Kevin Towers outlasted that "new sheriff in town," Kevin Malone, by quite a few years, so that makes him alright in my book.
With Towers being let go by the new Padres ownership regime of Jeff Moorad, there will be a lot of post-mortems on his tenure, in which he outlasted not just the way-too-outspoken Malone of the Dodgers but every other GM and became the longest lasting in his position in franchise history.
I've always thought Towers was a mixed bag. For some reason, fans and talking heads take a straight love him or hate him approach, but that's never been my take. This is a guy who wrested Adrian Gonzalez and Chris Young from Texas for peanuts and picked up Phil Nevin from the Angels for a song, but also the one who sent away a popular legitimate starting pitcher for a washed up outfielder, and who sent away promising young sluggers Jason Bay and Xavier Nady. He had a great eye for pitching talent but not so much for position players. He also had to be saved from himself a couple of times -- some of his best trades were the ones he was unable to make.
I am also on record as being strongly opposed to this year's Jake Peavy deal and I think nearly a half-season of watching the average hurlers gained in return are bearing out my view, but I do not blame Towers for that one.
That, in fact, is another side of the story. I don't think Towers has had real GM-type power in the Padres front office for years now, dating back to when Sandy Alderson came to town. Moorad and Tom Garfinkel have all the power with the Padres now. I'm not suggesting the position be similar in scope to that of AJ Smith, who wields enormous clout with the Chargers, but he ultimately has to be able to make his own decisions, and I don't think he was able to the past few seasons. That being the case, its best the new ownership picks their own guy and gives him a portfolio, however large or small.
Towers will land on his own two feet, that's for sure. I have a sneaking suspicion that he won't immediately take a new GM job because he is perfect for another role in 2010. He's a glib, quotable man not afraid to share his opinion. I think he would be a great television studio commentator. You read it here first.
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Based on the location of my current digs, it was very cool to go to Petco Park Friday night and see two former Grossmont High School hurlers: the Padres' Kevin Correia and the Giants' Barry Zito -- who later transferred to the old Uni -- do battle on the mound.
The results are why I don't buy Towers assessment that the Padres in their current form are ready to be a contender. The Friars lineup made Zito look like Steve Carlton. I know that they didn't have mainstays Kevin Kouzmanoff and Kyle Blanks, but come on. Just a single in several situations might have done the trick. The lineup has too many guys around .260 with just a few home runs to be anywhere near imposing next year.
Meanwhile, Correia was nearly flawless the first time through the order but thereafter fooled no one. Even the outs were rockets. He's had a fine season but is currently the best bet for opening day starter in 2010. That will lead a rickety rotation that will scare no one.
Again, the building blocks are in place now, but more construction is needed during the off-season if the Padres hope to compete for a division title.
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Night update: SDSU very unimpressive in 34-17 win over New Mexico State Saturday night. It was tied at 17 early in the fourth quarter before the home team pulled away.
At one point in the second half, Ryan Lindley was 6-22 passing and, unlike last week when the turnovers were generally not his fault, he was missing receivers left and right against the Aggies. I now believe head coach Brady Hoke is jeopardizing his team by not giving Drew Westling -- who drove the Aztecs to a TD in his only possession of the season -- more opportunities. I'm not too down on Lindley, a sophomore with a bad offensive line, mediocre receivers and a new offensive system, but there's a point where reality hits, and that was tonight. Besides, I'm a two-QB proponent. I think even though Lindley is ultimately your guy, you have to keep the backup in game shape.
They might have found a running back in Walter Kazee, a whirling dervish unafraid to stick the ball up the middle.
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