Reflecting on the Padres "Fun" Season

by R.J. Anderson on Aug 21, 2009 1:21 PM EDT

Over at FanGraphs I wrote a little about Everth Cabrera and how the Padres had to be thrilled with his production to date. Earlier this season I admitted they were going to be a "fun" team to watch. Not in the usual sense, but in the sense that you have a pretty good front office dealing with a free year. Well, they didn't make a ton of roster moves - although snapping up Chad Gaudin looks good, and I love the return on Jake Peavy - but they did spend money on the international and domestic amateur markets - otherwise known as the draft.

Per Kevin Towers the Padres spent 10 million on amateur players this year. That is fantastic. Of course quite a bit of that money is on Donovan Tate, but the Padres went over slot with Everett Williams (second round pick) and Keyvius Sampson (fourth round pick) as well. For a team with a low-end payroll, spending this much attention to amateur players is vital. The Padres farm system hasn't been fantastic despite players like Kyle Blanks and Mat Latos running around, but they're working on it under Jeff Moorad.

On the field, you cannot classify this season as a success in any way, off the field, I think Padres fans should be jubilated with the commitment to finding and signing young talent. Who knows how much money the Padres will spend in free agency or how active they can be on the trade market, but they've done a very nice job this year acquiring talent for the organization, it just so happens this talent is below the major league level for now.

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The Pads farm system is underwhelming, but there are a lot of safe corner bats in that system with Blank, Allan Dykstra, James Darnell, Sawyer Carroll, Kellen Kulbacki, Matt Clark, Logan Forsythe, and the newly drafted Nathan Freiman to go with the corner bats they have already in AGon, Headley, and Kouzmanoff. Of those, I am a big, big fan of James Darnell. Sawyer Carroll’s surprised me this year, though. I thought his power wasn’t real after studying his college numbers, but he’s been very good in pro-ball this year (and at a higher level than Darnell).

Fire Jim Leyland

And now at Beyond the Boxscore!

by Mike Rogers on Aug 21, 2009 6:05 PM EDT reply actions

I wonder if the Padres

Will keep banks in left, Gonz is a lock at 1st, but when will a third base prospects be ready? Because Kouz is doing a good job filling in, but he is not starting material as much

Carlos Guillen, the Latino Nick Punto - BouJouma
Please takeyour latte circle jerk to another thread. -WU
babies are young and under team control for at least 12 years -Billyok
i heard kenny williams' mother bought a lottery ticket and lost so kenny williams traded his mother - Billyok

by The_Fan on Aug 21, 2009 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Kouz will get dealt at some point and Headley will move back to 3rd. They have a ton of corner guys, so there’s plenty of shuffling to get done. I think mid season next year, they move Gonzalez in a deal, though. At least, they probably should.

Fire Jim Leyland

And now at Beyond the Boxscore!

by Mike Rogers on Aug 23, 2009 12:43 AM EDT up reply actions