Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Minutes before Padres left-handed pitcher Drew Pomeranz was officially added to the National League All-Star team this morning - Yes, Pomeranz is joining Wil Myers giving the Padres two All-Stars -- respected national writer Jon Heyman floated another idea relating to a Padre.
What about Melvin Upton Jr.?
With Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler and Mets center fielder Yoenis Cespedes both scratched due to injuries, the National League was looking for outfielder on very short notice. Heyman was the first to mention the name of Upton.
Alas, it didn't happen -- or it hasn't happened yet. The spots of Cespedes and Fowler were filled by Jay Bruce of Cincinnati and Starling Marte of Pittsburgh at the same time that Pomeranz was named to take the place of injured New York Met Noah Syndergaard. But, what about Upton? The Padres' outfielder has credentials.
With his two-homer game Friday night at Dodger Stadium, Upton became the only Major League with 15 homers and 20 steals this season. Actually, Upton has 16 homers this season. Following Friday night's 4-for-5 effort, Upton is hitting .268 with 16 homers, 44 RBIs and 45 runs scored. He is having a highlight-film season with three walk-off homers, a steal of home and arguably the greatest defensive play in Padres history - the leaping catch at the wall on June 28 to deny Baltimore's J.J. Hardy of a homer, then the perfect throw to first to complete the doubleplay.
High marks to Upton, who has to be a leading candidate for National League Comeback Player of the Year.
And a tip of the cap to Jon Heyman for: 1. Noticing, 2. Forwarding the idea.
NOTES FROM THE SCOREBOOK
• The Padres are hitting .316 (59-for-187) on the first five games of this road trip to Arizona and Dodger Stadium with 14 doubles, two triples and nine home runs for 38 runs scored. That's an average of 7.6 runs a game. They are 3-2.
• Left fielder Alex Dickerson didn't have a two-hit game in his career before Thursday. Now he has two straight. The Poway High grad is 7-for-20 since June 3 with two doubles, a triple, a home run, four RBIs and three runs scored.
• First baseman Wil Myers was 2-for-4 with a RBI Friday night and is 9-for-19 with a double, a triple three RBIs and five runs scored in four games since being named to the National League All-Star Team.
• Third baseman Yangervis Solarte extended his hitting streak to a sixth straight game with a double Friday night. He is 11-for-26 during the streak with four doubles, three home runs, 10 RBIs and six runs scored during the streak.
• Right fielder Matt Kemp's six-game hitting streak ended with a 0-for-5 Friday night.