Sports Report: Tough Stretch Looms for Padres

The upside to watching Padres games from France? Once a week, scheduling resulted in two games airing in one day. The catch: You had to get up by 4 a.m. for the first one. I hope you’re glad to have me back from my travels in Europe so I can watch the games during waking hours. I hope too that Beau Lynott filling in for the last two weeks didn’t raise the bar too high.

In trying my best to follow San Diego sports while abroad, I discovered I actually enjoy watching baseball more on my iPad than I do on my TV, and found sports teams and figures to be a much smaller part of the culture in the countries I visited. It was an interesting journey and I’m thankful I made it, but I’m glad to be back in the country where my favorite sports are played.

You’re reading the Sports Report, our weekly compilation of news and information for the San Diego sports fan.

Padres Struggle After Injuries to Gyorko, Alonso and Cabrera

• Despite going 4-6 in their last 10 games, the Padres are still tied for second place in the NL West. After defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in dramatic fashion on Monday night, the Padres lost the last two games of the series. They haven’t won a series since sweeping the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 16.
• Everth Cabrera and Jedd Gyorko could return from their injures as soon as next week, with Yonder Alonso following the week after. Cabrera and Gyorko have been two of the team’s best players in 2013, and the Padres will need them to compete with the Boston Red Sox, Washington Nationals, Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants in the first half of July.
• While regularly starting in place of the injured Alonso, Kyle Blanks has had one of the best months for a Padres hitter in years. Now manager Bud Black will have to find a spot for Blanks when Alonso returns.
• The Padres have two players heading to the “Futures Game,” an all-star game of minor-league prospects. Gaslamp Ball writer Wonko explains the lackluster fate of previous classes.
• After a former mayoral candidate threw out the first pitch last week at Petco Park, this happened:

Chargers Gearing Up for Training Camp

• After plenty of speculation, the Chargers finally announced a few changes to team uniforms. I think the tweaks are fantastic and give the jerseys a more sleak, up-to-date look. But I’m probably not going to pay to update the jerseys in my closet.
• Rookie wide receiver Keenan Allen isn’t shy about his desire to start for the Chargers. For anyone annoyed by his comments, just think how much worse it would’ve been if he’d said he rather ride the bench instead.
• Zach Kruse of Bleacher Report is amazed at how well the Chargers PR staff has handled the Manti Te’o situation. I think a lot of credit goes to a San Diego media already weary of the story before the rookie linebacker was drafted. Kruse’s reaction directly contrasts with Denver Post’s Mike Klis’, who blasted the Chargers last month on their handling of Te’o. Guess you can’t please everyone.

Stories You May Have Missed

• Now charged with first-degree murder, tight end Aaron Hernandez was released by the New England Patriots Wednesday after his arrest.
• The Washington Redskins touted “Chief Dodson,” who attempted to represent Native Americans in supporting use of the term “Redskins” for the NFL franchise. This worked wonderfully until Deadspin uncovered that Dodson wasn’t exactly the man he made himself out to be.
• GIF of the Week: Tim Duncan knew that he let his San Antonio Spurs’ teammates down when he missed a layup late in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Here’s hoping 2013 wasn’t Duncan’s last shot at another title.

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I’m John Gennaro, contributor to Active Voice and managing editor of Bolts from the Blue. You can tweet me @jmglion or e-mail me directly at boltsfromtheblue@gmail.com.

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