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KTE: San Diego Padres
The Padres were 76-86 last year, fourth place in the NL West. Like the Mets, they are expected to finish in fourth place again this year. The San Diego brain trust is lead by general manager Josh Byrnes, who you may remember as the runner-up to Sandy Alderson for the Mets' GM job. Similar results to date.
Pitching Matchups:
Monday: Edinson Volquez (R) v. Jon Niese
1:10 start.
Volquez was the Padres' opening day starter last year as well. 11-11, 4.14 ERA in 182 2/3 innings last year. 174 Ks and 105 walks. Was suspended 50 games in 2010 (while with Cincinnati) for PEDs but it conveniently dovetailed with his rehab from Tommy John surgery.
Wednesday: Clayton Richard (L) v. Matt Harvey
14-14 last year with a 3.99 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 218 innings.
Faced the Mets last year and outdueled Dickey in an August game in San Diego, holding the Mets to 1 run and 8 hits in 7 innings. Got beat by the Mets in April at Citi Field, incuding first-inning homers to Hairston and Vinny Rottino.
Thursday: Eric Stults (L) v. Dillon Gee
Journeyman/swingman pitcher who made 15 starts between the White Sox and Padres last year, 8-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 99 innings. This game is getaway day and will start at 1:10.
Projected Padres Lineup:
Chris Denorfia - RF (R)
Has never played a full season in the majors; 382 plate appearances last year was a career high. Put up decent stats, though: .293/.345/.451.
Everth Cabrera - SS (S)
Led the NL in stolen bases with 44 last year.
Carlos Quentin - LF (R)
Was traded to the Padres last offseason from Chicago and then signed an extension (through 2015, plus 2016 option). .877 OPS lead the Padres last year but he's a liability with the glove. Has a sore right knee.
Yonder Alonso - 1B (L)
Hit 39 doubles last year and had a respectable .348 OBP. Was one of the key pieces (along with Volquez and Yasmani Grandal) acquired from the Reds in the Mat Latos trade.
Jedd Gyorko - 2B (R)
The Padres' top prospect. Will be making his major league debut. Last alphabetically out of all major league players whose last name starts with "G." .921 OPS with San Antonio (AA) and Tucson (AAA) last year, including 30 homers.
Nick Hundley - C (R)
No relation. Can't hit (.464 OPS last year). Yasmani Grandal, the Padres' catcher of the future, is serving a 50-game PED suspension to start the year.
Cody Ransom - 3B (R)
Cody started 2012 with the Diamondbacks; was claimed off waivers by the Brewers in May; and claimed back by the Diamondbacks on August 31. Combined numbers are .220/.312/.411. Strikes out a lot.
Cameron Maybin - CF (R)
Maybin is too old (turns 26 on Thursday) and has too much experience (MLB debut at 20) to be a prospect anymore. (He was the key prospect traded by Detroit to Florida for Miguel Cabrera). .243/.306/.349 last year tells the story. 110 Ks to 44 walks. 26 steals in 33 tries. Padres signed him to a long-term extension (through 2016) for reasons that aren't exactly clear to me. Plays a very good centerfield. I still like him, if nothing else than for getting his first two major league hits (including a homer) off Roger Clemens at MFY Stadium.
Padres Bullpen:
Huston Street (R) is the closer. The Padres for some reason signed him to a 2 year extension in the middle of last year. Still a decent chance he gets traded to a contender (Detroit?) before this season is out. Had a very good when healthy in 2012, with 23 saves and a 1.85 ERA in 39 innings.
Luke Gregerson (R) had another excellent year (2.39 ERA and 1.088 WHIP in 71 innings) last year as the key setup man.
Joe Thatcher (L) is the only lefty in the bullpen. Nothing special last year, 3.41 ERA and 1.389 WHIP in 31 innings.
Padre Injuries:
Chase Headley, their best player last year (5th in NL MVP Voting, 6.2 WAR) is on the DL with a thumb injury.
Ex-Mets:
Dale Thayer (R) is in their bullpen.
Ex-Padres:
Greg Burke's only major league season was 2009 in San Diego.
Mets-Padres Opening Day History:
The only previous Mets-Padres opening day tilt was in San Diego in 1997. You may remember that game for the 6th inning, when Mets starter Pete Harnisch gave up three homers to start the inning, to Chris Gomez, pinch-hitter Rickey Henderson, and Quilvio Veras. Then the Mets' crack relief corps of Yorkis Perez, Toby Borland and Barry Manuel took over, giving up another 8 runs, for a total of 11 in the inning.
In the last Mets home opener against the Padres, Mike Pelfrey gave up a home run to Jody Gerut to lead off the game. He was the first batter in Citi Field history.
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