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San Diego Padres

The Padres won the division for the second straight year, and were trounced in the playoffs by the Cardinals for the second straight year.  They’ve also had some significant losses from last years team, losing Mike Piazza, Josh Barfield, Woody Williams, and Brian Roberts to free agency or via trades.  As a result, this is a somewhat different team that upgraded in some spots (Greg Maddux hands down is a solid replacement for Williams) while downgrading in others (Barfield is better than Marcus Giles, as is Roberts over Termell Sledge.)  With the rest of the division getting better, things could be tough for the Padres to make it a three-peat (please don’t sue me Pat Riley.)

Starting Rotation

1. Jake Peavy (RHP) – No, nothing is wrong with Jake Peavy.  He got beat around a little, but he’s still an ace pitcher and should rebound nicely this year. 
2. Chris Young (RHP) – Obtained from the Rangers in one of the stupidest of all trades, Young established himself as a solid starter in San Diego, where the move to a spacious ballpark and a weaker league did him good.  Young isn’t an ace quality pitcher, but he’s still very good and should continue to be as such for San Diego.
3. Greg Maddux (RHP) - Maddux found that returning to a pennant race can be good as far as motivation is concerned.  Maddux was solid upon heading to LA, thanks to the improved defense behind him and the kinder ballpark.  Despite LA’s attempt to bring him back, Maddux headed south, where he now will take up residence in PETCO.  Maddux should have a solid year in that ballpark.  He’s very hittable (.284 average against) but he gets ground balls and with an excellent defense behind him, he should be a quality middle of the rotation workhorse.
4. David Wells (LHP) – Wells apparently liked his return to the National League enough that he signed up for one more year.  Wells certainly gives the Padres some depth in the rotation and is a better fit than Woody Williams is.  Wells has great command, always has, and was very consistent after coming back from the knee injury.  Durability may be a problem, but Wells will likely be the fifth starter, limiting his outings.
5. Clay Hensley (RHP) – An impressive young pitcher, Hensley was solid once he was moved into the rotation and provides a solid fifth starter that vastly upgrades the team over their previous one (Woody Williams.)  All in all, Hensley finishes up a potentially dominant rotation.  It’s also possible that Hensley could kick Wells down to the fifth starter position, especially when you consider that Wells isn’t exactly a picture of perfect health.

Bullpen

• Trevor Hoffman (Closer) – The All Time Saves Leader should be getting ready to hang them up within the next couple of years, but he’s still able to get out hitters with that funky changeup.  He’s been rather durable for his career and should be effective for at least this year.  Whether or not he is as dominant after this year is unknown, but we’ll take things one thing at a time, shall we?
• Cla Meredith (Setup Man) – Meredith was dominant once he left Boston and is the likely successor to Trevor Hoffman at closer.  I don’t expect Meredith to put up an ERA over one again this year, but the low two’s should be manageable.
• Scott Linebrink (RHP) – A solid reliever, many clubs are asking about Linebrink to help their own setup corps. 
• Andrew Brown (RHP) – Brown was solid in his limited action with the Padres.  He’ll likely join the setup corps.
• Royce Ring (LHP) – Ring has the tools to be a solid lefty reliever, but he hasn’t gotten the shot to prove himself until the Padres obtained him from the Mets   He’s also likely to be the only lefty reliever in the pen.
• Scott Cassidy (RHP) – Another former Red Sox, Cassidy finally put it all together to be a solid option from the pen.  Now let’s see if he can do it again for a second year.
• Doug Brocail (RHP) – Brocail was off and on last season and was absolutely murdered by right-handed hitters.   He’ll get the job as the mop up man.

Starting Lineup

1. Terrmel Sledge (LF) – Sledge is a power hitting player that has never really translated that potential into production, due to inconsistency or injury.  With all the talk of who will leadoff, most sources indicate that Sledge will likely be the man in the front of the lineup.  Oookay.
2. Marcus Giles (2B) – Giles had a disappointing 2006 with Atlanta, but there’s no reason not to believe that he can’t be a good offensive second baseman again.  Giles needs to improve his plate discipline and his power a bit, neither of which will happen in PETCO, but if he improves his road averages enough, he should be okay.  He’s no Josh Barfield though.
3. Adrian Gonzalez (1B) – Gonzalez has established himself as an emerging star now that he’s out from behind Mark Teixeira.  Gonzalez hit for power and for average, while proving to be a solid glove at first.  Gonzalez should now be hitting third in the lineup with the departures of Piazza and others.
4. Kevin Kouzmanoff (3B) – Kouzmanoff is an outstanding hitting prospect obtained from the Indians who has hit well in the minors and hits for power.   Kouzmanoff joined the Indians late in the season, hitting a grand slam in his first at-bat, on the very first pitch he saw, and finished with a stat line of.214/.279/.411 with three homers in 56 at-bats.  He does have loads of power potential, enough to be an Excellent third baseman.  However, he’s not great defensively, in spite of some good hands, and his range is limited.  Another large problem is that Kouzmanoff has healthy issues, starting from a back injury sustained from a stint in the Arizona Fall League in 2004, when he was going after a foul ball along the third base dugout when he slipped and fell, hitting his back on every concrete step on the way down.  Still, Kouzmanoff will likely win the third base job in San Diego and should hit fourth behind Adrian Gonzalez. 
5. Brian Giles (LF) – Giles is still a capable defender, but he’s losing power and at his age, he’s unlikely to get it back.  He’s still very productive, but he’s going to be bumped back to the fifth spot in the lineup.  He should actually hit sixth, but the lack of power hitters puts him closer to the heart of the lineup at fifth.
6. Josh Bard (C) – Bard is now the starter now that Piazza is gone.  While there’s some doubt as to whether or not Bard can handle a major league workload, I personally think he’ll be fine.  He won’t put up the impressive numbers he had as a regular, but he should hit at least .280 with some power. 
7. Mike Cameron (CF) – Cameron plays a mean centerfield and he’s got some power to him to boot.  He’s quick and agile enough to be a base stealing threat.  But those strikeouts are just killer.
8. Khalil Greene (SS) – Greene's health is a question mark., as he hasn’t managed to last a full season since he’s gotten into the league.  He also lacks the necessary offensive ability to be able to contribute to the Major League club.  Clearly, the team could upgrade here, but there’s a severe lack of options available to do so.

Bench

• Rob Bowen (C) – Failed Twin gets the backup job.
• Russ Branyan (UTIL) – Capable utilityman can play outfield and infield corners.
• Geoff Blum (INF) – Blum is a capable defender who can hit somewhat well, but not enough to be a regular.
• Todd Walker (INF) – Offensively inclined infielder could be an option if Kouzmanoff starts slow.
• Jose Cruz (OF) – The Padres are the latest to hope that Cruz can become a capable regular.  Yeah, ain’t happening.  He’s a fourth outfielder.

Down On The Farm…

There’s not a lot on this farm system, as the Padres have down a craptastic job of drafting and developing talent, mostly relying on trades to supply depth in their system and their team.  Needless to say, this is a farm system that can do little to support the main club.  Here are the main guys that can help out in some way, shape or form.

• Cesar Carrillo (RHP) – The Padres’ best pitching prospect (actually, he’s their only pitching prospect), Carrillo is a power pitchers with plus control and command, who has a a fastball that sits in the low 90s that clocks up to 95-96, plus a hard curve and a changeup with a late break give him quite an arsenal.  But, as a small pitcher, he has problems with durability, as he suffered elbow and forearm pain that have kept him off the mound since early June.  The Padres are hoping that he’ll be 100% by Spring Training, though that’s a sizeable if.
• Chase Headley (3B) – Headley is a polished, patient hitter who waits for his pitch and makes consistent contact with some power.  He’s got great hands and instincts and is a solid third baseman to boot.  Depending on what happens in the minors, he could become a annoyance to Kouzmanoff, who’s blocking him, if he keeps it up.  The Padres are hoping to eventually deal Kouzmanoff back to the AL, where he could be a DH, in the future.

In Conclusion

The Pitching should be very good, as will be the bullpen.  It’s the offense that will be their undoing, particularly if Kouzmanoff and Sledge are less than advertised.  With the Dodgers in control of the division and the Diamondbacks and Rockies rising, the Padres are going to be slipping back to the dark ages.

Final Standing:  Third in the National League West.

Friday Morning Closer

Here’s my four pitch outing for the day.

 Daisuke Matsuzaka May Not Be Posted

Daisuke Matsuzaka, a legend in Japan and one of the stars of the World Baseball Classic, may not be posted on the Intenrational Posting System.  Because Matsuzaka will not be a free agent until after the 2008 season, his only route to the United States before then is if the Seibu Lions agree to "post" him — the same method by which Ichiro joined the Mariners after the 2000 season.  Matsuzaka has already been denied posting twice. 

Once a player is posted by his Japanese team, Major League Baseball teams must submit a sealed bid just for the right to negotiate with the player, with the highest bidder winning the privilege.  Unfortunately for other teams, Matsuzaka is represented by none other than Scott Boras.  However, it is expected that Matsuzaka will at least pass the amount spent by the Seattle Mariners to win the posting rights to another Japanese superstar, Ichiro Suzuki.  Matsuzaka is one of the most talented pitchers in Japan, throwing several pitches including a great slider and curveball, giving him two solid breaking pitches.  He has also hit 100 mph on hi fastball.  

The two teams that are reportedly coveting Matsuzaka are the Mariners and the Yankees, the latter even going so far as hiring one of Matsuzaka’s old classmates to serve as a scout. 

If Matsuzaka is posted, which is a possibility considering the Lions are currently undergoing financial troubles and could use the high posting fee, the chances of Seattle winning the bid fall, though not as considerably as one might think.  Mariners ownership, which pushed the club to sign Ichiro, could dip into their coffers to outbid the Yankees, though George Steinbrenner would likely make the Mariners pay dearly for their opposition.  Plus, it’s possible that, like the Hideki Irabu situation of a few years back, the Yankees could use their backdoor channels to sway Matsuzaka to refuse to play for any team other than New York.  If Matsuzaka is held onto until he hits free agency, the Mariners have a much better shot of signing him thanks to the presence of Ichiro Suzuki, one of the most respected Japanese baseball players of all time and Matsuzaka’s teammate on Japan’s World Baseball Classic squad. 

In all honesty, I think he’ll get posted.  As for where he’ll go, the Yankees will probably drive up the bidding to around $40 million dollars just to hurt the Mariners in the pocketbook before going after Zito.  Though, if Matsuzaka is able to combine with young Felix Hernandez at the top of the rotation, the Mariners would have the one of the best one-two punches in all of baseball.

The Motivation For Jeffrey Loria

I’ve been trying to figure out why Joe Girardi was supposedly almost fired this week by J.Lo, and I can only come up with one reason.   Loria must be desperate to make the playoffs, not just to return to the post-season, but to serve as a vindication for his destruction of the team last off-season.  And with the Marlins seeming to hit the rookie wall, he’s trying to get the team back on track as best he can.  And if it involves sacrificing Joe Girardi, who should be the NL Manager Of The Year, then he’ll do it. 

However, Girardi has established himself as a tough, professional manager that is not only capable of running a team, but being able to keep the nonsense down to a minimum.  If he were ever fired by the Marlins, he’d be employed within the hour. 

Reds Didn’t Do Their Due Diligence

The Cincinnati are still fighting with the Nationals over the fact that Gary Majewski has apparently been nursing a sore shoulder at the time of the trade that sent Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez to D.C.  Reds GM Wayne Krivsky said he wants to talk to Washington GM Jim Bowden about Majewski's shoulder, and why the Reds did not know that the reliever had been taking cortisone shots this season to relieve tendinitis in his shoulder.  Bowden issued a statement saying he was "disappointed" by Krivsky's statement that he had tried to reach him about the trade.  Krivsky thus far has considered filing a grievance over the trade.  However, the fact is that the Reds didn’t do their homework when they made the trade.  Krivsky let himself be charmed by Majewski’s talent and should have at least demanded all the players involved to submit to a physical before the trigger was pulled.  The fact is, Krivsky should have done all his research before he did the deal.  And has no one to blame but himself.

 Chan #### Peavy?

I’ve heard of people calling each other my brother, but this takes it to a new level.

Chan #### Park, former Texas Ranger and current San Diego Padre, lost half his blood volume because of a bleeding ulcer.  A blood transfusion probably saved his life.  But it’s who the blood came from that makes this worth mentioning.
Jake Peavy's wife, Katie, was one of three people who donated blood for Park.  Reportedly, she fainted afterward.  So now this means that Park could be technically his brother-in-law.  

All Time Stupidest Sports Injuries

With Mariano Rivera causing back spasms while putting on his shoes last week, I decided to do a special feature.  The First and Second Team of the All-Time Stupidest Sports Injuries.

First Team

Starting Lineup

·          Catcher: Mickey Tettleton (Detroit Tigers) – Went on the DL with athlete’s foot…caused by tying his shoes too tight.

·          First Base: George Brett (Kansas City Royals) – Broke his toe on a chair at home while running for the kitchen to the TV to watch Bill Buckner hit.

·          Second Base:  Jeff Kent (San Francisco Giants) – Claimed he hurt his wrist while washing his truck.  Rumor has it that he was injured doing motorcycle stunts instead.

·          Shortstop: Clint Barmes (Colorado Rockies) – Barmes had a strong Rookie of the Year campaign until he broke his collarbone…carrying deer meat.

·          Third Base: Wade Boggs (Boston Red Sox) – Hurt himself…while putting on his cowboy boots.

·          Outfield:  Vince Colman (St. Louis Cardinals) – Missed the entire 1985 World Series…after being run over by Busch Stadium’s tarp machine.

·          Outfield: Ken Griffey, Jr. (Seattle Mariners) – No stranger to injury, Griffey once missed a game after suffering a pinched testicle from his protective cup.

·          Outfield: Rickey Henderson (Toronto Blue Jays) – Missed several games because of frostbite…in August…caused by falling asleep on an ice pack.

·          Designated Hitter:  Glen Allen Hill (Toronto Blue Jays) – One of the most painful, Hill went on the DL after suffering cuts caused by crashing through a glass table while dreaming that he was being attacked by spiders.

Bench

·          Bench: Oddibe McDowell (Texas Rangers) – Sliced open his hand at a Texas welcome home luncheon while buttering a roll.

·          Bench: Kevin Mitchell (New York Mets) – Taken out by a microwaved donut.  I have no idea how this happened.

·          Bench: Terry Harper (Atlanta Braves) – Separated his shoulder while waving a teammate home and subsequently high fiving him.

·          Bench:  Sammy Sosa (Chicago Cubs) – Missed a game after throwing out his back…while sneezing.

·          Bench: Jose Cardenal (Chicago Cubs) – Missed a game in 1974 because he couldn’t blink. 

Starting Rotation

·          John Smoltz (Atlanta Braves) – Once burned his chest while ironing a shirt…while he was still wearing it.

·          Nolan Ryan (Houston Astros) – Missed a start after being bitten on his hand…by a coyote.

·          Jake Peavy (San Diego Padres) – Fractured a rib after he jumped into a celebratory pile after the Padres clinched the division.

·          Carlos Perez (Montreal Expos) – Broke his nose in a car accident…while trying to pass the team bus.

·          Adam Eaton (San Diego Padres) – Stabbed himself in the stomach while tearing off the wrapper on a DVD.

The Bullpen

·          Swingman: Dwight Gooden (New York Mets) – Missed a start when Vince Coleman accidentally took him out with a golf club in the clubhouse.

·          Middle reliever: Steve Sparks (Milwaukee Brewers) – Dislocated his shoulder…while attempting to tear a phone book in half.

·          Middle Reliever:  Mark Smith (Baltimore Orioles) – Injured his hand…while sticking it into an air conditioner to see why it wasn't working.

·          Middle reliever: Charlie Hough (Texas Rangers) – Once broking his pinky…while pinking shaking.

·          Middle reliever: Ricky Bones (Florida Marlins) – Missed time in 2000 after injuring himself…while changing channels on the clubhouse TV.

·          Setup Man: Greg Harris (Texas Rangers) - suffered a strained elbow flipping sunflower seeds while sitting in the bullpen

·          Closer: Jason Isringhausen (Oakland Athletics) – Broke his hand while punching a trashcan, just weeks after stabbing himself in the leg trying to open a package.

Manager - Roger Craig (San Francisco Giants)

Cut his hand…while undoing a bra strap.  Awesome.

The Second Team