MLB NEWS

Season Preview: Unchartered territory for Padres

The Sports Xchange

March 29, 2015 at 7:39 pm.

Matt Kemp is one of several offensive upgrades the Padres added in the offseason. (Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)

High expectations are not typically synonymous with the San Diego Padres.

But that is the word circulating among Padres fans this year.

Not only do the Friars’ faithful believe they can bid for their first playoff berth since 2006, they have hopes that the Padres can compete for the title in the tough National League West where the Giants have won three of the last five World Series and the Dodgers have spent a gazillion on talent.

One man has raised San Diego’s expectations — General Manager A.J. Preller.

During the off-season, Preller remade the Padres.

Offensively, he bolstered what had been the most hapless (and boring) offense in the Major Leagues with the acquisition of outfielders Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Wil Myers; catcher Derek Norris and third baseman Will Middlebrooks.

Then he topped what statistically was already one of the top pitching staffs in the Major Leagues by signing James Shields to the richest free agent contract in Padres history.

Even before Kemp labeled Preller “Rockstar GM” there was a buzz in San Diego and among the Padres themselves.

“We don’t think we can win this season,” Kemp said during a pre-spring training tour of San Diego. “We expect to win. This is a good baseball team. And we can’t wait to show what we can do.”

Counting Opening Day starter Shields, the Padres will have six and possibly seven new faces in their lineup April 6 when they take on the Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw at Dodger Stadium.

And a team that is usually scrambling to fill the final roster spots with recycled veterans or free agents with a hot hand in March went into the final week of spring training facing the probability of eliminating at least two of the following – Carlos Quentin, Cameron Maybin, Will Venable and Tommy Medica.

Yet, there are still major questions facing the Padres.

–Kemp, Upton and Myers give the Padres a formidable offensive outfield. But there are questions about the outfield defense, particularly in the spacious outfield of Petco Park. Myers is down to start in center, where he has two games experience.

–The Padres might have one of the most powerful lineups in franchise history. But there is not a “traditional” lead-off or No. 2 hitter in the projected starting lineup. Myers is targeted to hit in the lead-off slot with first baseman Yonder Alonso likely hitting second against right-handed pitching. On-base percentage will be a concern for the Padres.

–The lineup is heavy right-handed. The only projected left-handed starters are first baseman Alonso and co-shortstop Alexi Amarista.

–Two of the five starting pitchers – Andrew Cashner and projected No. 5 Brandon Morrow — have a history of injuries.

But the Padres have come through a healthy spring. Even the knees that have limited Quentin to 218 games over the last three seasons have been quiet. The only setbacks this spring was the torn meniscus that will keep backup catcher Tim Federowicz out until at least the All-Star break and a blister on the ring finger of Morrow that caused him to miss a start.

Although the eyes are on the offense, the Padres might have one of the deepest rotations in the Major Leagues with Shields, Tyson Ross, Andrew Cashner and Ian Kennedy ahead of Morrow or Odrisamer Despaigne in the No. 5 slot. And former Marlins ace Josh Johnson is already throwing from the mound in his rehab from Tommy John surgery.

“I like this team,” said manager Bud Black, who has yet to take to the Padres to the playoffs in his eight previous seasons as the field general. Then again, he’s never had Preller leading the front office before.

“I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people,” said Kemp. “But it won’t really be a surprise.”