Padres' rookie relief pitcher Ryan Webb doesn't pitch every day. In fact, he might go several days in between outings.

Ryan Webb with good-luck Yoda.

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But he has one of the most important jobs in the bullpen.

If you go to the ballpark early enough to see the relief pitchers walking from the dugout to the bullpen, you'll notice Webb carrying some extra baggage: a backpack that looks like the Star Wars character Yoda, another backpack that looks like Chewbacca and a black bag containing provisions for the relief pitchers who spend the game in the bullpen.

It's all part of being the low man on the totem pole.

"One day (Heath Bell) showed up with Yoda here, and I wore him out and ever since then, we've won a bunch of games in a row so he's kind of become a good luck charm," says Webb. "Now we're just adding more and more. We've got Chewbacca now. We took three in a row with Chewbacca so he's kind of part of the crew now."

Webb said that Yoda joined the bullpen while on a six-game road trip in Florida the week of June 22. Immediately, the responsibility for Yoda's care went to the 24 year-old righthander.

"It's pretty embarrassing at times," Webb admits.

But hesays that everyone in the bullpen embraces Yoda and Chewbacca. "Whenever we score runs, we give each other high fives and make sure we include Yoda in on that," Webb says. "Sometimes if we're not scoring runs, we have to shake him and wake him up a little bit because he's our good luck charm."

As for Chewbacca, the furry Wookie came on the scene Friday July 2, and the Padres proceeded to rattle off three straight wins over the Houston Astros in their last at bat.

"I love it," Webb says. "I enjoy wearing it out there. It's all about having fun out there. That's what baseball comes down to. Everybody wants to have fun and win."

And the team has won. The Padres have had the best record in the National League for much of the season and also had the best bullpen in baseball for most of the season.

But Webb's responsibility does not end with a few stuffed animals.

He also must pack the candy bag on a game-by-game basis to make sure that the bullpen remains stocked with supplies.

"We've got sunflower seeds, gum, gummi bears, Advil and candy," Webb says, while rummaging through the black duffle bag.

What aboutbeing professional athletes and needing to eat well? "That's why the granola bars are in there," he says. "We have a healthy bag in there somewhere."

Webb joined the Padres on May 4 and was handed his duties right away. One time, he loaded the candy bag wrong, and felt the repercussions.

"I screwed it up and they stuffed my locker with stuff," Webb says, opening the top shelf on his locker to reveal enough bottles of sports drinks, candy bars and sunflower seeds to fill a convenience store.

"This was actually full," Webb says. "I've been using it to coordinate my stuff."

Webb says he's only too happy to play his role on the team. After all, the Padres are in first place and the camaraderie in the clubhouse is good.

Plus, "I don't really have a choice," Webb says.