San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padre fans are done losing, they're done with empty promises that have yet to be fulfilled. Could things possibly be changing with a new regime coming into their first official off season?

As the baseball season wraps up, with the New York Yankees just one game away from walking away with yet another World Series championship to add to their trophy case, Padre fans watch and wonder when that's going to be their team.

Article originally published on STADIUMJOURNEY.com

It took six years, numerous legal battles, a San Diego Padres pennant, and massive voter support to get Petco Park, the Friars’ current stadium, from the ballot to the heart of San Diego’s downtown.

The student has surpassed the teacher, so to speak.

Thirty-five-year-old Jed Hoyer is to be named the newest general manager for the San Diego Padres, replacing Kevin Towers who has held the position for the past 14 seasons.

The Padres were not expected to make a formal announcement over the weekend. Jeff Moorad, the newest Padres chief executive, did inform Towers that he would not be returning for the 2010 season.

One big factor that one has to accept, is that San Diego is not Boston. You do not have the luxury and the amenities that the Red Sox have.

The San Diego Padres may have hired their new general manager, according to reports out of San Diego, as well as Sports Illustrated .

Former Red Sox senior vice president and assistant GM Jed Hoyer is reportedly the man for the job and the announcement is expected at a press conference in San Diego later today.

ESPN's Peter Gammons, via Twitter , reported that the Red Sox had a goodbye lunch for Hoyer earlier today.

One star has taken over the headlines and drawn all the attention on themselves this post-season. It’s not Alex Rodriguez, not Ryan Howard…I’m talking about the umpires.

The San Diego Padres were left for dead in late July, but since the All-Star break, this team has shown that they could be a definite factor next season.

There is finally a hint of promise in San Diego and it's not because the San Diego Chargers are about to kick off their 2009 season tonight against Oakland.

It can't get worse, can it?

Padre management keeps telling the fans that all is well, and the plan is proceeding, and we should all pony up our cash, to watch this great team take its place in the annals of history. Right, and American Idol will give us the next Led Zeppelin.

Last place awaits the loser of today's game in Arizona. The SHAME of it all. Padres fans deserve better than this, and yet quietly, the NOT fire sale is on again. It's been going on since the Padres traded future All-Star pitcher Fred Norman for a bag of used baseballs back in 1972.

In dealing dependable outfielder Scott Hairston to Oakland last week, the brass resent a message to the players that no one is safe. Padre players should not be surprised. That's how it's done here in San Diego. Here today, a Brewer tomorrow...

The All-Star break is less than a week away and it’s time to take a look at how the first half has treated the five NL West teams.

Last week I updated the progress of the Dodgers, Giants, and Rockies in the month of June. This breakdown will be focused on the entire first half production (or lack of production) for all of the NL West clubs.