Content provided in partnership with

Keys to the Padres' success

Sporting News, The, June 11, 2001 by Stan McNeal

The Twins and the Phillies might be the biggest small-market success stories this season, but the Padres aren't far behind. Their payroll is by far the lowest in the N.L. West, but they're holding their own in the standings. When asked, Padres G.M. Kevin Towers offered four keys to his club's surprising record over the first two months.

1. Improved on-base percentage. The Padres are second in the majors in walks after finishing in the middle last season. The walks, Towers says, are a big mason the only N.L. team with more runs is the Rockies, and we know where they play. "In the winter, we talked about trying to get our hitters to be more disciplined at the plate and trading for players who would be more selective," he says.

2. Rickey Henderson. Signed in the last part of spring training, the 42-year-old future Hall of Famer began the season in Class AAA. After he was called up in mid-April, he gave the offense a boost, walking 22 times in 26 games in May.

3. The rotation. Woody Williams, Bobby Jones, Adam Eaton and Kevin Jarvis don't have a great record (16-18), but they've averaged more than six innings per start. "Our guys usually pitch into the sixth or seventh inning, and it's allowed our bullpen to establish roles for themselves," Towers says.

4. Incentive. Towers and manager Bruce Bochy took it somewhat personally when the Padres were ranked in the bottom five by most preseason guides--including 30th by one (not TSN, we had them 27th). "I think we're a much better club than people gave us credit," Towers says. "I'm not saying we should have been picked No. 1, but 30th is like a slap in the face. It's a shot at the front office, the manager and your personnel. It's like saying. `These guys have nobody who can play and nobody who knows what they're doing.' We said, `All right. We'll see if we're 30th.'"

TSN's Power Poll

Rk.   Team               W-L

 1. Seattle             42-12
 2. Cleveland           34-18
 3. Philadelphia        35-19
 4. Minnesota           35-18
 5. Chicago Cubs        33-20
 6. Arizona             33-22
 7. Boston              31-22
 8. N.Y. Yankees        30-23
 9. Los Angeles         30-25
10. St. Louis           30-24
11. Atlanta             27-26
12. Colorado            27-28
13. Oakland             26-28
14. Milwaukee           28-26
15. Houston             28-25
16. Toronto             26-29
17. San Francisco       27-28
18. San Diego           27-28
19. Florida             25-29
20. Baltimore           26-28
21. Anaheim             26-28
22. N.Y. Mets           24-32
23. Chicago White Sox   22-30
24. Texas               20-34
25. Kansas City         20-35
26. Detroit             22-30
27. Cincinnati          21-33
28. Montreal            22-34
29. Pittsburgh          17-35
30. Tampa Bay           15-40

Through last Saturday's games. TSN's
Power Poll is determined by TSN editors.

The seventh-inning stretch

1. Adam Eaton. He is the leading candidate for the "Mike Matheny Fun with Knives" award.

2. Alfonso Soriano. He swings at everything. Tampa Bay is on a record pace for wild pitches. Yankees vs. D-Rays in two weeks: Something has to give.

3. Pedro Martinez. In addition to saying he would plunk Babe Ruth, he said he would like to throw eggs at Abraham Lincoln and make crank phone calls to Mother Teresa.

4. Jay Buhner Buzz Night VII. A total of 6,246 fans shaved their heads for free tickets. Oddly, only 6,152 wives filed for divorce in Seattle the next day.

5. Roger Clemens. Joe Torre says the Rocket is too hated to pitch in Shea Stadium. Candidates for Clemens' rotation spot include Slobodan Milosevic.

6. The Rangers. This season has that awkward, long-interview-with-Charlie Rose feel about it.

7. Felipe Alou. As he left Canada, he fired a parting shot at Expos owner Jeffrey Loria: "Take off, you hoser." --Sean Deveney

Keys to the Padres' success

Sporting News, The, June 11, 2001 by Stan McNeal

Find Research Guides for:

Find Featured Titles for: Health

Most Popular Articles in Sports

Most Popular Publications in Sports