To surprise of no one, Padres decline to offer salary abitration to Hoffman

Said Hoffman Monday: “We haven't gotten any phone calls. We're more than willing to listen to anything out there. They're the ones that took the deal off the table. They're the ones that wanted to go a different direction. If they reach out and legitimately want to make a point of talking, they know how to get ahold of us.”

Okay, I don't want to call anyone a liar here, but these stories just are jiving, because last week Alderson said this:

"I have reached out through a number of sources to try and initiate some conversation with Trevor.  It hasn't been successful yet.  I remain open to it and I hope at some point he will as well.  That's kind of where that stands at the moment."

Maybe the number of sources that Alderson tried to use didn't include a telephone.  I'll bet you Hoffman instead has gotten a ream of faxes.  Can someone just pick up the phone and use it already?  This is so ridiculous.  Even though I'd like to know what would be said in that phone call, I'm not sure I could listen because it would be so awkward.

Maybe not quite as awkward as bumping into KT at a party;

Towers said he “bumped into” Hoffman at a social function Saturday. “We talked briefly; it was non-business,” Towers said.

Again, if these guys are such good friends how do they not talk candidly?

KT: "Hey Hoffy, you really left us hanging out there with our balls out in the wind"
Hoffy: "Hey KT, I haven't heard from you since you snaked my contract while on vacation"

OaklandClubhouse.com

The Oakland A’s have agreed to terms with three minor league free agents: right-handed pitcher Kevin Cameron, first baseman Tagg Bozied and outfielder Matt Carson. All three will be non-roster invitees to the A’s major league spring training camp.

Is anybody going to miss KCam?  If I'm going to be okay with Peavy and Hoffman not being Padres anymore than losing KCam isn't bothering me at all.

Here's how Corey Brock described him in the most recent mailbag:

What's the status on reliever Kevin Cameron? He had a great rookie year and would really help our troubled bullpen in 2009.
-- Danny L., St. Louis

The 2008 season was certainly a lost one for Cameron, who, as you stated, was good in his rookie season. Cameron got off to a bad start in Spring Training, suffering injuries to his thumb and hamstring and even a nasty bout with the flu. He only threw 30 innings between San Diego and the Minor Leagues after suffering a sprain of his right ulnar collateral ligament. But Cameron should be fine for Spring Training and ready to compete for a spot in a bullpen that could look a lot different in 2009 than it did in 2008.

Amazing Race Season 13 Episode 10 Recap

The race starts with all the teams finding a retired Russian Nuclear Sub and getting a clue onboard. Then it's off to a city park in Moscow that has a bunch of Communist statues.  One member of the team has to walk around and count the number of Stalin and Lenin statues.  Once they get the number they take a cab to a book store, tell the clerk the number, then use the number to find a page in the book that has an address for them.  It was actually a pretty complicated challenge.

Dallas was completely lost, he couldn't keep his Lenin and Stalin statues straight.  Kev made a good point about this challenge.  Dallas' mom totally should have done this part of the challenge.  She was tired running up to the park and insisted that her son do it, but she could have taken her time walking around and counting and been in good condition again pretty quickly.

Dallas ends up waiting outside the bookstore for his time penalty because he can't get the count right.  Eventually he gets into a cab but leaves all his money and his passport in the cab.  He and his mom are so screwed.

They quickly fall into last place as they beg for money and mope around Moscow.

The rest of the teams take subways and busses around the city until they reach the end. 

Can I just say that Nick and Starr have this million dollars all wrapped up?  I can't imagine the frat boys or the old football guy and his wife beating them.  Nick and Starr are going to run away with the money.  They'll have to edit the footage to make it look closer than it really is.

The only chance the other teams have is if Nick and Starr get hopelessly lost which isn't likely since the majority of the race will be in the United States.

Order of Finish:

1. Nick & Starr
2. Andrew & Dan
3. Ken & Tina
4. Toni & Dallas

• Friar John's blog tells us that Former Padre Eric Owens is now managing Single A in the 'cho for the Angels.  Was he the fastest Padre player ever?  I like to pretend he was.  I remember Dex always telling me that he was half man - half animal, a Manimal!  I presume the animal half was badger.
• Ducksnorts details a list of infielders who pitched for the Padres over the years.  I remember Ed Giavanola pitching like it was yesterday.  I get giddy seeing non-pitchers pitch, the games already out of reach and it's fun to see how hitters usually can't hit them.  I always wonder if a big leaguer could hit my 70mph fast balls since they are used to seeing 90mph.  Once I throw my arm out after two pitches then my stuff would drop to the mid 50's and the hitters wouldn't know what to do.
• Remember when a cupless Peavy was almost hit in in the junk earlier this year by a ball hit back at him?  "Yeah, I know, I don't wear a cup. Guess I have to start wearing one," said the 26-year-old father of two young boys, ages 6 and 3. "But, hey, I'm done having kids."  I wonder if he knew that his wife was pregnant at the time and would give birth six months later.
• Speaking of The Hills... we weren't talking about The Hills?  I saw Whitney this weekend in LA.  Just walking past her I got caught up in the drama.
• You know what make me happy?  Scan calling out Gaslamp Ballers, it makes me giggle with delight.
• I cannot wait for Rickey Henderson's speech when he gets inducted into the Hall of Fame ... as a PADRE!  It will be nice that Vaughn will be inducted with him.