JAY PARIS COMMENTARY: Dykstra leaves home in favor of home runs

By JAY PARIS - Staff Writer | Monday, August 18, 2008 12:30 AM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- James Dykstra burst into his Rancho Bernardo home and headed for the couch ---- before stopping in his tracks.

"Hey,'' James told his big brother, Allan, "you're in my spot!''

Not anymore.

Allan Dykstra is back where he belongs, digging in a batter's box and launching drives off his powerful bat. The lumber that made him a Rancho Bernardo High and Wake Forest star took him to Petco Park, where the Padres' first-round draft pick was on display Sunday.

"It was great getting out there and hitting,'' said Dykstra, a left-handed hitter.

He was on a summer siesta when contract negotiations stalled with the Padres after a red flag arose regarding an old hip injury. A deal was eventually struck minutes before Friday night's deadline, which interrupted a summer seldom seen at the Dykstra digs.

"This is the first summer he has not played baseball in who knows how long ---- I can't remember it,'' said Randy Dykstra, Allan's father. "He was looking forward to finally getting a break for a couple of weeks, but by the end of August he was hoping to get back on the field.''

And Randy is primed to quit floating Allan loans.

"Let's just say I was taking care of credit cards bills I wasn't expecting to take care of,'' Randy said. "Now, I can schedule a budget on my own now and not have to worry about him.''

That peace of mind comes with Allan getting a $1.15 million piece of the Padres' bankroll. Maybe now Randy will ask his son for an allowance.

Then again, probably not. With Allan back at home recently, Randy didn't get far in requesting him to contribute with chores.

"The unfortunate thing with him being 21 is he wasn't listening too well to dad,'' Randy said, with a smile.

It was all hugs and backslaps with the Padres' prized young first baseman in uniform. Good thing, because with their recent luck regarding first-round picks, the Padres didn't need to lose the 6-foot-5, 240-pounder.

Now they hope he's not snakebit, like those first-rounders before him: Tim Stauffer, Matt Bush, Cesar Carrillo and Nick Schmidt.

That's why it was imperative ---- his repaired hip being what it is ---- that the gifted Dykstra, selected No. 23 overall, didn't slip back into the draft.

If the Padres pinch their nose at high-priced free agents ---- they don't and won't sign them ---- and if they don't get dividends from high draft picks, good luck rebuilding. So Dykstra's presence ---- he hit .323 with 16 home runs and 50 RBIs last season ---- was important for today and tomorrow.

"No. 1, for a big-boomer type guy, he controls the strike zone," said Grady Fuson, the Padres' vice president of scouting and player development. "He always had a little bit of an advanced idea of the strike zone and he is disciplined. When you are disciplined and have that skill, you are looking for that pitch you can drive and you get it more. And with that strength and power, that is where performance rises.''

Fuson mentions the likes of the Phillies' Ryan Howard and the Angels' Mark Teixeira when comparing Dykstra with others. That's heady company.

"We took him with the idea that he's got a chance to hit .260-270, with 25-plus home runs and drive in 70-100 runs,'' Fuson said. "So we are hopefully banking on that some day being his M.O.''

Really, it was RB Day at Petco. Dykstra was the featured batting practice hitter and Cole Hamels, another with Rancho Bernardo credentials, was the Phillies' starter. Maybe someday they'll be together between the lines when it counts.

For now, Allan will head to Single-A Lake Elsinore on Tuesday ---- he may be activated when major league rosters expand in September.

James will head back to the couch.

Randy will head back to financial security.

"We went to dinner the other night at a local place, and he said, 'Hey, I got this one,' '' Randy said of a historic first between him and Allan. "But then last night I took him and his brother out to Jake's (in Del Mar) and picked up the tab for that one, and it was a nice little tab. But that's OK.''

No wad of cash could purchase the bragging rights James had on Allan ---- until Sunday.

James, who also plays at RB, nearly cleared the Petco Park fence when the Broncos played La Costa Canyon last season downtown. But Allan trumped him in batting practice, although his long shot didn't come until the last round.

The first-rounder didn't leave much cushion to best little brother. The consolation for James are the big cushions waiting at home.

The Padres added a player, while the Dykstras lost a summer tenant.

And both couldn't be happier.

Contact staff writer Jay Paris at jparis8@aol.com.

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