Top 5 - Thoughts on the 2006 San Diego Padres

Just 5 observations on this year's Padres team.

1. Vinnie Castillo is toast. Geoff Blum ain't no daisy either. Third base is so bad for the Padres that Mark Bellhorn may be their best option. I'd look for something to happen here (maybe Eric Hinske from Toronto?).

2. Chris Young may blossom into a very good number 2 starter this year. It's hard for me to believe that the same GM who signed Vinnie Castillo also made such an astute trade as Chris Young and Adrian Gonzalez for Adam Eaton. Pulling numbers out of my ass - I project Young to go 15-8 with a 3.00 ERA and 190 K's this year for the Padres.

3. Catcher is a logjam. Mike Piazza is the starter which makes Doug Mirabelli the back-up (look for Mirabelli to get a ton of AB during inter-league play as Piazza will rest his knees and DH). I though David Ross would be the real deal if given a starting opportunity but he disappointed in Dodgerland so much they had to ship him out. Ross may start the season in AAA.

4. Can you believe that Chan Ho Park is still on a major league roster? Park is in the final year of his contract and will make $15 million this year. It may be a toss-up on who the Padres want to be rid of the most - Park or Ryan Klesko and the final year of his contract which will cost the Padres a pretty $10 million.

5. I think Khalil Greene will hit 20 HR this year.

Bonus observation: I love how my spell check always wants to replace "Padres" with "faders" because that is so true on so many different levels.