Hall of Fame OF Tony Gwynn underwent 12 1/2 hours of surgery Tuesday at UCSD Thornton Hospital to remove a malignant tumor from inside his right cheek. It was the second time in 18 months that Gwynn had surgery for cancer of the parotid gland. This time they removed the entire tumor along with the facial nerve. The nerve was replaced with a nerve taken from Gwynn's shoulder. "He feels and looks much better today than he did after the surgery of (August) 2010," Alicia Gwynn said of her husband.
Padres CEO Jeff Moorad says it is time for fans hoping to see changes made to the outfield distances at Petco Park to find another cause to champion. The distances to the right field fence are not going to be shortened as long as he is in charge. "I've been consistent," said Moorad. "Petco Park as it is constructed presents opportunities that few teams have to contour a team to the ballpark. We are not changing the distances at Petco Park."
Although the Padres have yet to announce their new television package with FOX, some details are emerging about the club's broadcasting lineup this season. Veteran Dick Enberg returns as main play-by-play voice with Mark Grant back as the lead color analyst after signing a three-year contract with the Padres. Andy Masur will alternate between the radio and television booths, handling television play-by-play when Dick Enberg is off. However, there has been no announcement made about Grant's backup. In the past, it was Gwynn. "The schedule isn't set yet," said Padres president Tom Garfinkel. On the radio side, with Bob Scanlan joining the radio booth as an analyst, the team of Ted Leitner and Masur will be working fewer games in tandem and Hall of Fame veteran Jerry Coleman's role is undefined. "It's possible that Ted an Andy could be teamed on occasion," said Garfinkel.
It took a while, but the Padres finally announced their 2011 awards on Feb. 10 during the Dinner on the Diamond at Petco Park. CF Cameron Maybin (Most Valuable Player and Newcomer of the Year) and departed RHP Heath Bell (Pitcher of the Year and the Fireman's Award) were the big winners along with RHP Luke Gregerson, who was given the Chairman's Award for Contributions to the Community). Minor league awards went to 3B Jedd Gyorko (Offensive Player of the Year), CF Rico Noel (Defensive Player of the Year), RHP Keyvius Sampson (Pitcher of the Year), OF Rymer Liriano (Baserunner of the Year), Tim Holt (Scout of the Year) and Tom Tornincasa (Coach of the Year).
Maybin has returned to his original agent (Brian Goldberg) and says he and the Padres have discussed a long-term contract. "We have been talking," said Maybin. "I'd love to spread it out a few years. But it's great to get a chance however it goes." Even though Maybin had been told by Padres manager Bud Black before spring training of 2011 that he was going to be the Padres every-day center fielder, he said he's just getting comfortable in that knowledge. "I didn't believe him," said Maybin. "I'd heard that before and things changed. I played my heart out, but it wasn't until half way through the season that I realized I really was the every-day guy. The biggest thing from last spring to now is that I know 100 percent that I'm the guy. And I've worked hard this offseason, learning what I need to tweak and work on. A lot of this isn't physical."
Moorad has committed $5 million to the Villanova Law School for the new Center for the Study of Sports Law. Moorad is a graduate of the Villanova Law School.
BY THE NUMBERS: 18,000 The approximate number of fans who turned out at Petco Park for the Padres annual kickoff open house.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I can't leave. When the season ended, I packed my bags but I couldn't get myself to book that ticket home." Padres center fielder Cameron Maybin, who remained in San Diego the entire offseason, marking the first time in his six-year professional career that he didn't return home to Asheville, N.C., in the winter.
