2010 Padre Predictions, Prognostications, and Ponderings: Ducksnorts Edition

If you don't regularly read Geoff Young's blog, Ducksnorts, I'll give you two reasons right now:

1. He knows what he's talking about when it comes to the Padres (and other things too).
2. Good analogies/metaphors/literary & musical references.

This was one of my favorite lines from his piece called, "Five Questions: San Diego Padres", published over at Hardball Times.

"Like morning fog and wagonloads of 'Zonies, firing the hitting coach is an annual rite of summer in San Diego."

So true, so true. But 2010 should be different...

This season should be different in that there are better young hitters with upside but more importantly, fans realize that scapegoating a hitting instructor just isn't going to fly anymore. I agree with Geoff Young's following assessment:

".....when different coaches continue to yield similar results, perhaps it's time to look elsewhere for answers. Superior on-field talent is a good place to start."

 The Alderson regime seemed to always stand so steadfastly behind their organizational strategies and those they drafted that there was little recourse other than to fire coaches. This was a foolhardy approach by Alderson as most fans are not idiots (didn't Dave Magadan go on to be the hitting coach for the Red Sox in 2007 the year they won the WS?).......furthermore.......Sandy Alderson is a dick. I rest my case.

Check out Geoff's article for more on Chase Headley, Matt Latos, the fortunes of Randy Ready, the emergence of youth, and the commitment of our ownership.

It is only spring and on these mornings the gloom of June is conspicuously absent.......but with the onset of April comes the annual spring-break throngs to San Diego and the omnipresent threat of a 'Zonie influx. Get to work, Mr. Ready.

**I went to school at Northern Arizona......'Zonies = Sock tans and Teva sandals