5 Reasons for San Diego Padres Fans to Be Thankful Heading into 2014
5 Reasons for San Diego Padres Fans to Be Thankful Heading into 2014
If the season was about half of what it is, the San Diego Padres would have been right there in the conversation for the National League West division title. They were as good as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks. Though they certainly faded as the Dodgers climbed higher, the show they put on in the final month of the regular season served notice to everyone in MLB that they are far from bottom dwellers heading into 2014.
The powers that be in San Diego are committed to getting a winner on the field and they are doing what they can within their power to make that happen. It isn’t something enviable necessarily to have to accomplish that task in the very competitive free agent market when you don’t have unlimited funds. They get the job done and put a team on the field that has the ability to compete.
What more could fans ask for than a simple chance. Once the spring season is over it is all up to the players on the field. Hopefully fans can be thankful for a team next season that has more staying power through the hot summer months than the one last season did. Things are certainly looking up for them in a few areas while other areas will surely be areas of need. Regardless of the needy areas there are plenty of reasons to be thankful and here are five of them. The comments section is below.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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5 – Ian Kennedy
Kennedy was one of the quieter trades during the MLB trade season 2013 but it was a really good one for the Padres. Kennedy needed a change of scenery anyway and though he won’t be the number one with the Padres, he certainly will give them a consistent fighting chance to win and eat quite a few innings on his way to a good season. He has the potential to be a Cy-Young candidate this year as he does in any year.
4 – Josh Johnson
This was a get that shows the front office is trying to do what they can to give the Padres just what Ian Kennedy gives them; a chance to win. Johnson is someone that will do the same thing and once he is accustomed to his new team might surprise a few people with how well he does above average.
3 – Chase Headley
Headley hasn’t had another hot year like he had in his MVP caliber season and some including myself wonder if the best time to trade him has passed for the Padres. Maybe he shouldn’t be traded though. It is completely possible that he should hang around with the Padres and show once again what he is capable of. That could happen this upcoming season. Even at his worst he is still one of the better third basemen in the National League. After all, who would play third as well as he does if they did trade him? Be thankful he’s still over there Padres fans.
2 – Strong Middle Infield
The middle infield duo of Everth Cabrera at shortstop and Jedd Gyorko is absolutely one of the hottest combos in the game at that spot. You won’t find many with more offensive and defensive capabilities and potential at their young age around the league. The Padres fans should get to enjoy watching these two guys put on a show as they come into their prime before our eyes.
1 – Andrew Cashner
Cashner was one of the top five pitchers in baseball during the latter part of the second half. He showed beyond any shadow of a doubt what he is capable of. Going from that momentum into the 2014 season could make him an early Cy-Young darkhorse candidate and certainly will give the Padres a strong anchor for the starting rotation.
