Monday, October 4, 2010

Dead and Gone

My phone broke last week, so I have my sister's old one. I'm too lazy to change the sound settings, which means I've been waking up to T.I. and Justin Timberlake's "Dead and Gone" in the mornings. Yesterday, I let the song play as I laid in bed thinking about the Padres. It just seemed right. I'd "been travelin' on this road too long" and the season truly was "dead and gone."


Sunday was my birthday and I was on a quick trip, away from technology during the game. When I got back into San Diego that night, I got the text confirming what I dreaded - the Padres lost. The season was "Dead and Gone," as opposed to bringing "Beauty in the World" like Macy Gray's song had done so many times for me following a Padres win this season. But this was it. The season was over. No more cheery Macy Gray music till next season.

That's when I went to my car and opened the envelope I was putting off opening. I looked at the beautiful design of a full strip of two tickets apiece to what would have been every Padres home game this postseason. I went to 20 games this year with the 20-game season ticket plan and jumped at the opportunity to buy tickets to the playoffs, figuring I'd go to a game per series and scalp the rest. Now I'll be getting my money back. I just hope that doesn't affect the reward points I gained on my credit card.

I don't have the strength to look back at what happened this season. Geoff Young took care of that for me and Corey Brock is already pumping out previews for 2011. To 2011 it is. Time to push on.

I love the steam from the hot stove, so I'm already ignoring what happened and looking forward to how Hoyer and co. handle an off-season after this year's success. And yes, I do count a 90-win season as a success. We now have the distinction of being the first 90-win team since the '06 White Sox to not make the playoffs. And, oh what a shitty distinction that is.

This season had its ups and downs. (So did the consistency of The Kept Faith's postings.) The Padres got to 90 wins. (We started a podcast.) Jed gave us all Ryan Ludwick and Miguel Tejada - this isn't the place to debate what they actually added. (We gave you a Twitter account to follow.)

If there really is beauty in the world, Macy, then hopefully this season was the start of a long run of 90+ win seasons for the Padres. And maybe this was the start of some semblance of consistency in content from TKF.

I'm skeptical of both. But a guy can have faith, right? Yes! Name of the blog tie-in!