The Padres were able to overcome some injuries woes a year ago to compile a 76-86 record, with the team winning 16 of its 27 games in the month of September to bring some hope into the offseason.
San Diego was picked to finish dead last in the NL last season, but a surprising start that lasted all the way to All-Star break renewed hopes that this team could possibly still return to the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
Although the Los Angeles Dodgers had an “almost” NL MVP winner and a Cy Young winner in 2011, that’s pretty much all they had. Amid the continued ownership turmoil, the team made very few acquisitions during the offseason to better their 82-79 third place finish.
Hard to believe, as some of us still have VERY cold temperatures outside, that the Boys of Summer are almost back. But it’s true; teams have started reporting to 2011 Major League Baseball training camps and it’s time to start our team-by-team baseball gambling previews for the year.
