfort of a eucalyptus tree, I stretched long dormant muscles and grappled with the incomprehensible shit storm, that is this world....