We Have Given A Name To Our Pain ... Again

Since we're Padres fans, Justin Verlander's no-hitter yesterday got us thinking...about suicide. Once we realized that a jump from a third-floor balcony (that balcony being the handiest at the time) probably wouldn't kill us, we were forced to reconsider our position. Thanks to Buster Olney, it's more likely that you know now the Padres passed on Verlander with the first pick in the 2004 draft. Instead, they took local high-schooler Matt Bush, who they thought would be a more affordable pick and more likely to sign with the club. Three years later, Bush has been nothing short of a disaster in the Padres' system. He's had trouble at the plate and in the field while missing huge chunks of time due to injuries. Now Bush is being converted into a pitcher, despite not having pitched since high school. And we all know what Justin Verlander has been up to since the 2004 draft. The Padres have had major problems with their farm system lately as well. Khalil Greene is the only current San Diego position player who was drafted by the team and made it all the way to the majors. Passing on the super-successful Verlander for yet another minor-league washout is a classic cause for eternal sports-fan pain, isn't it?