Padres Mailbag 4/28/2005

[riverdunesrat]

I found some of these questions to interesting and pertinent to some of our discussions on the board.....

Mailbag: Slow start puzzling to Padres
04/28/2005 4:05 PM ET
By John Schlegel / MLB.com

I understand that it is a long season, so I am not jumping ship and conceding the NL West. But what is up with the funk that has overtaken the Padres' lineup and bullpen? Are these slow starts going to continue into slow seasons, or is this simply an early season funk that coincidentally is happening to all of these guys at the same time? -- Joel T., Richmond, VA

It's got to be the latter -- this is just a convergence of slumps that won't last. Many of the players scuffling have track records that suggest they won't keep doing it. Mark Loretta and 3-4-5 guys Brian Giles, Phil Nevin and Ryan Klesko will pick it up, and the setup tandem of Scott Linebrink and Akinori Otsuka will find a groove even if what they did last year may be a lot to ask.

But it's been baffling to watch this club, which entered the season considered by many the favorite to win the National League West, stumbling to such a rough start. The problem isn't personnel per se, but lack of execution by that personnel. And with all the veterans throughout the clubhouse, that is, quite frankly, unacceptable, as several of them said after Wednesday's game.


I read recently that manager Bruce Bochy did not think it was appropriate to remove Tim Redding from the starting rotation after so few appearances, but isn't that what he exactly did with Darrell May in spring training? Although May didn't have a good spring, he's pitched well enough in relief during this young season to make the switch. The Padres will go nowhere if the No. 5 in the rotation continues to lose the way it did in the second half last season. -- Fred H., Carlsbad

Bochy saw enough good out of Redding's first couple of outings to continue to put him out there, but after his last couple of starts the bad has outweighed the good. He hasn't had consistent command of his pitches -- that was his biggest problem in Houston -- and it seems as though when things do go downhill, they go fast. It certainly looks like it's time for a change there, because you're right about needing at least some production from that spot.

But it won't necessarily be May. The main reason he might not be the man is that he's not "stretched out" to the point where he can throw a lot of innings -- he hasn't thrown close to a starter's number of innings since the last week of Spring Training.

Who does that leave? Well, internally the best candidate is probably lefty Dennys Reyes. However, what Tim Stauffer has done his first four starts for Triple-A Portland -- 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA in four starts -- has been impressive enough that the Padres would have to consider him a real possibility at this point. Considering the circumstances it seems well worth it to get his clock started in the big leagues.


With the hiring of Sandy Alderson as Padres CEO, do you feel that increases or decreases the likelihood of GM Kevin Towers and Bochy remaining with the Padres? -- Adrian J., Tampa, FL

That is the proverbial $64,000 question. The initial reaction is to assume Alderson is coming in to clean house, and that may not be that far off the mark. Whether the changes include Towers and Bochy remains to be seen, and Alderson said when he was introduced he was going to take time to evaluate with a blank slate.

Even though Alderson has been a GM, that's not what he is anymore -- he's running the club as a whole. So he needs a GM. Towers says he welcomes Alderson's expertise, and there's little question that Towers, in his 10th year as GM, will have to fly in whatever formation Alderson sets forth to stay with the club.

Bochy's a tougher read in a sense. Sure, it's easy after this rough start for the knee-jerkers to use the old standard that it's better to replace one guy than 25. But Bochy's well respected throughout the industry, and frankly his uncertain status heading into the season hasn't had a positive effect on the club. As of now, it won't be so much about the fact that the Padres struggled out of the gate that makes the determination on Bochy -- it's how they crawl out of it.


When is Khalil Greene expected to come back? The Padres seriously need him if they want to get out of this slump. -- Manuel C., San Diego

It's looking like another couple of weeks still before Greene's back at shortstop, probably mid-May. The good news is the injury is only to his ring finger, so it's not quite as severe as the index finger he broke in another freak injury last September. Geoff Blum has done a nice job filling in for Greene, but you're right -- this club needs what Greene can do with his spectacular defense and strong offense.


Are you surprised with our team performance so far? I am not. I think we need a leader and that means we have to spend money. What do you think? -- Ricardo C., Tijuana

Surprised is a good word. Shocked is another. It's not so much the record but the actual performance, the lack of execution. This seems like the right mix for a strong club, but there's something missing so far -- something that can and should emerge from within.

You raise an interesting point, however, and it's high time for a leader to emerge in that clubhouse. Nevin expressed a desire this spring to be more that guy, but he's also trying to balance that with being more of an approachable personality without snapping so much, as he has been known to in the past. Well, maybe there's a happy medium there for Nevin to find, because the team's play has deserved a snap or two. Loretta also has leadership qualities, but he's not one to rattle cages like Nevin can.

Bottom line: It's time for this club to play the way it's capable of playing, and the wins will take care of themselves from there.

Thanks for all the great questions, Padres fans. Please feel free to keep on sending them in, and we'll answer some more down the road.


This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs

[DirtyKash]

The only thing wrong with the Padres is the pitching staff after Peavy. Everything else will get back to normal with time.

[HollywoodLeo]

come again? Eaton's having a fine season thus far if you ask me.

Lawrence will get in form, he started just as slow...actually slower last year.

I'm not too sold on Woody

and of course Redding is complete garbage...no, that's an insult to garbage around the world.

[Witlon]

I told you guys...May > Redding...but noooooo.

[padrefanforever]

screw May........screw Redding.........this should be a major wake up call to that front office that we need a frontline, shut down #2 gun to fight along side Peavy......somehow package up May or Redding & whoever else you need too, and go get a high quality #2 starter now, before this season is unsalvagable............right now it's just early and ground can be made up......wait too long and it's over......IMO
This #5 by committe is horsesh*t, and should be delt with as such......

[riverdunesrat]

Besides pitching, let's not ignore the lack of defense, offense, team cohesiveness and just plain fundamental baseball......Oh, and a contract for Bochy might help too.

[HollywoodLeo]

we have a #2 starter, his name is Adam Eaton

we need at least a #3 (although I wouldn't mind another "#2" )

[padrefanforever]

Eaton hasn't earned a #2 position..........not even close.......his year so far is a vast improvement for sure.......but his career so far leaves much to be desired......and I'd love to see Eaton as our #3, that would mean we had someone better than him, and almost as good as Peavy........we NEED one more young wicked arm.......IMO