July proved an eventful month for the Padres with awards and trades, also allowing the team to cling onto first place in the National League West as they entered August on top by a game-and-a-half.
The past month saw veteran players waffle and younger Padres players hit their stride. Closer Trevor Hoffman blew a save in the All-Star Game on July in what was to be a series of unsuccessful trips to the mound for the longtime Padre (three of his next seven). But by July 29, he was back on track, allowing only one hit to seal the victory for San Diego at Colorado in a much-needed win since the Padres went on to drop three of four in Colorado, whittling their tenuous NL West lead down to less than two games.
First baseman Adrian Gonzalez, however, was awarded the National League Player of the Week (July 17 to 23). He lead the league in six offensive categories: batting average (.607), slugging percentage (.964), on-base percentage (.645), hits (17), and total bases (27), and was tied for the league lead in runs (9). That week Gonzalez also hit two home runs, four doubles and five RBIs. He hit at least once in all seven games, including four three-hit games and a two-homer effort on July 17 at Philadelphia.
Second baseman Josh Barfield found himself in second place in the league in hits, with 40 for the month of July. He trailed Chase Utley of the Phillies by only four. Meanwhile, Gonzalez trailed Barfield’s count by two with 38.
Earlier in the month, the writing was on the wall for third baseman Vinny Castilla. The 39-year-old was cut on July 19 after being acquired by the Padres just last November in a trade with the Washington Nationals for pitcher Brian Lawrence.
Manager Bruce Bochy called the decision to cut Castilla “difficult,” though he was hitting .232, with four home runs and 23 RBIs. The Padres alternated Mark Bellhorn and Geoff Blum at third base before the recent acquisition of Todd Walker from the Cubs on July 31.
Walker brings a career average of .289 with 277 doubles, 104 home runs, 528 RBIs and 624 runs in 1,226 games. This season, the 33-year-old is batting .277 with 16 doubles, six home runs and 40 RBIs. Over 11 seasons, Walker has played for Minnesota, Colorado, Cincinnati and Boston. He was traded for 19-year-old minor league right-handed pitcher Jose Ceda.
Castilla’s cut also made way for the Padres to sign veteran right-handed reliever Scott Williamson on July 22, also from the Cubs. He was traded for two other minor league pitchers. Williamson, 30, was 2-3 with a 5.08 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 31 relief appearances for the Cubs this season. So far, in three appearances as a Padre, he is 0-1 with five hits, two earned runs and a 6.75 ERA.
Chan Ho Park, however, was just assigned to the 15-day disabled list on July 26 for abdominal pain. Prior to the injury, he was 7-6 with a 4.63 ERA in 21 games this season.
August will keep the Padres at Petco without fewer road trips, unlike their recent 11-game excursion. They start out at home against Houston in a series that runs through Aug. 3, followed by a match-up against Washington (Aug. 4-6). They are then away to New York and Houston (Aug. 8-13), then returning home to host division rivals San Francisco, Arizona and Los Angeles, respectively. The Padres finish the season away at Colorado and Arizona, also division rivals.