The San Diego Padres had real high expectations about this time last year.  Those hopes came crashing down, though, in the form of a 66-96 last place finish in the National League West.

 

This season, the team’s attitude can once again be described as optimistic.  Cautiously optimistic, that is, as they prepare to open spring training this Friday, Feb. 14, in Peoria, Arizona.

 

 

“Because of all the injuries last year, some of our young players got a chance to play and gain some experience,” said Padres general manager Kevin Towers.  “If there was a silver lining, that was it.”

 

 

The arm ailments of starting pitchers Kevin Jarvis and Brian Tollberg, for example, gave both left-hander Oliver Perez and right-hander Jake Peavy an opportunity. 

 

 

“They were able to showcase what they had already been doing in the minor leagues,” said Towers.  “They came up here and did a tremendous job considering they were only rookies.”

 

 

What a difference a year makes.  No longer rookies, Perez and Peavy are now looked upon as two of the anchors of this season’s five-man starting rotation.

 

 

The main anchor, however, is ace right-hander Brian Lawrence.  Dubbed with the nickname B-Law by Padres broadcaster Matt Vasgersian, Lawrence appears ready to become a dominant pitcher for years to come.

 

 

“Brian Lawrence will be our starting pitcher on opening day,” announced Padres manager Bruce Bochy. 

 

 

The other two spots in the rotation should come down to a battle between right-handers Jarvis, Tollberg, Adam Eaton, Francisco Cordova, Ben Howard, Dennis Tankersley, and Charles Nagy.  Eaton, who came back from elbow surgery to pitch the last half of last season, is almost a lock for the No. 4 spot.

 

 

It now looks as if the most important acquisitions that Towers made in the offseason were in the bullpen.  That’s because right-handed closer Trevor Hoffman had shoulder surgery last October and might have to go under the knife yet again.

 

 

Fortunately, Towers was able to pick up veterans like right-handers Jay Witasick and Jaret Wright, as well as left-hander Jesse Orosco. 

 

 

“It became a priority for us to strengthen the bullpen in the offseason,” said Towers.  “We don’t want our starting pitchers to always have to pitch late into ballgames.”

 

 

Witasick is a former Padre who was traded to the New York Yankees two years ago, before moving on to the San Francisco Giants last season.  Ironically, both the Yankees and Giants made it to the World Series while Witasick was with them.

 

 

Besides being a good luck charm, Witasick is the perfect guy to assume the closer’s role until Hoffman is healthy.  Armed with a fastball that exceeds 90 miles per hour, he should be able to keep hitters off balance.

 

 

Wright was once a top pitcher on a Cleveland Indians team that reached the World Series in 1997.  A starter in his days with the Indians, Wright is being converted into a reliever by the Padres.

 

 

“We see him as possibly another Eric Gagne,” said Towers, referring to the former starter who thrived after being moved to the bullpen by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

 

 

Despite having been around for awhile and having had arm problems, Wright is still considered relatively young at age 27.  Orosco, on the other hand, will turn 46 on April 21, but can still get hitters out.

 

 

“It seems like all people want to talk about is how old Jesse Orosco is,” said Bochy.  “I’m just glad we have him on our side.  I got tired of seeing him come out of the bullpen for other teams.” 

 

 

Competing for the other spots in the bullpen will be Mike Bynum, Clay Condrey, Eric Cyr, Luther Hackman, Brandon Villafuerte, Kevin Walker, and Rob Ramsay.  Bynum and Condrey could also be used as spot starters if needed.

 

 

On offense, the Padres don’t have much speed or power, so finding a way to score runs will be key.  This is where Davey Lopes and Dave Magadan come in.

 

 

Lopes is back as the Padres first base coach after a stint as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers.  With Lopes coaching first for the Padres in 1999, Damian Jackson, Eric Owens, Reggie Sanders, and Quilvio Veras each had over 30 stolen bases and Ruben Rivera added 20-plus.     

 

 

Unfortunately for Lopes, he doesn’t have that kind of speed available to him on this team.  That means his focus will have to shift towards getting the players to take the extra base and exhibit smart baserunning.

 

 

Magadan is in his first year as the Padres hitting coach.  He played for the Padres from 1999-2001 and was their minor league hitting instructor a year ago.

 

 

Doing the little things is what Magadan needs from Padres hitters this season.  Things like working the count, being able to lay down a bunt when called upon, and moving runners along.

 

 

The starting lineup is pretty much set with Ryan Klesko at first base, Mark Loretta at second base, Ramon Vasquez at shortstop, Sean Burroughs at third base, and Bubba Trammell, Mark Kotsay, and Phil Nevin in the outfield.  The catching position is still up for grabs, however, between Gary Bennett, Wiki Gonzalez, and Michael Rivera. 

 

 

Klesko should have a big year provided he and Nevin stay healthy.  If nothing else, Nevin’s switch to the outfield could keep him healthier because he won’t be diving around the hard infield for ground balls.

 

 

Loretta, Vazquez, and Kotsay probably have the best speed among the starters and all three are good contact hitters, as is Burroughs.  Burroughs, like Nevin, has to stay off the disabled list and Trammell needs to rebound from an off year or risk being replaced in the starting lineup.

 

 

Bennett might be the best of the three catchers, but that’s still to be determined.  Some of the more interesting names fighting it out for reserve duty include:  Bernie Castro, Jose Flores, Dave Hansen, Donaldo Mendez, Brian Buchanan, Xavier Nady, Shane Victorino, Homer Bush, Keith Lockhart, Chris Sexton, Brady Anderson, and Roberto Kelly. 

The San Diego Padres had real high expectations about this time last year.  Those hopes came crashing down, though, in the form of a 66-96 last place finish in the National League West.

 

This season, the team’s attitude can once again be described as optimistic.  Cautiously optimistic, that is, as they prepare to open spring training this Friday, Feb. 14, in Peoria, Arizona.

 

“Because of all the injuries last year, some of our young players got a chance to play and gain some experience,” said Padres general manager Kevin Towers.  “If there was a silver lining, that was it.”

 

 

The arm ailments of starting pitchers Kevin Jarvis and Brian Tollberg, for example, gave both left-hander Oliver Perez and right-hander Jake Peavy an opportunity. 

 

 

“They were able to showcase what they had already been doing in the minor leagues,” said Towers.  “They came up here and did a tremendous job considering they were only rookies.”

 

 

What a difference a year makes.  No longer rookies, Perez and Peavy are now looked upon as two of the anchors of this season’s five-man starting rotation.

 

 

The main anchor, however, is ace right-hander Brian Lawrence.  Dubbed with the nickname B-Law by Padres broadcaster Matt Vasgersian, Lawrence appears ready to become a dominant pitcher for years to come.

 

 

“Brian Lawrence will be our starting pitcher on opening day,” announced Padres manager Bruce Bochy. 

 

 

The other two spots in the rotation should come down to a battle between right-handers Jarvis, Tollberg, Adam Eaton, Francisco Cordova, Ben Howard, Dennis Tankersley, and Charles Nagy.  Eaton, who came back from elbow surgery to pitch the last half of last season, is almost a lock for the No. 4 spot.

 

 

It now looks as if the most important acquisitions that Towers made in the offseason were in the bullpen.  That’s because right-handed closer Trevor Hoffman had shoulder surgery last October and might have to go under the knife yet again.

 

 

Fortunately, Towers was able to pick up veterans like right-handers Jay Witasick and Jaret Wright, as well as left-hander Jesse Orosco. 

 

 

“It became a priority for us to strengthen the bullpen in the offseason,” said Towers.  “We don’t want our starting pitchers to always have to pitch late into ballgames.”

 

 

Witasick is a former Padre who was traded to the New York Yankees two years ago, before moving on to the San Francisco Giants last season.  Ironically, both the Yankees and Giants made it to the World Series while Witasick was with them.

 

 

Besides being a good luck charm, Witasick is the perfect guy to assume the closer’s role until Hoffman is healthy.  Armed with a fastball that exceeds 90 miles per hour, he should be able to keep hitters off balance.

 

 

Wright was once a top pitcher on a Cleveland Indians team that reached the World Series in 1997.  A starter in his days with the Indians, Wright is being converted into a reliever by the Padres.

 

 

“We see him as possibly another Eric Gagne,” said Towers, referring to the former starter who thrived after being moved to the bullpen by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

 

 

Despite having been around for awhile and having had arm problems, Wright is still considered relatively young at age 27.  Orosco, on the other hand, will turn 46 on April 21, but can still get hitters out.

 

 

“It seems like all people want to talk about is how old Jesse Orosco is,” said Bochy.  “I’m just glad we have him on our side.  I got tired of seeing him come out of the bullpen for other teams.” 

 

 

Competing for the other spots in the bullpen will be Mike Bynum, Clay Condrey, Eric Cyr, Luther Hackman, Brandon Villafuerte, Kevin Walker, and Rob Ramsay.  Bynum and Condrey could also be used as spot starters if needed.

 

 

On offense, the Padres don’t have much speed or power, so finding a way to score runs will be key.  This is where Davey Lopes and Dave Magadan come in.

 

 

Lopes is back as the Padres first base coach after a stint as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers.  With Lopes coaching first for the Padres in 1999, Damian Jackson, Eric Owens, Reggie Sanders, and Quilvio Veras each had over 30 stolen bases and Ruben Rivera added 20-plus.     

 

 

Unfortunately for Lopes, he doesn’t have that kind of speed available to him on this team.  That means his focus will have to shift towards getting the players to take the extra base and exhibit smart baserunning.

 

 

Magadan is in his first year as the Padres hitting coach.  He played for the Padres from 1999-2001 and was their minor league hitting instructor a year ago.

 

 

Doing the little things is what Magadan needs from Padres hitters this season.  Things like working the count, being able to lay down a bunt when called upon, and moving runners along.

 

 

The starting lineup is pretty much set with Ryan Klesko at first base, Mark Loretta at second base, Ramon Vasquez at shortstop, Sean Burroughs at third base, and Bubba Trammell, Mark Kotsay, and Phil Nevin in the outfield.  The catching position is still up for grabs, however, between Gary Bennett, Wiki Gonzalez, and Michael Rivera. 

 

 

Klesko should have a big year provided he and Nevin stay healthy.  If nothing else, Nevin’s switch to the outfield could keep him healthier because he won’t be diving around the hard infield for ground balls.

 

 

Loretta, Vazquez, and Kotsay probably have the best speed among the starters and all three are good contact hitters, as is Burroughs.  Burroughs, like Nevin, has to stay off the disabled list and Trammell needs to rebound from an off year or risk being replaced in the starting lineup.

 

 

Bennett might be the best of the three catchers, but that’s still to be determined.  Some of the more interesting names fighting it out for reserve duty include:  Bernie Castro, Jose Flores, Dave Hansen, Donaldo Mendez, Brian Buchanan, Xavier Nady, Shane Victorino, Homer Bush, Keith Lockhart, Chris Sexton, Brady Anderson, and Roberto Kelly.