Adrian Beltre – Padre Killer

At the start of each series, we at Chicken Friars will zero in on an opposing player known to be a “Padre Killer.” No matter the day, time or place, this player is known to be a one-man wrecking crew when it comes to playing against the San Diego Padres.

In this column, I will analyze that player’s statistics against the Friars and try to offer some insight into how not to let that player beat our beloved team.

The Padres put together their first winning road trip this season after winning four of seven games by sweeping the Seattle Mariners in three games,  and taking one of three  from the Oakland A’s.

The Padres will now head  home to conclude the interleague schedule with games against the star-powered Texas Rangers and the interleague rival Seattle Mariners.

Josh Hamilton, the Rangers’ best player and the AL player of the month in April and May is back with the team after spending a few days in the hospital  recovering from an  intestinal virus.

As good as Hamilton is, the Padres have to be weary of the whole Rangers’ lineup because from one through nine the Rangers’ lineup is fully loaded.

The Rangers statistically have the best offense in all of baseball, led by Hamilton, Ian Kinsler, and Michael Young-  just to name a few.

Really, anyone in the Rangers lineup could be a Padre Killer, but the player who has constantly plagued the Padres is Rangers third-baseman Adrian Beltre.

Beltre has killed the Padres in his days with the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s been a while since Beltre has teed of on the Padres, but he has left them with many nightmares.

I will be honest. I have no clue on how to pitch to Beltre and the rest of the Rangers lineup. I consider them the best team in baseball. The Padres just need to step up their game and prove me wrong.