Scouting report: San Diego Padres

Originally Published: October 1, 2006

Email Share

STAY AHEAD OF THE GAME Become an Insider Today

By Keith Law
Scouts Inc.
Archive

The Padres win the prize for the 2006 postseason's most uninteresting team. That's not to say that they're not a good team; they are, clearly. But they lack stars or even major strengths, and have reached the playoffs by having no major weaknesses and by beating the heck out of their immediate rivals, the Dodgers.

Strengths

The Padres' offense is one of the most underrated in baseball. They play 81 home games in one of the game's worst hitters' parks, and then play 19 road games a year in two more pitchers' parks in San Francisco and Los Angeles, as well as 10 games at Coors Field before the Rockies switched to using a dehumidor earlier this month. That might do something to dampen a hitter's numbers.

The top of the Padres' order usually has three tough, patient left-handed hitters who make opposing pitchers work and create run-scoring opportunities. Dave Roberts has an Ichiro-like slap-and-run approach, waiting until the last possible minute to swing and trying to punch balls through to left field. Once on base, he runs almost at will, with plus speed and outstanding baserunning acumen. He's vulnerable to hard stuff up that he can't slap, and he has no power, but sets the table well for what follows.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider