Saturday, June 4, 2011

San Diego Padres

1B  Adrian Gonzalez – Slugged .500 or better all five seasons in San Diego; drove in 100 runs three times; led NL with 119 walks in ’09.
2B  Bip Roberts – Batted .298 as a Padre; stole 20+ bases five times for San Diego (46 in 1990).
SS  Garry Templeton – Though his best years were as a Cardinal, Templeton lasted nine seasons as San Diego’s SS.
3B  Phil Nevin – Power hitter with three 100+ RBI seasons; twice batted over .300 for San Diego; Caminiti was a Padre for only four seasons.
OF  Tony Gwynn – Best Padre ever; won eight batting titles while tallying 3,141 hits (career .338 hitter); stole 25+ bases five times; won five Gold Gloves.
OF  Ryan Klesko – Drove in 90+ runs three straight years; OBP topped .380 four times for San Diego.
OF  Dave Winfield – Hit 20+ HRs five times as a Padre; drove in 90 or more runs three times (118 in ’79); won two Gold Gloves in SD.
C  Benito Santiago – Hit at least 10 HRs all six years as Padre; batted .300 and stole 21 bases as a rookie in ’87; won three Gold Gloves behind the plate.
Bench  Brian Giles – Drove in 80+ runs three times; decent power; drew enough walks to push the OBP over .370 four times.
Pitcher  Jake Peavy – Twice led the NL in ERA and Ks; topped the league with 19 wins in 2007.
Pitcher  Randy Jones – Twenty-game winner in back-to-back seasons; led NL with 2.24 ERA in ’75.
Pitcher  Ed Whitson – Won 13+ games four times for SD; posted a sub-2.70 ERA in back-to-back seasons (1989-90).
Closer  Trevor Hoffman – MLB’s all-time saves leader (601); used a wicked change-up to save 40+ games nine times.

This team might even look good in the mustard and brown Padres uniforms of the 1970s. Maybe not.

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