San Diego Padres 2011 - The good, the bad, the future

[RickD]

This is the 5th in a daily series of short looks at each team in MLB. The opinions expressed are my own..

The San Diego Padres!

The Padres offense started the season being shutout seven times in April, a Major League record according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The Padres finished 71-91 in 2011, a let down after their 90-72 record in 2010. They finished fifth in the National League West.

The Good:

• Aaron Harang helped anchor the starting rotation, winning 13 games -- more than double his total from last season, while he was with the Reds (six victories).
• Heath Bell surpassed the 40-save plateau for the third consecutive season. No one in baseball has more saves than Bell since the start of 2009.
• Cameron Maybin ranked second on the team in home runs and first in steals.

The Bad:

• 91 home runs and a National League-low .237 batting average.
• The Padres were blanked 19 times for the season -- tops in the Major Leagues.
• Orlando Hudson landed on the disabled list twice in the first two months of the season and struggled offensively, going through an 0-for-34 stretch late in the season
• Hitting Coaches - The Padres have now fired their 5th hitting coach in 7 years.

The Future:

• The Padres need to shore up their pitching -- both in the rotation and bullpen -- for 2012.
• Corner outfielders and a second catcher are high on the shopping list this offseason.
• Heath Bell will be a free-agent and signing him again is a must.
• Plans are in place to increase the payroll by $10 million (moving it to $55 million)

[yankeebiscuitfan]

I haven't followed the Padres much this season, but when a team makes a slide like that, something has to happen. Sure the A-gon trade hurt them offensively. I think tha t rebuilding from within is the only solution for a team like the Padtes. What can you add in the long term with only ten MM more?