The juxtaposition of live music being played for fun in front of a (small) crowd, while that same crowd is watching a televised sport being played for money is mind numbing. We’re all choosing to ignore our reality to focus on a game we hope will mean something to us personally, although it’s almost guaranteed that it won’t.

This is how I currently feel as a Padres fan.

How many can I have? (Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE)

I’m currently ignoring my own reality by refusing to watch Padres games or spend money as a patron of PETCO. I watch the Thunder and the Heat and the Kings in hopes of filling that void by stealing someone else’s reality thousands of miles away so I can forget my own.

This life breeds alcoholism.

I do have a Coors Light next to me, but I can’t imagine I’d ever walk into an AA meeting bemoaning the evils of frost-brewed beer from the Rockies. Never say never.

We spend our time on this website and dozens of others around town writing and debating about the Padres’ victories and defeats. We hope for the best and try to expose the worst. We do it because we love this sport and this team, but why does doing it this season, above all others, feel so futile? Is it because the team is so terrible? No, that’s nothing new; as a lifelong Padres fan I’ve bared witness to more losses than wins. Maybe it’s because once you pass Quentin or get over Venable possibly reaching his potential five years too late, there is absolutely nothing to get excited about on this team? That’s definitely part of it, but Yonder Alonso and Luebke’s future get me feeling a little better, so I can’t really say, “That’s the reason!” Maybe it’s that we’ve already reached eleven different starters this season, or that our starting catcher is hitting .174, or maybe the fact that we don’t have an actual owner?

The Irish pub version of the Grateful Dead just finished an eight-minute long rendition of “Finnegan’s Wake”, and the Thunder have evened things up at the end of the third.

I’m on Coors Light number two and shaved off a shot of Powers. Things are looking up for everybody.

It seems to be that all my frustration and apathy comes down to one simple truth: this season is what Nada Surf refers to as “the blankest year”. Yes, I just made a Nada Surf reference and no I won’t explain it for those who don’t understand it. Google it and then be disappointed.

The fans are upset and searching for any reason to care. The front office is all over the place making odd decisions like signing Jason Marquis, and there’s no point in getting riled up about Bud Black or Josh Byrnes because there’s a great chance that all of them will be gone once new ownership takes over. Nothing that happens on the field this season will matter whatsoever next season, and that my fellow fans is a hard thing to swallow. This year might as well be erased.

All the things we’re getting upset about or happy about or hopeful about is completely useless, and what goes deeper and becomes even more depressing is that in the back of our heads we know this is true; that cold one in our hands makes it easier to deal with.

So, what’s the point of me writing another word or you reading another word on this website or any other this season?

Good question, but I have a great answer: We have to. It’s in us. We’ve made it a part of our lives, and for some of us it’s been handed down through generations like high blood pressure or male pattern baldness. Like the Irish jam band in front of me (who are currently massacring “Galway Bay”), we don’t do what we’re doing because of money or glory – we won’t ever get any of that. We do it for fun, for sport; we do it because it’s simultaneously our reality and our escape from it.

So, our season is a wash and every single person knows it. However, there’s always next season, and that means there’s always another chance for redemption and for progress. The theory of ‘what if’ fills our hearts and minds and we’ve trained ourselves to hold on to that idea like hidden treasure.

The Thunder have defeated the Heat and the Irish Jam band has gotten into their first “fight” of the evening. Although it’s similar to watching two librarians argue over the Dewey Decimal System, it’s pretty entertaining. The new fiddle player is a beat behind and it’s fairly obvious to all of us, even those who have no idea what a fiddle is.

This Padres season is just like every Irish folk song: It’s sad, it’s a little too long, no one really ever knows all the words and it makes you want to drink. So, let’s raise our glasses and ignore our own reality. Now, look down your empty glass and at the bottom you’ll see next season. Slainte.

For more Padres stuff and other things you might not care about follow me on Twitter @dallas_mc

Forsythe might be coming up to San Diego soon. (Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE)

What Can Forsythe Do?

As I mentioned previously, Forsythe has missed some extensive time due to the injury he suffered in late February/early March.  It was a shame, because Forsythe was likely to fill the role of top Utility Infielder on the club, and probably would have received extensive playing time behind Orlando Hudson, Jason Bartlett, and even filled in for Chase Headley on occasion.  Forsythe should factor in for some playing time once he gets the call up to San Diego.

In terms of his bat, power, and his fielding (Amarista and Parrino are equal to him in terms of positional versatility), Forsythe has the better overall skill-set, and probably would have been the first option to fill in once Hudson was released and Bartlett was shelved.  Unfortunately, Forsythe has had to fight back from his foot injury, and is now back to playing in the Minor Leagues.  Luckily for the Padres, Forsythe is doing quite well.  And luckily for Forsythe, the Padres are in dire need of help in the Middle Infield.

How Has He Performed So Far in 2012?

So what has Forsythe done so far?  Well, in his first 8 games back with the T-Pads, Forsythe has hit .345 in 29 At-Bats, hit 1 Double, 2 Triples, 1 Home Run, logged 8 RBI’s, an 8 to 7 Walk to Strikeout ratio, a .500 OBP, a .690 SLG, and best of all, a 1.190 OPS.  This stat line is extremely similar to Forsythe’s 2011 stat line from Tucson which read: .326 Batting Average in 178 At-Bats, 12 Doubles, 8 Home Runs, 34 RBI’s, .445 OBP, and a .528 SLG.

To his credit, Forsythe has had some experience at the Major League level, as he played in 62 games last season for the Padres.  Still, Forsythe’s production during his debut left quite a bit to be desired.  Over 62 Games, Forsythe logged 150 At-Bats, hit 9 Doubles, 1 Triple, and Drove in 12 Runs.  He did hit for a low Batting Average (.213), and struggled at the plate in his 150 At-Bats.  But considering that number is higher than anything the Second Basemen and Shortstops the Padres have used this season (Chase Headley is also approaching the Mendoza Line), it would not be a stretch to say that Forsythe’s projected numbers could be an improvement, and should improve when he gets his next extensive chance at the big league level.

Will He Be a Factor?

To say that Forsythe is the “be-all-end-all” answer at Second Base or Shortstop that the Padres are looking for is a bit short-sighted though.  San Diego has Jedd Gyorko waiting in the wings in Tucson with Forsythe, and Cory Spangenberg should quickly rise up the Minor League ranks and is performing well at High-A Lake Elsinore.  Yet due to 2012 being a rebuilding campaign, the Friars should strongly consider getting extensive looks at Triple-A overachievers like Forsythe over the course of the season and try to figure out how they figure into their franchise’s long-term plans.  I say give as many guys chances as possible in the coming months, and see what they can do with their chances.  As I stated before, Forsythe probably could have made the 25-man roster out of camp, and has shown flashes that he belongs in the big leagues.  Whether it is time to deal or send guys like Cabrera or Parrino down is up to the club, but San Diego should consider experimenting and shuffling its lineup when there is little on the line in regards to Pennant Races and Division Races and such.

Statistics Courtesy of: http://www.baseball-reference.com/

You can follow me on Twitter @DominicDiTolla.

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