Props for the Padres

Jason Michael Barker

As is the norm, the Yankees (51-18) and Braves (50-26) are getting most of the press this season, but deservedly so. Both teams are have tremendous talent, big names, a big East Coast market, and are off to great starts. But there's this team in San Diego called the Padres (maybe you've heard of them?) who are off to just as great a first half. At 50-26, Bruce Bochy's crew leads the NL West by 5.5 games and is tied with Atlanta for the second-best record in baseball. With a 15-3 record in their own division, and having just added Jim Leyritz to fill their need behind the plate, the Padres are threatening to run away with the NL West.

Flash back to last season, when the injury-riddled Padres finished 76-86, 14 games back of the first-place Giants. There was considerable disappointment in San Diego, for the team entered the year with much higher expectations after winning the division in 1996. But several key injuries and a mediocre pitching staff curtailed any hopes of a postseason birth. It wasn't a terribly active offseason for the Padres, but they did make several key acquisitions, most notably bolstering their starting rotation by adding Kevin Brown from the Marlins via trade.

Can one pitcher make such a difference? Surely even Kevin Brown cannot be solely responsible for such a turnaround. Let's take a look at what makes the Padres tick.

	1998	OPS		1997	OPS
C	Carlos Hernandez	.678		John Flaherty	.710
1B	Wally Joyner	.837		Joyner	.876
2B	Quilvio Veras	.774		Veras	.685
3B	Ken Caminiti	.795		Caminiti	.897
SS	Chris Gomez	.684		Gomez	.652
LF	Greg Vaughn	1.012		Vaughn	.715
CF	Steve Finley	.688		Finley	.788
RF	Tony Gwynn	.883		Gywnn	.956
	Team	.737		Team	.749

Whatever it is, it certainly doesn't appear to be the offense. In terms of OPS, the Padres are worse off at five of eight positions, only significantly better at two, and the team OPS as a whole is down from last season. There are several notable things going on here, however. First up (both literally and figuratively) is leadoff man Quilvio Veras. He doesn't hit for power, but is an underrated 2B both at the plate and in the field. Sporting a career .377 OBP, Veras had an off year last year, getting on base at just a .357 clip. He's returned to form this year, getting on base 40% of the time while walking more than he strikes out. Having Veras at the top of the order is a big help to the Padres' offensive attack.

The biggest disparity on the chart is the 1997 Greg Vaughn versus the 1998 edition. Vaughn's offense was downright offensive last season, but so far in 1998 he's having the best year of his career. Finally earning the big contract he signed after the 1996 season, he gives the Padres their only bona fide power threat other than the streaky Caminiti.

Finally, the Padres have replaced the anemic offense of C Carlos Hernandez by trading with Boston for Jim Leyritz, a formidable offensive player who compliments their already solid lineup.

	1998	ERA	WHIP		1997	ERA	WHIP
SP	Andy Ashby	2.38	1.12		Ashby	4.13	1.27
SP	Joey Hamilton	5.19	1.61		Hamilton	4.25	1.39
SP	Sterling Hitchcock	3.63	1.32		Hitchcock	5.20	1.41
SP	Kevin Brown	2.71	1.18		Pete Smith	4.81	1.46
SP	Mark Langston	5.09	1.80		F. Valenzuela	4.75	1.76
CL	Trevor Hoffman	1.57	0.85		Hoffman	2.66	1.02
	Team	3.57	1.33		Team	4.99	1.50

If it isn't the hitting, it's got to be the pitching, right? That's basically it. Any time you add Kevin Brown to your rotation it's an improvement, and veteran Andy Ashby has improved on a solid 1997 with a very impressive 1998. Sterling Hitchcock has also improved on last season's performance, giving the Padres three dependable starters. The normally solid Joey Hamilton struggled to begin the season, but has been putting it together recently. Fifth starter Mark Langston is basically a wash compared to Fernando Valenzuela, and can still pitch some solid innings if he can stay healthy.

This quality starting pitching, coupled with a much improved bullpen, has lead to an impressive 3.57 team ERA, as compared to last season's 4.99 debacle. Much of this improvement should be attributed to new pitching coach Dave Stewart, who has brought the aggressive, fiery mentality he had as a player to the Padre staff. He preaches a strict conditioning regimen, another carry over from his playing days, which has San Diego's starting pitchers pitching deeper into games, consequently leading to a well-rested bullpen. Add Trevor Hoffman, one of the best closers in baseball, and you've got a mighty fine relief corps.

The addition of Jim Leyritz solidifies the Padres as the favorite to win the West, as well as a legitimate threat to knock off the Braves in the NL. And despite their relative obscurity, they deserve to be considered a World Series contender. On any given day they've got enough offense to beat even the best pitching, and they certainly have enough pitching to win a five or seven-game series.

Jason Michael Barker is trying to get his name used as a puzzle on the popular game show Wheel of Fortune, or as an answer on Jeopardy. Offer to contact Pat Sajak, Vanna White, or Alex Trebek on his behalf at jmb@strikethree.com.