Let's Go Padres!

The so-called "experts" always look at the Pad's lineup and pick them for 3rd or 4th in the division. They're proven wrong almost every year, because pitching and defense is what wins in baseball. Should be the same result this year. People forget that SD only lost the division by 1 game last year, so the 3rd-place finish is very misleading.

As long as their pitching holds up, and it should, it will only be a question of the outfield defense holding it's own. If so, expect postseason again. But AZ, Col, and LA will all be tough this year......

Dang, we had another game in the bag last night - then Trevor blew it. I feel bad for him, because I know the fans will start piling on now. He just needs to go back out there and get several more consecutive saves, then he'll be alright. So many fans out there act like it's football and one loss can kill your whole season. Baseball is a marathon, not a sprint. I like their hitting so far....

I'm sorry, but I really hate that guy.  I've hated him for years.  I know he's got a hard job having to go out there and promise not to let the other team score, but I think he is extreemly over-rated.  He looses too many games for us considering his salary.  I don't think he is really anything special anymore in the way of a relief pitcher...

I'd love to be wrong but I think the third or fourth place predition is accurate. With an aging Maddux and an injury prone Young I think the pitching could have issues down the stretch. And we have very little power in the line up.

I used to think closers were overrated too, until I stopped to think about how bad some of the other teams have it with their closers. We've been lucky over the years having Hoffman, and I think it's no coincidence that the only time he was injured for most of the year was also the last really bad season we had. I wouldn't consider him one of my favorite players, but I still admire the fact that he doesn't make excuses or ditch the press when he has a bad game. Closers probably are somewhat overrated, but that's just the way the game has evolved. Can't fault the player.

Additionally, I have a sister in law who has had to appraise his house a couple of times, and she says he's one of the nicest, most down to earth people she's ever dealt with(besides me of course). And she's a Dodger fan, so no biased opinion there! That means a lot in my book.

Brian Lange said,

I'd love to be wrong but I think the third or fourth place predition is accurate. With an aging Maddux and an injury prone Young I think the pitching could have issues down the stretch. And we have very little power in the line up.

 

I think the one key is going to be Mark Prior. If he can finally come back from his injury problems, we've got a steal as a 5th starter. To a lesser extent, we also need a good comeback from Randy Wolf or at least a solid season from Germano. Then the lack of power won't really matter. Brewers, Reds and Yankees led the majors last year in homers - sure didn't get them anywhere.