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DEFENSE
The Friars’ 2011 season
could go either way
Courtesy San Diego Padres/chris hardy
Padres pitcher Clayton Richard
By Jeff Praught
Nobody really knows what
to make of the 2011
Padres.
Though the franchise
is coming off of a strong,
90-win season, the cast
of characters has changed dramatically. Most
notably is the trade loss of iconic first baseman
Adrian Gonzalez to the Boston Red Sox. No
doubt, his departure leaves the club without
its best defender, its most potent offensive
force and the hometown guy so many threw
their hearts behind.
It seems unlikely the team will match
its 2010 success, but, then again, there was
nothing probable about the Friars coming
within one game of potentially winning the
National League West last year.
Just how will the Friars replace Gonzalez’s
31 home runs, 101 RBI and 93 walks from
last year? By taking advantage of the depressed
market and picking up a few older yet proven
veterans, which is exactly what sophomore
General Manager Jed Hoyer has done.
Replacing Gonzalez at first base will be
right-fielder Brad Hawpe. Given his lackluster
performance as an outfielder last season,
this would seem to be a head-scratcher. But
Hawpe, a career .279 hitter with power, was
an above-average first baseman in college
and in the minors before being moved to the
outfield by the Rockies.
The Padres’ brass is also counting on
rebounds from Orlando Hudson, Jason
Bartlett and Ryan Ludwick. Hudson struggled
in his one season with Minnesota, but San
Diego signed him to a two-year deal, hoping
the former Gold Glove second baseman would
regain his usual form.
(Continued on Page 24)
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