explanation of rankings and other team previews here
2008 Record: 63-99
Offseason Additions: David Eckstein
Offseason Subtractions: Trevor Hoffman
Ranks (MLB):
Line-Up – 30th
Rotation – 24th
Bullpen – 19th
Defense – 5th tier (out of 5)
Baserunning – 4th tier (out of 5)
KEY PLAYER: JAKE PEAVY
Peavy is not the key player because he’s going to lead this team anywhere, Peavy is the key player because he has to pitch really well so that the Padres can trade him for a boatload of young prospects. The Padres are in all out rebuilding mode and Peavy is their best chip. They almost traded him to the Cubs in the off-season, but the deal kept hitting snags. If the 27 year old Peavy can return to his Cy Young form (19-6, 2.54 ERA, 240K in 2006) some contender will break the bank for him. Before he gets to San Diego though, Peavy will have to get into form quickly as he is the best starting pitcher on Team USA’s roster in the WBC.
PLAYER TO WATCH: KEVIN KOUZMANOFF
Kouzmanoff was the lone bright spot in the Padres horrendous 2008 campaign. He quietly was one of the best 3B in the NL, hitting .260 with 23 HR and 84 RBI with virtually no one on base to hit in. He’s 27, so he should be a solid player for the next couple years. He needs to improve his pitch selection though, as he only had 23 walks in 624 ABs, keeping his on-base % under .300. If he can do that, it would really improve his value to the team.
PHILLY ANGLE
What if CBP was a pitchers’ park?
Lots has been said about the Bank being such a hitter’s paradise. The same thing can be said for pitcher’s and San Diego’s Petco Park, arguably the most pitcher friendly park in the league. This got me to thinking, how would our team be different if the organization had created a park with Petco’s dimensions? Frankly, I’m not sure. Ryan Howard would certainly be docked several home runs as many of his are high fly balls to the shortest part of the field. Brett Myers might not have been sent down the minors last year, as he has been the victim of several weak HR’s that may or may not have gotten into his head. Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino would hit who knows how many triples with the ball having a longer distance to travel once it passes the outfielders. Would we have won 2 straight division titles and a World Series in a pitchers park? I’m not sure, but I’m glad we don’t have to find out.
QUICK HITS
Worst Contract: (Brian Giles, 4 yrs, $39 million, ends in 2009)
Best Pitch: Jake Peavy’s slider
Best Player in a Contract Year: Brian Giles
Top Prospect: Mat Latos, RHP
Best Individual Season: Tony Gwynn, 1987 (.370 BA, .447 OBP, .511 SLG%, 7 HR, 54 RBI, 218 hits, 13 3B, 56 SB)
Worst Uniforms: 1978
Where’d They Come From?
- Trade, 6
- Draft, 5
- Free Agent, 3
- Amateur FA, 0
2009 OUTLOOK
5th NL West, 14th NL, 27th MLB
I considered not even writing a preview for the Padres. They are soooooo boring, and have been boring for some time now. They have one of the worst offenses in baseball, with almost no one helping out Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Kouzmanoff. They have no flash, no dynamic player that would get me to want to come see them play. Jake Peavy is the most exciting player on the team and he is most certainly on the way out. I mean, look at the comings and goings in the off-season. David Eckstein in, Trevor Hoffman out. A little short guy who chokes up on his bat and a slow throwing 40 year old. Yawn. I do like the left field corner of their stadium with the Western Metal Supply Co. buidling, and Petco is a pretty sweet store, so there, I guess I can say something nice about them.
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