Lundquist is released

Due to a shoulder injury, Carson High graduate Dave Lundquist was released earlier this week by the San Diego Padres.

Lundquist was originally placed on the disabled list with a sore shoulder retroactive to June 29. The Padres decided to release him on Saturday.

Ironically, as Lundquist was packing away his Padres' gear, the sound system in the clubhouse began playing a song called "You're Gone."

Lundquist grinned and returned to packing. Moments earlier, Padres general manager Kevin Towers had informed Lundquist he had been released.

Lundquist understood his fate, but the timing couldn't have been worse.

Lundquist, 29, made only three relief appearances with the Padres after being purchased from Class AAA Portland on June 23 before going on the disabled list with shoulder problems. Towers said he could not remember the last time he had released a player on the disabled list.

Lundquist said he wasn't upset with the Padres. "I understand," Lundquist told the San Diego Union Tribune. "I'd probably do the same thing if I were in the club's position. They needed the roster spot and I'm not ready to help the team. They've been good to me for two years."

In his three appearances for the Padres, Lundquist was ineffective with a 16.88 earned run average. But with the Padres Triple A affiliate, the Portland Beavers, Lundquist was leading the Pacific Coast League with 21 saves and was named to the PCL all-star team before being called up.

Throughout his career, Lundquist has overcome injuries to make three different stints in the Major Leagues. He pitched for the Chicago White Sox in 1999 and the Padres last year and this season.