--RHP Scott Patterson, who gave up only one hit in 3 1/3 innings over three appearances since being claimed on waivers from the Yankees on Sept. 12, has suffered a herniated disc. "An MRI and a CT-scan slowed a slight herniated disc," said Patterson, who believes he injured his lower back Saturday in Washington while doing leg lifts. "I'm 90 percent sure this is connected to the leg lifts," he said. "After I worked out, it locked up in the bullpen Saturday night. I could barely walk Sunday."
--3B Kevin Kouzmanoff Friday night just missed becoming a case study for MLB's examination of the dangers of shattered bats. Luis Cruz's bat shattered in two as he grounded out to Kouzmanoff leading off the seventh. The ball and the barrel of Cruz's bat reached Kouzmanoff simultaneously, the ball getting through for a single as the third baseman dodged the projectile. --RF Brian Giles dropped a two-out fly in the ninth to make it 6-3 instead of 4-3 going into the Padres' final at-bat. "Brian's as sure-handed as they come," said Padres manager Bud Black. "You'll see that once in a blue moon."
--GM Kevin Towers Friday said any announcements regarding the Padres' staff will not be made until after the end of the regular season. Batting coach Wally Joyner's resigned as batting coach earlier this week and set off ripples in the clubhouse when he mentioned front-office interference as being a reason for his decision. "Nothing will be announced until after we've completed the season," Towers said after meeting with owner John Moores and CEO Sandy Alderson.
--C Nick Hundley extended his hitting streak to seven games (8-for-28) Friday with a homer that tied the score at 1-1.
--LF Chase Headley has had a strikeout in 22 of the Padres' last 23 games -- divided evenly into two, 11-game streaks. He has 33 strikeouts during the run and a total of 102 strikeouts in 325 at-bats over 89 games this season. Projected over a full season, that's 185 strikeouts.
BY THE NUMBERS: 3.70 -- Padres' staff ERA in 2007, the best in the majors.
3.06 -- Bullpen's ERA in 2007, the best in the majors.
4.11 -- Starters' ERA in 2007, the best in the majors.
4.41 -- Padres' staff ERA this year, ranking them 10th in the National League.
4.40 -- The Padres' bullpen ERA, the third-worst in the National League.
4.42 -- The Padres' starters ERA in 2008, the No. 9 mark in the league.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's frustrating the way this season went... it doesn't feel good, any of it. This has been a difficult season for all of us, uniformed personnel as well as the front office. And as the manager, you feel responsible for so much. I handled it. I don't know if I handled it well. In my position, I don't think about me. I think about the players." -- Padres manager Bud Black, reflecting on the 2008 season.
