Wednesday afternoon I took pleasure in my first live regular season game of 2011.  Timmy led the charge against the Padres at Petco Park and, nail biting ninth inning notwithstanding, Giants won 8-4.  “Everybody kind of relaxed and went back to playing ball the right way, with a positive mentality” said Mr. Lincecum after the game.  And solid they looked from my free seats, courtesy of the Moorads, 8 rows behind first base.

You’ve probably never wondered what it’s like to attend a Giants game at Petco, but you should be curious.  Looking back at this post from February titled “The San Diego Giants” you’ll be given an idea of how it feels being a San Francisco Giant’s fan living in Padres country.  It’s interesting.  You’ll love it.

AT&T Park South.  Our home away from home.

While I am of the opinion that the Padres local fan base could do more to defend their territory, I failed to admit in my previous post that I have a hearty admiration for those boys in midnight blue.

OH MY GOSH.  HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT?

Friar faithfuls were disenchanted with the Padres front office after rumors swirled about the Adrian Gonzalez trade.  It was as if the world revolving around the Padres was ending and the team would disappear behind a cloud of smoke and mirrors, most certainly never to return.  Media declared 2011 would be a wasted season for the Friars and it was no secret that many true Padres fans felt betrayed by ownership.

In fact, while I was devout in my belief  that the Giants would win last year’s NL West, I realized we weren’t giving this SoCal club the credit they earned.  They gave us a run for our money.  And I absolutely believe, even without Adrian, the Giants will be challenged by their club this year.

Why?

Not unlike our boys by the bay, the Padres are a scraggly gaggle of average-to-above-average players without any one superstar.  They have that special chemistry, obvious not only on the field but also outside the park.  Living in the small urban center that is San Diego, it’s often you catch the guys out to dinner together after a game or on an off day, continuing to fortify the comradery that will take them deep into this season.

It’s good for morale when you actually want to hang out with the folks you work with.

Just ask anyone who spends time in the Marina district of San Francisco if they’ve seen Pat Burrell out raging.  Is he alone?  Of course not.   He’s with his teammates.

The City of San Diego has experienced the requisite mourning for Adrian and the ball club will go on.  Using the Pad’s strong start in 2011 as an indication, I’m guessing more and more fans will eventually ask, “Adrian who?”

The San Diego Padres are our rivals, but not our enemies.

ENEMY TERRITORY is a scary place where bad things happen.  An area full of of antagonists.  A nation of hostility.

This IS NOT an accurate description of  Petco Park.

This IS an accurate description of Dodger Stadium.

What has been described as “dependable as a cold one and a bag of peanuts in the bleachers,” the longstanding Giants-Dodgers feud dates back to the beginning of baseball.  But as this historic clash enters a new era, the consequences have become a cause for concern.

By now you would have heard of Bryan Stow, the 42-year old Santa Cruz paramedic who last week was critically beaten in the parking lot at Dodger Stadium.  He remains in a medically induced coma with suspected brain injury.

I can’t find the words to describe how truly wrong this is.

No matter from which end of the state you hail, regardless of the boys you choose to cheer, whether you wear black & orange or blue & white, WE MUST AMASS AGAINST THIS HATEFUL BEHAVIOR.

Substantial rewards have been offered to those who come forward with information regarding the tragedy.  Contributors to the fund include the Los Angeles City Council, LA Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, American Medical Response as well as private donations from many, including LA Supervisor Mike Antovich and Radio Host Tom Leykis.

Collections have been set up to help support the Stow family in their time of desperate need. Every quarter counts.  You can donate online using the following information:

Financial Institution:  SF Police Credit Union
Website: https://www.sfpcu.org/
Account Name:  Bryan Stow Fund
Member ID Account:  1377733

You can also donate HERE:

http://support4stow.blogspot.com/

Checks can be mailed to:

     The Bryan Stow Fund
     San Francisco Police Credit Union
     c/o San Mateo Branch
     1495 S. El Camino Real
     San Mateo, CA 94402.

Today is our home opener and should be a cause for celebration.

Please keep the rage on the field.