Today, marked the official opening of Spring Training 2008 as the Royals defeated the Padres in Peoria, Arizona. I am curious and would like to encourage Padres Fans all over the country to voice their thoughts on who would be the sleeper of the 2008 Spring Training Camp for the Padres. Here is a short-list and feel free to cast a vote for any other player who is not listed.

1. Chase Headley
2. Colt Morton
3. Callix Crabree
4. Chad Huffman
5. Will Venable
6. Michael Gardner
7. Matt Antonelli
8. Wade LeBlanc
9. Nick Hundley
10. Josh Geer

Let's hear your voice Padres fans, choose one of the above or provide your pick.

Back to the game today, it appears that Shawn Estes is throwing pain-free and loose. The battle for the 5th spot is going to be very competitive one during the entire spring. On the sidelines, to add to the mix will be Mark Prior and I must admit I am really jazzed about this rotation in comparison to last year's, the one I had noted as the Fab-Five.

New centerfielder Jim Edmunds looks very comfortable with the Padres and todays performance reminds me the last time I'd seen him in person back in 1999 when the Angels were playing the Padres in Peoria. The new double-play combo of Khalil Greene and Tadahito Iguchi should be as electrifying as the Greene/Barfield one. I anticipate both players covering more ground and stifling opponents in the field with their defense.

This upcoming season is a very important one for the San Diego Padres Baseball Organization. I predict this is the year when Sandy Alderson's regime has a breakout out season in terms of farmhand talent arriving at the major league level. Barring any major injuries or setbacks down on the farm, I expect to see at the very minimum two out players having a profound impact on the major league ballclub. The two players in terms of my research are Chase Headley and Wade LeBlanc. Both players should give a good run at making the ballclub and perhaps forcing the Organization's Front Office into making some hard decisions.  In addition, I expect to see a trade happening either in the end of Spring Training or during the mid-season of this year. This is the year when the Sandy Alderson's regime provides some return on investments from the last two draft years in which the ballclub has re-stock the farm with college-laden talent. Ultimately, the report card on the Alderson regime will be based on the facts of what talent arises from the farm and what commodity or commodities that talent brings back in terms of player acquisition (trades) that will propel the major league ballclub to a championship caliber team.

Until the first game of the Spring, sit back and continue to digest all the information on the Padres through several mediums as such blogs, tv and radio sports talk segments. Soon enough the games will provide the real answers that will either confirm or negate our original assessment of the ballclub. Life as a fan is great and spring does indeed bring alot of hopes for a great season....

In sunny Peoria Arizona, at the Sports Complex where the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres call home for Spring Training. Pitchers, catchers and coaching staffs make their way into the camps. Life couldn't be any better !!

Soon we will be hearing the pounding of mits and cracking of bats while the members of the San Diego Padres participate in the 2008 Spring Training Camp. It's good to see the Padres signing Tony Clark to a one year contract, which I think will provide huge dividends to this ballclub. I am so relieved that Khalil Greene signed for two years and perhaps this buys out some time for both sides to hammer out a long term deal to keep Khalil here for a long time.

It's time the game moves beyond the steriods issue and ensures all clubs/players are competing on an even playing field. It's time to go back to the Old school theory, and showcase your natural talent.

Ahhh, the Super Bowl is about to start today in the state where major league baseball players about to migrate for the start of the 2008 Spring Training Cactus Season within a few days.

I am glad to hear about the Padres and SS Khalil Greene are trying to get a deal done. Khalil is one of the two most important pillars of this franchise, the other is  RHP Jake Peavy. The Padres desperately need to keep the home-grown players to maintain a good solid foundation for the future. I have alot of faith in the Baseball Operations of the Padres and this is the year when the farm-hands will make an impact on the organization at the parent club level. I fully expect some prospects to play an important role during the second half of the 2008 Major League Season.

Let's go Padres ! Time to win a playoff series and advance to the NL Championship Series. Ten years (1998) has been way too long since winning a playoff series.