PADRES NOTES: Another Gonzalez joining team, Crabbe designated for assignment

By DAN HAYES - Staff Writer | Monday, May 12, 2008 9:35 AM PDT ∞

Padres' Adrian Gonzalez eyes his run producing double that stayed fair down the right field line against the Colorado Rockies in the sixth inning of their baseball game Sunday, May 11, 2008 in San Diego. Gonzalez's brother, Edgar, will be added to the Padres' roster today. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

SAN DIEGO ---- Sunday's win wasn't the only exciting news for Adrian Gonzalez as he learned two days earlier that older brother Edgar Gonzalez will join the Padres in Chicago.

The Padres' first baseman said Edgar Gonzalez, who is making his first trip to the big leagues on Monday from Triple-A Portland, was in a state of disbelief when he called with word of his promotion late Friday.

The 29-year-old utility man ---- a career .297 hitter in 3,035 minor-league at-bats ---- was hitting .293 for Portland through Sunday. The Padres will make room by designating Rule 5 draft pick Callix Crabbe for assignment.

"He was extremely excited obviously but he was kind of like 'I don't believe it,' " Adrian Gonzalez said. "It was very unexpected. ... He's worked hard for a lot of years and it's definitely something that I'm so happy for him. It's going to be amazing to be able to share that with him (Monday)."

Gonzalez said the transaction was "bittersweet" because his brother's promotion meant Crabbe would be designated. The rookie, who was hitting .176 in 34 at-bats, will be exposed to the waiver wire before he's offered back to his original club, the Milwaukee Brewers. He could stay with the Padres ---- and sent to the minor leagues ---- if no club claims him.

"It's life," said Crabbe, who remained optimistic before getting a pair of autographed balls from Greg Maddux. "I'll be back up here."

Said Gonzalez: "Callix has been great. He's come to me many times throughout the year and said he's praying for my brother ---- he feels he belongs in the big leagues. ... That's the name of the business. You feel sorry for one guy and excited for my brother."

Restrained celebration

Maddux said his celebration of career victory No. 350 on Saturday was "subdued" after learning that ex-teammate Glendon Rusch was designated for assignment.

Trevor Hoffman echoed those sentiments saying the event wasn't as joyous as the direct result of a clubhouse in chaos after a week filled with turnover.

"Obviously one game isn't going to change the reflection of a lot of things that have happened thus far," Hoffman said before Sunday's win. "And really on the heels of losing two of our teammates (veteran outfielder Jim Edmonds was released on Friday), the atmosphere regarding that is not very good. But baseball moves on and you understand this is part of it.

"Unfortunately if you don't play well, things happen. That's kind of frustrating because a major event happened (Saturday) and you'd want it to happen in a much different setting. ... Unfortunately people are going to be like 'They let Rusch go. He must have been a problem.' It's the furthest thing from that. He took care of a lot of those guys down there, grabbed the ball whenever asked, pitched in some tough situations. It's hard to lose a teammate like that."

Maddux, who was teammates with the left-hander in Chicago from 2004-06, said Rusch's triumphant return from a blood clot was fun to be a part of.

"It's tough because you see a guy that really almost dies," Maddux said. "He takes a year off, goes on blood thinners, gets himself back into playing shape. It just didn't work out the way you kind of wanted it to."

Reliever acquired

For the second time in as many days, the Padres added a reliever when they acquired Bryan Corey, 34, from Boston for a player to be named or cash and optioned Joe Thatcher to Triple-A Portland.

Corey ---- who had a 10.50 ERA in six appearances ---- had been twice designated for assignment by the Red Sox this season before going to Triple-A Pawtucket. Last year, Corey had a 1.93 ERA in 9 1/ 3 innings for Boston.

"I was fortunate enough to be up last year and contribute in September," said Corey, who didn't pitch in the postseason but earned a playoff share and World Series ring. "To be there, experience it, the ups and downs through the playoffs that we had, it was pretty special and I learned a lot. It was a lot of fun."

Manager Bud Black said Corey, who pitched a scoreless ninth inning Sunday, would join Cla Meredith and Wil Ledezma in pitching in the sixth and seventh innings. Justin Germano and Sean Henn, both making the transition from being a starter, will split the long relief duties.

Injection for Bard

A night after catching Maddux, rookie catcher Luke Carlin was given another start Sunday because Josh Bard sat out after he received a shot of cortisone in his surgically repaired right wrist on Saturday. Black termed the swelling as "minor," and said it came several months later than doctors expected it would.

Carlin made the most of his opportunity as he cut down a would-be base thief and picked up his first major league hit, an eighth-inning double.

"When I got to second base the crowd got up and I got the chills," Carlin said. "We got the win today and I got a hit as well. It was kind of like getting my cake and eating it too."

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