2009 San Diego Padres Baseball Preview

Last season, the San Diego Padres (63- 99) struggled to score runs. They were dead last in OB%, stolen bases and runs. The Padres had two good years—2005 and 2006—when they made it into the playoffs. In 2007, they missed the division title by just 1.5 games. Last year, they were 21 games off pace.

Righty Jake Peavy (10- 11 W/L, 2.85 ERA, .229 BAA) offers a good cut fastball plus a slider, changeup and curve. He has fine speed but goes deep in counts and gets tired. Chris Young (7- 6 W/L, 3.96 ERA, .221 BAA), who was injured a lot last season, has a good delivery and can be on target with four different pitches—fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. Cha Seung Baek (6- 10 W/L, 4.79 ERA, .268 BAA) ably works both side of the plate with his fastball. His curve is big and tough to track and his slider cuts nicely. Kevin Correia (3- 8 W/L, 6.05 ERA, .310 BAA) has an inconsistent delivery and garners sketchy results. The closing job looks to go to fireballing Heath Bell (3.58 ERA, 0 SV, .229 BAA).

Jody Gerut (.296 BA, 43 RBI, 14 HR) leads off with solid contact and fine speed. Brian Giles (.306 BA, 63 RBI, 12 HR) hits for average and Adrian Gonzalez (.279 BA, 119 RBI, 36 HR) offers power and RBI potential. Kevin Kouzmanoff (.260 BA, 84 RBI, 24 HR) is an able run producer. The team can use more clout.

Perhaps the best thing this team did last season was field. They were fourth overall in fielding percentage. At first base, Adrian Gonzalez is underrated. He's one of the best in the league at that spot. The rest of the infield is a bit questionable. At third, Kouzmanoff can make basic plays, while Edgar Gonzalez offers adequate coverage at second. Shortstop Rodriguez has good hands and an accurate arm but lacks range. Catcher Nick Hundley is good but still needs work. In center, Gerut gets quick breaks on balls and offers some fine throws. In right, Giles seems to be in decline and in left Headley has shown improvement.

This is a team with budget issues. Owner John Moore went through a scathing divorce that rifled his assets. The result is San Diego's payroll has shrunk from $73 million to approximately $40 million. GM Kevin Towers has been dealt a bad hand. Manager Bud Black will continue to do the best he can with a weak roster.

This team does not have much going for it. There's good weather in San Diego and PETCO Park is a great place to see a game but the baseball is not very good. Last season, the Padre's roster was filled with AAA guys earning their way to the majors. If these players can show some improvement, that will help. A 70-win season would be nice.

Read more on the Padres other NL West division competitors like the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, Colorado Rockies, and San Francisco Giants.

For more info on the Padres check out the MLB official page for San Diego.