What to do with Dave Roberts/Ben Johnson.

[HollywoodLeo]

Assuming, of course, Ben Johnson continues to hit as he has the burning question is what do we do with Dave Roberts when he gets back from the DL?

On one token, Roberts was pretty hot himself and is a catalyst at the top of the line up.

on the other side of the token, assuming Ben Johnson doesn't cool down, there's no way I want to take that bat out of the line up.

Cameron? Hell no, his D is better than anyone else's out there, that and his bat is hotter than BJ's.

Giles? He's too good of a bat to be removed as well, not to mention a team leader...even if he's not the HR hitter he used to be. (which is partly attributed to adjusting his approach to fit the ballpark, rather than whining about it like two other guys I know.)

Sometimes (although not very often) I almost wish the NL had a DH.

[padrefanforever]

We have needs that should be addressed right now........and if we have a surplus of quality OFers and catchers we should be able to create a tasty package in order to trade and fill in a hole....I still say we need a frontline #2 calibur guy, and a 3bag.......these will be the main issues next season, and are the main issues still this season....and to answer all of your comments, yes Young is a #2 kind of guy, but I want another #2 kind of guy, to give us a 123 punch....

[HollywoodLeo]

i'd like to have another "#2" guy as well...but with the way CHP, Hensley, Thompson, and even Woody before the injury, are pitching I am positive the team can win without giving up too much for something that can be had for nothing but a FA contract in the offseason.

I was, however, thinking along the lines of a trade for a 3-bagger.

The ideal situation would be BJ continues to swing a hot bat and we include him in a deal, along with another prospect or two, for Miguel Cabrerra.

Still don't know if the Marlins would be up for trading him, or if another team would throw out a better offer, but it'd be worth exploring.

[Rufio181]

EY is starting to look like the odd man out.

[HollywoodLeo]

EY's already the odd man out, but we need another "odd man out" when Doc returns

that is, unless Selig grants the Padres a waiver and allows them to play 4 OFers at once.

[Rufio181]

I see what you mean.

We need Roberts in the line up because we need someone who can advance the bases. Winning teams have baserunners (Chi Sox has Podsednik, Boston had Damon, etc.)

[padrefanforever]

EY is now the old man out........it's time for him to go....whether as part of a trade or released, free up the roster spot and get someone in here than can still play

[HollywoodLeo]

to be fair EY has been pretty hot off the bench as of late, just like he was all of last year, and I think I read somewhere that he's somewhat of a clubhouse leader.

You don't really have to be good yourself to be capable of rallying your teamates....I know this first hand from my high school days, lol

[padrefanforever]

.233 isn't exactly tearing it up.....and it would be great to have someone lead by example not with pompoms.......if you get my sarcastic drift.......like last year off the bench, those guys fed off eachother, we don't have that this year....

[FmrFresnan]

From what I've been hearing, you ask anyone in the Padres' clubhouse and they'll tell you that EY is the leader in that clubhouse. Yes, he seems to be the odd man out, but I think Cassidy will be sent down when Woody comes back and I think Mike Thompson will be sent down as well when Doc comes back. Boch has already said that he's not sending Ben back to Portland, they need his bat in the lineup.

[padrefanforever]

Then make him a cheerleader or coach......he's done as a player as far as I'm concerned, and we need better quality players on this team....not just ancient "good guys in the clubhouse"....that might be the most overrated BS line around...unless you're a cancer in the clubhouse nobody really cares in there, I have to believe that....

FYI......"he's a clubhouse leader" is PC term given to bench players with nothing left to offer....IMO

[HollywoodLeo]

.233 isn't exactly tearing it up..

I said as of late, not all season long.

[HollywoodLeo]

Then make him a cheerleader or coach......he's done as a player as far as I'm concerned, and we need better quality players on this team....not just ancient "good guys in the clubhouse"....that might be the most overrated BS line around...unless you're a cancer in the clubhouse nobody really cares in there, I have to believe that....

FYI......"he's a clubhouse leader" is PC term given to bench players with nothing left to offer....IMO

don't take this as a knock, but have you ever played baseball at any professional level?

I was probably one of the worst players you'd ever find in high school...but if you asked anyone on the team I was a vital asset to the team, and it wasn't because of anything I offered on the field.

Don't get me wrong, i'm not saying we should keep EY at all costs just because of this, i'm just pointing this out as a way of stating that it's not like the guy is complete garbage, assuming what's reported is correct and not just a PC line.

[padrefanforever]

don't take this as a knock, but have you ever played baseball at any professional level?

I was probably one of the worst players you'd ever find in high school...but if you asked anyone on the team I was a vital asset to the team, and it wasn't because of anything I offered on the field.

Don't get me wrong, i'm not saying we should keep EY at all costs just because of this, i'm just pointing this out as a way of stating that it's not like the guy is complete garbage, assuming what's reported is correct and not just a PC line.

Professionally no, I've never been paid to play baseball, I topped out at the JUCO level and played for COD in Palm Desert....Whether I had the skills to get further I'll never know, my knees went....but what I believe is that the ego's at the MLB level are so much greater than at a HS level, that the comparison is off the chart......the difference in a jr. college lockerroom to HS was night and day......guys have a chip on their shoulder that only grows with each level attained....and by the time they get to the MLB level they don't care about some rah rah ree crap in the lockerroom.....at least that's what I believe....Now as I said, if you're a cancer, that's different, nobody likes an A-hole in the lockerroom especially if he's nothing but a downer....

And I do believe that when players say a bench guys is a " great clubhouse guy " is just a PC thing.......to me it's not the whole truth, or even close to it....what they should say is, and what I hear is " we don't need him, but at least he's not a drag on the team emotionally, but we sure could use more help"

I've maintained that EY is a great guy, but we need great players.....you don't win squat with great guys..... and the Padres wont get a great player who is a bad guy.......the management just wont hire that way....

[HollywoodLeo]

they got Phil Nevin and only traded him away when he decided he'd rather complain about PetCo than adjust to hit well there...so I don't know so much about the whole management not wanting to acquire a hot head who is a good player thing.

in regards to EY, the last thing i'll say on the subject is that you don't neccesarily have to be a "rah rah" cheerleader to be a "clubhouse leader"