Podcast Recap

Had a great discussion with Matt Smith of Feeling Dodger Blue last night on the Podcast.  In case you missed it, here's a link to the recording.  I'm working to get these files available via iTunes, so you can download it directly to your iPod/iTouch/iPhone of choice and listen in.

Some of the highlights:

- Matt thinks the Dodgers will finish no lower than second in the division and will make the playoffs;
- Vincente Padilla starting on Opening Day makes sense, since it will allow Clayton Kershaw to start the first game at Chavez Ravine;
- Dodger bullpen will be a strength again this year;
- Matt Kemp is the best all-around player on the team, the one guy LA can't afford to lose, and
- Kershaw is primed for a breakout season.

We also talked a little Padres (Will Venable in the OF, the Kouzmanoff trade, Adrian Gonzalez trade rumors and where he's probably going to go).

We also had some great questions from the Chat Room (hat tip to Coffey_77 who logged in), so it made for a very pleasant hour of baseball talk.

One of the great things about the Baseball Bloggers Alliance is the opportunity to talk baseball with fans from across the country.  Matt and I had never spoken to each other until last night, but with baseball as a common reference point it didn't matter.  You often hear about fathers and sons who don't understand each other at all - generational gap and what not - but they share a common team rooting interest, which gives them something to talk about, and makes family gatherings much less awkward.  It's true for strangers as well.  Give two people something in common like baseball (or football, hockey, or basketball for that matter) and things just flow.  Even if they don't share a rooting interest in the same team.

Not much going on today, as I'm still recovering from last night's epic Xavier/Kansas State game.  Corey Brock is reporting via Twitter Latos has a "cranky" right elbow, and will not start tomorrow, however Bud Black doesn't seem too alarmed at this development.

So with that, enjoy the last weekend of Spring Training.  The Padres break camp Wednesday.