Remember this?
Yeah...that was the highlight of the Padres' 2013 season...breaking Zack Greinke's collarbone.
22. San Diego Padres
by Nick Opich
Since winning back to back NL West titles
in 2005 and 2006, the Padres have failed to reach the postseason since. Do you
remember who was on that 2006 Padres postseason roster? The Padres SBNation
affiliate has a great
quiz for you to test your memory but I’ll give you a couple hints: Trevor
Hoffman, Jake Peavy, Khalil Greene, Mike Piazza, and Ryan Klesko. Good luck
with the rest of the 20.
There has been little for Padres
fans to cheer for as the team has not posted a winning record since 2010, and
finished the last two seasons with a measly 76 wins. Instead of using the
beautiful weather of San Diego to lure big name free agents to the west coast,
the Padres have rebuilt their team through trades, acquiring young talent like
Ian Kennedy, Cameron Maybin, Yonder Alonso, and Yasmani Grandal. They’ve also
added highly regarded minor league prospects Casey Kelly and Joe Wieland. These
moves, all solid transactions on paper, have not yet translated to success on
the field.
The 2014 season is setting up to be
a make or break season for key players on the Padres roster. Alonso, the major
piece coming back to San Diego in the Mat Latos trade, has averaged only 1.2
WAR and shown very little in terms of power. After signing a five-year, $25M
extension before the 2012 season, Maybin has struggled to stay healthy and put
up consistent numbers. Grandal missed the beginning of the 2013 season serving
a 50 game suspension for elevated testosterone levels. Upon returning he posted
mediocre offensive numbers before tearing his ACL in early July. These three
players will be vital to San Diego’s success in 2014; if they fail to produce,
expect a roster overhaul next offseason.
The NL West is shaping up to be one
of the more competitive divisions in baseball and it is likely San Diego will
be bottom dwellers once again. The Padres do own two of the more intriguing and
popular power bats on the trade market in third baseman Chase Headley and
outfielder Carlos Quentin.
Headley, despite
his desire to stay in San Diego, will probably be the most available power
bat on the trade market this summer as he is due for a big contract once he
becomes a free agent after the 2014 season. It is more than likely the Padres
will try to acquire some value for him instead of letting him walk at the end
of the year.
Quentin, 31, is owed a reasonable
$17M over the next two years and could be boon to a team looking to add a right
handed power. He has great homerun power but plays in the worst stadium to
accentuate his skills which will drive his numbers down.
Trading one or both of these
players should bring back a couple of top prospects who could help the Padres
in 2015 or beyond.
Win or lose, the Padres will have
the best weather in baseball and should extend their streak of no rainouts
since April 2006. Their bullpen, now featuring Joaquin Benoit, and Petco Park
should help keep the Padres competitive but it is unlikely they will
significantly improve their win-loss record. If fans come to watch this team,
they should temper their expectations.
Or...instead
of worrying about the score or standings, Padres fans could just take a trip to
the beach during the day, come to the stadium at night, and laugh at the people
who live in Middle America, or whatever else they do.
More grown men yelling about things.
(Hey...Matt Kemp was finally found!)
1.
Last Season and
Offseason
1.
76-88
2.
Traded Logan
Forsythe and 3 prospects to TB for LHP Alex Torres and RHP Jesse Hahn
3.
Traded Luke
Gregerson to OAK for Seth Smith
4.
Traded Anthony
Bass to HOU for LHP Patrick Schuster
5.
Signed Joaquin
Benoit, Josh Johnson, Xavier Nady
2.
Projected Lineup/Rotation
Lineup:
1.
Everth Cabrera
SS
2.
Will Venable RF
3.
Chase Headley
3B
4.
Carlos Quentin
LF
5.
Yonder Alonso
1B
6.
Cameron Maybin
CF
7.
Jeff Gyorko 2B
8.
Nick Hundley C
Rotation:
1.
Andrew Cashner
2.
Ian Kennedy
3.
Josh Johnson
4.
Tyson Ross
5.
Eric Stults
3.
Fav/Least Fav
1.
Nick’s Favorite
– Great OF – could be big year
2.
Hayden’s Favorite
– Benoit and J.J. Signings as well as dumping Bass
3.
Nick’s Least
Favorite – No big time pitchers
4.
Hayden’s Least
Favorite – No Ace in Rotation; Little trade return
4.
Impact Player
1.
Andrew Cashner
2.
Hard-thrower, pitcher
ballpark
3.
Huge step w/
175 innings in 2013
4.
Good control w/
low era
5.
Impact Prospect
1.
Austin Hedges –
C
2.
Hundley not an
everyday guy; Grandal sucks steroid balls
3.
Great arm,
solid contact hitter
4. 2nd best Catching prospect in baseball
6.
Mid-Season
Status
1.
Sellers in the Cellar of the Division
2.
Kennedy,
Hundley or Grandal traded?
3. Maybin - Change of Scenery guy
7.
Bold Prediction
1.
71-91
2.
They announce
they will change their uniforms back to the Brown and Yellow combo
3.
Trade Carlos
Quentin and $4-5M to BAL for LHP Eduardo Rodriguez
4.
Trade Chase Headley
and Huston Street to BOS for SS Deven Marrero, RHP Allen Webster, and OF Bryce
Brentz
Podcast Playlist:
"Tallulah" by Company of Thieves
"Sink Into Me" by Taking Back Sunday
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