Padres spring roster

By: North County Times - | Wednesday, February 14, 2007 11:08 PM PST ∞

(*-indicates nonroster invitee)

Starting pitchers

No./Name/Pos./Age/B/T

55/Shawn Estes*/SP/33/R/L

52/Clay Hensley/27/R/R

30/Greg Maddux/SP/40/R/R

44/Jake Peavy/SP/25/R/R

54/Tim Stauffer/SP/24/R/R

39/Mike Thompson/SP/26/R/R

37/Sean Thompson/SP/24/L/L

33/David Wells/SP/43/L/L

59/Jared Wells/SP/25/R/R

32/Chris Young/SP/27/R/R

Outlook: The rotation is set. It's just up to manager Bud Black to determine the order among Peavy, Young, Maddux, Hensley and Wells. If an injury occurs, Mike Thompson and Tim Stauffer would have the inside track to earn a spot. Estes is on the mend from reconstructive elbow surgery and won't return until well into the season.

Relief pitchers

No./Name/Pos./Age/B/T

49/Mike Adams/RP/28/R/R

21/Heath Bell/RP/29/R/R

26/Doug Brocail/RP/39/L/R

75/Frank Brooks*/RP/28/L/L

58/Andrew Brown/RP/25/R/R

68/Erick Burke*/RP/29/L/L

77/Adrian Burnside*/RP/29/R/L

41/Kevin Cameron/RP/25/R/R

65/Jack Cassel*/RP/26/R/R

56/Scott Cassidy/RP/31/R/R

45/Justin Hampson/RP/26/L/L

51/Trevor Hoffman/RP/39/R/R

64/Ryan Ketchner/RP/24/L/L

38/Scott Linebrink/RP/30/R/R

43/Cla Meredith/RP/23/R/R

79/Aaron Rakers*/RP/30/R/R

40/Royce Ring/RP/26/L/L

63/Leo Rosales/RP/25/R/R

37/Scott Strickland/30/RP/R/R

66/Steve Watkins*/RP/28/R/R

Outlook: The 1-2-3 punch of Hoffman, Linebrink and Meredith returns. The middle and long relief spots will see the camp's fiercest competition, with Bell, Brocail, Brown and Ring in good position to earn spots. Mike Thompson could hold down the final spot in the bullpen if he isn't needed as a starter.

Catchers

No./Name/Pos./Age/B/T

28/Josh Bard/C/28/S/R

14/Rob Bowen/C/25/S/R

70/Luke Carlin*/C/26/S/R

4/Todd Greene*/C/35/R/R

72/Nick Hundley*/C/23/R/R

53/Pete Laforest*/C/29/L/R

Outlook: Bard gets his first crack as a big-league regular. Bowen and the veteran Greene will battle for the backup spot, although Green's experience as a pinch-hitter could convince manager Bud Black to carry a third catcher.

Infielders

No./Name/Pos./Age/B/T

1/Manny Alexander*/SS/35/R/R

27/Geoff Blum/INF/33/S/R

34/Russell Branyan/3B/1B/31/L/R

62/Luis Cruz/SS/23/R/R

22/Marcus Giles/2B/28/R/R

23/Adrian Gonzalez/1B/24/L/L

3/Khalil Greene/SS/27/R/R

67/Royce Huffman/30/1B/R/R

5/Kevin Kouzmanoff/3B/25/R/R

10/Craig Stansberry/2B/24/R/R

12/Todd Walker/2B/1B/33/L/R

74/Bryan Myrow*/1B/30/L/R

Outlook: The Padres will give lip service to a battle at second base (Giles vs. Walker), but the reality is the infield is set. Gonzalez, Giles, Greene and Kouzmanoff start. Branyan, Blum and Walker are the backups. If Kouzmanoff isn't an instant hit, Branyan could work into a platoon at third.

Outfielders

No./Name/Pos./Age/B/T

25/Mike Cameron/CF/34/R/R

16/Jose Cruz Jr./OF/28/S/R

29/Jack Cust/OF/28/L/R

24/Brian Giles/RF/36/L/L

18/Paul McAnulty/1B/LF/25/L/R

78/Adam Shabala*/OF/29/L/R

8/Terrmel Sledge/LF/29/L/L

76/Will Venable*/OF/24/L/L

Outlook: The starting three are set, with Sledge supplanting Dave Roberts in left field. Cruz will push to increase playing time. Whether the team carries a fifth outfielder is in question, with OBP heroes McAnulty and Cust among the contenders. Branyan has outfield experience, which might convince the Padres to go with only four.

Coaching staff

No./Name/Position

48/Darrel Akerfelds/Bullpen coach

36/Darren Balsley/Pitching coach

20/Bud Black/Manager

46/Craig Colbert/Bench coach

47/Glenn Hoffman/Third-base coach

17/Bobby Meacham/First-base coach

71/Mark Merila/Bullpen catcher

11/Merv Rettenmund/Batting coach