The following is a roundtable discussion and www.e-sports.com preview http://www.e-sports.com/articles/2121/1/Roundtable-Discussion-on-Padres-and-NL-West/Page1.html of the San Diego Padres and Major League Baseball’s 2008 National League West race.  The interviews were conducted by freelance writer Rob Stone with Fox Sports Radio talk-show host Ben Maller, San Francisco Giants third-base coach Tim Flannery, San Francisco Chronicle columnist Scott Ostler, Orange County Register columnist Mark Whicker, XX Sports Radio San Diego talk-show host Billy Ray Smith, XTRA-Sports Radio 1360 San Diego talk-show host Chris Ello, NBC 7/39 San Diego Sports Director Jim Laslavic, KFMB News 8 San Diego weekend sports-anchor John Howard, and KGTV 10 News San Diego Sports Director Ben Higgins.

 

ROB STONE:  Everybody used to say that the National League West was the weakest division in baseball.  Yet, the National League wild-card team has come out of the Western division each of the past two seasons.  How and why do you think this division has become so tough now year-in and year-out?

 

BEN MALLER, FOX SPORTS RADIO:  After years of stinking and being rewarded with higher draft picks, the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks have developed a solid talent base to compete in the National League West.  The Dodgers should always be in the race thanks to the financial resources of the media market in Los Angeles.  The San Diego Padres have a smart general manager (Kevin Towers), who despite having one of baseball’s lowest-ranked minor league systems year after year, finds enough talent to compete.  The San Francisco Giants are going to pay the price of the Barry Bonds steroid era for years to come.   

 

TIM FLANNERY, SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS THIRD-BASE COACH:  Pitching, it’s that simple.  It’s now the premier division in baseball because of the pitching.

 

SCOTT OSTLER, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE:  Money and competitiveness.  The Dodgers and Arizona have shown an increased willingness to spend money on top talent, instead of letting the Boston Red Sox-New York Yankees axis scoop up everything in sight.  The Dodgers need to compete with the high-spending Angels.  So, San Diego is forced to keep up.  I think the Diamondbacks are more competitive with Jeff Moorad as their general manager.  Having been an agent helps.  He knows the players.

 

MARK WHICKER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER:  An added emphasis on pitching, especially in the big California ballparks. Also, good drafting by Colorado and Arizona.

 

BILLY RAY SMITH, XX SPORTS RADIO:  The National League West teams beat up on each other.  The talent was spread consistently throughout the division last season.  Only one National League team outside of the National League West had a winning record against the National League West (the Atlanta Braves were 19-14).  When one team is unable to run away from the pack, the likelihood of the wild-card team appearing from that division is much higher. 

 

CHRIS ELLO, XTRA-SPORTS RADIO 1360:  Because the Rockies and Diamondbacks have the two best minor league systems in the National League.  The Padres claim that their minor league system is better than both of those.  We’ll have to wait and see about that.

 

JIM LASLAVIC, NBC 7/39:  Arizona added Dan Haren to go with former Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb.  Plus, they got great production from their young position players last season.  The Dodgers added Joe Torre and Andruw Jones.  Colorado, the defending National League champs think they can do it again.

 

JOHN HOWARD, KFMB NEWS 8:  This was the weakest division in baseball in 2005.  San Diego represented the West as the least of five evils.  Frankly, a team from the West that year didn’t belong in the playoffs.  Injuries ran rampant.  The last two years, things turned around with rock solid pitching in the division.

 

BEN HIGGINS, KGTV 10 NEWS:  Pitching, pure and simple.  The National League West is loaded from top to bottom with some of the best arms in baseball, including the rising young stars, as well as pitchers just entering their prime like Peavy, Young, Webb, and Haren.

 

ROB STONE:  Can San Diego once again be a factor in the race?

 

BEN MALLER:  Jake Peavy is the best starting pitcher in the division. Assuming he stays healthy, the Padres will always be a factor in the division. I worry that San Diego will again be near the top of the division all season before fading away like in 2007.

 

TIM FLANNERY:  The Padres have pitching that’s always very deep and a great bullpen.  That wins you games and always keeps you in the hunt. They also have character people like Trevor Hoffman.  That does so much for a baseball team, even when he isn't pitching.

 

SCOTT OSTLER:  Probably, but I haven't studied it enough to give a good answer.

 

MARK WHICKER:  Everybody, except maybe San Francisco, will be a factor in this race.  San Diego is too fundamentally sound to slip very far.

 

BILLY RAY SMITH:  There’s no question that this Pads team has got to be considered as one of the favorites to win the West.  Their pitching will be their backbone and the young bats should spark an offensive effort not seen since Air Coryell.

 

CHRIS ELLO:  Only if Jim Edmonds and Brian Giles reprise some of their glory years from earlier in this decade.

 

JIM LASLAVIC:  Yes.  The pitching staff could be the best in the National League.  Plus, Bud Black showed he knows how to handle the pitchers.  And keep in mind, the way he managed the one-game playoff was brilliant.  They're better offensively at second base and in centerfield.  Kevin Kouzmanoff won't hit .120 over the first six weeks of the season again.  

 

JOHN HOWARD:  Yes.  But, they will once again not have the team they need to win in the postseason.  For three years now, this club has failed to get the offensive players it needs to make a run in the postseason.  And who gives a flying frogs fat fanny about a big homerun bat.  With Petco Park, I want to see three or four guys in the lineup hitting for average, with speedsters running the bases and manufacturing runs like the St. Louis Cardinals of the 1980’s.

 

BEN HIGGINS:  Unless they suffer major injuries to the pitching staff, the Padres will be a factor for years to come.

 

ROB STONE:  What did you think of the run that the Colorado Rockies went on at the end of last season to get to the World Series?

 

BEN MALLER:  The Rockies pulled off one of the great fluke runs in the history of sports.  Colorado had enough offensive talent to be a playoff team.  The fact that a bunch of young pitchers, with a few journeyman mixed in who hadn't proven anything, all of a sudden got hotter than texas hot sauce at the same time, won't happen again anytime soon.  I give those guys credit, but they played over their heads.

 

TIM FLANNERY:  It’s a character they have that has been developed with a lot of hard work and time.  Todd Helton, as well, has been just amazing for that team.  A lot like Hoffman has been for San Diego.  On the field, of course, but also what they bring to the clubhouse.

 

SCOTT OSTLER:  The Rockies run was impressive.  It shows that it's good to have youth for the stretch run because you need energy and enthusiasm, especially now that players can't do amphetimines.

 

MARK WHICKER:  I thought it was a terrific run.  But, I'd been waiting on them to contend for a couple of years. The humidor changed their whole franchise.

 

BILLY RAY SMITH:  Colorado had so much youth in their lineup that you might think the rest of Major League Baseball would start emulating their operation. 

 

CHRIS ELLO:  You’ll never see a run like that happen again in your lifetime.  Going 21-1 down the stretch and into the playoffs was one of the most amazing accomplishments ever in baseball.

 

JIM LASLAVIC:  They were lucky to play the Dodgers so often.  L.A. went 0-7 in September against the Rockies.  So Colorado’s run was impressive, but the Dodgers played like dogs and rolled over.  Grady Little lost the clubhouse.  Joe Torre won't let that happen.

 

JOHN HOWARD:  It’s still hard to believe.  And they continued their dominance all the way to the World Series.  Will we ever see a run like that again in our lifetime?  I don’t think so.

 

BEN HIGGINS:  Amazing.  If you said to the Padres in early September that they'd be in the playoffs, I think they would’ve been pretty confident.

 

ROB STONE:  Are the defending division champ Diamondbacks still the team to beat?  If not, then who is the favorite in the division?

 

BEN MALLER:  The Diamondbacks are co-favorites in the division with the Dodgers. I love the Haren pick-up.  They will be favored to win whenever Haren or Brandon Webb pitches.  I'm expecting a playoff hangover from some of the young hitters in Arizona.  They'll take a step back before they take a step forward in the desert.

 

TIM FLANNERY:  I think what both the Rockies and Diamondbacks did last year makes them the front-runners.  For the last four years both of these clubs were going through a period of transition and getting beat on as young teams learning on the job.  That’s not easy, but they have developed, groomed and signed players to fit very consistent teams together.  They both have nice starting pitching and bullpens.  They have all earned their way to the big leagues by being successful year after year.  Now, these gamers know what it takes to win. That makes them tough to beat.

SCOTT OSTLER:  Haren was big.  Even bigger was Arizona re-signing Eric Byrnes.  The Giants wanted him badly, so the Diamondbacks went high with their offer.  His energy is infectuous in the clubhouse and in the stands.  He’s a very important player for them.

 

MARK WHICKER:  The Dodgers probably have the best collection of players.  But they must become a team, which is a specialty of Torre.

 

BILLY RAY SMITH:  Haren, Schmaren, Arizona is going to have to watch the Pads win the National League West this year.

 

CHRIS ELLO:  Toss a coin between the Rocks, D-Backs, and Dodgers. 

 

JIM LASLAVIC:  It's between Arizona and Colorado.  But, don't count out San Diego because of their pitching staff.

 

JOHN HOWARD:  Sure.  But the Padres, Rockies, and Dodgers will also contend. 

 

BEN HIGGINS:  I don't think there is a clear-cut favorite.  Not in a division where three teams were separated by just a game last season.  Had Young stayed healthy, the Pads would have won the National League West going away.  Does that make them the favorite?  No, but I wouldn't be surprised by any team winning the division this season.  Except, maybe San Francisco.

 

ROB STONE:  Will the Dodgers ever stop signing aging veterans and let their young talent play everyday?

 

BEN MALLER:  Andruw Jones was a great pick-up.  The Dodgers needed a 30 home run bat in the middle of their lineup and a bounce-back season from Jones will give them just that.  The Dodgers can now trade Ethier or Juan Pierre to get another front-of-the-rotation starter.  If Chad Billingsley steps up into a No.1 starter, the Dodgers will win the National League West.

 

TIM FLANNERY:  I think you need veteran influence to surround young prospects.  It's a hard game to play with so many ups and downs and peaks and valleys.  So, the right veterans can help establish younger players with their example and in return younger players can excite the older veterans as well. The Dodgers will be tough this year.

 

SCOTT OSTLER:  I think the Dodgers are finally getting a clue, out of necessity.  Their fans are fed up with the old, marginal pick-ups.  They want to see some young blood.  I think this will be the year their team phases into that, at least partially.

 

MARK WHICKER:  I think that day has come, especially since they didn't trade any of the kids.  By next year, Jeff Kent and Nomar Garciaparra will probably be gone and the tone will change.  They did need a big bat like Jones in the middle of the lineup, provided he can produce.

 

BILLY RAY SMITH:  Torre’s the skipper and he likes experience.  Wait until he experiences another .222 year by Jones.  The young talent will eventually take over this team.

 

CHRIS ELLO:  Probably not.  The Dodgers feel like they have to make big splashes every year to keep up with all the other big-market teams in baseball.

 

JIM LASLAVIC:  They can't rush the young players and the veterans make them better now.

 

JOHN HOWARD:  Who cares?  I work in San Diego.

 

BEN HIGGINS:  It seems like a poor strategy.  But one of these years, it's going to work and the Dodgers may buy themselves a trip to the World Series.

 

ROB STONE:  What will San Francisco look like with Aaron Rowand roaming the outfield instead of Barry Bonds?

 

BEN MALLER:  The Giants are your typical bad baseball team.  Rowand is a fun player to watch, who figures to spend at least a month on the disabled list.  San Francisco will play a bunch of young guys who according to all the scouting guides aren't very good. The curse of Bonds will leave a stench on this franchise for years and years to come!

 

TIM FLANNERY:  Well, Rowand is the example we are hoping can start the changing of the guard.  He's a hard-nosed all-out guy who played in 161 of 162 games for the Philadelphia Phillies.  Barry is gone now, so the entire franchise is going through a change. We’ll be younger and have our work cut out for us in a tough division. We also have a solid starting pitching staff and Bruce Bochy is developing a bullpen like he did with the Padres.

 

SCOTT OSTLER:  The fans were sick and tired of watching Bonds kill grass and act bored.  Rowand will light the place up.  He’s the best fielder they've had in awhile and he can hit too.  So, he'll be a huge crowd favorite.  Too bad they couldn't get Byrnes.  That would’ve given them a strong spark, along with Bengie Molina and Omar Vizquel.

 

MARK WHICKER:  I wouldn't ignore the Giants.  Rowand is a terrific player and leader.  Their young pitching is good.  They just need a couple more off-seasons to complete their transition to youth.

 

BILLY RAY SMITH:  A couple of hat sizes smaller, 669 home runs lighter, and a few thousand fewer reporters hanging out in the clubhouse.

 

CHRIS ELLO:  The pitching staff will be happier because some fly balls will be caught.

 

JIM LASLAVIC:  San Francisco is in total rebuilding mode.  Ask again in a few years.

 

JOHN HOWARD:  Defensively, they’ll look better and play better.

 

BEN HIGGINS:  Rowand will be the most overpaid player in baseball this season.  Oh, he'll give 115%, like always.  But, with nobody to drive in and nobody to drive him in, the numbers will be ugly.

 

ROB STONE:  Can Jake Peavy put together another Cy Young season?

 

BILLY RAY SMITH:  Would you like to tell him he can’t?  Me neither. 

 

CHRIS ELLO:  Yes.  But, it’s unlikely.  The only way Peavy’s in the Cy Young race is if the Padres can win 89 games again this season.

 

JIM LASLAVIC:  Why not?  He's a year stronger and smarter.

 

JOHN HOWARD:  Yes.  Absolutely.  But, can he win in the postseason? 

 

BEN HIGGINS:  In the future, definitely, but after throwing so many pitches last year, I expect a small step back for Peavy in 2008.

 

ROB STONE:  Can Chris Young return to his first-half form of 2007?

 

BILLY RAY SMITH:  Young is an incredible talent.  He’ll learn from last year, improving his chances to stay healthy this season.

 

CHRIS ELLO:  Maybe not quite that good.

 

JIM LASLAVIC:  He appears healthy.  Why not?

 

JOHN HOWARD:  Sure.  But, can San Diego hit and score enough runs for him?  No.  Not enough to make a postseason run, if they get there.

 

BEN HIGGINS:  I'm expecting a big season from Young.  The Padres will have two bona-fide aces this year.

 

ROB STONE:  Does Greg Maddux have another year left in him?

 

BILLY RAY SMITH:  I’m going to pretend you didn’t just ask me that question.

 

CHRIS ELLO:  Yes.  He knows how to pitch and how to take care of himself.  We’re looking at the smartest pitcher of all-time.

 

JIM LASLAVIC:  Especially with Bud Black using him judiciously.

 

JOHN HOWARD:  I don’t know.  Last year, when it came to granting interview requests there was no gas in the tank.

 

BEN HIGGINS:  Maddux will once again put up similar numbers to last season.  Around 180 innings, very few walks, and if he gets some run support, he'll win 12-16 games.

 

ROB STONE:  Will Mark Prior make a successful comeback?

 

BILLY RAY SMITH:  Prior has the benefit of a star-studded rotation and bullpen from which to learn.  Something amazing (scary, for the opponents) happens when a true competitor is backed into a corner.

 

CHRIS ELLO:  I have a funny feeling that he will.

 

JIM LASLAVIC:  It appears so.  He’s ahead of schedule on his rehab.  Imagine Prior, even at 90%, as the fifth starter.  And don’t forget Shawn Estes and Randy Wolf.

 

JOHN HOWARD:  I think it’s doubtful.  But knowing Towers, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least.  I’m hoping Prior is his prior self because I love seeing the local guys do well. 

 

BEN HIGGINS:  So far, so good.  Prior could give San Diego a big lift in the second half of the season with a fresh arm.

 

ROB STONE:  Does Trevor Hoffman have another good year left in him?

BILLY RAY SMITH:  See the last line of my previous answer.

 

CHRIS ELLO:  See Maddux answer above.

 

JIM LASLAVIC:  Yes.  There might be some concern late in the season.

 

JOHN HOWARD:  Yes. I think this is his last one.

 

BEN HIGGINS:  Hoffman will blow a couple saves in April.  Some fans will say he’s done and that they should make Heath Bell the closer.  Then, Hoffy will save 20 or 30 in a row without a mistake.  It's the same story every year.

 

ROB STONE:  Is Scott Hairston the everyday answer in left field?

 

BILLY RAY SMITH:  I like Hairston.  He was a brilliant addition last year.  If he can do the same consistently this season---watch out.

 

CHRIS ELLO:  He is if he can keep up with his 8 home runs in 89 at-bats pace of a year ago, which he can’t do. 

 

JIM LASLAVIC:  Probably not.  But, it’s a long season.  Kevin Towers always seems to come up with something.  Maybe Tony Clark can help in left.  Heck, he has to be better than Ryan Klesko.

 

JOHN HOWARD:  Have all the Scott Hairston’s since Greg Vaughn been the everyday answer in left field.

 

BEN HIGGINS:  I don't think so.  I think Chase Headley will be the Padres starting left fielder by the All-Star Break. 

 

ROB STONE:  Can Jim Edmonds replace Mike Cameron in centerfield?

 

BILLY RAY SMITH:  Edmonds will make all the circus catches and then some and do it with half the strikeouts.

 

CHRIS ELLO:  For a few highlight-reel plays, he can.  At the plate, he’ll be just like Cameron, capable of three strikeouts on any given night.

 

JIM LASLAVIC:  Yes.  Cameron's defense was off last year.  Edmonds should be an upgrade.

 

JOHN HOWARD:  I think he already has, hasn’t he?  Edmonds is the Mike Piazza of two years ago.  It will be fun to have him around.  I look forward to a couple throw back highlight-reel catches in centerfield this season.  But, I’m in no way excited about the long-term prospects of this off-season acquisition.

 

BEN HIGGINS:  Not very well.  Edmonds will need to have a great season to make up for Cameron's offense.  Defensively, he'll be fine, but he'll struggle trying to cut off some longer drives into the gap because his speed isn't what it once was.