During the first week of the season, Padres manager Bud Black was asked about his ever-changing pitching staff.
"I think we're in a better position than we were," said Black. And after the first week, probably much better shape than anyone expected.
The Padres finished the first week of the season with a 5-2 record and a staff ERA of 2.57 -- including a major league-leading 1.48 ERA by a bullpen that includes five pitchers not with the Padres until the final weeks of spring training.
"The bullpen has been outstanding," said Black. "The number of innings of zeroes (17) is impressive. The only bad thing is the number of walks (13 in 18 2/3 innings).
The Padres won two of the three games started by the back three spots in the rotation -- Walter Silva, Kevin Correia and Shawn Hill. Both Hill and Silva allowed two runs over five innings.
"From what I've seen, all three of these guys have more than one or two good pitches," said Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley.
PADRES 6, GIANTS 1: RHP Jake Peavy might be the ace of the Padres' staff. But the right-hander who makes you think no-hitter every time he starts is Chris Young. On Sunday, he retired the first 12 Giants he faced and out-dueled Tim Lincecum (who was 2-0 in head-to-head matchups with Young in 2008), giving up one unearned run on four hits over seven innings. C Nick Hundley went 4-for-4 and came within a home run of the first cycle in Padres history. LF Chase Headley homered for the second straight game, a two-run shot off Lincecum, who gave up four runs on 10 hits after holding the Padres to three earned runs over 43 1/3 innings for all of 2008.
