The Padres currently have, give or take a guy, 14 pitchers competing for rotation spots this Spring Training. That number includes Cory Luebke and Joe Wieland who are recovering from Tommy John surgery and won't be available until mid-summer at the earliest. The remaining 12 guys are a mix of veterans and youngsters, none of whom are top-of-the-rotation starters. It could be a long season at Petco Park.
But what if some of the veterans had a season equal to their best season ever. Then the Padres would have something! Just look at the numbers:
1. Jason Marquis - 15-7 3.71 201.1 [2004]
2. Edinson Volquez - 17-6 3.21 196.0 [2008]
3. Clayton Richard - 14-9 3.75 201.2 [2010]
4. Freddy Garcia - 18-6 3.05 238.2 [2001]
5. Tim Stauffer - 9-12 3.73 185.2 [2011]
6. Eric Stults - 8-3 2.92 92.1 [2012]
This could absolutely happen. In fact, if Freddy Garcia doesn't throw 238 innings, I'll be shocked.
