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This almost isn't fair, but random is random. Today's entrant, Dick Selma, holds a special place in my heart. Last year at Ducksnorts I ran a series looking back at the Padres inaugural season. As it happens, Selma started the first game in franchise history on April 8, 1969, tossing a five-hitter and fanning 12 en route to a 2-1 victory at San Diego Stadium.

Selma made just three more appearances for the Padres before being shipped to the Chicago Cubs on April 25 in a deal that brought Joe Niekro to San Diego. Even so, Selma's contribution to the club will not soon be forgotten.

Before being selected with the fifth pick in the 1968 expansion draft, Selma plied his trade for the New York Mets. After signing as a free agent in 1963 (this was before the amateur draft), Selma first surfaced with the big club for a cup of coffee in 1965, at age 21, going 2-1 with a 3.71 ERA (94 ERA+) in four starts. He worked primarily out of the bullpen over the next two seasons before starting 23 games for the Mets in 1968. Despite pitching effectively (9-10, 2.76 ERA, 109 ERA+), Selma was left unprotected and grabbed by the Padres.

In 1969, splitting time with the Padres and Cubs, Selma went 12-10 with a 3.68 ERA (108 ERA+). He was 25 years old, and his list of similar pitchers through that age included some pretty good names, including Bobby Bolin, Pete Vuckovich, Bill Bonham, and Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers.

After the '69 season, the Cubs traded Selma to Philadelphia along with rookie outfielder Oscar Gamble (himself a future Padre) for a prematurely declining Johnny Callison. With the Phillies, Selma moved to the bullpen and finished fifth in the NL with 22 saves, fashioning a tidy 2.75 ERA (146 ERA+) in the process. The closer role, of course, was different in 1970 than it is today. Selma worked 134 1/3 innings that year and actually led his team with 153 strikeouts (finishing six ahead of Hall of Famer Jim Bunning).

The following season, Selma appeared in just 17 games — I'm assuming there was an injury, because he never really pitched well after that. Selma made 46 appearances for the Phillies in 1972, going 2-9 with a 5.56 ERA (65 ERA+). He walked more than 6 1/2 batters per 9 innings that year while striking out fewer than 5 1/2.

Selma got into a handful of games for Philadelphia in 1973 before being released on May 8. Two weeks later the St. Louis Cardinals picked him up, but he never pitched for them. After the season, the California Angels purchased Selma from the Cardinals. He made 18 forgettable appearances for the Angels in 1974 before being purchased by the Brewers on July 29. Selma got into two games for Milwaukee before being returned to the Angels on August 12 and then disappearing from baseball.

Selma finished his career with a 42-54 record, 3.62 ERA (99 ERA+), and 31 saves. He essentially provided 10 years worth of league-average production, although that is a bit misleading. Selma actually pitched very well from 1967 through 1971 before struggling toward the end. His list of most comparable pitchers contains mostly forgotten names from the '50s, '60s, and '70s, including George Culver, Bruce Dal Canton, and Tommie Sisk — a teammate of Selma's on that 1969 Padres squad.

Selma died on August 29, 2001, in Clovis, Calif., at age 57. For more information on Selma, please visit his page on Wikipedia.

Mike Jacobs has a .908 OPS to begin the season, but gets
on base only 30.1% of the time  (fmavig/flickr)

Atlanta    

Mark Teixeira - Back injury, day-to-day.
    
Boston    

Jacoby Ellsbury - Knee injury, day-to-day.
Abe Alvarez - Released by the Boston Red Sox.
Sean Casey - Missed 15 games (hip flexor).
Julian Tavarez - Designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox.
    
Florida    

Mike Jacobs - Missed 4 games (quadricep injury).
    
Anaheim    

Matthew Brown - Recalled from Salt Lake (AAA).
Brandon Wood - Optioned to Salt Lake (AAA).
    
Los Angeles Dodgers   

Rafael Furcal - Back injury, 15-day DL.
    
Minnesota    

Brendan Harris - Missed 2 games (right hamstring injury).
    
NY Mets    

Luis Castillo - Quadricep injury, day-to-day.
    
Pittsburgh    

Jose Bautista - Right hand injury, day-to-day.
John Van Benschoten - Optioned to Indianapolis (AAA).
    
San Diego    

Edgar Gonzalez - Contract purchased from Portland (AAA).
Callix Crabbe - Designated for assignment by the San Diego Padres.
    
Seattle    

Jose Vidro - Missed 2 games (back spasms).

• In game one of a doubleheader in Pittsburgh, Adam LaRoche went 2-for-3 with a home run and 2 RBI, and Freddy Sanchez doubled and knocked in 3 runs as the Pirates shut out the Braves, 8-0. Zach Duke pitched 6 scoreless innings for Pittsburgh. Gregor Blanco reached base 4 times, and Chipper Jones had 3 hits and a walk for Atlanta.
• Mark Kotsay went 3-for-5 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI, Brian McCann hit a 3-run homer, and Tim Hudson gave up just one run on 2 hits in 7 innings of work as the Braves beat the Pirates, 8-1, to earn a split of their twin bill. Jeff Francoeur also had 3 hits for Atlanta.
• Fausto Carmona pitched a complete game 5-hit shutout, and Asdrubal Cabrera hit a 2-run home run as the Indians blanked the Blue Jays, 3-0, in game one of their doubleheader.
• Shaun Marcum pitched 8 scoreless innings of 2-hit ball, and Aaron Hill had 2 hits and 2 RBI as the Blue Jays scored 3 runs in the 10th inning to get by the Indians, 3-0, in the nightcap of their doubleheader. Cliff Lee was brilliant again for Cleveland, allowing just 7 hits over 9 shutout innings. Indians second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera also turned an unassisted triple play in the 5th inning.
• Craig Monroe reached base 3 times and drove in 2 runs, Joe Mauer reached base 3 times and scored 3 runs, and Delmon Young added 2 hits and 2 RBI as the Twins knocked off the Red Sox, 7-3. J.D. Drew had 3 hits, and Manny Ramirez homered and drove in 2 for Boston.
• Corey Patterson went 4-for-5, and Brandon Phillips had 2 hits, a home run, and 2 RBI as the Reds slugged out an 8-7 win over the Marlins. Dan Uggla doubled, homered, walked twice, and scored 3 times for Florida.
• Matt Garza threw 7 shutout innings, and Dioner Navarro went 3-for-3 with 2 RBI to lead the Rays past the Yankees, 7-1. Evan Longoria also reached base 3 times and scored twice, and Jonny Gomes picked up 2 hits and scored 3 times for Tampa Bay. The Rays have now won 10 straight at home.
• Odalis Perez (yes, the pitcher) went 3-for-3 with 2 RBI, and Jesus Flores, Nick Johnson, and Felipe Lopez all reached base 3 times as the Nationals surprised the Mets, 10-4. Moises Alou had 3 hits, and Damion Easley had 2 hits, a home run, and 2 RBI for New York.
• Alfonso Soriano doubled, homered, and drove in 2 runs, and Mark DeRosa and Geovany Soto had 2 RBI apiece to lead the Cubs to a 12-3 thrashing of the Padres. Chicago banged out 13 hits and walked 9 times on the evening.
• Ian Kinsler went 3-for-5 with a walk and 2 runs scored, Josh Hamilton walked, singled, homered and drove in 4 runs, and Ramon Vazquez walked twice, singled, and hit a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Rangers outlasted the Mariners, 13-12, in 10 innings. Texas managed 14 hits and 13 walks in the contest. Kenji Johjima went 3-for-4 with a double, home run, and 4 RBI, and Raul Ibanez doubled, homered, and knocked in 3 for Seattle.
• Ryan Braun smacked 2 solo homers, and Corey Hart added 2 hits and 2 RBI to give starter Dave Bush all the offense he would need to help the Brewers get by the Cardinals, 8-3. Bush allowed just one run on 4 hits in 6 innings for his first win of the season.
• Garret Anderson went 3-for-4, and Vladimir Guerrero had 2 hits, a home run, and 4 RBI as the Angels jumped all over the White Sox, 10-7. Jermaine Dye had 4 hits, and Joe Crede and Juan Uribe each had 2 hits, a walk, and 2 RBI for Chicago.
• Roy Oswalt tossed 8 strong innings, and Lance Berkman went 3-for-4 with a double, home run, and 2 RBI to rally the Astros to a 7-3 victory over the Giants.

Monday's Scoreboard