A look at the '08 roster

[tarlow00]

As Black says, it's an overhaul, just not a "major" one:

sandiego.padres.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080324&content_id=2455123&vkey=news_sd&fext=.jsp&c_id=sd

A couple of interesting things here, among others. Cla Meredith was lights out in 2006, but average in '07. Black seems to think he was just "unlucky." I don't see it that way. Meredith has a trick delivery that batters have adjusted to, and many are laying off his sweeping slider. Think Cla will step back up?

Also, when Berkman becomes a free agent, let's get him. He his .394 lifetime thusfar at Petco, with power. Sound like a plan? He walks, too. Alderson loves that kind of thing.

[Marlins]

I definitely think Cla will step back up. He had a 1.07 ERA in 2006, then a 3.50 ERA last season. However, he looks to be back on track with a 0.90 ERA this Spring and 16 K's in 10 innings. Cla is the real thing.

As far as Berkman goes, I don't know what the deal with him is. In 2006 he hit .335 at home, then last season he hit just .256 at home. If he continues to hit poorly at home he'd probably be better off on a different team.

[tarlow00]

If Cla gets anywhere near what he did in 2006, we have a clear setup/closer apparent ready in Cla and Bell. That guy Bell could take over for Hoffy now, and I'm a huge Trevor fan.

Of course, Bonds has been a great hitter against the Padres, too, although much of his heavy damage was at Qualcomm.

Berkman can play pretty decent OF, too, even CF. Don't know why he doesn't take off at that launching pad in Houston. Psychological?

[Marlins]

tarlow00 said:

If Cla gets anywhere near what he did in 2006, we have a clear setup/closer apparent ready in Cla and Bell. That guy Bell could take over for Hoffy now, and I'm a huge Trevor fan.

Of course, Bonds has been a great hitter against the Padres, too, although much of his heavy damage was at Qualcomm.

Berkman can play pretty decent OF, too, even CF. Don't know why he doesn't take off at that launching pad in Houston. Psychological?

Yup, the Padres have a GREAT bullpen, as well as starting rotation...which is the reason they'll win the NL West.

Hoffman, Bell and Meredith are each all greatly capable of closing...I don't think there's a team in the majors with 3 pitchers in the bullpen as good as them.

[tarlow00]

Here's a nice "get to know your Padres" piece:

www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/20080330-9999-1bb30padcaps.html

[Marlins]

I think this shows how much the Padres offense is relying on Adrian Gonzalez:

2007: For the second straight year, Gonzalez led the Padres in hits (182), doubles (46), home runs (30), batting average (.282) and slugging percentage (.502). Twenty of his 30 homers and 64 percent of his RBI came on the road. He has missed only eight games in two seasons.

He led the Padres in BA with just a .282 BA? Wow. That's a really big insult for the Padres offense.

[tarlow00]

marlins said:

I think this shows how much the Padres offense is relying on Adrian Gonzalez:

2007: For the second straight year, Gonzalez led the Padres in hits (182), doubles (46), home runs (30), batting average (.282) and slugging percentage (.502). Twenty of his 30 homers and 64 percent of his RBI came on the road. He has missed only eight games in two seasons.

He led the Padres in BA with just a .282 BA? Wow. That's a really big insult for the Padres offense.

Hmmm. Josh Bard actually led the team with .285 BA, but you still have a big point. That's only solid at best. The Padres need more!

Bard did hit better than that with runners on, in fact he led the regulars in that stat, as I recall. My stat sites have pulled the splits at the moment, so I can't look up the exact stat.