San Diego Padres: Where Will the Padres Find the Offense to Stay Competitive?

e.g. 'Chicago Blackhawks', 'Chicago Cubs'
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San Diego Padres Surprised Us All In 2010, But Where Will the Offense Come From In 2011?

The 2010 installment of the San Diego Padres stunned baseball fans and pundits across the country when they decided not to finish dead last in the NL West. Instead, the upstart Padres used an efficient offense led by slugger Adrian Gonzalez and a superb pitching staff to finish second in the division, playing the eventual champion Giants close down to the wire.

But now, Gonzalez has left Petco Park for good, heading off to Boston to rake home runs for Red Sox Nation. With their primary offensive contributor gone, where will San Diego find the offense to stay competitive?

One area the Padres shouldn't have to worry about in 2011 will be the pitching staff. Led by burgeoning ace Mat Latos, the rotation is one of the best in baseball, with upside to spare. Clayton Richard and Wade LeBlanc were excellent last season, while Tim Stauffer looked great in long relief and has been sharp this spring, to boot. Veteran Aaron Harang rounds out the rotation, and if he can re-capture his 2009 form, the Padres will be tough to score on.

The bullpen is one of the deepest and most reliable in all of baseball, anchored by the superb troika of closer Heath Bell and setup men Luke Gregerson and Mike Adams, and features a plethora of live arms.

But, the fact is, this team lacks a proven power hitter. They've got plenty of speedy slap-hitters, including shortstop Jason Bartlett and second baseman Orlando Cabrera, but they just don't have that big bopper teams need.

Sure, Ryan Ludwick, Brad Hawpe, Kyle Blanks and Will Venable have power potential, but will they be able to get the job done in Petco Park? Cameron Maybin is still potential laden in center field, but the clock is ticking on his chances to become the star many thought he would be.

The Padres' offensive potency will go a long way towards determining their position in the NL West. If they find a consistent power hitter (Ludwick and Blanks are the most likely candidates), they might be able to re-enact their surprising run of 2010.

Prediction: The rotation is built to be the focal point, but you have to have some consistent offense to get things done. Third place feels about right for the Padres this season, assuming someone steps up and starts hitting.

For more baseball, check out 2011 MLB Predictions: Players to Watch and Postseason Locks.

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