Chargers Remain on Track

I don't have too much to say about the Chargers 38-28 loss at Pittsburgh Sunday night, partly because "I told you so" is a little gauche. However, the 2-2 record is exactly what I expected heading into the well-timed bye week, with the Bolts having beaten and lost in the games I figured would go those directions.

When you recall that I predicted 10-6 and a playoff berth, that means things are still okay in Chargerland, but of course could be much better.

In losing to the Ravens and Steelers, they fell to two of the best teams in the NFL. Forget Pittsburgh's 1-2 start, it's hard to keep the edge coming off a Super Bowl year. The talent remains on board.

So, no big worries, other than what we already knew: the offensive and defensive lines are sub-standard and that was before the middle of each unit, Nick Hardwick and Jamal Williams, went down. That exacerbates the imperfections elsewhere, like LT's injury and inconsistent play by the back seven on defense.

Put all that together and the Bolts, thanks to Philip Rivers and Darren Sproles and Quentin Jammer and others are still good enough to beat most teams in the NFL and they will. They will split with Denver, sweep Oakland and Kansas City and go to the playoffs before exiting early (I'll come clean. I thought they'd split with KC and sweep Oakland and Denver, but that was before the games were played and we see which way those opponents are headed).

The national media likes to talk about this season being the Chargers last chance to make the Super Bowl. It might be the last shot for Williams, but the rest of the team will be together for years to come. My belief is that Super Bowl hopes were unrealistic because of the lack of quality at the line of scrimmage. AJ Smith will finally have to pay attention to the trenches for the real opportunity to arrive.

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Since the Dodgers are the team to beat in the NL West after two straight titles (gag me), let's compare the Padres to them position by position. My preferences are in bold.

1B: Adrian Gonzalez vs James Loney.
No contest.

2B: David Eckstein vs Orlando Hudson.
Close call, but Hudson's better numbers make a difference over a whole season.

SS: Everth Cabrera vs Rafael Furcal.
Furcal today, but no question Cabrera is the choice of tomorrow.

3B: Kevin Kouzmanoff or Chase Headley vs Casey Blake
Blake gets the nod for consistency this season, but Kouz gets Gold Glove if he's not playing in baseball purgatory.

LF: Kyle Blanks or Headley vs Manny Ramirez
I think Blanks will be a fine player some day. Really.

CF: Tony Gwynn vs Matt Kemp or Juan Pierre
Assuming Blanks blossoms in first full season, this is widest gap between clubs.

RF: Will Venable vs Andre Ethier
I think Venable has potential, Ethier deserves some MVP votes.

C: Nick Hundley vs Russell Martin
No one sees Hundley being more than serviceable, Martin is an annual All-Star.

Just among the eight positions in the field, the Padres take only two spots and in some areas, especially the outfield, the gaps are extreme.

I don't see the Dodgers as having a great starting pitching rotation, but the Padres have problems after Mat Latos, who is again just a kid full of potential. Who knows if battered Chris Young will ever amount to anything again? As nice as it was to watch Kevin Correia this season, he was only passable at 12-11, 3.91. Clayton Richard had a nice won-loss record but his ERA was 4 and a half and he walked too many people. Will we see Wade LeBlanc of September or the skittish pitcher of earlier in the season? In other words, the Dodgers at least know who they're sending out to the mound every day and more or less what they'll get. I also think LA has a better bullpen.

Again, I'm high on the kids and think the building blocks are in place. But there's a long way to go before anyone still employed at Petco Park speaks of contending.