Kevin Towers has brain cancer

I hate what the Padres are doing, and I'm not sure they'll be able to hang on to the NL West, even in what is obviously the weakest division in baseball. Right now it looks like they're sending Phil Nevin to Texas for Chan Ho Park, assuming Park waives his no-trade clause and Nevin okays it (and it looks like he will). Taking a shot at an up-and-down starter like Park isn't worth dealing Nevin, especially since Ramon Hernandez is injured and Nevin is the only other catcher they have with any power. Still, the Giants fan in me has fond memories of Chan Ho giving up two grannies in the same inning back when he was with the Dodgers. That's right, two grand slams - both to the same hitter.

I do like the move for Joe Randa at third, since Sean Burroughs was making it abundantly clear that he was never going to replicate his Little League World Series hitting prowess. Still, most of their moves give me the feeling that it's more of a panicky reaction to the fact that they've been in free-fall for the last few weeks rather than a long-term solution. At least Nevin blocked the potential trade to Baltimore for Sidney Ponson, who (as the Giants could tell you) is not NEARLY the kind of midseason acquisition who will help anchor the rotation.

I'll put together something later tonight, but right now I have a poker tournament to attend and money to lose.