Padres

LINEUP

Quilvio Veras
2B
Good fastball hitter who likes to go the other way. Weakness is breaking pitches.

Steve Finley
CF
Had off-year with the bat. Dead fastball hitter who likes the pitch on the inside half of the plate. Gives up on balls down and away. Superior centerfielder.

Tony Gwynn
RF
Hits the ball where it's pitched and doesn't try to do too much with it. Weakness is fastballs up and in.

Greg Vaughn
LF
Changed stance and became productive again this year. Good fastball hitter who is a more disciplined batter. Show him the ball inside, and get him out down and away.

Ken Caminiti
3B
Capable of unloading a home run at any time. Good low-ball hitter. Late in the season did a better job taking the pitch away and driving it to the opposite field.

Wally Joyner
1B
Good contact hitter who likes to go the other way. Home run power is down. Weakness is up and in.

Carlos Hernandez
C
Dead fastball hitter. Weak on breaking pitches. On defense, has a good arm and quick release.

Chris Gomez
SS
Likes ball over the middle of the plate. Can bust him inside, and he'll chase the breaking pitch.

Bench
1B- C Jim Leyritz prefers the ball out over the plate where he can hit it with power to right-center. Can work him inside. Will chase breaking pitches. OF Mark Sweeney has home run power off the bench and a good eye. Ditto for OF John Vander Wal, a first-ball, fastball hitter. C Greg Myers is a good backup and lefthanded bat off the bench. Has home run power. 3B George Arias is an average defensive player with an erratic arm. INF Andy Sheets and OF Ruben Rivera have trouble with hard stuff and don't figure to be factors.