This is the latest of our 30 team previews, which will run through March 30. OK, a year ago the San Diego Padres most significant offseason roster addition was journeyman righthanded starter Jason Marquis. The hope was that a decision to adjust Brett Kern Jersey the outfield fences at Petco Park would make the ballpark a bit more accommodating to the offense.So much for that idea.San Diegos 618 runs scored in 2013 were the second fewest in the 10 years since Petco opened. The rotation, meanwhile, had a 4.31 ERA, sixth highest in 10 years, and the bullpens 3.39 ERA was only the fifth best in the last decade.With minimal, if any, impact on the Padres production, the team turned its attention to making some adjustments to the roster this timeprimarily the bullpen.Josh Johnson (AP Photo) Huston Street was awfully good as the closer. He converted 33 of 35 save opportunities, but it was getting the lead to Street that was a concern. The Padres gave up primary setup man Luke Gregerson, a model of consistency in five big-league seasons, to acquire the lefthanded bat of Seth Smith from Oakland.More importantly, though, they were able to sign free agent Joaquin Benoit, who emerged as Detroits closer last year, and wound up with lefty Patrick Schuster out of the Rule 5 Draft. Even though Benoit was 24-of-26 in save situations with the Tigers and had a 2.01 ERA last season, the Padres were adamant that he would a sume the eighth-inning role. Benoit, however, also provides insurance for any down time for Street, who has been on the disabled list in three of the last four seasons.They also spent $8 million to sign Josh Johnson as a free agent, hoping the veteran righthander can avoid the injuries that have haunted his career, including bone spurs in the right elbow that limited him to 16 starts and 81.1 innings for Toronto last year. Johnson has made 30 starts in only three of his eight full big-league seasons, which have been punctuated by shoulder inflammation and Tommy John surgery in Dennis Kelly Jersey addition to last years problem.Johnson did begin working out Dec. 1, looking to step into what has the makings of a solid rotation built around Ian Kennedy (acquired July 31 last season from Arizona), Andrew Cashner (10-9, 3.09 in 2013) and lefty Eric Stults (11-13, 3.93).Offensively, the Padres scored only the aforementioned 618 runs last year, and 165 runs fewer than St. Louis, which led the NL in scoring in 2013.The Padres are convinced that the lo s of players to injuries and suspensions were to blame for that. Only two projected starters even appeared in 100 gamesthird baseman Chase Headley and outfielder Will Venable.A year ago, shortstop/leadoff hitter Everth Cabrera and catcher-of-the-future Yasmani Grandal were both suspended 50 games for violating baseballs drug policy.Then Grandal, along with center fielder Cameron Maybin and left fielder Carlos Quentin, suffered season-ending injuries at midseason. Oh, and dont forget first baseman Yonder Alonso was sidelined the bulk of June with a broken right hand that never fully healed.The Padres did add Smith, who has a sweet lefthanded swing but is more a fourth outfielder than a starter, and they acquired infielder Ryan Jackson from Houston for outfielder Jesus Guzman in a mid-December trade designed to add versatility to the roster. Jackson, a teammate of Alonso and Grandal at the University of Miami in 2008, can play second, third and short. Guzman was limited to first base and left field, and is similar to holdover Kyle Blanks.Yonder Alonso (AP Photo)The biggest question with the offense focuses Malcolm Butler Jersey on Headley, a potential free agent the Padres resisted trading during the winter in hopes he can return to his 2012 form and then be re-signed to become a foundation for the San Diego lineup.After hitting .286 with 31 home runs and 115 RBIs in 2012, Headley slipped to a .250-13-50 line in 2013. That brought out the critics, claiming that 2012 was a career year. The Padres, however, are convinced Headley was bothered by a thumb injury in 2013, and that his production can return.Buy your Sporting News 2014 Baseball Yearbook now!The Padres did find bright spots last year with the arrival of rookie second baseman Jedd Gyorko and Amani Hooker Jersey the emergence of Venable. Gyorko led the Padres with 23 home runs and 63 RBIs while hitting .283, even though a strained groin limited him to 125 games. At age 30, Venable had 22 stolen baseshis fifth consecutive season with 20 or morebut also posted career highs of 22 home runs and 53 RBIs. He had never had more than 13 home runs in his four previous full seasons.Venable and Cabrera, who stole 37 bases in 95 games, were the only Padres to even reach double figures in stolen bases last seasondespite the strongly held belief that to be succe sful in Petco the offense has to be aggre sive.Projected lineup 1B: Yonder Alonso2B: Jedd GyorkoSS: Everth Cabrerra3B: Chase HeadleyLF: Carlos QuentinCF: Will VenableRF: Chris DenorfiaRotation RHP Ian KennedyLHP Eric StultsRHP Andrew CashnerRHP Tyson Ro sCloser Huston StreetScout's view A major league scout analyzes 1B Yonder Alonso : Hes at a stage where he needs to have a breakthrough season. He has that sweet swing of a young lefthander, driving the ball to all fields, living in the gaps. He has been around long enough now that he needs to take that next step, understand situations and how he is being pitched and turn on that home-run pitch instead of taking a single or double. He is athletic enough to play first base and is a quality defensive player, but there is no other option. In Cincinnati he auditioned at third and in left field with the idea they could keep him and Joey Votto. That idea ended LeShaun Sims Jersey quickly.View from the other dugout A scout's take on the Padres The Padres have quality starting pitchers six deep, but the pitching friendly environment, even with its revised dimensions last year, negates some of that advantage because of confidence that visiting pitchers have on the mound in San Diego. (The) other problem is complete games are history, which adds to importance of (the) bullpen, where the Padres are having to piece things together again, having dismantled what two years ago was a major a set. Not a lot of power in the lineup, adding to the pre sures on third baseman Chase Headley. … Not sure where Kyle Blanks fits with Carlos Quentin in left and Yonder Alonso at first, but hes out of waivers and the Padres wont want to risk losing him.Impact newcomer Righthander Josh Johnson has a power arm and can dominate hitters if he is healthy. And thats a big if. In eight full big-league seasons, he has started as many as 20 games only four times, and 30-plus just twice. Limited to 81.1 innings at Toro
При частичном использовании материалов портала
гиперссылка (hyperlink) на «Лучший Город — Воронеж» обязательна.
Полное использование материалов возможно только
с разрешения редакции.
Интернет-портал Лучший Город (Best City)
Свидетельство о регистрации ЭЛ № ФС 77 - 79138 от 22.09.2020
Выдано Федеральной службой по надзору в сфере связи, информационных технологий и массовых коммуникаций (Роскомнадзор)
Учредитель — ООО «ВСС»
Главный редактор — Куранов Ю.Г.
E-mail: sales@best-city.ru
Телефон: +7 (903) 798-68-89
