San Diego Padres 2009 Outlook

Farewell: SS Khalil Greene, P Clay Hensley, P Trevor Hoffman

Welcome: C Henry Blanco, P Chris Britton, OF Emil Brown, 2B Chris Burke, P Kevin Correia, 2B David Eckstein, OF Cliff Floyd, SP Shaun Hill

Projected Lineup:

1. Jody Gerut CF

2. Brian Giles RF

3. Adrian Gonzalez 1B

4. Kevin Kouzmanoff 3B

5. Chase Headley LF

6. David Eckstein 2B

7. Luis O. Rodriguez SS

8. Nick Hundley C

Starting Rotation: Jake Peavy, Chris Young, Cha Seung Baek, Kevin Correia, Josh Geer/Shawn Hill/Wade LeBlanc

Setup: Cla Meredith

Closer: Heath Bell

Prospect Watch: 

2B:  Matt Antonelli- A big disappointment last season but a wide open 2B hole in the bigs

1B: Kyle Blanks-Big time slugger but couldn't be at a worse position behind Gonzalez

 RH SP: Wynn Petzer-Emerging prospect, could get the call up by end of season

Bottom Line:  San Diego, as we have come to know it, is a beautiful city.  A city with an magnificent layout, perfect weather, and a state-of-the-art ballpark strategically nestled in the heart of downtown. 

Is there ever a city more deserving of an above average baseball team?  I’ll let you be the judge and subside my personal bias.  Nonetheless, after back-to-back National League West titles, the Friars turned in a torrid 2008 campaign.  Unfortunately, the 2009 forecast calls for an all too familiar result as the Friars have done little to bring light to an already dim 40-man roster. 

Yet, generally speaking, there is some light at the end of the tunnel. The reign of terror that was the elongated tenure of CEO John Moores has come to an end.  But former Arizona Diamondbacks CEO, who has taken over the Friars helm, has a tall task ahead of him.  

The first of which, is to find a way to keep the two integral parts of the 40-man roster, ace Jake Peavy and slugger Adrian Gonzalez, in San Diego white and blue—and camouflage on Sundays—by the time July comes. 

Fearless Forecast:   After a dreadful 2008, you would like to think things can only go up.  Not with the mess Moores left.

66-98  (5^thNL WEST)