First game against the Padres all season, with San Diego tied with the Giants, trailing the Dodgers in the division by a scant game. This is actually the first of seven games against the Padres which will only be separated by a short three-game weekend series against the Giants. Talk about testing one's mettle!
In the dead of winter, there's not much baseball to talk about. So we turn our gaze upon ourselves. Longtime readers of SoSG—hi Mom!—may recognize the individual styles of my esteemed colleagues, but for those who don't, here's a SoSG primer:
STEVE SAX: Saxy is prolific and thoughtful, and a bit more fond of puns and puzzles than most.