What We Need to Do

All right boys and girls, you know the drill. The Padres, under the fine leadership of Sandy Alderson, Kevin Towers and ultimately, John Moores, are shopping around Jake Peavy to the highest bidder at the winter GM meetings. Trading Jake would be a huge mistake because for my money, he's one of just a handful of players on this team that are actually worth spending money to watch. Not to knock the young guys, but Evan Longoria and Ryan Braun they are not.

Jake is a rare breed -- a homegrown talent who the Pads brought up through the system and nurtured into a bona fide superstar. He's one season removed from a Cy Young campaign in which he won pitching's triple crown. He was third in the NL in ERA this year despite a losing record (10-11). And he's fun as hell to watch pitch.

So here's my deal: if the Padres trade Jake, I will not pay to see another game until Moores sells the team and Alderson is gone (there's speculation among some around town that KT is really the fall guy in this situation and is the public face of ownership's money problems). On the other hand, if they keep Jake in town, I personally pledge to buy tickets to every home game Jake starts -- at minimum. Depending on what off-season changes are made to the team, I may even consider a partial season ticket package, but let's not get carried away just yet.

If this situation pisses you off as much as it does me, then leave your name and comments using the form at the side. I'd like to get as many signatures/comments as possible as soon as we can so that we show the Pads' front office how serious we are about keeping Jake a Padre!

-Mark