Vicente Padilla was released by the Texas Rangers, and it really couldn’t have happened to a more deserving guy. Padilla was one of the most frustrating Phillies to try and root for ever. His inconsistent mound work was surpassed only by his off putting lack of personality or competitive edge.

Padilla got lit up in his last start for the Rangers, giving up 7 runs in 3 2/3 innings against the Yankees on Tuesday.

Here’s an annoying Padilla story: Dateline: June 25, 2005. Phillies vs. Red Sox Citizens Bank Park. An otherwise perfect day for baseball was ruined by Padilla’s atrocious outing against the Sox, as Padilla gives up 5 runs on the strength of 4 doubles in just 2.2 innings of shoddy work. I was at that game as part of my brother’s bachelor party. Prior to heading out to a local gentlemen’s establishment in Philly, we went to Dave and Busters. Only to find Mr. Padilla enjoying himself far too much at the front bar. By all rights, he should have bought a round for the whole bar to apologize for his awful start earlier in the day, but he was too busy forgetting it ever happened.

**************************************************

The Mets are in disarray, and is there any other team you enjoy watching meltdown more than the Mets? Between injuries, shoddy defensive play and the possibility of swine flu infesting the lesser of the New York teams, things are not looking too good in Flushing right now.

I don’t wish serious illness on anyone, but a mild team-wide case of swine flu ripping through Citi Field’s home locker room? Just enough to help propel the Phils to a 10 game or so lead in the NL East? I’d feel a little bad. A little.

Also, Jose Reyes had a setback in his rehab from right knee problems. Now, according to Mets Blog Reyes has a torn hamstring. Extended time on the disabled list for Reyes will deprive baseball fans all over the country from seeing Reyes celebrate otherwise routine moments in baseball games.

In other miserable news if you’re a Mets fan, J.J. Putz may need surgery on his right elbow. Poor guy might miss some time.

************************************************

In non-NL East news, but still in the MLB, this David Ortiz stuff is getting out of hand. Now, he’s going to get his eyes checked. These are the words of a beaten man. Bill Simmons has a theory on why Ortiz is so awful this year.

I cannot remember a previously great player flaming out this quickly. .187 BA, 1 HR, 18 RBI, a 46 OPS+ and 51 Ks in 187 ABs. Yikes.

************************************************

On my recent vacation, I got a chance to read Jayson Stark’s latest book, “Worth The Wait: Tales of the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies”. Stark’s writing can be a little annoying at times. He finds wacky stats and then uses them to bolster his “Is this game crazy or what?” style. Generally speaking, I don’t mind reading him, and I think he gets better lock room quotes than many of his counterparts.

My only other criticism of Jayson Stark is that, as a national writer, I believe he is contractually obligated to refer to Phillies fans as many times as possible as sad sacks who have a collective “half glass empty” philosophy toward everything in life. I get it, but he pours it on a bit too thick at times.

All in all, though, this book is a great chronological rundown of the Phillies’ 2008 season. Some of the writing is reprints of ESPN.com articles that Stark wrote throughout the year supplemented by original writing to fill in the blanks.

If Rip Van Winkle was a Phillies fan and slept through all of 2008, this is the book you’d give him to get the flavor of the season.