2011 San Diego Padres season
Encyclopedia
The San Diego Padres
' 2011 season
was their 43rd season in MLB
.
would have been in the last year of his contract in 2011, but the Padres were not going to meet Gonzalez’s open market value especially with Jeff Moorad
’s purchase of the Padres from John Moores
not completing until around 2013. On December 6, 2010, Gonzalez was traded to the Boston Red Sox
for a package of right-handed pitcher Casey Kelly
, first baseman Anthony Rizzo
, outfielder Reymond Fuentes, and a player to be named later
, later determined to be Eric Patterson
.
The Padres also acquired outfielder Cameron Maybin
from the Florida Marlins
for relievers Ryan Webb and Edward Mujica
.
Among the players that left San Diego were:
in Peoria
, AZ
.
The Padres Spring Training schedule is on the website below.
. Heath Bell
converted his first seven save opportunities of the season, which tied him with Trevor Hoffman
for the club record of 41 consecutive successful save conversions. The streak also tied him with Hoffman and Rod Beck
for fourth longest in MLB history. Bell blew his next save opportunity, a 3–0 lead, after he opened the ninth inning walking the first two batters, and third baseman Chase Headley
made a two-out, two-run throwing error to tie the game. On May 14, Bell recorded his 100th career save in a 9–7 win over the Colorado Rockies
.
Mat Latos
lost his first four starts, extending his losing streak to nine consecutive starts dating back to 2010. The streak ties the longest streak in Padres history, held by Andy Benes
and Dennis Rasmussen
. Latos had a no-decision in his next start after the bullpen blew a save opportunity, preventing him from earning a win. He would lose another decision for a 10-
game losing streak that was one shy of the club record held by Gary Ross
. Latos won on May 15 against the Colorado Rockies
to
end his losing streak.
On June 20, former Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez went 3 for 5 with a double and 3 RBI (all in the 10-run Boston 7th inning) in his first career game against San Diego in a 14-5 Red Sox victory in Fenway Park
. The The Padres were 6-9 in interleague play in 2011.
In May The San Diego Union-Tribune
wrote that star minor league first baseman Anthony Rizzo
's debut with the Padres might be delayed despite the club's hitting deficiencies due to cost considerations created by the "Super Two" exception for salary arbitration eligibility. The Padres cited Rizzo's lack of experience above Double-A and his limited exposure to left-handed pitching as benefits of him continuing to play in Tucson. He was called up to the majors after hitting .365 with 16 homers and 63 RBI in 200 at-bats in Tucson.
In his debut on June 9, against the Washington Nationals
, Rizzo struck out in his first at bat, but then proceeded to hit a triple and score a run, helping the Padres to a 7–3 victory. He hit his first home run on June 11 against John Lannan
. After three games he was 3-for-7 with a double, triple and a home run, while demonstrated patience in drawing four walks
for a .667 on-base percentage (OBP).
The Padres' pitcher Cory Luebke
was added to the rotation on 6-22-11 as previous 5-spot pitcher Wade LeBlanc
was optioned after a loss to the Red Sox. He went 5 innings and struck out 6 in his first start of 2011 in an eventual 4-1 win.
On July 9 against the Los Angeles Dodgers
, Luke Gregerson
entered the game in the ninth inning after Aaron Harang
, Josh Spence
, Chad Qualls
, and Mike Adams combined to pitch eight innings without allowing a hit. Gregerson retired the first two hitters before a double by Juan Uribe
on a one ball and two strike count broke up the no hitter. Dioner Navarro
then hit a single off Gregerson to score the winning run for the Dodgers. This was the closest the Padres have come to pitching a no-hitter since Steve Arlin
in 1972. The Padres are one of two teams that have never pitched a no-hitter in their history, with the New York Mets
being the other.
Bell was the only Padre selected for the 2011 All-Star Game
. With the team 12 games under .500 coming out of the All-Star break, general manager Jed Hoyer said the Padres would pursue a long-term contract with Bell if they did not get a desirable trade offer for him.
On July 22, Rizzo was demoted back to Triple-A, and Kyle Blanks
was promoted. Rizzo had struggled with only a .143 batting average and 1 home run, striking out
36 times in 98 at-bats. Hoyer said Rizzo "worked hard, never made excuses, and endeared himself to his teammates" during his initial stint in the majors.
At the non-waiver trade deadline on July 31, Adams was traded to the Texas Rangers
for a pair of young Double-A starting pitchers—right-hander Joe Wieland and left-hander Robbie Erlin. Also, Ryan Ludwick
was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates
for a player to be named later
or cash considerations. Adams had appeared in 33 of the Padres’ first 46 wins with 23 holds as the setup man for Bell. Adams was 3-1 with a 1.13 ERA and opposing hitters were batting only .155 against him, striking out 49 times in 48 innings. Ludwick was hitting only .238, but he had 11 homers and 64 RBI and 42 runs scored and was accounting for 25.3 percent of the Padres' runs. By comparison, Adrian Gonzalez
accounted for 23.6 percent of the Padres' runs in 2010
. Bell was not traded, but Hoyer admitted Bell’s greatest value to the team might come as a free agent if Bell refuses salary arbitration in the offseason and signs elsewhere—the Padres would receive two first-round draft picks in June 2012 as compensation.
The Padres retired number 51 in honor of Trevor Hoffman
's at Petco Park
in a pre-game ceremony on August 21, 2011, against the Florida Marlins
. The ceremony was patterned after the show This Is Your Life
, featuring over 40 of Hoffman's former teammates and coaches. Brian Johnson
, the lead singer on AC/DC
's "Hells Bells
," paid tribute in a video to Hoffman for "rocking the mound." In a nod to Hoffman's late father, Ed, the Padres presented Hoffman with a mint condition 1958 Cadillac
convertible; his father loved driving his family in a convertible. For the National Anthem, the Padres played a video of Ed singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Fenway Park
on Opening Day
in 1981 when Trevor's brother, Glenn
, was the starting shortstop for the Boston Red Sox
. Following the ceremony, Bell blew a 3–2 lead against the Marlins after allowing a solo home run to Mike Cameron
with two outs in the ninth. However, Nick Hundley
hit a leadoff triple in the bottom of the ninth, and would eventually score on a Will Venable
single. It was Hundley's fifth triple
of the season, tying the Padres single season record for triples by a catcher set by Benito Santiago
in 1990
. It was also Hundley's fourth triple in his last six games. After the game, Bell said, "I guess it's one of those things, on Trevor Hoffman day, only he should get the save, I guess."
The Padres finished with a 71–91 record while hitting a major league-low 91 home runs and finishing last in the National League
(and next to last in MLB) in batting average (.237) and OPS
(.653). They scored the third fewest runs in MLB. No player on their active roster in the season finale hit 10 major-league home runs in 2011. The team led the Major Leagues in stolen bases, and Cameron Maybin
was the ninth player in Padres history to steal 40 bases. He hit .264 with nine home runs and 40 RBIs and was the Padres' nominee for the Hank Aaron Award
. The Union-Tribune praised Maybin's defense and called his acquisition "[o]ne of the best trades in Padres history" and named him the team's MVP. The Union-Tribune also wrote that Jesus Guzman
's line-drive hitting style was perfectly suited to the Padres' home at Petco Park
, and he emerged as the team's best hitter. However, the Padres were shut out 19 times during the season. Hitting coach Randy Ready
was fired after the end of the season. Since moving to Petco Park in 2004, the Padres have fired four hitting coaches, and another resigned.
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
' 2011 season
2011 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:December*December 5: Last time to outright a player prior to the Rule 5 Draft – 5 p.m. ET.*December 7: Last date for player who declared free agency to accept an arbitration offer from former club...
was their 43rd season in MLB
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
2010-2011 Offseason
Adrian GonzalezAdrián González
Adrian Gonzalez is an American professional baseball first baseman with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.Gonzalez was the first overall pick in the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Florida Marlins. He was traded to the Texas Rangers, and later to the San Diego Padres, where he...
would have been in the last year of his contract in 2011, but the Padres were not going to meet Gonzalez’s open market value especially with Jeff Moorad
Jeff Moorad
Jeff Moorad is a former sports agent and is currently lead owner of the San Diego Padres and part-owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team.He is an Assyrian American...
’s purchase of the Padres from John Moores
John Moores (baseball)
John Jay Moores is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist, and the owner of the San Diego Padres.-Early years:...
not completing until around 2013. On December 6, 2010, Gonzalez was traded to the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
for a package of right-handed pitcher Casey Kelly
Casey Kelly
Casey Kelly is an American minor league baseball player in the San Diego Padres organization. He was a first round draft choice, 30th overall, in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft by the Boston Red Sox...
, first baseman Anthony Rizzo
Anthony Rizzo (baseball)
Anthony Rizzo is an American professional baseball first baseman for the San Diego Padres in Major League Baseball...
, outfielder Reymond Fuentes, and a player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
, later determined to be Eric Patterson
Eric Patterson
Eric Scott Patterson is an American professional baseball outfielder for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball. He has also played second base in the majors, which he predominantly played in the minor leagues...
.
The Padres also acquired outfielder Cameron Maybin
Cameron Maybin
Cameron Keith Maybin is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the San Diego Padres. He was the tenth pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft by The Detroit Tigers. He was consistently ranked as the Tigers top minor league prospect while in the organization.-High school:Maybin played high school...
from the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
for relievers Ryan Webb and Edward Mujica
Edward Mujica
Edward José Mujica [moo-HE-cah] is a right-handed relief pitcher for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball.-Cleveland Indians:Mujica originally signed with the Cleveland Indians as an undrafted free agent in...
.
- Jason Bartlett signed
- Brad HawpeBrad HawpeBradley Bonte Hawpe is an American professional baseball outfielder and first baseman.-High school and college:...
signed - Orlando HudsonOrlando HudsonOrlando Thill Hudson is an American professional baseball second baseman with the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball.-Early life and high school career:...
signed - Cameron MaybinCameron MaybinCameron Keith Maybin is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the San Diego Padres. He was the tenth pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft by The Detroit Tigers. He was consistently ranked as the Tigers top minor league prospect while in the organization.-High school:Maybin played high school...
acquired
Among the players that left San Diego were:
- Tony Gwynn, Jr.Tony Gwynn, Jr.Anthony Keith "Tony" Gwynn, Jr. is a Major League Baseball player, who is currently with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is the son of baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn.-Amateur career:...
who went to the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming... - Scott HairstonScott HairstonScott Alexander Hairston is an outfielder in Major League Baseball. Hairston bats and throws right-handed.-High school years:...
and Chris Young (pitcher) who both went to the New York MetsNew York MetsThe New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League... - Kevin CorreiaKevin CorreiaKevin John Correia is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Early life:...
who went to the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions... - Yorvit TorrealbaYorvit TorrealbaYorvit Adolfo Torrealba is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Texas Rangers. He previously played for the San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres. He bats and throws right-handed.-San Francisco Giants:...
who went to the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have... - Miguel TejadaMiguel TejadaMiguel Odalis Tejada was a Major League Baseball infielder who has played for the San Francisco Giants, the San Diego Padres, the Houston Astros, the Baltimore Orioles and the Oakland Athletics...
who went to the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
Game log
The Padres played at Peoria Sports ComplexPeoria Sports Complex
The Peoria Sports Complex is a baseball complex located in Peoria, Arizona, near Peoria's main shopping district on Bell Road. It consists of the main baseball stadium and twelve practice fields. It is one of five facilities to host Arizona Fall League games...
in Peoria
Peoria, Arizona
Peoria is a city in Maricopa and Yavapai counties in the U.S. state of Arizona. Located primarily in Maricopa County, it is a major suburb of Phoenix. According to 2010 Census Bureau releases, the population of the city is 154,065. Peoria is currently the sixth largest city in Arizona for land...
, AZ
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
.
The Padres Spring Training schedule is on the website below.
Regular season
The Padres offense started the season being shutout seven times in April, a major league record according to the Elias Sports BureauElias Sports Bureau
The Elias Sports Bureau is an American company that provides historical research and statistical services in the field of professional sports.In 1913, Al Munro Elias and his brother Walter established the Al Munro Elias Bureau in New York City...
. Heath Bell
Heath Bell
Heath Justin Bell is an American professional baseball pitcher, who is currently a free agent. After taking over the San Diego Padres closer role from Trevor Hoffman in 2009, Bell was named a three-time All-Star and has been awarded with the Rolaids Relief Man Award twice and has also won the DHL...
converted his first seven save opportunities of the season, which tied him with Trevor Hoffman
Trevor Hoffman
Trevor William Hoffman is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During his 18-year career from 1993 to 2010, he pitched for the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, and the Milwaukee Brewers, spending years of his career with the Padres. A long-time closer, he is the Major...
for the club record of 41 consecutive successful save conversions. The streak also tied him with Hoffman and Rod Beck
Rod Beck
Rodney Roy "Rod" Beck nicknamed "Shooter", was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the San Francisco Giants , Chicago Cubs , Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres...
for fourth longest in MLB history. Bell blew his next save opportunity, a 3–0 lead, after he opened the ninth inning walking the first two batters, and third baseman Chase Headley
Chase Headley
Chase Jordan Headley is a major league baseball player currently playing for the San Diego Padres. He plays third base, and formerly played left field. He is a switch-hitter...
made a two-out, two-run throwing error to tie the game. On May 14, Bell recorded his 100th career save in a 9–7 win over the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
.
Mat Latos
Mat Latos
Mathew Adam "Mat" Latos is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres.-High school and college:...
lost his first four starts, extending his losing streak to nine consecutive starts dating back to 2010. The streak ties the longest streak in Padres history, held by Andy Benes
Andy Benes
Andrew Charles Benes is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During a 14-year career from 1989-2002. Benes played for four different teams: the San Diego Padres, the Seattle Mariners, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Arizona Diamondbacks...
and Dennis Rasmussen
Dennis Rasmussen
Dennis Lee Rasmussen is a former starting pitcher for Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres , New York Yankees , Cincinnati Reds , Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals...
. Latos had a no-decision in his next start after the bullpen blew a save opportunity, preventing him from earning a win. He would lose another decision for a 10-
game losing streak that was one shy of the club record held by Gary Ross
Gary Ross (baseball)
Gary Douglas Ross is an American former professional baseball player, a right-handed pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1968–1977. He played for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, and California Angels. Born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, Ross stood tall and weighed .Ross appeared in 283 Major...
. Latos won on May 15 against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
to
end his losing streak.
On June 20, former Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez went 3 for 5 with a double and 3 RBI (all in the 10-run Boston 7th inning) in his first career game against San Diego in a 14-5 Red Sox victory in Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
. The The Padres were 6-9 in interleague play in 2011.
In May The San Diego Union-Tribune
The San Diego Union-Tribune
-Predecessors:The predecessor newspapers of the Union-Tribune were:* San Diego Sun, founded 1861 and merged with the Evening Tribune in 1939.* San Diego Union, founded October 10, 1868.* Evening Tribune, founded December 2, 1895.-Ownership:...
wrote that star minor league first baseman Anthony Rizzo
Anthony Rizzo (baseball)
Anthony Rizzo is an American professional baseball first baseman for the San Diego Padres in Major League Baseball...
's debut with the Padres might be delayed despite the club's hitting deficiencies due to cost considerations created by the "Super Two" exception for salary arbitration eligibility. The Padres cited Rizzo's lack of experience above Double-A and his limited exposure to left-handed pitching as benefits of him continuing to play in Tucson. He was called up to the majors after hitting .365 with 16 homers and 63 RBI in 200 at-bats in Tucson.
In his debut on June 9, against the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
, Rizzo struck out in his first at bat, but then proceeded to hit a triple and score a run, helping the Padres to a 7–3 victory. He hit his first home run on June 11 against John Lannan
John Lannan
John Edward Lannan is a left-handed starting pitcher in the Washington Nationals organization....
. After three games he was 3-for-7 with a double, triple and a home run, while demonstrated patience in drawing four walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
for a .667 on-base percentage (OBP).
The Padres' pitcher Cory Luebke
Cory Luebke
Cory Robert Luebke is a professional baseball player for the San Diego Padres. He attended the Marion Local High School and The Ohio State University. He was pick number 63 in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. ....
was added to the rotation on 6-22-11 as previous 5-spot pitcher Wade LeBlanc
Wade LeBlanc
Wade Matthew LeBlanc is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball.-2006-07: Draft and pro debut:...
was optioned after a loss to the Red Sox. He went 5 innings and struck out 6 in his first start of 2011 in an eventual 4-1 win.
On July 9 against the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, Luke Gregerson
Luke Gregerson
Lucas John "Luke" Gregerson is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the San Diego Padres. He owns the major league record for holds in a season.-St. Louis Cardinals:...
entered the game in the ninth inning after Aaron Harang
Aaron Harang
Aaron Michael Harang is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher.-Amateur career:Harang graduated from Patrick Henry High School then went on to San Diego State University...
, Josh Spence
Josh Spence
Joshua Patrick William Spence is an Australian professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball. He was drafted by the Padres in the ninth round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft out of Arizona State University...
, Chad Qualls
Chad Qualls
Chadford Michael Qualls is a relief pitcher.-Astros:Qualls was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Houston Astros. He began his career as a starting pitcher with the Michigan Battle Cats in...
, and Mike Adams combined to pitch eight innings without allowing a hit. Gregerson retired the first two hitters before a double by Juan Uribe
Juan Uribe
Juan C. Uribe Tena is a Dominican Republic professional baseball infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball. He began his career in 1997 when he was signed to the Colorado Rockies, and played with the team until December 3, 2003 when he was traded to the Chicago White Sox...
on a one ball and two strike count broke up the no hitter. Dioner Navarro
Dioner Navarro
Dioner Favian Navarro Vivas is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher, who is a free agent.-New York Yankees:In 2000, Navarro was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent...
then hit a single off Gregerson to score the winning run for the Dodgers. This was the closest the Padres have come to pitching a no-hitter since Steve Arlin
Steve Arlin
Steven Ralph Arlin is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. In six major league seasons, Arlin pitched for the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Indians .-College Star:...
in 1972. The Padres are one of two teams that have never pitched a no-hitter in their history, with the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
being the other.
Bell was the only Padre selected for the 2011 All-Star Game
2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 82nd in-season exhibition game between the All-Stars of the National League and the American League ; the leagues composing Major League Baseball. The event was held on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, home of the...
. With the team 12 games under .500 coming out of the All-Star break, general manager Jed Hoyer said the Padres would pursue a long-term contract with Bell if they did not get a desirable trade offer for him.
On July 22, Rizzo was demoted back to Triple-A, and Kyle Blanks
Kyle Blanks
Kyle Nathaniel Blanks is a Major League Baseball player for the San Diego Padres.-Early life:Blanks grew up in Moriarty, New Mexico where he was a stand-out for the Moriarty High Pintos...
was promoted. Rizzo had struggled with only a .143 batting average and 1 home run, striking out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
36 times in 98 at-bats. Hoyer said Rizzo "worked hard, never made excuses, and endeared himself to his teammates" during his initial stint in the majors.
At the non-waiver trade deadline on July 31, Adams was traded to the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
for a pair of young Double-A starting pitchers—right-hander Joe Wieland and left-hander Robbie Erlin. Also, Ryan Ludwick
Ryan Ludwick
Ryan Andrew Ludwick is a Major League Baseball right fielder. His brother Eric played four seasons in Major League Baseball as a pitcher.-High school, college, and minor leagues:Ludwick attended Durango High School in Las Vegas, Nevada....
was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
for a player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
or cash considerations. Adams had appeared in 33 of the Padres’ first 46 wins with 23 holds as the setup man for Bell. Adams was 3-1 with a 1.13 ERA and opposing hitters were batting only .155 against him, striking out 49 times in 48 innings. Ludwick was hitting only .238, but he had 11 homers and 64 RBI and 42 runs scored and was accounting for 25.3 percent of the Padres' runs. By comparison, Adrian Gonzalez
Adrián González
Adrian Gonzalez is an American professional baseball first baseman with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.Gonzalez was the first overall pick in the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Florida Marlins. He was traded to the Texas Rangers, and later to the San Diego Padres, where he...
accounted for 23.6 percent of the Padres' runs in 2010
2010 San Diego Padres season
The San Diego Padres' 2010 season is their 42nd season in MLB. On August 27, the Padres had a 6.5 game lead over 2nd-place San Francisco, and wound up missing the playoffs as the Giants passed them in September.-Regular season:...
. Bell was not traded, but Hoyer admitted Bell’s greatest value to the team might come as a free agent if Bell refuses salary arbitration in the offseason and signs elsewhere—the Padres would receive two first-round draft picks in June 2012 as compensation.
The Padres retired number 51 in honor of Trevor Hoffman
Trevor Hoffman
Trevor William Hoffman is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During his 18-year career from 1993 to 2010, he pitched for the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, and the Milwaukee Brewers, spending years of his career with the Padres. A long-time closer, he is the Major...
's at Petco Park
PETCO Park
Petco Park is an open-air ballpark in downtown San Diego, California, USA. It opened in 2004, replacing Qualcomm Stadium as the home park of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres. Before then, the Padres shared Qualcomm Stadium with the NFL's San Diego Chargers...
in a pre-game ceremony on August 21, 2011, against the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
. The ceremony was patterned after the show This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life is an American television documentary series broadcast on NBC, originally hosted by its producer, Ralph Edwards from 1952 to 1961. In the show, the host surprises a guest, and proceeds to take them through their life in front of an audience including friends and family.Edwards...
, featuring over 40 of Hoffman's former teammates and coaches. Brian Johnson
Brian Johnson
Brian Johnson is an English singer and lyricist who has been the lead singer for the rock band AC/DC since 1980. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 along with the other members of the band....
, the lead singer on AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
's "Hells Bells
Hells Bells (song)
"Hells Bells" is the first track of Australian hard rock band AC/DC's album Back in Black. It is the first song on their comeback album after the death of vocalist Bon Scott, introducing his successor Brian Johnson....
," paid tribute in a video to Hoffman for "rocking the mound." In a nod to Hoffman's late father, Ed, the Padres presented Hoffman with a mint condition 1958 Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
convertible; his father loved driving his family in a convertible. For the National Anthem, the Padres played a video of Ed singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
on Opening Day
Opening Day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball and most of the minor leagues, this day falls during the first week of April. For baseball fans, Opening Day serves as a symbol of rebirth; writer Thomas Boswell once penned a book...
in 1981 when Trevor's brother, Glenn
Glenn Hoffman
Glenn Edward Hoffman is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball and the current third base coach for the San Diego Padres...
, was the starting shortstop for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. Following the ceremony, Bell blew a 3–2 lead against the Marlins after allowing a solo home run to Mike Cameron
Mike Cameron
Michael Terrance Cameron is an American professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He has previously played for the Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, and Florida Marlins.Cameron has won 3...
with two outs in the ninth. However, Nick Hundley
Nick Hundley
Nicholas John Hundley is a Major League Baseball catcher for the San Diego Padres. He was called up to the majors for the first time on July 3, .As a 12-year-old he played on the Santa Clarita Mudcats...
hit a leadoff triple in the bottom of the ninth, and would eventually score on a Will Venable
Will Venable
William Dion Venable is a Major League baseball right fielder for the San Diego Padres. In the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft, he was selected by the Padres in the seventh round. Venable made his Major League debut on August 29, , against the Colorado Rockies...
single. It was Hundley's fifth triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
of the season, tying the Padres single season record for triples by a catcher set by Benito Santiago
Benito Santiago
Benito Santiago Rivera is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball player. He played for twenty seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from to , most notably for the San Diego Padres...
in 1990
1990 San Diego Padres season
-Offseason:* November 16, 1989: Don Schulze was released by the Padres.* December 6, 1989: Fred Lynn was signed as a free agent by the Padres.* December 6, 1989: Sandy Alomar, Jr., Carlos Baerga and Chris James were traded by the Padres to the Cleveland Indians for Joe Carter.* December 12, 1989:...
. It was also Hundley's fourth triple in his last six games. After the game, Bell said, "I guess it's one of those things, on Trevor Hoffman day, only he should get the save, I guess."
The Padres finished with a 71–91 record while hitting a major league-low 91 home runs and finishing last in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
(and next to last in MLB) in batting average (.237) and OPS
On-base plus slugging
On-base plus slugging is a sabermetric baseball statistic calculated as the sum of a player's on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The ability of a player to both get on base and to hit for power, two important hitting skills, are represented. An OPS of .900 or higher in Major League...
(.653). They scored the third fewest runs in MLB. No player on their active roster in the season finale hit 10 major-league home runs in 2011. The team led the Major Leagues in stolen bases, and Cameron Maybin
Cameron Maybin
Cameron Keith Maybin is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the San Diego Padres. He was the tenth pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft by The Detroit Tigers. He was consistently ranked as the Tigers top minor league prospect while in the organization.-High school:Maybin played high school...
was the ninth player in Padres history to steal 40 bases. He hit .264 with nine home runs and 40 RBIs and was the Padres' nominee for the Hank Aaron Award
Hank Aaron Award
The Hank Aaron Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball players selected as the top hitter in each league, as voted on by baseball fans and members of the media. It was introduced in 1999 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Hank Aaron's surpassing of Babe Ruth's career home run mark...
. The Union-Tribune praised Maybin's defense and called his acquisition "[o]ne of the best trades in Padres history" and named him the team's MVP. The Union-Tribune also wrote that Jesus Guzman
Jesús Guzmán
Jesús Antonio Guzmán is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball.-Professional career:Guzmán was signed by the Seattle Mariners as an undrafted free agent in 2000...
's line-drive hitting style was perfectly suited to the Padres' home at Petco Park
PETCO Park
Petco Park is an open-air ballpark in downtown San Diego, California, USA. It opened in 2004, replacing Qualcomm Stadium as the home park of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres. Before then, the Padres shared Qualcomm Stadium with the NFL's San Diego Chargers...
, and he emerged as the team's best hitter. However, the Padres were shut out 19 times during the season. Hitting coach Randy Ready
Randy Ready
Randall Max Ready , is a former professional baseball player and was the hitting coach for the San Diego Padres. Ready played in the major Leagues primarily as a utility player from to . He also played one season in Japan for the Chiba Lotte Marines in...
was fired after the end of the season. Since moving to Petco Park in 2004, the Padres have fired four hitting coaches, and another resigned.
Roster
| 2011 San Diego Padres | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders |
Manager Coaches (bullpen) (pitching) (bullpen catcher) (bullpen catcher) (third base) (bullpen catcher) (hitting) (bench) (first base) |
||||||
External links
- 2011 San Diego Padres Official Site
- 2011 San Diego Padres Statistics at Baseball-Reference.com