Padres manager Bud Black, of Rancho Santa Fe, ponders whether to start Rob Mackowiak, Morgan Ensberg or Geoff Blum. Wait a minute. THEY’VE ALL BEEN RELEASED…Never mind.

Get your pre-game jig on; this is behind-the-scenes at Petco Park in the Padres locker room. The area is off-limits to the media.

Don’t even think about attempting to reproduce this shot of pitcher David Wells reading a home exercise equipment catalogue at Petco Park. Shortly thereafter, he went somewhat postal about the entire innocuous exercise. OK, still didn’t beat Todd Stottlemeyer Jr. in my face at Dunedin, Fl. David, Todd: All is forgiven, let’s do lunch!

A little leftover magic from my days with the Yomiuri Giants, pee-wee division. The Yakult Swallows eventually won me over when their publicity manager sent me a cap and jersey following a series of e-mail exchanges. For those who don’t know the Swallows are the Mets to the Giants Yankees I remain a Yomiuri Giant, however, forever.