2008 San Diego Padres Predicitons & Preview
June 9, 2008
Obviously the 13-inning loss to the Rockies last season in the play-in game will stick with this team for quite some time. The Padres had to watch the Rockies make their way to the World Series after San Diego fell one game short of the playoffs. There are still major questions with this offense heading into 2008, a problem that perhaps the best staff in the NL West can’t bail out. After winning the NL West in 2005 and ‘06, the Padres’ 89 wins in 2007 were only good enough for third place. Below Larry gives you his 2008 San Diego Padres predictions as well as the season preview of what to expect.
Starting Rotation:
The starting rotation is by far the strength of this team. Jake Peavy was the unanimous winner of the NL Cy Young Award. He was signed to a $52 million contract extension in the offseason, the richest in club history. Peavy started the All-Star Game of the National League and led the majors with a 2.54 ERA and 240 strikeouts. The No. 2 man in the rotation will be the tall, lanky Chris Young. Young was also an NL All-Star last season, just a glimpse of the talent you can expect to lead this team in 2008. Then there’s the ageless Greg Maddux who posted a 14-11 record and a 4.14 ERA last season. He just keeps ticking at the age of 42. After Maddux though, things get a little spotty with this rotation. The Padres signed lefthander Randy Wolf and righthander Mark Prior, both of whom are coming off shoulder surgeries. Wolf claims to be ready to go by opening day, but Prior won’t be ready for his hometown until mid-to-late May. Justin Germano likely will get the No. 5 spot in the rotation until Prior is ready to go. That is, if Prior can ever be ready to start again.
Bullpen:
Trevor Hoffman became the first pitcher in MLB history to reach the 500-save mark last season. Hoffman did blow two crucial saves over the Padres’ final three games and it could definitely give him mental issues down the stretch this season if San Diego is still in contention. That will be a big “If” though. Hoffman is back for the option year of his contract. Heath Bell is a stud and could be next in line to replace Hoffman. Cla Meredith, who wasn’t quite as dominating as he was in 2006, seems to have had the league catch up to him. Joe Thatcher was a nice pick up from Milwaukee in the Scott Linebrink deal, and Kevin Cameron stuck the whole season as a Rule 5 draftee. This bullpen should compliment the starting rotation nicely throughout the year.
Line-Up:
The San Diego Padres’ 2008 lineup looks to be perhaps the worst in the league. RF Brian Giles lacks the abilities of a prototypical leadoff hitter, yet the Padres turn to him again this season. 2B Tadahito Iguchi just keeps bouncing around from team to team, getting stuck with the Padres this year in the No. 2 hole. 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff lifted his .108 May average to .275 the rest of the season to earn his spot on the corner this season. 1B Adrian Gonzalez is the one steady man in this lineup. Gonzalez will bat clean up and just needs to avoid some minor slumps. CF Jim Edmonds is on the downfall of his career. Edmonds will bat No. 5, if healthy, in his contract year after coming off several injuries last year. SS Khalil Greene did hit 27 Homers with 97 RBIs last season. He just lacks the leadership skills to back up these numbers. C Michael Barrett will have to pick it up offensively in the No. 7 hole. Barrett didn’t hit a single home run after joining the Padres on June 20th. LF Scott Hairston hit some clutch homers in the No. 8 spot, and the Padres will definitely need much more from him. The Padres’ bench consists of C Robert Fick, 2B Edgar Gonzalez, IF Oscar Robles and IF Luis Rodriguez. Any of these names ring a bell? didn’t think so. This lineup and bench is complete puke and a huge waste of a great pitching staff.
Padres 2008 Predictions:
The Padres have finally been caught after winning the NL West in ‘05 and ‘06. The Rockies made the World Series, the Diamondbacks held on to win the Division and traded for Dan Haren, and the Dodgers added Andruw Jones. Every other NL West team seems to have made great additions to their rosters, while the Padres look to be even worse off in 2008. Unless the Padres can get a boost from their offense early, their great pitching staff will just be a waste as San Diego will be too far behind to even try and play catch-up by the All-Star Break. This is precisely what I predict to happen. The Padres will be at least 10 games behind by the All-Star Break, thus settling for a 4th Place finish in the NL West when it’s all said and done.
Larry Cook finished with the #5 World Ranking with his baseball picks in 2007 last year. Hard work with research, analysis and starting pitcher breakdowns gives Larry the edge over your sportsbook and bookies. You won’t believe the kind of profits you can make by signing up for any of Larry’s long-term packages. By doing so, you will get in on all of his winning MLB action this season. Larry will guide you to profits you have never seen before once he makes his move up to the #1 spot in 2008.
2008 San Diego Padres Odds:
Odds to win NL West:
2/1
Odds to win 2008 NL Pennant:
8/1
Odds to win 2008 World Series:
11/1
