Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
The Padres close the home season Thursday with corner outfielders Justin Upton and Matt Kemp both out of the lineup at the same time.
And the season will likely end that way this weekend at Dodger Stadium. The Padres announced on Thursday that Justin Upton suffered a neck strain Wednesday night when he slid head-first into the padded wall down the left-field foul line while chasing a hit in the first inning.
Overall, the news was good.