Rev. Jackson rips Padres security

By: BRIAN HIRO - Staff Writer | Tuesday, April 4, 2006 11:19 PM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- The managing director of Petco Park defended the Padres against outside criticism that they and San Diego police didn't do enough to protect San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds in the season opener.

Responding indirectly to Jesse Jackson, who told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Bonds' security was at risk in the Padres' 6-1 victory Monday, Richard Andersen said the Padres and Major League Baseball had a good plan.

"We're proud of our security team and proud of what we did," Andersen said. "Barry's safety is really important to us."

Jackson, the longtime civil rights leader, was upset that a fan was able to throw a syringe at Bonds as he walked back to the dugout from left field in the eighth inning. Bonds picked up the syringe and carried it off with him.

"That fan should have been arrested," Jackson told the AP. "That object could have had a needle in it. It could have hit him. The commissioner of baseball must be outspoken in protecting any players whose lives are in jeopardy, whose security is at risk."

Andersen said "it would be difficult" to respond to comments from someone who wasn't at the stadium. He called the syringe a "plastic toy" and said the fan who threw it escaped before he could be identified.

"We don't know exactly where it came from," Andersen said. "We're confident that whoever threw this is a knucklehead. It wasn't potentially harmful to (Bonds)."

The syringe was a jab at the steroid allegations swirling around Bonds, who has 708 career home runs.

Andersen said the Padres and the commissioner's office began to implement their security plan for Bonds' arrival five days before the game and that five security officers from Major League Baseball were employed in addition to normal Petco security.

"We take the security thing seriously," Andersen said. "Barry has a right to feel safe and secure."

Ring's the thing


Padres infielder Geoff Blum wishes he would have known about Tuesday's rainout in advance. In that case, he could have flown to Chicago to participate in the ring ceremony for the World Series title he helped deliver to the White Sox.

"It's not a heartbreaker because I didn't plan on going," Blum said. "It could have worked out, but it would have been a lot of effort." Blum watched on television as his former teammates received their World Series rings before a game against Cleveland.

Blum, whose 14th-inning home run in Game 3 lifted the White Sox to a sweep of Houston last October, was one of the few current or former players not in attendance at U.S. Cellular Field.

So how will Blum get his ring?

"That's a good question," he said. "Hopefully Mr. Fed Ex will show up with a package."

Short hops


Tuesday's posted lineup featured Khalil Greene batting sixth, ahead of Vinny Castilla, for the second game in a row. Manager Bruce Bochy had flip-flopped those two hitters for most of spring training. Greene had a home run and three RBIs in the season opener. ... C Rob Bowen arrived with the team one day after being claimed off waivers from Detroit. Bowen gives Bochy the flexibility to use backup C Doug Mirabelli some at first base. ... The Padres released 1B Tagg Bozied from Triple-A Portland. Bozied, a third-round pick in the 2001 draft, was a promising hitter who never fully recovered from a ruptured knee suffered in 2004 while he was celebrating a game-winning grand slam.