RealGM

With the chance of us making the playoffs almost impossible, lets look ahead to next season and this off season.

What do we need to do to improve?
What will our lineup look like next year?
Will any of our star bats be traded?

Think about things like that and post your thoughts.

A few things:

A major change in the infield. I never felt comfortable with Guillen at third and Renteria has to go. This is the one where I have concrete ideas. I'd say getting a new catcher and letting Inge go back to third base would be a solid start. Inge is a decent catcher, but his defensive versitility is, IMO, better used at third base. I'd start Santiago at shortstop and let Renteria go. Show Sheffield the door and let Cabrera and Guillen share first base and the DH. I know its strange given that they were a third basemen and shortstop only a year ago, but neither has distinguished themselves in the field. Whichever distinguishes himself more can become the full time first baseman. The other sits on the bench when the other team is up to bat.

Add some bargain pitching. No idea where this would come from, but halfway decent starting pitching has become grossly overpriced. Seems like anybody who can stand up straight for enough starts in a row gets a big contract (Carlos Silva rings a bell). Try and find a diamond in the rough to improve the staff somehow. Easier said than done, of course, but it can happen.

Find bullpen help. If you know where to look, the bullpen can be the least expensive way of improving your team. When the Padres were a semi-decent team, their greatest strength was an ability to find inexpensive and quality arms to round out the bullpen. Hopefully Zumaya won't need to rescue more goods from and approaching fire and will be able to start the season this time. He's the only hope we have at closer next year.

Those improvements should help the team win close games, if, indeed, they actually happen.

I don't personally believe its neccesary to trade any major pieces. See if you can buy out Sheff and let Edgar's option go un tapped. I suppose if we get an outstanding offer for a guy like Ordonez, Guillen, or Polanco you could pull the trigger, but I don't see the point in actively shopping the guys if their value isn't particularly high. Guys like Verlander and Zumaya (who need to bounce back if we have any hope) and Granderson and Cabrera should definetely be kept around. Inge, in spite of his offensive ineptitudes, is also someone we should keep.

^I pretty much agree with everything. Sheff and Edgar are the two liabilities in the lineup. Inge can at least be versatile defensively and fill in anywhere we need him. I'd like to see Inge back at 3rd if we can find a catcher. Cabrera has been good at 1st, Guillen could be our DH if need be. Get a solid Left Fielder, not Thames. Either Joyce or Larish or someone but please god not Thames. Thames is good in spurts when his bat is hot but I don't want him in the everyday rotation.

If Inge stays at Catcher than my batting order would be:

CF: Curtis Granderson
2B: Placido Polanco
RF: Magglio Ordonez
1B: Miguel Cabrera
DH: Carlos Guillen
LF: Matt Joyce
3B: Jeff Larish
C: Brandon Inge
SS: Ramon Santiago


We actually have some good starting pitching options if everyone stays healthy. Verlander, Bonderman and Galarraga are solid. We have two spots that Willis, Miner, Garcia, Robertson and maybe a rookie or two can fight over. Our bullpen needs retooling. Zumaya and Rodney need to get 100% healthy, Glover, Seay and Lopez have seen good for us... let's build on that.

This team already has the pieces to be successful, they just need good health and the right rotations to make it really work.

I like what you guys have in mind...though I'd want Cabrera and Guillen both everyday players, I'd rather Cabrera be utilized at 1st.

Can Raburn play SS? He plays everywhere else i feel like

I want the young guys getting time; Raburn, Larish, Joyce, etc.

Ill discuss more later. If Sheff and Edgar arent gone i will be shocked though

We'll have to wait and see about Joyce.

I want to really like the guy because he got off to such a killer start, but after that awesome opening pitchers definitely figured him out.

I know that happens to a lot of new players in the league, and wonder if he can readjust and find an equilibrium that doesn't blow. Almost all of his home runs were early on.

^^
He could be used as trade bait, it's still early.