Padres Still Believe Despite 10-Game Skid

SAN DIEGO -- How fitting that as America celebrates a patriotic holiday, the San Diego Padres will try to end a 10-game losing streak.

The Padres are champions of democracy.

Regarding a skid that is the franchise's longest since 1994, all precincts within San Diego's ballclub have had their say: be it a fading offense, a bullpen no longer invincible, a defense weakened by injury and perhaps fatigue, or baserunners either dulled or overly caffeinated. The starting pitching has tapered off too, with the exception of Mat Latos, the 22-year-old ace who was set to face the Los Angeles Dodgers on Labor Day night in San Diego until he was felled by stomach flu.

The Padres still lead the National League West, but their free fall has made the neighborhood a more egalitarian place.

Only 12 days ago the Padres were a threat to salt away a playoff berth well before season's end. Their 76-49 record was not only the best record in the National League but, among all Padres clubs, the highest above .500 save the franchise-best, 98-victory season of 1998.

The San Francisco Giants were 6 1/2 games behind the Padres, and eight games back in the loss column.

The Colorado Rockies were 10 1/2 games out of first place.

When Labor Day arrived, however, the margins were down to one game and 4 1/2 games.

Beyond the hard numbers, the Padres looked like they were playing underwater as the streak stretched onward.

"We just need to take a step back and regroup," said Padres utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr. on Sunday, after the Rockies completed a three-game sweep in San Diego.

Out of the lineup throughout the losing streak because of a sore elbow, Hairston said the Padres appeared to be pressing too hard to return to the victory column.

"For a lot of the players here, it's the first time they've been in a playoff race," said the veteran infielder, who won a World Series title with the Yankees last October.

Another way to look at it is the Padres are experiencing a correction that was long overdue. Sports books set the team's over-under total for victories at 71, a mark the Padres blew past on Aug. 18.

"People on the outside have been waiting for us to fall all year," said Padres closer Heath Bell.

At least Bell should be fresh when the Padres next call upon him. Last time he pitched, the Padres were 76-50 and facing the Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 27 in San Diego. Bell threw two scoreless innings, but the Phillies won in 12 innings, 3-2. Two days later, the two-time defending NL champions dealt the Padres the first of three consecutive sweeps suffered. The second came against the last-place Diamondbacks in Phoenix. The Rockies then notched their first sweep of a road series all year.

"People on the outside have been waiting for us to fall all year."
- Heath Bell,
Padres closer The Padres have used the universal tactics grasped at by all slumping clubs

Padres manager Bud Black juggled his lineups a few times, and he addressed the players during the series in Phoenix.

Padres players met before Saturday's game against the Rockies. After that defeat, looking to break the mood, they played Michael Jackson music that normally blares in their clubhouse after a victory.

Frustration within the club also has begun to surface. After the Rockies prevailed on Saturday, Padres starting pitcher Jon Garland publicly questioned Black's decision remove him from the game. Black said he later spoke to Garland about his comments, which also implied that Black's bullpen management this year hasn't been all that great. A day later, Black said he harbored no rancor toward his top veteran starter. "I like Jon's attitude," he said. "He wants to pitch."

The September schedule, described recently by Padres general manager Jed Hoyer as "brutal," is also part of the test, but Hairston said the primary concern is to recapture the form the made the Padres the surprise team in the NL.

"We definitely believe in our club," he said. "I'm a firm believer that as cold as you can be, you can be just as hot."

However, Hairston's anguish was evident on Sunday as he watched the Padres. Before going onto the disabled list, he'd stayed in the lineup despite shin splints and an elbow strain that had pained him for several weeks. The losing streak was tougher to bear.

"I liken it to watching your little brother get beat up, and there's nothing you can do about it," he said. He smiled and added: "But I believe in this team, and I believe in these guys. We're going to bounce back."