I didn't want to write this post. Mostly because then I'll have to remember when the Padres were above 0.500 and the Chargers were good despite Norv Turner. I didn't realize how much I took for granted those baseball and football teams until I had to suffer through some terrible seasons. There were dark years before the San Diego golden era of the late 2000's, so I thought at the time I was appreciating San Diego sports' success. Maybe bad sports seasons just require suffering whether or not you appreciated the good times.
However, Jake Peavy deserves this post. I was reminded of this last night when Yu Darvish struck out 14 batters. Peavy could go up to double digits for strike outs in his Padres days. I remember watching those K's go up whenever I watched his games on tv or live. It was thrilling yet surprising normal for him. Since Peavy spent the last couple of years in the AL, people may have forgotten Peavy was/is a good hitter. Whenever it was his turn to bat when he was Padre, nobody ever worried he was an automatic out. Those are the best baseball players: offensive threats who play their position well. Peavy initially turned down the first trade to the White Sox because he wanted to stay in NL, be able to hit, and maybe was in denial about not being Padre for his entire career. The denial only lasted so long when it became obvious the White Sox provided the best trade for the Padres. Then Peavy did the only thing he could do to help the Padres, he accepted the trade to Chicago.
When it came out earlier this week Peavy was going to be traded again, I hoped he could be traded to the Padres. Obviously I was the one in denial then. When I read he wanted to win a championship, I knew he wasn't returning to San Diego anytime soon. So off to Boston he went, to a team which still won't allow him to hit. I'll be rooting for the Red Sox to win the World Series. Maybe then will Peavy return to where he really belongs: west.
