The 2009 Padres Exceed Expectations: time for heads to roll

If the Padres can manage to sweep the San Francisco Giants they'll finish the year at 77-85. Before the season began I gave what I felt was a very generous predicted win total of 70---the SOB in me thought the realistic outlook was in line with 66 wins.

Yet here we are with an on-field player payroll of $28 million dollars, completing a season in which nearly every perceived working part failed us. Brian Giles, the $9 million dollar man, did absolutely nothing thus preventing us from a deadline salary dump to a contending team. Jake Peavy was injured early and then dealt to the Sox whereas staff #2, Chris Young clunked out in early June. Yet here we are.....essentially 10 games better than I expected.

In the process of a surging summer, Bud Black received a contract extension and we watched some talented young players emerge as future center pieces. Our Rule V pickup, Everth Cabrera, panned out and brought a whole new dimension to an offense that shunned speed during the Alderson reign. Will Venable, Kyle Blanks, Matt Latos, and Clayton Richard all proved their worth and the high upside draft of '09 were all signed by the new regime. Yet here we are.....

I guess I understand a new owner wanting his own man but there is something that is quite undeniable about the 2009 season: Kevin Towers did a great job...

• The Khalil Greene dumping. I questioned the timing but it proved prescient on KT's part. KG went in the dumper and Luke Gregerson was fantastic in middle relief.
• Heath Bell ably took over for the expensive Trevor Hoffman.
• Mike Adams returned.....I don't even no where KT got him last year, but he's nails out of the pen.
• David Eckstein filled the hole that Matt Antonelli wasn't close to being ready for and provided needed professionalism and leadership.
• Kevin Correia was resurrected off the scrap heap.
• Jake Peavy was dealt for power arms and $50 odd million was cut from the books.
• An arbitration eligible Scott Hairston was dealt for more power arms.
• Oh yea....the fella up top who has managed 40 bombs playing half his games in a pitcher's park...quick....name the guys KT gave up for AGon et al.
  

There are quite a few things that have given me hope for the future and KT has had a hand in a good number of them.

I'm not sure that removing Kevin Towers is the answer but Jeffrey Moorad made plenty of deposits with me when he ponied up and got the 2009 draft class signed, so I'll reserve judgement on this one.