COVERITLIVE.COM

11:01

Bill Center - Good morning all. Let's talk about the Padres or anything else on your mind . . . such as how the Aztecs played defense last night

11:01

[Comment From Guest]
Do you think the Padres should keep Eckstein at short, or move him to second? And what about giving Antonelli a shot at second?

11:02

Bill Center - Eckstein prefers to play second this season. Luis Rodriguez figures to be the shortstop

11:02

[Comment From Nolongerfan]
Why is the Padres organization so damn arrogant?

11:02

Bill Center - Interesting question, but please go further. Arrogant how?

11:04

Bill Center - As for Antonelli, I really believe he needs to know he's going to be starting the season at Portland so that there is no pressure this spring to make the major league roster. He's got some mechanical issues that developed last year to address.

11:04

[Comment From Greg]
Keith Law rank the Padres Farm System #19. He said no upside except Latos. I heard we are lower by Baseball America. Fuson has to be on the hot seat?

11:06

Bill Center - I like Hunter. Latos isn't the only young pitcher that excites me. Pelzer is an interesting guy. There are others. I'm interested for example, to see how Ramos, Carrillo, Schmidt look this spring. For that matter, Bush, too. I also believe Kulbacki and Blanks will hit major league pitching.

11:07

[Comment From Guest]
This Aztec team is stacked with seniors. Does Fisher have any new transfers or freshman for next year?

11:08

Bill Center - The redshirt that really is fun to watch is Shelley, the Crawford kid who transferred back. I really believe they have as chance to make some noise this season. When they are playing hard, they are fun to watch on both sides of the floor

11:08

[Comment From Brian]
Does every Aztec basketball season seem like a replay of the one before? Close pre-league losses to top 25 schools, win every league home game, lose in the MWC Tounrey, play in the NIT. It is nice to have them be good every year but, when will they get over the hump? By the way Slaughter (and his Father) may have ruined what could have been the best team in Aztec history.

11:10

Bill Center - It seems to follow that pattern. I'd really like to see this team win a couple of tough games on the road (say Las Vegas next week and Utah) before the MWC tourney

11:10

[Comment From Bill]
The padres style of drafting pitchers. Pitchability over pure stuff has hurt or farm system not help it?

11:11

Bill Center - The sad thing about the pitchers they have drafted high the recent season (before last) is the njumber who immediately were sidelined by arm injuries. Hard to tell how the program is working when Schmidt, Carillo and even Stouffer earlier, immediately had problems.

11:11

[Comment From Guest]
How do you think the fans will react to Brian Giles' legal troubles?

11:13

Bill Center - I think that is going to be one of the more interesting issues of the season. Yes, there are two sides to every story. But the grainy footage from that bar in Phoenix certainly didn't help Giles. You just don't hit a woman, although I'm not sure the evidence is conclusive that that's what happened. I think it's going to be very interesting to see how this plays out.

11:13

[Comment From Nolongerfan]
Also, the way they treated Hoffy, the way they sell season tickets. The lack of any real effort to cover the team locally on radio or TV. Lets face it. The radio and TV local coverage of the team is subpar and has been for some time.

11:17

Bill Center - They should have been up front with Hoffman right at the start and said, we're pulling this offer because we no longer can afford the $4 million given that we've just learned our total payroll budget is $40 million. Then could have thrown in the kicker that if they had traded Peavy or Giles, let's talk. I think the Padres were wrong in not being up front with Hoffy. Lack of effort to cover the Padres locally on radio and TV? Most their games are televised. If the TV coverage was so subpar, why was Matt Vasgerian sought after for other jobs? Plus, I like the overall production of the games on TV

11:17

[Comment From Mark]
Truthfully, did you really think the Chargers had any chance of making the playoffs when they were 4-8?

11:19

Bill Center - I didn't think they had a chance, to be honest. But I've always been one of those who believe you never say never until you are eliminated. You just don't know what happens. So many fans (teams too) these days want to throw in the towel at the first sign of adversity. I've never liked that.

Page 1 Next >