I'm Adopting!

Here's some news I was planning on saving, but with the holidays and good cheer about, I couldn't wait to share. Come April 2012, I'm adopting!!!!

After many years of thinking about it, I finally broke down and decided to go ahead and adopt a small market baseball team.

I spent the first 23 years of my life in New England, so I'm a born and raised Boston Red Sox fan. I've spent the last 23 years living in Southern California, and have taken on the Angels as my local team I follow. Both big market teams and every year there's the expectation of the playoffs and hopes for a world series run. All fun and enjoyable but in the last few years I've discovered it lacks the excitement you get when your team is the perenial "also ran", who has everything come together and makes that magical run. Nothing like it in sports. I did experience that in 02 when the Angels won the world series as at the time they were the "mid market" team that came out of nowhere, with no expectations and went on to capture the title and the interest of fans everywhere. The Thunder Sticks, K-Rod and what we came to discover later, a bunch of juiced up JAGS (just a guy). Hardly a superstar in the bunch.

In football, I'm a New England Patriots fan (and have been since 1972). For you younger people, you probably don't remember what a sad and pathetic franchise the Patriots were before Robert Kraft bought the team. Multiple times they had the first pick in the draft after posting 1-13 seasons (yes, 14 game seasons back then) and 2-14 seasons. Dealing with horrendous ownership (Sullivan family, Victor Kiam), a joke of a stadium (oh how we miss you Sullivan Stadium and your bleacher seats), an owner that tried to move the team to St. Louis (James Orthwein), the Lisa Olson affair, Irving Fryer (the Pee Wee Herman Tequila dance!). The team was a wreck, but they were still my team and when they did have a couple winning seasons (76, 86), it made it that much more exciting when they got to the Super Bowl as no one thought they could do it. Say what you want about the Patriots and their success in the last 11 years, but no long time fan EVER thought they'd be where they are now. Tuck Rule, Spygate, whatever. Scoreboard says 3 Super Bowl Titles. Suck it bitches.

And thats why I'm adopting the San Diego Padres. The Padres (along with the A's), might be the sorriest franchise in baseball right now. Pittsburgh and KC are right there, however they seemed to have turned the corner last year with young talent, were competitive for stretches of time and hopefully they can keep the momentum going.

The Padres and A's are in full sell off mode, but while it looks like the A's are holding payroll down while a new stadium deal gets worked out (and it looks like it has), the Friars don't have that excuse. They play in Petco Park, which if you haven't been there, is a beautiful stadium in the heart of downtown San Diego. Within walking distance to the Gas Lamp District, the beach, restaurants, hotels, etc.. San Diego county is the 5th largest county in the US, so the people and tv market are there, it just hasn't been properly taken advantage of yet. I want to get on the bandwagon before it takes off.

Last year the Padres went 71-91, finishing 23 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West. They had the 4th lowest payroll in baseball ($45,869,140) ahead of only the Royals, Pirates and Rays and trailing the Yankee's in payroll by a minuscule $161 million.... This winter from that powerhouse team, the Padres elected to let all star free agent reliever Heath Bell walk, then traded their number 1 starter, 24 year old Matt Latos to the Cincinnati Reds. Watch out MLB, the Padres just punched their ticket to the big dance!

Things aren't hopeless though. In return for Latos, they got back recent first round draft picks, 1st baseman Yonder Alonso, catcher Yasmani Grandal and reliever Brad Boxberger. They also got 28 year old Edinson Volquez, former all star pitcher still trying to return to form from Tommy John surgery a few seasons ago. They also traded for Huston Street from the Rockies to take over the closer position.

The salary payroll is projected to once again be in the mid 40's range and expectations are low. They have a young team, young pitching staff and some veterans that have been around awhile, but manager Bud Black is considered one of the better managers in the league and will hopefully get everything he can out of them. Are they expected to challenge for a world series? No, but then again stranger things have happened.

Being end of December, the roster is still rounding into form and a trade or 2 may still happen, but with spring training 7 and a half weeks away, here's the most likely opening day lineup:

1. Cameron Maybin - CF - Padres like his speed (40 steals, 8 triples last year), but needs to increase OBP and cut down on strike outs
2. Orlando Hudson - 2B - The O Dawg (or as my Padre breathern call him, the NO dawg), battled injuries most of last year, but when healthy hit .280 in the number 2 slot and has a lifetime .342 OBP. I might not be psychic (though I do have ESPN....), I see a trade in the O Dawgs future.
3. Chase Headley - 3B - Not an ideal number 3 hitter as lacks traditional power but has good average and OBP. Before breaking his finger in Aug last year, was at .300 with a .380 OBP. Would be ideal #2 hitter if lineup was stronger.
4. Jesus Guzman - LF - In 76 games last year he hit .312 with 5 home runs and 44 rbi's while mainly playing 1st base. He'll be rotating there but Padres are hoping he can be the everyday LF. Look for a rotation with Kyle Blanks.
5. Yonder Alonso - 1st - Padres love his swing as he's a gap to gap hitter. He'll get the 1st shot at 1st base and the Friars will keep another highly touted 1st base prospect (Anthony Rizzo) down in AAA to start the season.
6. Nick Hundley - C - Left handed hitter provides Padres with a good bat behind the plate. He's keeping the position warm with uber prospect Grandal waiting in the wings.
7. Will Venerable - RF - will platoon with Chris Denorfia depending upon righty/lefty pitching. Don't have much else to say here.
8. Jason Bartlett - SS - batted 2nd most of last year with injuries to others, but this is a better spot for him. Padres had hoped for more when they traded for him last year, so don't be surprised to see him leave town in a trade as he has the 2nd highest salary on the team.

For pitchers, expect this starting rotation (in some order):

1. Tim Stauffer - RHP
2. Corey Luebke - LHP
3. Edinson Volquez - RHP
4. Clayton Richard - LHP
5. Dustin Mosely - RHP

Huston Street will be the closer with Luke Gregerson and Ernesto Frieri setting up.

Bench players of note: Everth Cabrera, Kyle Blanks, James Darnell, Mark Kotsay, Anthony Bass, Josh Spence, John Baker.

There you have it ladies and gentlemen, your 2012 San Diego Padres! That's how I roll.......

As the season gets closer, I'll do a more in depth look at the team and their minor league system (which is pretty highly rated) along with my predictions for the season.

I'm excited about the 2012 season, everyone needs a small market team to embrace!

Bill