Team cortisone shot…Team home run ball. Pick either one and it will tell you all you need to know about where the Padres are as they’ve opened this 7-game homestand.

Injuries and home run balls are really the bulk of the conversation points right now with a team struggling to stay above the .500 mark in the standings.

The Friars have lost two first basemen in the first month of the season, plus two pitchers.

Wil Myers has severe tendenitis in his left wrist the end result of a head first slide.  He has  swelling, fluid buildup, and inflammation, but luckily, no torn ligaments. A Wednesday cortisone injection has helped.

Yonder Alonso has had a cortisone injection too, to help with a deep shoulder bone bruise.  He has already regained full range of motion, and will increase his weight room workouts, but no baseball activities are planned for at least another week.

On the pitching front, an injection has helped quiet down the hot spots in the right shoulder of Brandon Morrow, and he is beginning soft toss, but he could be 2-to-3 weeks out from rejoining the staff.

The long rehab for Josh Johnson continues, following pain above his right elbow.  He is throwing long toss, but faces another longer road before any judgement can be made on when he will be ready to pitch in a game.  The feeling is he pushed too hard in his first 40-pitch simulated game, so they will back off the intensity again.

The other topic oft conversation is the alarming number of home runs balls Padres pitchers have thrown.  The tally count is 51 in 35-games heading into the Washington National-San Diego series.

The Padres .500 record has come against lineups with some pop, notably the Dodgers-Rockies-Giants and Diamondbacks, but the 51-total, and the 15-allowed by the bullpen is like a red flag of trouble.

Bud Black and Darren Balsley echoed the comments almost simultaneously.  Bad pitch location, and falling behind in the count.  That and the respect that some of these lineups deserve.

This 7-game homestand carries some importance, for the Padres want to remain in sight of the lst place Dodgers.  Washington’s big bats are here this weekend, then Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant with the Cubs, followed by road trips to meet the Dodgers and Angels, and you know all about Mike Trout and Adrian Gonzalez..

The Friars need to keep the ball in the yard, or else they might find themselves out of the race for lst place by June lst.  Getting healthy with no more hurts would help too.

He had a lightning bolt for a right arm when he joined them.

So much was expected of Steven Strasberg, the legendary San Diego State Aztecs pitcher, the top pick in the draft just 5-years back.

The flashes on the mound, have been like lightning bolts out of the sky. The 98mph fastballs, the huge strikeout games early in his career, and the expectations.

The thunder-clap of injury issues have been equally as big, his arm mechanics, the coaching he has received, the injuries, the decision to shut him down with post season approaching, and the fact he is no longer the same pitcher.

Phenom doesn’t describe who he was, and what was expected when he was drafted by the Nationals, just ahead of the Padres in 2009. Handled with kid gloves moving thru the Nationals farm system, he arrived with a flourish, a (5-3) rookie season record with a 2.91-ERA and big strikeout games in 2010. A year later, he was gone with torn elbow ligaments after just five starts in 2011 and a 1.50ERA. He has had 14-and-15 win seasons since then, but the dominance has not been there.

The torn elbow ligaments, were then followed by shoulder issues, then a forearm issue, and now this year a shoulder blade problem.

He’s at Petco Park with a (2-4) record and a 6.06 ERA. The strikeout numbers still flash like neon lights (781K-685 innings)…but his consistency has been like Wall Street, up and down.

Some think the whip like action on a fastball that has lost some velocity, will shorten his career. Some think he has been babied too much, and isn’t tough enough to work thru what other pitchers work thru. Some think the Nationals have failed to work to help him with mechanics that might prevent further physical breakdowns.

He praised the late Tony Gwynn for teaching him what it was like to be a pro, while at SDSU. But in the major leagues, it’s what have you done in your last start, in your last season, in a pennant race, that make or break careers.

Strasberg says he is healthy, that this is all mechanics right now. He can deliver big time starts, but the expected dominance start-by-start is nowhere to be seen right now.

They expected the stardom of Roger Clemens or Bob Gibson. They saw the sizzle of a young Pedro Martinez. They hope he doesn’t turn into a sad story like promise-then-injuries that took away Marc Prior’s greatness.

Steven Strasberg still has a future ahead of him, but the trail of setbacks him still linger behind. Even a 98mph fastball won’t allow you to move away from what is in the rear-view mirror, if the gas is followed by another breakdown.

Lightning off the mound, or a thunderclap of more trouble coming for the Washington Nationals star?

Wall Street says the economy is improving in America.

You couldn’t tell that from the media industry. Yes, there may 225,000-new jobs last month nationwide, and yes unemployment may be 5.8%, but the world of the working media continues to shrink, with layoffs, consolidation of jobs, and a talent pool of quality people still looking for new opportunities.

Just ask the employees at the San Diego Union Tribune, where their world was rocked when the newspaper was sold by non-media owner Doug Manchester, to the Tribune Company, parent company of the Los Angeles Times.

At first glance, you say great news, for the LA Times is a standard bearer in the industry. News content globally, out of Washington, DC, and from the state capitol Sacramento, probably means better content for the news sections for the UT.

But if I were working in sports, I’d be concerned about the numbers of staffers in the newsroom, for when the Times starts shipping some of its content to San Diego, there may be not be a need for the numbers of reporters working in that sports section.

Manchester may well have been the entrepreneur in the purchase of the UT a couple of years back. The real sports advocate was John Lynch, the broadcast exec, who loved sports, and pioneered expansion of the staff and the building out of the Sunday sports section, hoping to make it what the legendary Boston Globe was on a Sunday.

But Lynch is gone, done in by his 7M-investment in the boondoggle that was UTTV-the TV studios and product that was supposed to rival the morning TV-news magazines already on the air in an overcrowded market. They hired a lot of staffers for that TV side, and they are all gone.

The sports section is very good, if you have time to read all the creative content they put in it, though I am not sure you need four people writing about the Chargers and columnist after columnist writing point-counter-point pieces on this Bolt topic or another.

There has to be concern about the sports writing jobs at the UT offices in Mission Valley, especially if the works of the LA Times lead columnists Bill Plaschke or Bill Dwyer are imported here. Granted I doubt few want to read much about the Lakers-Clippers-Dodgers-Kings-Ducks-UCLA or USC except on an occasional big story basis. However their weekly MLB-NBA-NHL columns outshine San Diego’s content. There just won’t be enough space for all that content in the merged sport-sections.

And will San Diego invoke their ‘I hate all things LA’ mind-set and revolt against reading anything based out of LA?

Once upon a time, there were diverse talents and opinions in our San Diego market. In the 25-years I have done sports-talk here, we have had the Morning Union, the afternoon Tribune, the Escondido Times Advocate, the Oceanside Blade Citizen, the Daily Californian, and access to the LA Herald Examiner, when it was alive. There was even an LA Times edition for San Diego County just a decade or so ago. They all had different beat writers, different takes, different agendas, different styles.

There are a combined 23-to-25 full time staffers in that sports department corner in Mission Valley, and another 10-to-15 stringers too. The circulation is in the neighborhood of 230,000. The website gets maybe 1,200 hits a day, not much for a 3.5M market. It is what’s left of what was a pretty vibrant, competitive newspaper market. They, the reporting staff and the business side of the paper, will be moving out of their corporate offices within a year, and may be actually printing the paper out of market also.

The print media as we knew it then, now they are all gone. The Union and Tribune merged. The UT’s new owners bought up the consolidated Times Advocate-Blade Citizen merged paper (North County Times) and the Californian, and folded them, putting people out of work.

The industry has indeed changed; less money for advertising; less subscribers; fewer jobs in the industry. And I am not sure for the better.

If I were king, and if the Union-Tribune internet is to grow as a digital money-maker, I’d keep the sports staff intact, divide the responsibilities.

Give me a columnist for the paper, and a separate one for the website. Ditto, by breaking up the Chargers and Padres writers. Give me an across the board college writer for that website to cover and write lots for all schools, not just San Diego State, but everything down from USD to Mira Costa. Do the same deal with the ever interesting high school beats. Make these guys compete against each other as if they were separate outlets.

Tough days ahead for people you know, read, might like or dislike. No one, not Nick Canepa, Kevin Acee, Chris Jenkins, the columnists, or the host of Chargers-Padres-Aztecs-Golf-or High School beat writers know what lays ahead once the format of the LA Times takeover happens.

The economy may be improving for Wal-Mart type jobs, but it surely isn’t in the working media. Manchester takes his money and leaves, and the sports-staff is left behind to face buyouts, layoffs, firings and sadly the end of some careers.

If I were king, I’d try to keep as many good people as possible, to serve the widest audience possible. Try it. It beats a staff meeting where everybody gets a brown envelope with exit papers to sign, and box to pack your desk and leave. I hope it works out for some of my friends.

One shoe dropped last week, the hammer fell yesterday. The New England Patriots are guilty of cheating, or maybe more so arrogance, or just stupidity.

A future Hall of Famer quarterback besmirches his reputation with the ticky-tack tampering with footballs. Tom Brady, what were you thinking?

A legendary owner, benevolent, rich, so well respected, heads an organization tainted by a second cheating scandal in less than a decade. Robert Kraft should re-examine the culture of his football franchise.

The coach, likely headed to Canton for enshrinement, always looking for an edge, will lose his quarterback for a month, and more importantly, another lst round draft pick, for something that never should have happened. The only question is whether Bill Belicheck really cares?

So here we sit, the aftermath of “Deflate gate”. Tom Brady suspended for 4-games, costing himself 2M in salary, having to sit out critical games against the Steelers, Cowboys and Buffalo.

Owner Robert Kraft and his franchise gets tagged with a 1M fine, for what people in the locker room did, supposedly unbeknownst, to the coaching staff. They lose another lst round draft pick, much like they did during the Spygate scandal of 2007, that cost them 750,000 and a lst round pick.

Belicheck lives in his own world, scheming, scamming, always trying to find ways to win a critical game. I wonder if the compilation of all the things he’s done, from illegal videotaping, to illegal formations, to backing out on a New York job to flee across the New England border for this job, ever comes back to haunt him with Hall of Fame voters.

Patriots players, fans, and even some in the Boston media say the tampering with game-balls had little effect on the outcome of the 45-7 playoff win over the Colts. But it was the “intent” to cheat that has to be held up to the light. If you let one thing slide, what happens when the next sin is committed?

And you wonder, if Roger Goodell now heads up an industry overflowing with bad people. In his reign, he has had to deal not just with Deflategate, but Spygate (Patriots), Bountygate (Saints), Drug-gate (Colts), Cap-gate (Broncos), Gambling-gate (49ers), and Hazing-gate (Miami). All things owners and coaches got themselves involved in.

Just think of what has transpired recently, the DeBartolo gambling scandal that led to his expulsion; the Broncos cap issues: the Irsay drug scandal; the Patriots illegal taping sessions: the Saints hit list; :the Dolphins hate list; and the brassy attempt to tamper with balls in New England. Distasteful to you?.

All this on the left hand.

That’s because the right hand has to deal with Greg Hardy, Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice, La’El Collins, and so much more so recently.

The popularity of the NFL is at an all-time high. They seem immune to all the things that are happening on their watch. One wonders if the money and power of the game have corrupted the owners of the game, and the players in the game? Or maybe these are just a few isolated incidents, in a league where there are good owners and great people playing the game?

Brady was stupid; Kraft has become arrogant; Belicheck is no longer trust-worthy. Hard to believe the stars on the field and on the sidelines, have reverted to pulling off sleazy stunts like this.

I hope the NFL continues to ramp up the big time discipline, money and draft picks. If that’s what it takes to clean this game up, so be it. A great game should not have to be ruined by not so-great people. .

Baseball

• Padres-L-Arizona (2-1)..Andrew Cashner gives up 2-solo HRs to Aaron Hill-AJ Pollock-difference maker…Friars leave 9-on base-including 5-in scoring position…Casher (1-6) with impressive (3.06ERA) no run support.
• Padres…Off day today…wrap up 9G-road trip in Seattle-Tuesday–Wednesday.

• Dodgers-W-Colorado (9-5)..Adrian Gonzalez bases loaded double-4RBIs..runs BA to (.377)…Justin Turner 2R-HR….LA (20-10) record.
• Dodgers-Miami…Zack Greinke (5-0) 1.56-starts against Marlins tonite.

• Angels-W-Houston (3-1)..Garrett Richards carries no hitter into 7th inning..10-strikeouts-1-hit allowed…
• Angels..Off day today..Open series with Colorado on Tuesday.

• Yankees-W-Orioles..Michael Pineda (16K-7inn)..Didi Gregorius RBI single-double…NY (20-12)
• Red Sox-W-Rays…Mike Napoli 3R-HR..Pablo Sandoval 2R-HR.
• Indians-W-Twins..Danny Salazar retires 21-in row..Lonnie Chisenhall 3R-HR.
• Texas-W-Toronto..Adrian Beltre HR-RBI-single
• Mariners-W-A’s..Kyle Seager RBI-double..Athletics hit 3HRs-lost.
• Tigers-Royals..3-hour rain delay till well after midnite..
• Nationals-W-Braves..Bryce Harper RBI-single-double.
• Giants-W-Miami..SF score 2R-in-9th…Giants won 7-of-10.
• Brewers-W-Cubs..Martin Maldonado HR-RBI-single
• White Sox-W-Reds..Gord Beckham RBI-single-9th.
• Pirates-W-Cardinals..Jung Kang HR-RBI-single for Bucs.
• Mets-W-Phillies..Curtis Granderson 2R-HR…meets (19-11)..Phillies (11-21).

• Dodgers…Yasiel Puig-MRI-reinjured hamstring 3X-on rehab trip.
• TBay..Surgery-P-Alex Cobb-torn elbow ligament..Drew Smyly-reinjure shoulder.
• A’s..Surgery-P-Jarrod Parker-fractured elbow..AJ Griffin-reinjures shoulder
• Mets..3B-David Wright shutdown-back issues while rehabbing hamstring.
• Orioles..DL-Evreth Cabrera-bruised foot
• Royals..DL-P-Jason Vargas-shoulder strain.
• Orioles..DL-P-Kevin Glausman-shoulder.
• Mets..DL-P-Dillon Gee-groin.
• Tigers..DL-C-Alex Avila-bone chip knee-surgery-6W
• Texas..Josh Hamilton (1-5) first rehab game in AAA.
• Giants..Hope to send OF-Hunter Pence on rehab this week-out broken arm.
• Yankees..P-Masahiro Tanaka 50-long throws-testing ailing elbow.
• Dodgers..P-Kenley Jansen-to make 4-rehab bullpen appearances.

• Mets..Callup P-Noah Syndegaard (0.82ERA) AAA.
• A’s..Sign FA-P-Edwin Mujica-ex-Red Sox.
• Phillies..Release P-Miguel Gonzalez-eat 12M-contract.
• Dodgers..1B-Mike Carp opts out of AAA-contract.
• Indians..Sign FA-P-Carlos Marmol-ex Cubs.
• Rockies..Option P-Tyler Matzek-AAA
• Boston..Option Of-Allan Craig-AAA..hitting (.135)
• Blue Jays..Sign FA-P-Joel Piniero-=ex Cardinals

• Red Sox..Hire-Carl Willis-Indians-pitching coach

Basketball

• Clippers-W-Houston…LA explodes for 43P-in 3rd quarter, outscores Rockets (29-10) to win angry playoff game (128-95)..Rockets committed 40-fouls, and the Clippers went (37-63) from free throw line…LA built 33P-lead early in 4th quarter in borderline ‘dirty street fite game’. .LA leads series (3-1).

• Cavaliers-W-Bulls..Le’Bron James hits corner jump shot with 1/10th second-left in game..Bulls let 7-point lead slip away…Cavs blew 7-point lead late in 4th quarter…LeBron (10-30) shooting…Cavs went (8:06) without scoring in 4th quarter..Bulls went (6:58) without basket in 3rd quarter…Series tied (2-2) going back to Cleveland.

• Golden State-at-Memphis…Must win game for Warriors on road..Grizzlies lead series (2-1)…Splash Brothers getting battered by Smash Brothers defense..Steph Curry-33P average coming into series-averaging just 21P the last two losses…Warriors shot 40% from 3-point line in season-hitting just 23% last two games.

• Atlanta-at-Washington…Wizards lead (2-1) even without G-John Wall-fractured hand.
• ESPN..Fires-Bill Simmons-outspoken in studio analyst-will not give him contract extension after feuds over content…Developed (30-30) series…and Grantland Website series.

Football

• NFL…Today could be discipline day for Tom Brady-Deflategate…NFL sources say he faces 2-to-8 game suspension for refusing to cooperate with league and for breaking the rules….Patriots owner Bob Kraft facing major fine also for refusing to cooperate.

• Patriots..May have interest in FA-QB-Michael Vick-if Tom Brady suspended.
• Cowboys…DT-Josh Brent-retires..served prison time in drunk driving death of teammate.
• Bengals..Sign FA-QB-Terrelle Pryor-ex Chiefs-Raiders
• Bears..Sign FA-OT-Paul Cornick-ex Bears.
• Jets…OT-Corey Hilliard retires…Visit WR-AJ Jenkins-ex 49ers.
• Steelers..Sign FA-QB-Taj Boyd-CFL-Montreal-former Clemson star.

• Seahawks..QB-Russell Wilson rejects (4Y-$80M) extension may want (4Y-$96M)..headed to final year of contract.
• Redskins..Former coach says QB-Robert Griffin III-will never master being a pocket passer..GM-Scott McCloughan backs QB-‘won Rookie of Year’..won a division title…Griffin just (5-18) as starter since injury rookie year.

• Jaguars..Coach Gus Bradley says he did nothing wrong with ‘intenisty’ practices that led to torn knee ligament-1st round pick Dante Fowler.
• Broncos..Lose 3rd round choice-TE-Jeff Heureman-torn knee ligament.
• Chargers..Tell OT-DJ Fluker they want his weight cut from (353-to-330) this year.

Hockey

• Ducks-Flames…Flames (1-24) in Anaheim since 2004-put up amazing battle tonite with Ducks…Corey Perry shaken up with knee-on-knee check late in 2nd period…Flames G-Karri Ramo bombarded shots..Corey Perry jammed home a rebound in overtime to give the Ducks a (3-2) come from behind win…Anaheim goes on to the Western Conference finals against the Chicago Blackhawks…

• Rangers-W-Washington…Chris Kreider 2-goals-Rick Nash key goal early 3rd period…Series tied (3-3) heading back to Madison Square Garden.

• Blackhawks…D-Michael Rozsival-fractured ankle-will miss rest of playoffs.

• Red Wings..Give coach Mike Babcock permission to interview for vacant coaching jobs Toronto-Edmonton-San Jose.

• SD Gulls..Fire coach-Jarrod Skaalde-will not join team from Norfolk Adimirals…won just 29G-of-76 game schedule last year..beset by injuries-callups…
• Gulls…Will transfer 7-front office employees from Norfolk.
• Gulls..Meet with AHL officials this week to discuss schedule…Pacific Division teams will play 68-games (34H-34R).

General

• PGA Championship…Ricky Fowler shoots 8-under par-final 10-holes force 4-hole playoff..beats Sergio Garcia-Kevin Kisner….Fowler finished (276)…Bill Haas (277)…Rory McIlroy (280)…Tiger Woods (290)…Phil Mickelson-Jordan Spieth did not make cut.

• NASCAR-Kansas 400..Jimmie Johnson catches leaders with 8-laps left in rain delayed race..holds off Dale Earnhardt-Kevin Harvick for win.

• Indy Grand Prix..7-car crash on lst lap wipes out big names..Will Power leads 65-laps and wins.

• Spanish Grand Prix…Nico Rosberg builds amazing (:18) leads-upsets Lewis Hamilton who had bad start and tire issues.