San Diego, CA
Padres Daily: Some things to clean up; remembering ’21
Good morning from Miami,
Even as the Padres once again demonstrated their greatest virtue, their greatest weakness showed up.
You can read in my game story (here) about how the Padres fell behind by five runs yesterday and almost came all the way back before losing 7-6 to the Marlins.
The sole loss on their six-game road trip was completed only after an apparent home run by Ha-Seong Kim with two outs in the ninth inning was overturned.
And, yes, Dylan Cease had an off day. And so did the defense.
But those are not recurring issues.
Middle relievers surrendering crucial runs is.
The Padres were within a run, at 5-4 in yesterday’s seventh inning, when Yuki Matsui gave up a two-run homer.
The Padres relievers charged with not letting little deficits become big ones have failed time and again.
If you weren’t appreciative before this trip for what A.J. Preller was able to perpetrate at the trade deadline, you weren’t paying attention. If you’re not appreciative now, you must be a Dodgers fan.
It could be argued that as many as five of the Padres’ seven consecutive victories from Saturday to Saturday could have/would have been losses if not for Preller having acquired some combination of Jason Adam, Bryan Hoeing and Tanner Scott at the deadline.
As has been noted in this space — and by some players — the Padres would be well served to score early and/or often and not have to keep coming back to win games. Further, they have gotten just two quality starts in their past 12 games.
These tight contests are forcing their bullpen to work overtime. And the reality is, while winning four straight games by coming back in the final two innings is impressive, it is also a little bit lucky.
They won those games with big hits and a retooled bullpen, not to mention a couple fine plays by Manny Machado. But they were preilously close to losing all of them as well.
All this to say, as good as the Padres have been, they have some things to tighten up.
Update, flashback
Here is the state of the National League wild-card race:
You want another reason to appreciate what happened at the trade deadline?
You might recall it was not that long ago that a Padres team cratered at this point in the season.
Three years ago yesterday, the Padres dropped the finale of a series against the Marlins after winning the first two games. The Padres were 16 games above .500 and sat in the second of what were at the time two wild-card playoff spots, 4½ games ahead of the Reds.
What ensued was one the worst collapses in the history of Major League Baseball, as the Padres closed with a 12-34 record to finish the season 79-83. Just three times since the formation of the American Association in 1882 had a team with a winning record with 46 games to play have a worse record than the 12-34 mark the Padres posted.
There were myriad issues with that ’21 team that are not present this year.
The biggest problem — by far — that season was a lack of pitching depth. The rotation was hit by a rash of injuries, the bullpen was overworked, and the trade deadline provided no real reinforcements.
So that the Padres feel good enough about their starting rotation that they sent Randy Vásquez to Triple-A on Saturday and have the aforementioned new bullpen pieces should be the biggest comforts when pondering this season’s final 43 games.
Cease’s struggle
Cease wasn’t blaming his subpar start yesterday on his truncated start Tuesday.
After allowing the Marlins five runs (two earned) in the first two innings, Cease said he wasn’t rusty as a result of rain having cut short his start five days earlier in Pittsburgh after one inning and 14 pitches.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “I got good practice in. I think it was just one of those games. … I felt good going into it. I just wasn’t quite as crisp as I have been.”
Cease ended up completing five innings without any further damage, which did allow the Padres to chip away at a fixed deficit.
Even now, Cease has a 1.33 ERA over his past seven starts (40⅔ innings).
For all his excellence, however, yesterday was not entirely an anomaly. It was the fourth start this season in which he has allowed five or more runs in five or fewer innings.
Reynolds makes it to Miami
Hoeing and Scott, who the Padres got from the Marlins on July 30, spent portions of the weekend catching up with former teammates.
Yesterday, Sean Reynolds joined them, talking and laughing before the game with Marlins coaches and former minor-league teammates.
Then he went out and faced the team that drafted him in 2016 as a first baseman and moved him to pitcher in 2021.
“The journey to get to that mound was pretty incredible and definitely not how I saw my first time pitching in that stadium unfolding,” he said.
Reynolds, who was in Triple-A when he was acquired by the Padres along with Garrett Cooper at last year’s trade deadline, made his major league debut for the Padres on July 14. He was optioned July 28 and recalled yesterday, arriving in Miami a few hours before the game.
He worked a scoreless sixth inning, stranding a runner at third by striking out the final two batters, before yielding a single at the start of the seventh and being replaced by Matsui.
Round 3?
Machado struck out to end the eighth inning in consecutive games against Aroldis Chapman last week in Pittsburgh.
The first one ended on a 105 mph sinker than Chapman threw to the inside edge of the strike zone, freezing Machado, who then shook his head and grinned as Chapman looked back at him smiling.
Manny Machado was left speechless by this Aroldis Chapman 104.7 MPH fastball 😮 pic.twitter.com/w8opxiHUIO
— MLB (@MLB) August 8, 2024
“He dotted that 105,” Machado said before leaving Pittsburgh. “I mean, you gotta give your respect to that. I mean … there’s nothing you can do with that pitch right there.”
In their faceoff Thursday, Chapman got ahead with two splitters, one of them a called strike on a pitch up and away. Then he missed with a 101 mph sinker and Machado fouled off a 103 mph sinker before swinging over a splitter.
“That was tough (Wednesday),” Machado said. “And then he came (Thursday) and threw me a couple splits — one that was off the zone. But whatever, I’ll get my rematch next week.”
Next week is now. The Pirates are at Petco Park the next three days.
Tidbits
- Jackson Merrill was 0-for-4 yesterday, bringing an end to his hitting streak after six games. But he reached on a fielder’s choice and scored in a seventh consecutive game.
- Luis Arraez was 3-for-4 and has eight hits in 20 at-bats during a four-game hitting streak.
- David Peralta was 1-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. He is 7-for-16 with three doubles during a four-game hitting streak.
- A day after he stranded two inherited runners and went on to work 2⅓ scoreless innings, Jhony Brito was optioned to Triple-A. The Padres needed to fortify the bullpen, so Reynolds was recalled.
- Joe Musgrove will make his first start since May 26 tonight. I wrote yesterday (here) about some alterations Musgrove has made in his delivery to alleviate stress on his elbow.
All right, that’s it for me. Early flight this morning and then a Musgrove Monday night.
Talk to you tomorrow.
Originally Published:
Hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco is bringing his “Food & Liquor” 20th anniversary debut album tour to San Diego. Fiasco’s first studio album, “Food & Liquor,” was nominated for four Grammy Awards and the single “Daydreaming” featuring Jill Scott won a Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. Other singles off his debut LP were “Kick, Push” and “I Gotcha.” 7 p.m. Sunday. House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., San Diego. $49.25-$206.50. 619-299-2583, sandiego.houseofblues.com/shows
Earl Thomas and The Anthony Cullins Band: Earl Thomas and Anthony Cullins will perform two free shows at Lou Lou’s. Thomas is a singer-songwriter who plays American soul, blues and roots rock. Cullins is a songwriter who plays guitar with rhythm and blues, soul, funk, jazz and rock influences. Cullins has also won San Diego Music Awards in the Best Blues Artist category in 2023 and 2024. Seating for both shows is on a first arrival basis and for those 21 years and older. 8 and 10 p.m. Saturday. Lou Lou’s, 2225 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. Free. loulousclub.com
Paul Anka: Singer, songwriter and actor Paul Anka is scheduled to perform his hits from the past seven decades at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay. Some of his songs include “Diana,” “My Way,” “Puppy Love” and “Put Your Head on My Shoulder.” He has also had songs on the Billboard charts during seven consecutive decades, according to event organizers. 9 p.m. Tuesday. Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, 2241 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, $120-$243. 800-745-3000, humphreysconcerts.com
Yungblud: In February, Yungblud released his fourth studio album “IDOLS” and now he is sharing his new music on his IDOLS world tour with a stop in San Diego. Yungblud mixes punk and rock with his vocals. The English musician has received multiple awards for his music and live performances, including the O2 Silver Clef Award for Best Live Act in 2022. 7 p.m. Wednesday. The Rady Shell, 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego. $88.33. 619-235-0804, theshell.org
Barrington Levy: The Jamaican-born Barrington Levy is back in San Diego with his reggae and dancehall vibes for one night at the Music Box. Levy has been making music since the 1970s and released his first four solo album in 1979. Levy has over 30 albums, with his newest LP “Acousticalevy” in 2015, and collaborated over the years with Bounty Killer, Cutty Ranks and Shyne. Last year, Levy’s 40th anniversary edition of his album, “Prison Oval Rock,” was released. Doah’s Daydream will be opening up the show. 8 p.m. Thursday. Music Box, 1337 India St., San Diego. $57. 619-795-1337, musicboxsd.com
Takuya Kuroda: Brooklyn-based and Japanese trumpet player Takuya Kuroda is taking the stage for a night of jazz at the Belly Up in Solana Beach. Last year he released his eighth studio album, “Everyday,” and a collaboration LP, “Add a Zero,” with Chris McCarthy and Sam Minaie. He has worked with hip-hop producer DJ Premier 8 p.m. Thursday. Belly Up, 143 South Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. $25. 858-481-8140, bellyup.com
Carlos Rico, Union-Tribune
San Diego, CA
Feeding San Diego explains the impact of high gas prices on fueling fleet & food rescue
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – Gas prices in San Diego County have dipped slightly this week.
But the costs it takes to fill up a fuel tank are getting quite pricey for some food banks.
“We kind of have a triple whammy going on with the fuel situation,” Patty O’Connor, Chief Operating Officer for Feeding San Diego, said.
O’Connor said the first big hit with the current gas prices is bringing the food into Feeding San Diego’s food distribution center.
“We bring about 2 million pounds a month here, and a lot of that is, most of that is rescued food, but we still have to pay for the freight that cost us over $100,000 last month just in freight to bring that in,” O’Connor said.
The organization also sends that food out to the community by truck and by van.
“Every day you’ll see our bright orange trucks going out into the community. We do about 25 deliveries a day, but about 480 over the course of a month, and if you can imagine that costs a lot of money,” O’Connor said.
“In fact, last month, that cost us about $32,000 in just fuel costs. We rely on diesel fuel, and that was twice as much as it was a year ago.”
It’s not only more expensive to fuel the trucks delivering the food, but it’s also more expensive to keep what’s inside them cool.
“And then when we’re loading and unloading, we need to make sure that the trucks are running so that we can keep the food food-safe. So that’s a whole other part of this process that we are managing,” O’Connor said.
Feeding San Diego told ABC 10News they’ve heard from some partners that are on the food rescue side of things that it’s more expensive to drive to pick up those products. So they’ve been able to give some of those partners gas cards to pay for their gas to get food to the community that needs it.
“We look to the community to support us, and so far, um, San Diegans are generous, and they have been generous, and we really do need to continue that generosity so that we can support the struggling families throughout the county,” O’Connor said. “And whatever we can do to support those families, we are going to do so.”
Gloria relents on December Nights, some community cuts in budget revise, but arts funds still on chopping block
by City News Service | Times of San Diego
Some library and recreation center hours and December Nights support were restored in Mayor Todd Gloria’s revised Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Wednesday, but city funding for the arts could still be gutted.
Gloria was joined by civic leaders Wednesday morning to announce changes to his initial proposed budget, released last month. He added “targeted protections” of certain neighborhood priorities and maintained police and fire service levels while arriving at a balanced budget.
Proposed additions include protecting rec center and library hours in Council Districts 4, 8 and 9, represented by Henry L. Foster III, Vivian Moreno and Sean Elo-Rivera, respectively.
Read more
The Learning Curve: He’s San Diego Unified’s Next Trustee – No Race Needed
By Jakob McWhinney | Voice of San Diego
The primary is still nearly a month away. The general election is even further out. Still, it’s already clear that Hayden Gore will be San Diego Unified’s next trustee. That’s because he’s running unopposed to fill the seat left open by current Trustee Cody Petterson, who opted not to run for re-election.
Though he’s a political newcomer, Gore was the early choice of San Diego Unified’s union. In fact, he was recruited by the former president of the San Diego Education Association to run for the seat.
It’s not hard to see why. He’s an avowed progressive and a longtime educator who led the then-newly formed union at High Tech High to its first contract. Exactly the kind of resume that would have SDEA champing at the bit.
Read More
Join Us Friday, July 17, 2026 for the 11th Annual USD School of Law – RJS LAW Tax Institute
By RJS Law
The Institute is the premier annual tax event in San Diego. The region’s top tax attorneys, enrolled agents (EAs), certified public accountants (CPAs), law and business school professors will discuss topics including government loan relief and abuses, challenges in cross-border transactions, and practical and realistic solutions in trust, estate planning, and tax matters.
DATE AND TIME
Friday, July 17, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
LOCATION
Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice, Theatre
5555 Marian Way, San Diego, CA 92110
EVENT STATUS
Open to the Public
Read More
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