San Diego Padres

Looking at the San Diego lineup always makes me laugh before I begin to wonder how this team ever managed to win 89 and 88 games the past two years. Looking at their pitching, however, always drops my jaw - the rotation and bullpen have been stunningly good. The team made no major changes this off-season, so look for more of the same out of San Diego.

Lineup

• RF Brian Giles
• 2B Tadahito Iguchi
• 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff
• 1B Adrian Gonzalez
• SS Khalil Greene
• C Josh Bard
• CF Jim Edmonds
• LF Scott Hairston

Rotation

• Jake Peavy
• Chris Young
• Greg Maddux
• Randy Wolf
• Mark Prior

Closer: Trevor Hoffman

Thoughts...

Part of the reason for the atrocious San Diego offense has to be Petco Park, right? Over the past three seasons, it has finished dead last each year in runs scored. I feel like some of the causation lies with the lineup that calls it home, but perhaps not. Adrian Gonzalez, for example, hit 10 HR at home and 20 on the road in 2007. Either way, the ballpark is yet another reason to draft pitchers, not hitters, from this team.

Speaking of Gonzalez, he spent the off-season working with Tony Gwynn and is looking to improve on 30/100/101 from last season. If only he didn't play at Petco, he'd be climbing the ranks of first basemen quickly. Still, keep your eyes on him in the middle of the draft - even if you get a first baseman early, Gonzalez looks great in a utility spot.

Seriously, though, most of the lineup isn't worth owning. It's funny to see Giles in the leadoff spot after having witnessed his power heydey in Pittsburgh, but he's no longer a power hitter. He's not worth owning in most leagues. Iguchi won't hit for power like he did in Chicago, and there are probably better options at second base. Kouzmanoff was hitting .108 a month into last season - even though he turned it around, I don't like him that much as my corner infielder. Honestly, most of this lineup isn't worth owning unless you're in a 32 team league.

Peavy and Young, however, are definitely worth owning. Great things can be expected of both in 2008, and I can't praise either one enough. Maddux still gets guys out, somehow, and could be worth drafting if you're looking to grab a starter late. ESPN called Mark Prior "the ultimate fantasy sleeper" because of his injury history, and I can't disagree. He is very talented and on an incentive-laden deal, but he's already out until May. If you are willing to take the risk, you could potentially reap huge rewards.

Finally, I'll close with the closer. Trevor Hoffman has been so good for so long that he won't lose the job unless he retires or suddenly stops throwing strikes. He can't be called an elite closer because he doesn't strike guys out, but he can be counted on for saves and makes a reliable number two. Heath Bell would be next-in-line, should anything happen because of age or ineffectiveness.

This Padres team is surprising. It's hard to determine whether Petco deflates the statistics of the lineup and inflates those of the rotation, or whether the outstanding rotation and terrible lineup create the illusion of a pitcher's park. Either way, from San Diego, draft the pitchers early and often, but take hitters at your own risk.