Sports at Lunch, Mark Loretta and Mark Sweeney
Padres All-Star second baseman Mark Loretta wore a black brace over his left hand that extended to his forearm.
"I'm working on my bowling," Loretta said to the Sports at Lunch audience of 105 fans assembled June 22 on Center Court at the San Diego Hall of Champions to hear Loretta and teammate Mark Sweeney speak.
Loretta was joking, of course. He recently began therapy for his injured left thumb and said he hopes to return to the lineup between July 20 and July 30. Loretta was injured on May 17 while sliding into first base and underwent surgery on May 24 to repair ligament damage.
Sweeney, the Padres super sub as a pinch-hitter who can play first base and the outfield, wore his usual enthusiasm instead of brace.
"We talk about team chemistry and reasons why this team is doing well," Loretta said. "Mark Sweeney has been a huge part of that. He's able to full multiple positions and his energy is great for the team."
One of the questions Loretta was asked, with a nervous laugh from the audience, was about sliding head first.
"The thing about baseball is things happen very quickly," Loretta said. "It's a game of bursts. Things happen in milli-seconds, and that time I slid head first into first base was probably the first time I ever did that. ( Atlanta Braves pitcher) John Smoltz was rolling on the ground trying to tag me, and it was just an instinct that I lunged for the bag. Unfortunately I caught my thumb, but deciding to slide was something that happened in a milli-second."
Sweeney, acquired in the offseason, was asked about his "pelo" routine. Sweeney explained he likes to take the helmet off a player's head -- pelo is Spanish for hair -- when he returns to the dugout after hitting a home run. He said taking off the helmet allows fans recognize the player for more than his jersey number, and it also helps keep the dugout loose."
"A lot of stuff we do is very serious," Sweeney said. "When I'm not playing, I eat a lot of sunflowers seeds, but I need something else. If you're winning, it's something that catches on when you're winning. I started it last year in Colorado, but it didn't catch on. I think having fun translate into winning on the field, and we're having fun winning this year."
A year ago Loretta batted .335 while leading the team in hits (208) and doubles (47). Loretta became the first Padre other than Tony Gwynn with 200 hits in a season.
Sweeney, who previously played with the Padres in 1997, 1998 and 2002, was signed by general manager Kevin Towers to improve the team's bench play and provide a left-handed pinch-hitter. In 2004, Sweeney led the Major Leagues with 23 pinch-hit RBI.
Fans attending Sports at Lunch had a chance to ask Loretta, a Breitbard Professional Sports Star of the Year in 2004, about the Padres' improved play at home in the second season of Petco Park.
They had a chance to ask Sweeney about what it takes to come off the bench and produce in the Major Leagues.
What did they say? You should have been there to hear them.
For reservations to the next Sports at Lunch, call Mary Woodall at 619-699-2334.
