PADRES ANNOUNCE 2010 TEAM MVP AND PITCHER OF THE YEAR

— Awards voted on by the San Diego Chapter of the BBWAA —

 SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres announced today that Adrian Gonzalez has been named the team’s Most Valuable Player and Heath Bell has been named recipient of the Clyde McCullough Pitcher of the Year Award, as voted on by the San Diego Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

 Gonzalez, 28, has been named team MVP for the third consecutive year and fourth time since joining San Diego in 2006 (2006, 08-10).  Named to the National League All-Star team for the third straight season, he hit .298 (176-for-591) with 33 doubles, 31 home runs, 101 RBI, 87 runs scored, 93 walks, a .393 on-base percentage and .511 slugging percentage, leading the team in each of those categories.  The slugger’s 31 home runs and 101 RBI in 2010 give him his fourth consecutive 30-home run season and third career 100-RBI campaign.  His four 30-homer seasons are a franchise record while he is tied with Phil Nevin for the most 100-RBI seasons in club history.  Gonzalez finished the 2010 campaign ranked among National League leaders in games played (T5th), hits (7th), home runs (T8th), RBI (12th), walks (3rd), on-base percentage (5th), slugging percentage (9th) and OPS (7th, .904).

 Bell, 33, is receiving his second straight Pitcher of the Year award after going 6-1 with a career-high 47 saves and a career-low 1.93 ERA (15 ER/70.0 IP) in 2010.  He was named to his second straight National League All-Star team and, following the season, was named Sporting News NL Reliever of the Year and MLB Delivery Man of the Year.  His 47 saves mark the 12^th 40-save season in franchise history, also making him just the second Padre to accomplish the feat twice (Hoffman).  Bell finished the 2010 campaign by converting each of his final 34 save opportunities, the longest streak of his career and the longest ever by a Padre not named Trevor Hoffman.  Among the top NL relievers, Bell ranked second in saves and fifth in ERA.