I know it's premature to bring this subject up or is it? Does the front office need a overhaul? Or is Bud Black the right manager for the club? I believe it's a combination of both. Bud Black has done well for what talent he has and Kevin Towers has brought in some quality players to help the Pads win division titles but no World Series pennants. It's a tough world out their to ensure a quality ball club, but IMO, the Pads need to look for a new management to build in a different way, a winning way. Just as the Chargers did with Bobby Beathard in 2001, they went with Butler and then AJ Smith to later put a team in contention every year for a championship. The Padres are due to the same, and the San Diego fans deserve it because they too have gone through the pain of losing seasons for too long. As the Chargers have the team to win it all this year, the Padres can only hope to put themselves in the same position to bring home the gold.
During the early part of this decade, John Moores handcuffed KT and forced him to draft "signable" players instead of talented players which has left this organization with a prospect barren farm system. This is only compounded by the unwillingness of Moores to spend in the free agency market. The result is the 2008 Padres: A seriously flawed team.
Their are two ways to correct these flaws during the season. Bring up prospects from your farm system or trade said prospects to acquire MLB talent. Thanks in large part to Moores, the Padres can do neither.
With the exception of Kahlil Green, all of our good young position players have come via trades. This leads me to believe that KT and our scouts have the ability to spot talent , but weren't given the opportunity to sign that talent.
I don't know exactly what needs to be done. Something, but I have no clue.
Interesting question on the Buddy Black issue. I'm not convinced this was a good move. He seems to leave pitchers IN too long. I know you have to balance that decision on a number of things, (team morale, pitching staff confidence, and good of the team) but too many times it seems he finally pulls them after the damage is done. With the Padres limited hitting and scoring you might want to pull that pitcher (before) he gives up 4 runs?
Just my observation...
Probably why the Padres AND Chargers have ignored my repeated on line applications for the GM jobs...
I know the feeling boltnut47, the Pads gave up on my talent in 1986 when I threw my arm out in a CIF game. In all, Bud does leave pitchers in too long and the Padres this year are not known to make comebacks with their offense depleated lineup. I was home on leave with my family here in Georgia and my wife took me to the Braves/Padres game at Turner Field. Good times until the 4th inning when Young broke down and gave up a Tator to Chipper Jones. But the Pads tied it and then in the 6th Braves opened it up because Young was struggling and Bud wouldn't pull him. It would have been a different game if Young was pulled earlier.
As for the Moores needing to sale the Pads, I totally agree. KT and crew are cuffed to a 1000 lbs. steel ball and to manage the team for what their given, I applaud them. If we could get a owner like Kazzinga (sp.), the owner of the Marlins, we would have the cash to have quality players to continue championship play every year. I use the Marlins because they are the youngest team to have the most WS Pennants and division wins in a short time. We don't need a owner like Steinbrenner, nice to have cash, but could kill your team too with egos(look at the last place Yankees).
So to sum this up, we need a new owner with baseball savvy and Bruce Bochy back....
We shall see what we do after this years draft and how agressive we are int he off season. We are probably guaranteed a top 5 pick if not the top pick. And the one thing they could do to make me stop watching the games is drafting another matt bush, when there is a Stephen Drew, Justin Verlander who are known quantities.
I do believe it is time for a front office change for the Padres. Depleted farm system, marginal talent, settling for mediocrity. New faces and some changes. It was mentioned before, the Chargers did a front office facelift and it worked. Moores needs to be willing to have more money available to acquire some top tier talent.
At this point I would settle for a pitching coach that would get these guys to be a little more aggressive at the plate. All of these players are capable of hitting near 300, but for some reason they all seem to take first pitch strikes. Someone needs to tell them to get up there and hit the F*IN ball. Why not? They can't get any worse.
As for payroll, there are plenty of teams with lower payroll that are leading their divisions. Currently they have the pitching to win, now go get some offense and get the player they have to be more aggressive. If they don't they are going to lose some of the players that make them capable of competing. Peavy won't be here long if they keep playing like this.
