San Diego Padres
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| Projected Lineup |
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| SS |
Ramon Vazquez |
| 2B |
Mark Loretta |
| CF |
Mark Kotsay |
| 1B |
Ryan Klesko |
| LF |
Phil Nevin |
| RF |
Bubba Trammell |
| 3B |
Sean Burroughs |
| C |
Wiki Gonzalez |
| Projected Rotation |
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| RHP |
Brian Lawrence |
| RHP |
Adam Eaton |
| LHP |
Oliver Perez |
| RHP |
Jake Peavy |
| RHP |
Francisco Cordova |
| CL |
Jay Wistasick |
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By Doug Furnad, SI.com
For the San Diego Padres, 2003 won't be much more than an open audition for the 2004 squad, which will usher in a new era with the opening of PETCO Park.
To be sure, this year's version of the Padres will be extremely young, but that's more than OK for management. The club is content to let kids like Sean Burroughs, Oliver Perez and Jake Peavy gain valuable major league experience.
The current batch of Padres veterans aren't half-bad either. They have a few big bats in Phil Nevin and Ryan Klesko but are lacking in speed. They ranked next to last in stolen bases last year, with Mark Kotsay leading the team with 11. Ramon Vazquez was supposed to provide stolen bases at the top of the order, but he managed just 7. To make matters worse, Nevin missed substantial time in 2002 due to injury. He must stay healthy in 2003 for the Padres to have any chance compete.
The pitching staff is green to say the least, with 26-year-old Brian Lawrence being counted on as the staff ace. Lawrence is coming off a steady season in which he racked up 210 innings and managed a 12-12 record on a 96-loss team. Behind him, the Padres boast an outstanding group of young but inexperienced arms, led by the 21-year-old left-hander Perez (94 strikeouts in 90 innings in 2002). Peavy didn't make as big a splash in the big leagues as Perez last season but has a track record of success as a minor leaguer, and Adam Eaton should make a full recovery from the reconstructive elbow surgery he had in August, 2001.
The biggest problem will be finding a replacement for über-closer Trevor Hoffman, who is expected to miss at least the first half of the season after undergoing surgery on his elbow. If the Padres can replace him with one guy (Jaret Wright or Jay Witasick) they should be alright. But if they have to rely on a closer-by-committee approach, it will tax an already overworked bullpen.
Some have suggested Perez could be the closer, but manager Bruce Bochy is afraid it would stunt his development as a starter.
The team is counting on Mark Loretta to man second base this year, though he had an up-and-down campaign in 2002. Loretta was unhappy and awful in Milwaukee but hit over .400 after being traded to Houston late in the year.
Bubba Trammell once offered to work for free if he didn't produce as a starting outfielder, and this may be the year he gets out his own checkbook. His numbers tumbled in 2002 -- .243 with 17 homers -- and now he faces competition from rookie Xavier Nady as well as elder-statesmen Brady Anderson and Roberto Kelly.
Phil Nevin is trying to learn a new position this spring after being moved to the outfield. This is not new for Nevin, who has played all over the infield. But the fact that he refused a trade to the Reds for Ken Griffey Jr. puts him directly under the spotlight. Injuries limited Nevin to 12 home runs in 106 games last season, so anything short of his monster numbers from 2000-01, when he hit a combined 71 home runs, may signal a career in decline.
The Padres have plenty of players that will have an impact the next few years. Shortstop Khalil Greene, second baseman Bernie Castro and Nady will all get some playing time come September, but none of these three are being counted on for the early part of the season. The rookie that may have the most impact could be outfielder Shane Victorino, a Rule V pick from Los Angeles. A good spring could force the Padres to bench Trammell, move Kotsay to right and let Victorino play center. He stole 45 bases in Class AA in 2002 and would add much-needed to speed to the lineup. The Padres are planning on going into the year with Vazquez and Loretta at the top of the lineup, but that could change if Victorino shows he is worthy.
Arrivals: RHP Francisco Cordova, RHP Jay Witasick, LHP Jesse Orosco, RHP Luther Hackman, RHP Jaret Wright, INF Dave Hansen, INF Mark Loretta, C Gary Bennett, RHP Charles Nagy, OF Brady Anderson.
Departures: RHP Bret Tomko, RHP Jeremy Fikac, OF Ray Lankford, SS Deivi Cruz, OF Ron Gant, SS Cesar Crespo, LHP Mike Holtz, RHP Matt DeWitt.
It is a good thing Southern Californians love the sun, because it will be a long summer. The Padres have a good team but to challenge the frontrunners, they have to get impressive contributions from a questionable pitching staff. With Hoffman out, they are at a disadvantage right off the bat and may be too far behind to challenge after his return. Expect the Padres to battle the Rockies for fourth place in the West, but don't be surprised if San Diegans give up early and wait for their new park to open up next season.
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