Showing what we're capable of

The Padres got a home run into the bay on the very first pitch of the game - and we fell behind 3-0. Even just a few days ago, that might have been enough to sink us, the way we were playing. There have been a lot of ups and downs for the team the past month, as you know. The loss on Tuesday to the Marlins might have been the roughest. Four errors. Only two hits. I was as down after that game as I can remember being in a long time. I just sat in front of my locker for the longest time. I didn't want to talk with anyone.

It's one thing to lose. But to lose the way we did was just embarrassing. I don't care if we have no chance to reach the playoffs -- we can't play like that. Ever. We still have to play 150 percent and try to win every single game. You have to respect the game and respect your teammates and respect the fans. It means so much to me to see the fans come out to watch us play and I hate when we don't play the way we know we can.

It's not just about winning, though that's why we're out there. It's also about setting an example. You don't know if a kid is watching to see how he should conduct himself. You don't know if you're a role model to someone out there who is studying how you go about your business. So you have to play every day, every inning, with everything you have. The results will take care of themselves.

We're also setting examples for each other, here on the field and in the clubhouse. We have to pick each other up when we're down. We have to go out there and perform with such desire that our teammates can never doubt that we're behind them 100 percent.

We talked about that among ourselves, some of us using more pointed language than others, about picking each other up, playing hard, not taking the job for granted.

Then, just like that, it all turned around.

On Wednesday, the Marlins tied the game in the ninth then Roberts, Winn and Rowand loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning. I waited on deck watching Lindstrom walk Rowand intentionally. I knew he would be going fastball on me. I just wanted to hit the ball hard to the outfield. Sure enough, I got a 99 mph fastball on the first pitch and hit it to center field deep enough to score the winning run from third. 

I don't know if we showed ourselves something that day - that if we keep playing hard every single inning and never give up -- that we have the kind of players who can win any game at any time. The next day, Thursday, Matt Cain had a great outing, even though he didn't get the win. Then Timmy came out on Friday and pitched one of the best games I've seen him throw. His location - the key for every pitcher - was so on.

Then Zito pitched great on Saturday for our fourth in a row. He's pitching now the way we always knew he would pitch. He said it himself on the radio Sunday morning: He's just more himself. Before you could tell he was pressing - which is deadly for pitchers or for hitters. Z was never nervous or scared on the mound - never, never - but he was putting so much pressure on himself. Now you can see he has the kind of presence on the mound that he had at his best.

Z's finishing the season strong -- and that's what all of us have to do. This should be the time for every player to show what he can do. As a team, we have to show ourselves and the fans that we're better than our record this year. We want to finish this season having laid the groundwork to be contenders next season. So, not to sound like a broken record, but we have play hard and keep on playing hard to the final out.

We did that again today. 

After falling behind, 3-0, we got one back in the fourth, two in the fifth and four in the sixth -- three on my homer into the left-field bleachers. When I was rounding second, all I could think about was Kevin Correia getting the win -- only his second since April. In the clubhouse afterward, I said, "Co, that's for you. You deserve it.'' He's been so close so many games and not gotten the win. For me, that was the most important part of my first five-RBI game of the season.

The Padres scored a run in the eighth but that was it. We swept the Pads and got our fifth win in a row.

The truth is, I was really angry when the game started and I struck out my first at-bat. I already was ticked off because Bochy sat me on Saturday. I hate sitting, no matter how tired the manager might think I am. So between that and striking out, I came back into the dugout after my first at-bat just miserable. I told myself just to calm down. I couldn't play being mad at myself or anyone else. I thought if I calmed down, everything would change. And it did.

In the next entry, I'll talk about my at-bats today, and also about the amazing Pablo Sandoval.

Thanks for reading. See you at the ballpark. I'll leave you with some photos: