Posts Tagged ‘Buddy Black’

Six Days and Counting……..

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

As the 2010 Cactus League Spring Training Season winds down on Sunday, Opening Day is only 6 days away. I feel very comfortable and satisfied with the talent level the Padres Franchise has displayed throughout this Spring Training. Padres’ GM Jed Hoyer might pull the trigger to make a trade before Opening Day. If Matt Stairs makes the club, one player on the 40 man roster needs to go, with that being said maybe a trade is in the works. In either case, Hoyer and Black will make the best decision for the club as I have no doubt about this. I equate the Padres talent level at this moment like Joe C. Public having a two bags of silver coins. He has precious metals that have enormous upside potential and is only buying time to allow that investment to flourish.

Prediction: 2010 National League West Standings

  1. Arizona Diamondbacks
  2. San Diego Padres
  3. Colorado Rockies
  4. Los Angeles Dodgers
  5. San Francisco Giants

I probably just blown away a few readers with my prediction, though remember the Padres have the most promising talent rising through the farm system. This is the first time in years, literally years the Padres have some talent in Triple A  and Double A to come up and make an impact on the parent club. My sleeper is Wade LeBlanc, even though Wade might not be on the Opening Day roster. Wade has the potential be a rock solid lefty on the rotation along with Clayton Richard. In any major league starting pitching staff, you can never have too many lefties and the Padres are fortunate to have a few spread among the parent club, Triple A and Double A. I foresee LeBlanc winning 10 games as a fill-in starter throughout the season.

A befitting way to wrap-up this post, is a music video by Blues Artist Lonnie Brooks titled “Trading Post” as Padres’ GM Jed Hoyer and staff will most likely be busy in the final days of forming the Opening Day roster with a few moves.

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Padres’ GM Hoyer makes his moves…..

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

We all have been waiting for Padres’ GM Jed Hoyer to make his first transaction and he did so, in trading 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff and minor leaguer 2B Eric Sogard for OF’s Scott Hairston and Aaron Cunningham. I like the move in so many ways:

  • This allows Chase Headley to start the season at 3B, his natural position. I feel Headley is a better hitter behind Adrian Gonzalez than Kouzmanoff. If my memory serves me right, Kouzmanoff struggling enormously hitting behind Gonzalez last year and stranded so many runners in scoring position.
  • OF’s Kyle Blanks and Scott Hairston bring more POP to the line-up and I predict they will out perform Kouzmanoff this year, averaging wise, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and stealing-wise. This is not a knock against Kouzmanoff, but Blanks and Hairston are better fits for Petco Park.
  • Adding Aaron Cunningham, I feel will provide Padres’ Mgr Buddy Black more flexibility in terms of playing all outfield positions.

The other transaction involved the free-agency signing of P Jon Garland and PH/OF Matt Stairs. Let’s take a closer look at these two acquisitions:

  • In Matt Stairs, the Padres’ are getting a legit threatening PH off the bench with power. In addition, Stairs will be stability and leadership to the clubhouse as he won a Championship with the Phillies.
  • In Jon Garland, another player who won a Championship with the Chicago White Sox and been in the playoffs with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. I see Garland having a huge impact on the pitching staff and don’t be surprise to see him win around 13-16 games with the Padres. Garland might end up leading the Padres staff if Chris Young is dealt away mid-season.

Being a Padres season ticket holder for 13 years now, I see Ownership, Front Office, Coaches and Players all having Pride and Joy of being members of the Padres Franchise. Since we are on this subject, this leads us to the video of the day by the late Stevie Ray Vaughn song called ‘Pride and Joy’

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