Padres Week Ahead: Finish Strong!

Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Padres Predictions

At this point, there isn’t much else to say about the 2014 campaign coming to a close. The Padres had a much stronger second half than first, but the first half cannot be erased from the record books or forgotten about. This team still has a ton of questions around its offense, and many starters could be facing some big questions about where they fit next season. I’m not sure the Padres can afford to put up with Carlos Quentin‘s absentee routine again, but who else will take him? Hopefully someone in the AL can pony up some for his salary. Yonder Alonso had another disappointing season, and the emergence of Tommy Medica seems to make him expendable. While Rene Rivera had a great year at catcher for him, is that the best the Padres can do behind the dish? Certainly Yasmani Grandal faces more questions about his future than answers provided this year.

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The starting rotation provides a lot of optimism, and like the idea of Cashner – Ross – Erlin – Kennedy – Hahn – Stults(backup) to start the year, hoping for health but being prepared for another year without it. Despaigne did well in his call up but not quite enough to show me he can or should last a whole season in the rotation.

Prediction: I predict the Padres win 4 of 7 this week for 78 on the season, doing just a little more than enough to provide 2014 with the Padres best record since 2010 when they won 90 games.