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I Understand The River Boat Gambler Mentality, But Preller’s Method To Build SD Into A Winner Will Fail

A.J. Preller has revamped the roster of the Padres so much in the offseason, that I think it will take a full season for everyone to get used to their surroundings. Much like the 2012 Angels and Marlins, 2013 Blue Jays and 2014 Yankees, just when you thought they won the winter, it took them half to a full year to round out their talent. Having 10+ new faces on the roster usually doesn’t translate to immediate impact on the field. The Padres are listed as about an 84 win game club based on their squad. I think they will be far below that. For now, I have them ranked below the Dodgers, Giants, Mets, Cardinals, Pirates and Marlins in the National League.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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You are the San Diego Padres, and are looking at the Dodgers (north of $230 MIL in payroll the last 2 years and $267 MIL in 2015), and also the 3 times in 5 year champions (Giants) that also hail in your Division. Your franchise barely can scrape up enough dollars to crack the $100 MIL salary barrier, and you have 2 Pennants since your inception in 1969.
Petco Park’s attendance has been dropping since the park opened over a decade ago, and you needed to shake things up. I get that. Everyone and their grandma is calling A.J. Preller’s winter as a landmark win for any new executive that there has been.
Similar words were spoken in the winter of 2012 – going into 2013, when Alex Anthopoulos pulled off that mega trade with the Marlins, and everyone was casting them for the World Series (even the oddsmakers). He based that trade with several components from Miami that were riddled with injury troubles in their career. Read the rest of this entry
How All Of The San Diego Padres Hitters Were Acquired: (2014 Roster Tree)

As a 2nd RD draft pick (2005) of the franchise, Chase Headley has pretty much been disappointment over the .last 2 seasons after setting the world on fire for the 2nd half of 2012. Headley led the NL with 115 RBI in 2012 amongst 31 HRs, Headley also captured a Gold Glove Award and Silver Slugger in 2012. He ended up finishing 5th in NL MVP voting. He hit 23 HRs and 73 RBI in just 75 Games after the 2012 ALL-Star Game.. Chase Headley actually fared well at Petco Park in 2012 – with a 3 Slash Line of .272/.357/.812. He added 13 HRs and 51 RBI. In 600 AB during 2013, the man only had an OPS of .747 – with 13 HRs. 2014 has been worse, with a .620 OPS, .204 BA – with just 6 HRs in 211 AB. The franchise has been criticized for not capitalizing on his 2012 year via a trade. At least they never gave him a huge extension.
How All Of The Padres Hitters Were Acquired:
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
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Omar Minaya, A.J. Hinch and Fred Uhlman Jr. took over the “office of the GM” on June 22nd, when the Padres fired Josh Byrnes from his post.
In order to see if the canning was valid, one has to search through the transactions the man did under is tenure at the helm.
Some of the current squad was brought in by Byrnes (hired in Oct of 2011, after Jed Hoyer left to take the GM position with the Chicago Cubs. although through the course of the Roster Tree, you will see some of the players go back to the Kevin Towers era.
Crazy enough is that Byrnes was fired by Towers current team (ARI) as the GM in July of 2010.
Towers is also responsible for some of the assembled roster in 2014 for San Diego. KT is one of several possible replacements candidates for the vacant SD GM job.
It is a franchise that has made several ‘suspect’ trades over the last 10 years, and the drafting record hasn’t netted them the kind of ‘blue chippers’ to sustain a lengthy period of success despite drafting high a lot of years.
San Diego’s club in 2014 is injury prone, hitters and pitchers alike, and are headed for a brutal campaign, already at 35 – 47 heading into games June.30, 2014.
They are already 8.5 games behind the playoff bar. and 11 out of the NL West.
San Diego Padres State Of The Union For 2014

The Padres have not made the playoffs since 2006, and have only authored 2 winning seasons in the last 7 years. It is not from a lack of the coach, rather the NL West has far superior talent, while the San Diego franchise has been trying to replenish the farm, went through an ownership change, and now the team needs to make some decisions this offseason, that will shape the fortunes of the club for the next several years. I think the Pad Squad are in the mid 60’s wins range by the time it is all said and done this year.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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This season could get real ugly for the Padres in 2014.
As of right now, here are the injuries the team has endured for Spring Training.
Cameron Maybin is out till mid to late April with ruptured biceps tendon. Josh Johnson will miss a month with a strained right forearm, Corey Luebke is gone for the year with his 2nd Tommy John Surgery, and Joe Wieland also had an elbow surgery.
Among the latest issues, Carlos Quentin is doubtful for the opener today with a sore knee, Catcher Yasmani Grandal is questionable, recovering from knee surgery – while Chase Headley (strained right calf) and Chris Denorfia (sore right shoulder) are probable for tonight’s North American MLB Opener. Read the rest of this entry
San Diego Padres Payroll In 2014 + Contracts Going Forward
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024 & Jeff Kleiner (Org Depth + Payroll Expert – find his website here) Follow @prosportsroster
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I am not going to beat up the Padres in this article. They have a tough division to contend with and need the new 2016 CBA to provide more of an equal playing field.
Here is some good news, the Padres only be losing 7 guys to Free Agency before the 2015 year, so if the young flock of talent can show some improvement, the future years look good.
Chase Headley, Chris Denorfia, Josh Johnson, Tim Stauffer, Huston Street, Seth Smith and Nick Hundley are up for the open market. Look for the franchise to trade most of these guys near the Trade Deadline. Read the rest of this entry
Current Odds Over/Under Wins For All 30 MLB Teams In 2014: Best Bets On The Board

The regular season over/unders have been updated yet again. While most of them are right in the realm of where they should be – about 20% of the numbers scream out for me to bet some cabbage on.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Yes these are my predictions for the current state of the MLB.
Right beside the wins and losses, is the over.under totals and odd.
Next to that will be whether that would make it Over/Under based on my selections.
If I think an odd is worthy of plunking down some pesos, I will highlight it. Read the rest of this entry
30 MLB Team Power Rankings MAR 2014
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Okay, not much has changed in the last month.
They are about 20 unsigned Free Agents left in the open market pool, Baltimore inked Nelson Cruz and Ubaldo Jimenez – and Chris Capuano is with the Red Sox, Paul Maholm replaces him LA for the 2014 campaign.
Of note of the things I am watching in Spring Training. The Dodger Blue is also experiencing many injuries – and Yasiel Puig showed up to camp overweight.
LA is talking about not sending Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke to Australia in a few weeks.
I can understand with the RHP because he was yanked after four pitches last week, but withholding your star ace from the season opener, and possibly the North America starter the following week. Read the rest of this entry
Top 10 Stolen Base Leaders in 2013

Ellsbury missed 88 Games in 2012 (and also missed 144 Games in 2010), which brings into question his long – term durability. Heck, even this year, he was seen with a walking boot only a few weeks prior to the playoffs. You can’t deny the man has put up some great numbers out of the leadoff spot for the Red Sox since 2007. Ellsbury has a Career 3 Slash of .297/.350/.789 – and averages 57 XBH, 55 SB, 198 Hits and 108 RBI for every 162 Games Played. The Yankees have inked him to a 7 year deal, and will bank on him staying healthy for most of the contract.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
With a decrease in the total amount of players taking PED’s in the MLB, speed is a more important factor to help manufacture runs than it was even a decade ago.
Jacoby Ellsbury leads the list last year with 52 bag swipes. The Yankees will need him to duplicate what he did in 2013 if they want any chance to compete in 2014.
Everth Cabrera would have been the odds on favorite to take the title – had he not been suspended 50 games for his part in the Biogenesis clinic.
Rajai Davis also enters the list. The Blue Jay in 2013, and Tiger in 2014, swiped 45 bags despite only coming in with 331 AB.
Jacoby Ellsbury 5 Stolen Base Game 2013
Yasiel Puig Should Be Selected Into The All-Star Game
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Follow @mlbreportsMonday, July.01/2013

Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig has been on fire ever since he joined the big club. He is hitting for a 3 Slash Line of .436 with 7 HRs and RBIs through his first 27 games. His 44 Hits collected in the 1st month of his career is 2nd All – Time to the great Joe Dimaggio. There is no doubt that the Cuban Player is one of the best 7 or 8 OF in the National League right now – and it would be blasphemy if he is not given the right to put into the Mid – Summers Classic!
By Enrique Rivera (MLB Reports – LA Dodgers Correspondent) Follow @eriqwiththeq
There is no doubt about it, Dodgers’ OF Yasiel Puig has been all over the sports media – and rightfully so.
Puig has only played in 27 games and he is batting an excellent .436 with 7 HRs and 16 RBIs.
The Dodgers are 15-11 during that stretch including 8-2 in their last 10 games.
Puig doesn’t seem like he’s ready to cool off as he has a 5 game hitting streak including a 4 for 5 game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday June. 30.
Yasiel Puig helps extend the Dodgers winning streak to six
MLB Team Power Rankings: Week 8
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Follow @mlbreportsMonday May.27/2013

The Detroit Tigers were second on the list for moving up rankings with 5 spots. They have overtaken the Indians in the AL Central – and have 5 players that are hitting north of .300. Their top 4 Starters may be the best in the game – and they play in an extremely winnable division where teams can`t match them for payroll or talent. Miguel Cabrera is the best hitter on the planet – and has great support.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
The Oakland Athletics are making another run at the expense of the lesser lites in the Division. This team feasts on the Astros and Mariners – and are not half bad at playing the Rangers and Angels either. The goal for them is to continue to pitch. They must try to at least take 2 games versus San Francisco in the 4 game set.
The Kansas City Royals may have rolled up snake eyes in gambling on their 2013 season. Suffering the longest playoff drought in the majors at 28 years, the franchise traded away its best prospect player in Wil Myers for a 2 year pitching solution in James Shields.
The problem is that their nucleus of young talented hitters have failed them. Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas are being outpowered by some teams Pitching cores in the NL.
Dodgers Struggle After Brawl With Padres
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Follow @mlbreportsFriday Apr.19/2013

Matt Kemp has begun the year hitting .182 with no HRs and 5 RBI in 15 games. Kemp hopes to get out of his slump by visiting an American League ballpark for the first time in the season. Last year, the big man torched through April, smashing 12 HRs and adding 28 RBI – to go along with a .417 Batting Average.
By Enrique Rivera (Dodgers Correspondent): Follow @eriqwiththeq
After the brawl last week with the San Diego Padres, Dodger fans were wondering if Dodgers’ slugger Matt Kemp would get out of his early season slump and start getting clutch in the series at Arizona and the series back at home against the Padres but Kemp was still unable to get out of that slump. Kemp went 4 for 22 (.182) in those two series but did collect 4 RBI.
The Dodgers managed to win only one game in those six games including a three-game sweep by the Padres at home. They were also shut-out twice in Arizona.
The most devastating one was the Sunday game as they let an amazing pitching performance by Josh Beckett go to waste in the 9th Inning. The final score of that game was 1-0. Beckett had 9 SO on that game with only one Earned Run.
Dodgers’ skipper Don Mattingly might have criticized a bit by letting Beckett continue on with the game.
Harrison Ford throws out first pitch on Jackie Robinson Day for Dodgers
San Diego Padres Payroll In 2013: And Contracts Going Forward
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Thursday, February.21, 2013

San Diego GM Josh Byrnes did little in the off-season aside from signing Freddy Garcia. This team will surprise people with their lineup and their starting rotation. They will be Oakland Athletics of the NL West Division.
By Chris Lacey (Baseball Writer) Follow @aecanada12
The San Diego Padres 2012 season is one that can be split into a tale of two seasons. There was the first half of the season where they struggled to score runs and their record reflected that. They went 34-53 and only managed to score a total of 305 runs as a team. The first month is what really set them back; they had a team batting average of .215. The second half of the season the Padres did a complete 180 degree turn in the way that they played. They scored 346 runs and their record was 42-33 in second half of the season. The team batting average increased to a season high in September of .267. The Padres can carry over what happened in the end of 2012 season into 2013 this could be a very competitive division.
General Manager Josh Byrnes did not do much in free agency. He did sign former All-Star pitcher Freddy Garcia to a minor league deal. The Padres have a history of not having a high payroll. They prefer to use their farm system to generate their major league talent, rather than spend money on Free Agents.
Chase Headley 2012 Highlights. Mature Lyrics – Parental Guidance is Advised:
Top Base Stealers Projected For The 2013 MLB Baseball Season
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Follow @mlbreportsWednesday February.20/2013

Trout must find a way to stay selective at the plate -to keep walking in 2013 – especially if his average dips. He can wreak havoc on the base paths once he makes it there.
Bernie Olshansky (Baseball Writer): Follow @BernieOlshansky
Workouts for all teams are in full swing and Spring Training games will start this weekend. Baseball season is here. In the past few weeks, I have projected saves and HR leaders for this upcoming season. In this week’s installment of projections, I will predict the SB leaders for the year (in descending order).
1. Mike Trout, 50
Last year, Trout caught the baseball world by storm after being called up nearly a month after the season started. The young superstar stole 49 bases en route to an MVP-like season. If it were not for Miguel Cabrera winning the Triple Crown, Trout would have been the MVP. The Angels outfielder stole 49 bases in less than a full season. I believe that Trout will steal roughly the same amount of bases due to the Angels’ acquisition of Josh Hamilton. The Angels will want Trout in scoring position as much as possible. This year, there is no way the Angels will not make the playoffs with Trout, Hamilton, and Albert Pujols.
Mike Trout Highlights 2012 – Mature Lyrics so Parental Guidance is advised:
San Diego Padres Roster In 2013: State Of The Union
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Thursday January 10, 2013
Jake Dal Porto (Baseball Writer) Follow @TheJakeMan24
The San Diego Padres haven’t made a move that will conceivably make them contenders in a competitive National League West division. San Diego went 76-86 in 2012, which was good enough for fourth place in the NL West.
A move could still be made, and Padres’ pundits have went as far to suggest some type of signing and/or trade before Spring Training. Still, their aren’t a ton of options that would fit into their constrained payroll, especially after they signed Carlos Quentin and Huston Street to extensions. They still have a decent bullpen anchored by Street and set-up man Luke Gregerson.
Pending a significant addition, San Diego should be a bit better in the win department. Some of their key starting pitchers will be returning from injuries, and a couple of top prospects could take the fast track to the Major Leagues and make an impact by season’s end. Most notably, they will need Clayton Richard to improve to the next level, having won 14 games in 2 of the last 3 years – while holding an ERA under 4.00. Eric Stults was the surprise of the Starting Rotation of last season – posting a 8-3 Record, with a 2.92 ERA in 14 Games Started.
More importantly, they went on a nice streak in the final few weeks in 2012. Perhaps this could fuel a hot start in 2013.
Let’s preview this young team.
Chase Headley – 2012 Highlights for the NL RBI Champion
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