http://www.signonsandiego.com/sport...1s10padres.html

Shop 'til they bop

Their lack of power exposed in series vs. Cardinals, Padres need a
power hitter, so this offseason they'll . . .
By Tom Krasovic
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
October 10, 2006

ST. LOUIS - Kevin Towers has received an eyeful the past week or so
- vivid lessons of October baseball that, to varying degrees, will
impact how the Padres general manager attacks the upcoming offseason.

Just 12 days ago, when the Padres earned a playoff berth, Towers said
the Padres should match up with anyone in the playoffs. He wasn't
alone. As far back as August and early September, Padres pitchers such
as Trevor Hoffman and Jake Peavy talked publicly about getting another
crack at the Cardinals, who had swept the Padres in the 2005
divisionals. Chairman John Moores, who prefers to talk softly, said the
Padres could go all the way.

The Padres got the rematch they wanted - then got taken to the
woodshed by a Cardinals team that reputedly has a high baseball IQ, but
was in dubious health and had won only 83 games.

A dismissal that many in the organization considered overly harsh, even
premature, has increased the desire to upgrade the team's hitting
power, Towers said. The Padres, who ranked 12th out of 16 NL clubs in
home runs and 14th in slugging, failed to hit a home run in the four
games.

"I love our guys. Let me emphasize that: I love our guys, all 25 of
them," Towers said. "But a little more offense could make us more
dangerous. That was the difference-maker in our series. They had a guy
name Albert Pujols who made the difference in our series. I don't know
if there's another guy like that out there."

Dammit ! Accidentally hit the post button. Here's the whole thing:


Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, a 31-year-old who has hit 464
home runs, could be dealt because of apparent problems coping with New
York pressures. He is guaranteed $98 million from 2007 through 2010,
and it's reasonable to conclude that he would find San Diego more
relaxing than the Bronx. Count on the Padres being among several clubs
linked to a potential Rodriguez trade, but Towers said, "I think
what's out there is pure speculation."

The Padres will again talk to the Mariners about third baseman Adrian
Beltre, another player whose contract exceeds his present market value.
Beltre, whose best seasons have come in the NL West, is guaranteed
about $36 million over the next three years.

For the first time in his GM tenure, which began in November 1995,
Towers is talking about splashing into the pricier free-agent water.
The club has shed some $30 million in contracts.

"We've never been in this position where we have the resources at our
fingertips," said Towers, who rates his own free agents the top
priority and again confirmed he likely will pick up the options on
center fielder Mike Cameron and third baseman Russell Branyan. "That
doesn't mean you go out and spend the money like a drunken sailor. But
I expect us to be very aggressive, not only in the free-agent market,
but also the trade market."

Towers also is calculating yen-to-dollar currency rates. Randy Smith,
the club's international scouting chief, recently returned from Japan,
where he saw third baseman Akinori Iwamura, right-handed ace Daisuke
Matsuzuka and a left-handed reliever or two. "We plan to be very
aggressive in the Japanese market," Towers said.

Oakland Athletics left-hander Barry Zito also is on the shopping list.
Expected to score a killing in free agency, Zito has made it known he
is interested in pitching for San Diego, his hometown club. A desire to
increase the bidding for the Dodgers could be part of it, given that
Zito's agent is Scott Boras and the price tag could exceed $60 million,
but Towers said, "It would be nice to add a left-handed starter,
somebody to along with (Clay) Hensley, (Chris) Young and (Jake)
Peavy."

First things first: "If we can find a big bat, it would be big,"
Towers said. "We could use a little more thunder in our lineup."

Crap! I did it again, I am not multi-tasking worth shit today, guess I
should bet back to work. : ) Here's the link:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sport...1s10padres.html

Go Pads !

<swillabrew@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1160499960.952529.310850@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...

You gamble on the job?

Big Al wrote:

Hell no, I don't even play the PowerBall when it gets over $200
billion. The only gambling I do is driving on freeways. : )

I was just seriously drain bed for some reason today. Hopefully, a
good night's sleep will put me right.

Go Pads !