NewsGaudin wants to stick in Padres' rotation
San Diego (10-9) at Colorado (7-11), 5:40 p.m. PT
Chad Gaudin surrendered 26 hits in 16 2/3 innings with the Cubs during Spring Training. (Chris Carlson/AP)
By Nick Zaccardi / Special to MLB.com
04/28/09 2:55 AM ET
DENVER -- When presented with the obvious question surrounding new starting pitcher Chad Gaudin, Padres manager Bud Black found the correct answer without seeing a single pitch. "Is that how you pronounce it, Go-Dan?" Black said. Yes. Mystery solved. The Cajun right-hander will make his Padres debut on Tuesday against the Rockies, filling the starting spot of Shawn Hill. Hill is on the disabled list with elbow soreness, and he may be there for a while. This opens the door for Gaudin, who signed with San Diego after being cut by the Cubs at the end of Spring Training. He chose the Padres because they granted his wish to return to starting. Gaudin had spent most of 2008 in the bullpen. At 26, Gaudin hopes his relief days are behind him. He wants to be a starter for the rest of his career. Tuesday marks the first step. "Of course, that's my idea," said Gaudin, who went 11-13 with a 4.42 ERA in 34 starts for Oakland in 2007. "That's what I want to do. My goal is to be able to do it. I know I can do it. It's just a matter of getting back there." Black is going to give him that chance. He doesn't really have a choice. He has three starting pitchers on the disabled list and a dearth of sturdy options behind Jake Peavy and Chris Young. "Somebody needs to fit long-term," Black said. "He's going to be given the first opportunity. He had a number of opportunities to go to other organizations after he got let go by the Cubs. He deemed this to be a good fit. We're happy he chose us." Gaudin had two hip surgeries following his only full Major League season as a starter in 2007. He said he pitched in pain that year but is more confident now that it has subsided. In two starts at Triple-A Portland, Gaudin didn't give up a run in 8 2/3 innings. He deemed himself ready, though Black said Gaudin will be limited to 90 to 100 pitches as his arm is still being stretched out. What's it going to take for Gaudin to stick? That's also an easy answer for Black. "This is a performance game, a performance-driven game," Black said. "You've got to perform." Pitching matchupSD: RHP Chad Gaudin (0-0, -.-- ERA)
With Hill going on the disabled list with right elbow soreness, the Padres decided to push Josh Geer's start to Thursday and call up Gaudin to pitch on normal rest Tuesday. Gaudin was signed to a Minor League deal on April 12 after being released by the Cubs at the end of Spring Training. Chicago had used Gaudin as a reliever, so he needed a couple starts at Triple-A Portland to stretch out his arm. Gaudin has faced the Rockies twice in his career, pitching seven innings and giving up three runs. COL: LHP Jorge De La Rosa (0-2, 3.78 ERA)
De La Rosa revealed his stellar side in his last start, a loss to the D-backs at Chase Field. He gave up two runs in 6 2/3 innings, but struck out six. Most of his strikeouts came on his slider, which can be a tremendous put-away pitch when his fastball is working early in counts. Tidbits
Adrian Gonzalez's 458-foot home run on Sunday marked the longest homer in the six-season history of PETCO Park. ... Brian Giles had two singles on Monday to pass Phil Nevin for fifth place on the franchise's all-time hit list. ... Walter Silva, on the disabled list with a strained right forearm, threw a side session on Monday and is expected to go on a rehab assignment. ... The Denver area saw snow on Monday, evidenced by scattered white piles drying in left field a few hours before the game. That caused Black to reminisce about his snow days in the 1980s. Black said he remembered pitching in wintery conditions during one of his stints in Cleveland. After more pondering, he recalled a snowy game he pitched in Denver in 1982 or '83 while with the Triple-A Omaha Royals facing the Denver Bears at old Mile High Stadium. ... Reliever Luis Perdomo turned 25 years old on Monday. Tickets
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• XPRS 1090, XEMO 860 (Español) Up next
• Wednesday: Padres (Kevin Correia, 0-1, 4.50) at Rockies (Aaron Cook, 0-1, 8.35), 12:10 p.m. PT
• Thursday: Padres (Josh Geer, 0-0, 4.91) at Dodgers (James McDonald, 1-1, 7.11), 7:10 p.m. PT
• Friday: Padres (Jake Peavy, 2-3, 5.74) at Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw, 0-2, 7.29), 7:10 p.m. PT
Nick Zaccardi is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
