So here we are two weeks into the exhibition season and only now people are starting to worry about the protection QB Philip Rivers is going to receive? I've been complaining about the Chargers offensive line for years now, and the inattention given to the unit by GM AJ Smith, because its so easy to see how things are going to go.
That Rivers was sacked four times in the first quarter at Arizona last Saturday is not necessarily a sign of the times. Weird things happen in these games that don't count, and that was one of them. It doesn't translate to 16 sacks in a full regular season game, and the coaches will tighten things up.
But it was something that we fans have to be concerned about. Even eight sacks in one game is a tremendous amount, because it will mean that the defensive line is getting pressure on Rivers on many more pass attempts.
What's more, the line has not opened running lanes for LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles, both of whom are averaging less than three yards per carry after the first two exhibition games. I stated on this blog previously that I think the Bolts are deficient in three of the five spots on the offensive line, maybe four of the five if LT Marcus McNeill doesn't return to form. I think we're seeing the effects of that now.
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As the Padres head into the final month of the season, it's not to early to start thinking about how to build for next year. As I see it, the Friars are now set in a number of positions on the field, unlike their situation coming into the season.
The 2010 Padres will have 1B Adrian Gonzalez, 2B David Eckstein, Lf Kyle Blanks, CF Tony Gwynn, RF Will Venable and C Nick Hundley. The bullpen appears set with Heath Bell and Mike Adams as the anchors.
Your issues are what to do about 3B, starting pitching and the question of whether Everth Cabrera is really that good at SS.
At third, Kevin Kouzmanoff is doing nothing special (.256-16-74 before Thursday) and Chase Headley has hit.307 since the All-Star break just to lift his batting average to Kouz's level, and has far fewer HR and RBI. Kouzmanoff, at least, is a Gold Glove candidate at the hot corner. While Headley has played more left than third, he'll probably never be the fielder Kouzmanoff is. I go with Kouz and make Headley a reserve since he won't unseat Blanks. At the same time, I'm going through the trade market like crazy. I'd love to get a legit every day guy there and I'd trade both of these guys to get one.
Starting pitching remains pretty weak, leading me to renew my wonder at trading away one of the few legitimate number one starters in baseball. Jake Peavy suffered a new injury in Chicago, which might not have happened here, so his 2009 is probably finished. However, in 2010 he'll be there, not here.
Chris Young is having his second straight injury-plagued season, so who knows what sort of production the Padres will get from him next year. You can pencil him into the rotation but you better keep your eraser handy.
Right now, I'd say the 2010 rotation looks like Mat Latos-Kevin Correia-Clayton Richard. That's three guys and you need five. Pencil in Young to make four. Tim Stauffer could make five, but he's not terribly impressive. If the Padres want to compete in the NL West next season, they really need one more solid guy.
Finally, Cabrera. Headed into Thursday, he's hitting .269-2-23 with on on-base percentage of .359 and 19 steals. Moreover, he's a plus fielder who has committed just eight errors. Yet he needs to be a little more productive at the plate if the Padres are to contend, and I don't know if he is there yet. If the Padres get an every day SS offered in a trade package, I'd really have to consider it.
One more issue to think about. Venable, Blanks and even Headley now are all hitting and Cabrera isn't doing too badly. But the outfielders and SS have not been up from AAA for very long, so pitchers haven't found the holes in their bats. They will, either in September or next year. It happens to all youngsters, and those who go on to be successful are able to adjust. I don't know if they have that ability in them or not. So while they go into 2010 as near-certain starters for the Padres, it's highly questionable that they'll hit as well as they have in August. If they do, and they get more out of Cabrera and Gwynn, Gonzalez stays the same and improvements are made at 3B, this could be an interesting ball club to watch.
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