I am wondering if I am the only Padres fan who is seeing all these predictions and being sickened. Sports Illustrated picks us to go 66-96. 96 LOSSES. You heard that right. They think we will be 11 losses worse than last season. This team is very much improved, and I am starting to think I am insane due to my beliefs the Pads have a legit shot at a wild-card berth this season. Am i the only person who sees a lot of young talent on a team that finished 37-25? I could easily see the Padres winning 80-90 games and once you get into the Postseason, anything can happen. I, for one, am extremely excited and pumped up for Monday, and I may just be a fan who is ignorant to his own team, but I feel we have a legit shot this season.

We have an above average rotation that has the potential to be very good. With Garland, Young and Correia on top and Richard and Latos on the bottom two spots, I see a rotation with young talent+ veteran experience, and unlike recent seasons, I really do not see a weak link in that rotation. It is unlikely, but I could easily see all 5 starters with a sub-4.00 ERA. You combine that with a bullpen that includes 7th-9th inning guys Gregerson, Adams and Bell and Gallagher and Thatcher at LR and Mujica and Thatcher, I see a top 10 pitching staff overall in this team.

As for the offense, the Padres always have a weak offense, but have you seen this team in spring training and last season? You have Everth Cabrera  who could bat .270 and steal 35 bases, you have Gonzalez who will hit his 35-40 HR and drive in 90-100 runs. Then, it gets interesting. Blanks and Venable are my keys for this season. There is no reason that you cant consider Blanks to be a 30-40 HR guy, he is a monster, physically and power-wise. He destroys the ball and he will put some power in the lineup. Venable, on the other hand, is a 20 HR guy who could beat around .290 and he is very athletic and plays well in the OF. We combine these guys with one of the best benches I have seen of late for the usually weak-bench Padres, and I think the offense could be middle of the pack, top 10 in NL possibly.

Overall, the Padres maybe are still one step away from becoming an elite team. But after going 37-25 last season to finish the year and  developing and showing young talent, this team is exciting. Fans are more excited than ever to see a team that consists of power, speed and energy. It will be an interesting season to say the least and I dont see why the Padres shouldnt be considered a contender and to think they will lose almost 100 games is a joke. Good job Sports Illustrated, east-coast bias strikes again. Go Padres

Prediction: 85-77