The Twenty-Five

I figure this Padres team is a lot like the 300 hundred brave Spartans who gave their lives against the marauding Persian armies of Xerxes. The final result may be a slaughter, but the boys might just take a pound of flesh of their enemies (the other NL teams) before all is said and done.

And maybe they'll look all cut up doing it.

Anyway, as we start this '09 season I wanted to pass on a brief message to each of the beasts that made the Padres 25-man Opening Day roster. That is no small accomplishment and each and every player deserves hearty congratulations. But these are all men that - while brave and tremendously talented - are not perfect. There is much they can work on to improve their games. I will now pass on that advice.

C - Nick Hundley: Nick, keep that arm intact. We need you to gun down wannabe base-stealers, something the past few Padre catchers couldn't do.

C- Henry Blanco: Henry, hit a few bombs and call strong games from behind the plate. It would also help if you mentor Nick.

1B - Adrian Gonzalez - Adrian, keep doin' what you're doin', brother.

2B - David Eckstein - David, get on base more often than Khalil Greene did last season. Also, tell the boys what it's like to have two World Series rings. Tell them so often that they get annoyed and decide they must have one for themselves.

2B - Edgar Gonzalez - Edgar, be a stud pinch hitter and keep that average up around .300. Also, use your brotherly insight to keep Adrian happy by doing whatever it is he likes.

SS - Luis Rodriguez - Luis, look for your pitch, get on base as much as possible and don't make more than the league average in errors. Luis, I'll admit, the bar is set pretty low for you. I'm ready to be unexpectedly surprised.

SS - Everth Cabrera - Everth, be a pinch runner extroardinaire and don't make too many errors when you do play in the field.

3B - Kevin Kouzmanoff - Kouz, hit many bombs and take a few more pitches. This is your breakout season, my man. Make it so.

RF - Brian Giles - Bri, be Brian Giles. You know what I mean.

CF - Jody Gerut - Jody, don't get injured, track down more than the average number of drives to the outfield gaps and keep up that solid power from the leadoff spot.

LF - Chase Headley - Chase, I told my friends that if you hit somewhere around .300 24 100, the Padres are going to have a pretty darn good offense. That's a lot to ask of a second year guy, but I'm not shy so I'm going to go ahead and ask that of you.

OF - Scott Hairston - Scotty, more of your patented dramatic game-winning bombs. About 17-20 of them please.

OF - Cliff Floyd - Cliffy, more pinch-hits than Tony Clark hit last season.

SP - Jake Peavy - Peav, how 'bout a Cy Young?

SP - Chris Young - CY, how 'bout finishing second in the voting for a Cy Young?

SP - Walter Silva - Walter, I don't know you and I'm not sure what kind of game you have. Adrian seems to like you though so that's enough for me for the time being. My advice to you is don't be intimidated and don't nibble. Throw strikes, amigo.

SP - Kevin Correia - Kev, keep the ball down and throw strikes.

SP - Shawn Hill - Shawn, keep the ball down and throw strikes.

RP - Ed Mujica - Ed, keep the ball down and throw strikes.

RP - Edwin Moreno - Edwin, keep the ball down and throw strikes.

RP - Duaner Sanchez - Duaner, keep the ball down and throw strikes.

RP - Eulogio De La Cruz - Eulogio, keep the ball down and throw strikes.

RP - Luke Gregerson - Luke, keep the ball down and throw strikes.

RP - Cla Meredith - Claw, step in to the role of main set up guy and nail it. I think you can do it, just keep that sinker low and throw strikes.

Cl - Heath Bell - Heath, this is your time. Don't try to be Trevor. Just go out and fire some strikes and look intimidating.

That is all for now, gentlemen. Best of luck this afternoon against the hated Dadgers.

Best,
Bevormo