SCOUTING REPORT: ThePadres are pretty good, maybe good enough to improve from a 64-98 record that was the worst in the NL last season to being the favorites to win the NL West.
They have plenty of offense (though they don't hit many homers), a dominating bullpen led by underrated Trevor Hoffman and fairly decent starting pitching.
If Ryan Klesko comes off the disabled list as expected for this series, the Padres can put together a pretty impressive lineup, featuring leadoff man Sean Burroughs, Mark Loretta, Phil Nevin, Brian Giles and Klesko, who has been out with a strained oblique.
Rookie shortstop Khalil Greene looks like he can play, and veterans such as Jay Payton and Ramon Hernandez have been steady producers.
Hoffman on Sunday blew his second save in 16 chances and has 366 overall, one shy of Jeff Reardon for fourth place on the all-time list. A good setup crew tends to make the games short.
The Padres still are figuring out brand new PETCO Park, but one thing is already obvious: It favors pitchers, and home runs are hard to come by.
CONNECTIONS: Padres hitting coach Dave Magadan, a Tampa Jesuit product, is the cousin and godson of Rays manager Lou Piniella. Padres reserve outfielder Kerry Robinson is a former Ray. Pitcher David Wells lives in Clearwater. Injured San Diego pitcher Sterling Hitchcock is an Armwood High graduate. ... Rays senior adviser Don Zimmer managed the Padres in 1972-73.
SEASON SERIES: The Padres took two of three in the teams' only meeting in June 2002.
