Friar Futility: The 10 Worst Moments In San Diego Padres History

In the regular season, San Diego had trounced the opposition, finishing the regular season with a franchise record 98 wins. In the playoffs, they defeated favored Houston in four games and heavily favored Atlanta in six. The Padres featured All-Stars Tony Gwynn, Kevin Brown, Trevor Hoffman, Andy Ashby and Greg Vaughn—as well as former MVP Ken Caminiti.

All of this meant exactly diddly when the Padres squared off against one of the best single season teams in modern history: The 1998 New York Yankees, who had won 114 games in the regular season (a record until 2001), had a pitcher throw a perfect game, employed the AL's batting champion and had also sent five players to the All-Star Game.

Despite the Padres' Goliath slaying in the playoffs, they were promptly swept by New York and forced to watch them celebrate in their own stadium.

4. Dock Ellis no-hits the Pads...on LSD

In baseball, you usually have an advantage if the pitcher can't get a good feel on the ball, is having trouble seeing the catcher—and is freaking stoned out of his mind. Not the San Diego Padres, who couldn't get a single hit against a guy who sometimes felt he was throwing a balloon or a volleyball at home plate.

One fine day in 1970, despite walking eight batters, hitting one and loading the bases twice—Dock Ellis threw a no-hitter after taking copious amounts of marijuana, alcohol, amphetamines and a large dose of "Purple Haze" acid. Maybe a Padres pitcher should try that some day, because...

3. As of 2008, the Padres haven't had a pitcher throw a no-hitter in franchise history.

Or had a batter hit for the cycle. That's at least one pitcher going out to the mound every game in 162 games a year. In 40 years. Think that's bad? You have nine batters having an average of four, sometimes five chances a game (okay, other times it's three). For 40 years.

2. A playoff team with a losing record?

In 2005, the NL West was terrible. So terrible, in fact that it took San Diego just 82 wins to clinch a playoff spot by taking the division. After barely finishing over .500 in the regular season, the Padres played a tough St. Louis team (that had won more than 82 games) in the NLDS.

Understandably, the Padres got swept. Laughably, the Padres became the first team ever to make the playoffs and have their combined record be under .500 by season's end.

1. Trades and Fire Sales

It's hard to blame the Padres futility and sad history on bad breaks or even a curse. Not when over the course of history you've done your best to stock every other team in baseball with talented players.

For prices ranging from magic beans to a new robe for the Swingin' Friar, the Padres have traded away the following players they've either developed fully or acquired through grace of God:

The Alomar brothers, (Roberto and Sandy, Jr.) Benito Santiago, Gary Sheffield, Fred McGriff, Tony Fernandez, Matt Clement, Joey Cora and Joe Carter.

Not impressed? Okay.

Oliver Perez, Jack Cust, Derrek Lee, Xavier Nady, Jason Bay—and Ozzie Smith. With our luck, we'll trade away Matt Bush and he'll become the next Sandy Koufax.

---

Dishonorable mentions: Randy Myers is picked up to block his trade to Atlanta, Pads owner Ray Kroc apologizes over the loudspeaker for the terrible performance of his players, the 1994 strike kills Tony Gwynn's chance to hit .400, Padres get no-hit twice in the same season. At home. The 1993 season. The 2008 season.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?