A Local Spin on 2008 San Diego Padres Season

The 2007 San Diego Padres ended their season like the beginning of a sports movie: The aging face of the franchise loses the big game and the public perception carries over into the next season that he is done and the team is doomed.

The 2008 San Diego Padres have everything they need to win their division and make a playoff run, but the problem is, so do three other teams in their division.

The Colorado Rockies were really young last year and still managed to go to The World Series after making Trevor Hoffman look like a JV pitcher at Mission Bay High during the final game of the season. The Los Angeles Dodgers signed ex-Yankee, Joe Torre as their new manager, which is all the more reason to hate the Dodgers. And the Arizona Diamondbacks will be looking to make another playoff run having added even more talent to their lineup.

The one thing that will help the Padres the most this year is that the San Francisco Giants - even though not a real player in the division - will not have Barry Bonds around to destroy the confidence of the young Padres pitchers.

Not So Fun Fact
Barry Bonds hit 87 of his 762 career homeruns against the San Diego Padres. That total is the highest amount of homeruns hit by a single player against any one single team.

Player to Watch
Now that he has a full starting year under his belt, Kevin Kouzmanoff should be a major piece of the winning puzzle. Having a good hitting third baseman is a luxury everyone wants, and it looks like he is going to give the Padres just that for years to come. If shortstop Khalil Greene can continue to mature along with Kouz, the left side of the Padres infield will be at the top of the National League.

Player We Hope We Can Watch
The Padres are notorious for signing players that were stars five years before they get to San Diego. This year, our new has-been is centerfielder, Jim Edmonds. Edmonds became famous in the late '90s for making spectacular diving catches that made for great highlights on ESPN.

The problem was that on both of his teams before the Padres, a great deal of his teammates thought he would consciously slow down when balls were hit to him, so he could make diving catches and be on Sportscenter. Now in his mid thirties, and due to injuries, he hasn't played more than 120 games in a season in years. His name will bring excitement to PETCO Park, but only if he can manage to walk into it.

Fun Fact
Jim Edmonds had really bad frosted tipsin the late '90s. Maybe that's really why his teammates didn't like him.

Player We Hope Will Prove Everyone Wrong
It is still exciting when Trevor Hoffman enters a game at PETCO Park. It means the Padres have the lead and ACDC's Hell's Bells is blaring loudly throughout the stadium. Hoffman walks into his place of work like a guy who has done his job better than anyone else should. The problem is no matter how tough he looks at the hitter, he still can't throw over 90mph consistently.

Trevor is a sports icon in San Diego, and nobody wants to see him do anything other than what he has done his entire career, win. He can still get guys out, but he could be a liability, and a change might have to be made even though the coaching staff might not have the strength to do it. The memory of Trevor's greatness might hold us hostage all summer, and that could be our demise; like it was last fall.

In sports movies that begin with the team losing, questions about the next season naturally carryover. Then the team has to deal with high priced talent that doesn't fit with the rest of the guys, young players making mistakes, and aging veterans falling in love with Rene Russo while always icing down their bodies. With the Padres undoubtedly in the middle of the action, the 2008 season won't always be easy, but neither is watching Major League 2.

San Diego

Date: March 31, 2008
Time: 7:05pm
Facility: PETCO Park
Game: Padres vs. Astros

The Gaslamp: Before and After Opening Day

The Red Circle
Down in the heart of the Gaslamp, The Red Circle is set on catering to every type of sports fan. They are trying to make it a place where hipsters and young professionals can come together and mingle, while sharing their common ground of baseball fanaticism. The kick-off party on Monday, March 31 from 4 to 7pm will feature half price wine bottles, $5 you-call-it cocktails, 25% off the menu of gourmet tapas, free edamame, and more stadium-themed drinking and dining specials.

Red Circle will also feature a vintage Padres fashion show with clothing from Station Boutique in Little Italy as well as Ex-Boyfriend by Jessica Johnson, styling by Salon Nobel, emceed by Alexandra Rosa, co-host of Art Rocks! Radio.

The Local
Join the folks at The Local for Opening Day at PETCO Park. The Local's got 150 opening day tickets, and $40 bucks gets you a ticket to the game, a one of a kind Opening Day Local shirt, and killer drink specials before and after the game.

The Waterfront
On opening day, the oldest bar in San Diego, The Waterfront, will be having free hot dogs, and drink specials all day. Offering live music all week long, this is a great happy hour joint to watch a game if you work downtown.

Insider Tip: The Waterfront fish tacos are the best in San Diego, not coming from an actual Mexican restaurant.

Don't Miss Nights at PETCO Park
1. March 31st Opening Day Sycuan Floppy Caps Night: This night will be a huge party and a sellout. It is important to start off the season right and an opening night hat give away is always a huge hit.

2. Park At The Park Concert Series: Throughout the season, in the centerfield grassy area called Park At The Park, there will be concerts before and after the games. Some of the special nights will include Retro '70s Night, Elvis Night, Country Night, and The Fifth Annual Con Los Padres Fiesta.

3. June 20th Kevin Kouzmanoff Koozies presented by AT&T the Exclusive Wireless Partner of the San Diego Padres: When Kouzmanoff Padre fans often yell: KOOOZ, his last name sounds at once like booing and like thing you use to keep your beer cold. Koozie night will be a fun night and it will leave you with something very practical to use all season long.

4. July 12th 1998 NL Champions Celebration: Celebrating the ten-year anniversary of the Padres' last World Series appearance might bring up some painful memories, but players from the team will be in attendance, and the game will be against the Atlanta Braves, the team the Pads beat to get to the World Series that year.

5. July 11th Padres Beach Towels presented by San Diego County Toyota Dealers: If you grew up in San Diego, it is very possible that your mom made a point to buy tickets to Beach Towel night. Every year the Padres give out huge surprisingly good quality beach towels before the game.