3 San Diego Padres
General Manager Kevin Towers appreciated Theo Epstein's invitation to be his guest at the World Series last fall, but he was looking for more from the Red Sox G.M. than a luxury-box view. As the two men entered Fenway Park before Game 1, Towers came right to the point. "After the Series is over," he told his friend Epstein, "I want Dave Roberts."
Ten weeks later Towers got his man. He traded outfielder Jay Payton, utilityman Ramon Vazquez, minor league pitcher David Pauley and $2.65 million to Boston for Roberts, a 32-year-old centerfielder and San Diego native. That might seem like a steep price for a player who was essentially discarded by the Dodgers at midseason and was primarily a pinch runner and defensive replacement in 45 games for the Red Sox, but Towers wanted the fleet Roberts to inject some badly needed speed into the San Diego lineup. Plenty of high-profile players changed teams during the off-season, but Roberts and his new employers think he can have as big an impact as any of the marquee names in new uniforms. "It's not about how much money you spend," Roberts says. "It's about getting the right pieces to fill in the holes."
The Padres were sundial slow last year, which was especially hard on their offense because their new home, Petco Park, turned out to be only slightly more conducive to home runs than Yosemite. San Diego hit fewer round-trippers (52) at home than any other National League team last year and finished 14th in the league in total homers (139). The primary power hitters--Brian Giles, Phil Nevin and Ryan Klesko--groused about crushing balls that died short of the wall at Petco. With new leadoff hitter Roberts running the bases, the Padres should have more chances to score without clearing the fence. "You take his speed, and add to it the fact that he's from San Diego and a good clubhouse guy, and it made perfect sense," Towers says of the trade.
Over the last three seasons Roberts has averaged 39 stolen bases--Payton, his predecessor in centerfield, stole two last year--and he was caught only three times in 41 attempts in 2004. His most memorable theft last year came in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series against the Yankees and helped spare Red Sox Nation another cruel winter. Boston was on life support, trailing 4--3 in the bottom of the ninth and three outs from elimination, facing Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, when Roberts came in as a pinch runner and stole second. Bill Mueller singled him in with the tying run, and Boston won the game in extra innings. The rest, as you may have heard, really was history.
Although Roberts was the catalyst for one of the greatest postseason comebacks, he didn't play in the World Series, which is one of the reasons he welcomed the trade to the Padres. "I could see the writing on the wall that I wasn't going to be anything more than a fourth outfielder," he says. "I think I can contribute more than that. I wanted the opportunity to play every day, and when I heard about the trade, it was easy to see that San Diego would be the perfect place for me."
Roberts was available partly because his career on-base percentage of .335 isn't great for a table setter, and his throwing arm is average at best. Nevertheless the Padres' pitching staff will no doubt enjoy seeing Roberts run down balls in the wide outfield expanse at Petco. When he made a stretching, running catch of a Garret Anderson liner during a spring game against the Angels, several pitchers in the bullpen high-fived each other. "He's definitely going to make some of our pitchers want to buy him a steak dinner," manager Bruce Bochy says.
San Diego would like to see Roberts walk more--48 passes are the most he's had in a season--but once he's on base he's got the green light. The only thing that has slowed him down in the past has been a recurring hamstring injury, but he's hoping that a new Pilates regimen, which helped him shed about five pounds over the off-season, will eliminate that issue. "At least I should look a little better in my uniform," he says. The Padres already think he's a perfect fit. --P.T.
In Fact
Jake Peavy's 2.27 ERA in 2004 was lowest for a San Diego starter since Randy Jones's 2.24 in 1975. Peavy was the first Padre to lead the major leagues in ERA.
Enemy Lines
an opposing team's scout sizes up the Padres
"PETCO PARK plays big, and last year the Padres didn't have the right kind of lineup. Getting Dave Roberts will help, but that's the only speed they have. What they need is for Brian Giles and Ryan Klesko to put up some power numbers again. Klesko looks healthy, but he's really a first baseman playing leftfield, and that's tough on his body. Giles is struggling with the bat.... Ramon Hernandez will have a better year behind the plate this season. He looks fit, and he handles the pitching staff well.... Sean Burroughs is a good hitter, but he's not a power-hitting third baseman, and they need those numbers.... The Number 1 starter, Jake Peavy, is outstanding. He throws hard, with good movement, and it seems he never throws the ball in the middle of the plate. Woody Williams will keep you in the game, and he's good at getting guys to swing early in the count. Adam Eaton is inconsistent but has great stuff.... The Number 5 spot in the rotation is a problem. Darrell May had a bad year, and he's not doing very well this spring. He's very hittable and doesn't have an out pitch."
The Lineup
projected roster with 2004 statistics
Batting Order
CF Roberts
2B Loretta
RF Giles
1B Nevin
LF Klesko
SS Greene
C Hernandez
3B Burroughs
DAVE ROBERTS [New acquisition]
B-T L
PVR 176
BA .254
HR 4
RBI 35
SB 38
RYAN KLESKO
B-T L
PVR 178
BA .291
HR 9
RBI 66
SB 2
BRIAN GILES
B-T L
PVR 42
BA .284
HR 23
RBI 94
SB 10
KHALIL GREENE
R 114 .273 15 65 4
B-T R
PVR 114
BA .273
HR 15
RBI 65
SB 4
MARK LORETTA
B-T R
PVR 49
BA .335
HR 16
RBI 76
SB 5
SEAN BURROUGHS
B-T L-R
PVR 260
BA .298
HR 2
RBI 47
SB 5
PHIL NEVIN
B-T R
PVR 51
BA .289
HR 26
RBI 105
SB 0
RAMON HERNANDEZ
B-T R
PVR 108
BA .276
HR 18
RBI 63
SB 1
BENCH
XAVIER NADY
B-T R
PVR 214
BA .247
HR 3
RBI 9
SB 0
ERIC YOUNG [New acquisition]
B-T R
PVR 258
BA .288
HR 1
RBI 27
SB 14
MARK SWEENEY
B-T L
PVR 373
BA .266
HR 9
RBI 40
SB 1
2004 RECORD
87--75
3rd in NL West
MANAGER
Bruce Bochy
11th season with San Diego
ROTATION
[originallink:10808681:720496]
281
4
1
1
1.29
2.68
New acquisition (R) Rookie B-T: Bats-throws IPS: Innings pitched per start WHIP: Walks plus hits per inning pitched
PVR: Player Value Ranking (explanation on page 69)
COLOR PHOTO
BRAD MANGIN
CASH FOR DASH
San Diego gave up three players and $2.65 million for Roberts, who averaged 39 steals the past three years.
COLOR PHOTO
JOHN W. MCDONOUGH
Peavy