miguel pagan

So much hope but all we get is a another season without making the playoffs.
With all that talent they should have made it. I really hope they get better
pitching next year. The middle relief sucked this year.

\0\0\0\0\0

sdpadrebob

Frustrating? Yes
Bad? Not at all, remember this team lost what 98 games last year and could win
almost 90 games this year? Except for not quite making it (which isn't fact
yet but probably will be) this has been a very exciting, optimistic, hopefull
year for almost everyone that didn't set their sights too high. I predicted
they would make the playoffs & I have almost been proven wrong. But I also said
they wouldn't get very far if they did make it. So once again I am almost
right. This season worked out almost perfect to what I thought.

gjohns01

I know the middle relief is almost universally hated here, but I
don't think it was any worse than mediocre.
If you remove Stone, Watkins, and Beck it really wasn't that bad.
Neal looked great until this past month. And while everyone seems to
hate Witasick, his 3.26 ERA is not bad at all.
I think the young guys in Mobile and Portland should be able to
fill any hole we have here.

The place we position we badly need to fill is centerfield. Our two
main centerfielders, Payton and Long, combined for all of 11 homers, 5
SB, and about a .270 average this year. That's pathetic for this
position.
In case you were wondering, Kotsay is hitting .312, with 15 HR and 7
SB.

talondorsd

Wrong...what Towers really needs to work on this off-season is reducing the
number of outfielders and getting some pinch-hitters who can hit constantly.
The pinch-hitting this year (outside of Long) has been downright horrible, the
worst in the NL, and cost the team alot of games. A bench can make or break a
team. I'm not saying it is the most important reason why the Padres didn't
make the playoffs, but it is a huge factor, one that is being ignored by most
fans.

rich powell

I agree that we have too many outfielders. I will go further than saying we
just need to upgrade center field and say we also need to get Klesko out of
the outfield, move Giles back to his natural left field and get new right
and center fielders who can cover ground. The problem of course is the no
trade clause that Towers has given both Klesko and Nevin. I doubt very much
that there will be any kind of a market for Klesko and his $10.5 million
contract next year - unless perhaps some other team is hot for one of our
prospects. Nevin (despite being an ass) has turned into a decent first
baseman and is our best power hitter. Since he is much more tradable than
Klesko and from what I understand has only a partial no trade next year, do
we dare trade him and move Klesko back to first?

gjohns01

I'm not disputing that out pinch-hitters sucked this year, but that
doesn't make my statement wrong.
The production we got out of centerfield was horrible, and that has
more effect per game than the pinch-hitters.

Personally I thought sending Robinson down was a mistake. He was the
only good pinch-runner we had, and without him we didn't have any
basestealers. Especially when Buchanan was the person who took his
spot.

gjohns01

I don't like the idea of trading Nevin. The Padres aren't that far
away from being a division winning team. You don't trade away your
best power hitter just as the team is finally developing...unless you
are the Dodgers.
I would much rather Towers made a mistake by not making a trade
than making a mistake by trading the wrong person. Just look at all
the unhappy people here from the Giles trade. And look how the Valdez
trade has backfired on us (for now anyway).

barb331

I know I`ve bitched about Nevin in the past. But, it would be a huge
mistake to get rid of him. He is the leader. And I believe his loss
would affect the teams unity. He MADE me a fan of his!

As for Poor Klesko, this hasn`t been a banner year for him. If they
can`t trade him ,at least have him do somethng about his lack of speed,
swing, fielding etc.

P.S. An Outfielder and another Pitcher can`t hurt .


Barb =^..^=

justterrie

Ryno never recovered from his off-season surgery. He hasn't been able to lift
weights all year and so has not been able to build up his strength. I think it
would be a huge mistake to get rid of him.

pandabear

I agree - Move Klesko to first, trade Nevin for a good center fielder with
speed. Move someone like Nady/Payton to left and our defense becomes very
good and more tailored for Petco. Nevin had good numbers and trade value
is high at the moment.
- Dont give up on Tankersley. Give him one more year.
- Resign Wells

Pandabear