Official San Diego Padres Thread - 2006
 

Now that Spring Training is looming and since the offseason has slowed down considerably for the Padres, it's time to create a Padres Season Thread. I don't have high hopes for this team since there are still a lot of questions on this team. I have to admit winning the division last year was kind of nice, but the team was horrible to watch. This is a new season and I believe the Padres will be more entertaining this season than last season.

To recap what happened in the offseason:

Trades:
- OF/1B Xavier Nady traded to the New York Mets for CF Mike Cameron
- RHSP Brian Lawrence traded to the Washington Nationals for 3B Vinny Castilla
- 3B Sean Burroughs traded to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for RHSP Dewon Brazelton
- 2B Mark Loretta traded to the Boston Red Sox for C Doug Mirabelli
- RHP Ricky Steik traded to the Detroit Tigers for RHP Kenny Baugh
- RHSP Adam Eaton, RHP Akinori Otsuka, and C Billy Killian traded to the Texas Rangers for 1B Adrian Gonzalez, OF Termell Sledge, and RHSP Chris Young.

Signings:
- Re-signed OF Brian Giles.
- Re-signed CL Trevor Hoffman.
- Signed RHP Doug Brocail.
- Signed IF Mark Bellhorn.
- Signed C Todd Greene.
- Signed IF Geoff Blum.
- Signed LHSP Shawn Estes.
- Signed LHP Alan Embree.

- Claimed 1B Walter Young off waivers.

I doubt the Padres will make anymore moves, especially if the Red Sox do acquire Coco Crisp, which would dash all the rumors for a potential Dave Roberts for David Wells trade. With that said, depending on what happens in Spring Training, the team already has a good idea of how the team will look like:

Roster: (* denotes on the major league roster)

Catchers:
1 - Doug Mirabelli*
2 - Todd Greene*
3 - David Ross
4 - Pete LaForest
5 - George Kottaras

First Basemen:
1 - Ryan Klesko*
2 - Adrian Gonzalez*
3 - Walter Young
4 - Paul McAnulty

Second Basemen:
1 - Josh Barfield*
2 - Mark Bellhorn*
3 - Bobby Hill
4 - Geoff Blum*
5 - Eric Young*

Third Basemen:
1 - Vinny Castilla*
2 - Geoff Blum*
3 - Bobby Hill

Shortstop:
1 - Khalil Greene*
2 - Geoff Blum*

Leftfield:
1 - Dave Roberts*
2 - Termell Sledge*
3 - Ben Johnson
4 - Eric Young*
5 - Paul McAnulty

Centerfield:
1 - Mike Cameron*
2 - Dave Roberts*
3 - Termell Sledge*
4 - Ben Johnson
5 - Brian Giles *
6 - Freddy Guzman

Rightfield:
1 - Brian Giles*
2 - Termell Sledge*
3 - Ben Johnson

Starting Rotation
1 - Jake Peavy*
2 - Chris Young*
3 - Woody Williams*
4 - Shawn Estes*
5 - Chan Ho Park*
6 - Dewon Brazelton
7 - Tim Stauffer
8 - Kenny Baugh
9 - Clay Hensley*

Bullpen
1 - Trevor Hoffman*
2 - Scott Linebrink*
3 - Clay Hensley*
4 - Doug Brocail*
5 - Alan Embree*
6 - Seth Etherton*
7 - Steve Andrade*
8 - Scott Cassidy
9 - Brian Sikorski
10 - Sean Thompson

Re: Official San Diego Padres Thread - 2006
 

I actually didn't think the Padres would sign another catcher, whether it'd be Molina or Piazza. Piazza's contract is a 1 year contract that guarantees him $1.25 million with a $0.75 million worth in incentives. He has a 2nd year mutual option.

Anyways, this certainly changes the face of the Padres. The roster now looks like this

LF Dave Roberts
1B Ryan Klesko
RF Brian Giles
C Mike Piazza
3B Vinny Castilla
CF Mike Cameron
SS Khalil Greene
2B Josh Barfield/Mark Bellhorn

C Doug Mirabelli
1B Adrian Gonzalez
IF Bobby Hill
IF Geoff Blum
UT Eric Young
OF Terrmel Sledge

SP Jake Peavy
SP Chris Young
SP Woody Williams
SP Shawn Estes
SP Dewon Brazelton

LRP Chan Ho Park (He may be a starter, but I see him being the long reliever if he's bad enough).
MRP Alan Embree/Seth Etherton/Steve Andrade
MRP Clay Hensley
SU Doug Brocail
SU Scott Linebrink
CL Trevor Hoffman

Re: Official San Diego Padres Thread - 2006
 

On paper if you think about it the Padres have a pretty good team and has a chance to be better than last years.

- Park: will return to his past form in Petco Park with a full season. He showed decent numbers in the times he pitched and then he would get shelled at times also, but he showed flashes.
- Estes: Can be a solid #4, but his age worries me.
- Dewon Brazelton: has potential...but I see him more as a LRP for the time being.

Bullpen will again be the strength of the team.

As for the lineup I would like to see it like this...

LF: Dave Roberts
SS: Khalil Greene
RF: Brian Giles
C: Mike Piazza
1B: Ryan Klesko
3B: Vinny Castilla
CF: Mike Cameron
2B: Josh Barfield/Mark Belhorn

Re: Official San Diego Padres Thread - 2006
 

I do think this team will be better next season. I do not see them as performing as pathetic as last years team (Runners being picked off, boring offense? Shoot me in the face). I really don't think Chan Ho will pitch well. He may have a good outing, but eventually I think he gets moved to the long relief role and Dewon gets a shot at the rotation. As for Estes, I've never been too high on the guy and I kinda thought of him being a jackass when he said he gave the only home run Sean Burroughs will hit that season, which was true, but when those two were on their rehab assignment, Sean hit a home run off him again. :spit:

Anyways, the lineup looks versatile, but Bochy needs to be consistent with it this season. Greene would look good hitting number two, but he strikes out way too much and he hasn't shown he can take the walk more than we'd like to see. Klesko would make sense hitting number 2 in front of Giles, more pitches to hit I believe as well as the fact he had a decent OBP.

Re: Official San Diego Padres Thread - 2006
 

As long as John Moores owns this team, mediocrity is the best we can ever hope for.

Re: Official San Diego Padres Thread - 2006
 

Actually, as long as Klesko continues to disappointed, Kevin Towers continues to give out bad contracts, and the rotation consists of Woody, Park, and Estes mediocrity is the best we can hope for.

Re: Official San Diego Padres Thread - 2006
 

When Greene hit lead off a few times last year he did a good job at it and at one point when he was hitting lead off he was struggling batting 7th or 8th. So I can see him doing pretty well as a #2 guy. Or myabe just maybe if he wins the job..maybe Barfield at #2?

Re: Official San Diego Padres Thread - 2006
 

I think Barfield should stay in the eight slot until next season.