Hey Padres Fans ! How are you all doing ? Tonight the 2014 MLB Season begins at Petco Park and it’s about time the Padres get some National exposure. I always thought when a franchise gets a new stadium that implies they are in the running for the All-Star game. Well, it’s been 10 years and still no All-Star game in San Diego. That says a lot if you were to ask me. Enough of the speculation and let’s get to business on the 2014 N.L. West Predictions:
(1) San Francisco Giants 94 – 68
(2) Los Angeles Dodgers 92 – 70
(3) Colorado Rockies 88 – 74
(4) Arizona Diamondbacks 80 – 82
(5) San Diego Padres 75 – 87
The Giants are the team to beat here, with C Buster Posey and a pitching staff that has been to the World Series two times in the last five years. The only thing that can stop the Giants from winning the division is major injuries but then again that is the same thing for every team in the division. The Blue Crew from Los Angeles will come a close second despite on paper a very very good line-up. Though, the downfall of the Blue Crew will be a Sophomore season from OF Yasiel Puig and a weak bench. The real question for the Dodgers is which OF Matt Kemp will show up for the 2014 season? If Kemp returns to All-Star form that alone will bump up the Dodgers over the Giants for N.L. West Supremacy. In the Mile High City, Rockies always have good young talent coming up year in and year out through their farm system. Combined that with SS Troy Tulowitzki, OF Carlos Gonzalez and 1B Justin Morneau this can be a lethal line-up to keep the Rockies in every game during the season. The question is, do the Rockies have enough pitching to surprise us? Now, down to the Valley of the Sun where ex-Padres GM Kevin Towers is up to his prototypical ways of switching philosophies year in and year out. This year, Towers decides to tear up his team like the previous year and trade for some talent while packaging away good young talent. Despite being very active in the hot stove league, Diamondbacks still remain down in the pack. The only difference between the Diamondbacks and Padres will be OF Mark Trumbo, whom the Padres should have acquired. Which brings us to the team in Amercia’s Finest City, the Swinging Friars. This is the year when we will see who’s the better GM, Diamondbacks Kevin Towers or Padres Josh Byrnes ? To be honest both rank the same, which doesn’t say too much. Again Carlos Quentin is starting the season on the DL for the 3rd straight year. Supposedly, Carlos is the big bat in the line-up the Padres could ill afford to lose. Well, let’s get the facts straight, Carlos the free-agent signee has been a BUST and so will the Padres. Still no presence in the line-up and it’s best that Byrnes trades 3b Chase Headley for some BATS instead of ARMS. What team in MLB would keep 3 catchers on their roster? A team that has no confidence or ability to swing a deal to solidify it’s roster. Now, you know why the Padres will finish in the cellar and atleast they will provide some entertainment and provide fans from other cities to include San Diego as their travel destination.
As the 2014 MLB season begins tonight at Petco Park, it’s time to get the bad juju out of the Park and a damn great blues performance by Actor Bruce Willis called “Devil Woman”. Say Yeah Baby !