Padres GM Jed Hoyer: "There's a reason we didn't make the playoffs. We obviously weren't quite good enough."

by jbox on Oct 6, 2010 8:16 PM PDT

XX Sports Radio: Jed Hoyer Interview (MP3) with Darren Smith

Hoyer thought about the Padres facing Roy Halladay. The Padres did a good job against him earlier in the year, but Hoyer couldn't say that they'd be able to do much against him today.
As some time passes Hoyer will appreciate the Padres performance this year, but right now it still stings not getting into the playoffs. Winning 2 of 3 from San Francisco was more than he expected.
"We didn't lose the season on Sunday. We lost the season much earlier by not hitting and playing poorly over the course of 40 games. Obviously Sunday was hard but that's not what caused it."
The silver lining was that they performed well over the weekend.
Two games stand out to Hoyer as games that lead to the downfall of the Padres. Last Thursday's game against the Cubs was one. The Latos/Enright game in Arizona was the other. Latos was incredible and the offense was hitting balls all over the field but couldn't score. Then two errors lead to the defeat. That brought the losing streak from 6 to 7 games in a row.
Hoyer knew at some point that the Padres would lose 5 or 6 games in a row. He thought they'd get to 95-96 wins in a best case scenario. Being 27 games over .500 was unbelievable. "At some point we were going to have a losing streak because everyone does." He thought there would be a "market correction" but never thought it'd be 10 games.
Hoyer wishes that he and Buddy would have put Tim Stauffer back into the rotation earlier. That's the one thing that keeps him up at night. It could have brought them 2 or 3 more wins. They waited longer than they should have. They waited until the rosters expanded.

It was amazing how good the Padres were against the Giants this year (12-6), but it all balanced out because the Rockies were just as good against the Padres (6-12).

Hoyer just agreed with the pitching coach Darren Balsley on a contract a half hour ago. Ted Simmons is not going to come back as a bench coach. He hopes he'll get a managing job. Rick Renteria will move from first base to the new bench coach. Dave Roberts will be the new first base coach and he's a perfect fit for the job. The Blue Jays asked for permission to talk to Renteria. Kevin Towers has not asked for permission to talk to any coaches yet, but Hoyer wouldn't be surprised if he did.

The Padres struggled all year getting on base in the 1 and 2 spot in the line up. They ranked 27 or 28th getting on base in those positions. It really hurt the run scoring. Hoyer thinks very highly of David Eckstein, he had a really good year but he didn't say if he'll be coming back next year.

They were as careful as they could be with Mat Latos. They tried to give him as much rest as they could. The only challenge with getting him up to a full season is age and maturity. Next year they will be careful again and then the year after they'll be able to take the shackles off.

90 wins gets you into the playoffs most years. In a lot of ways it was a successful season, but hearing "congrats on a good season" rings hollow since they didn't make the playoffs. It makes them hungrier for next season. They have a lot of positives to build on but the goal is to make the playoffs. You don't get graded on a curve, you either make the playoffs or not. He feels like the Padres fell short in that regard.

Ryan Ludwick is a really good player who struggled in the new environment. He put too much pressure on himself. He thinks that Ludwick will be moved to left field because Hoyer likes Will Venable's glove in right field.

When it comes to using statistics to evaluate players, Hoyer likes to have as much information as possible. He relies on numbers and scouting reports heavily.

Hoyer plans to sit down with Adrian Gonzalez's agent in the next few weeks. He won't make any comments until he talks to him. A lot has changed since last off season. In Boston they let players play out their contracts to try and win. Any decision they make will be to remain competitive. Mark Teixeira is a compariable player to Gonzalez.

"If that's his [Adrian Gonzalez] goal to make Howard/Teixeira money then I've made that clear - that's obviously not something the Padres can do, but I'm going to sit down with John [Boggs] and he may have changed his tune since last winter."

Hoyer isn't sure if the competitive team and good group of guys have swayed his thinking. "I feel it's very likely he'll be on the team." Hoyer thought Adrian had a legitimate chance of being MVP this year if they made the post season. Hoyer doesn't agree that Adrian isn't a good fit for Petco Park. As a power hitter that goes the opposite way he's as close to ideal.

Hoyer can't comment on Free Agent players. Petco Park will attract pitchers and he'll be able to sell it to them. Hoyer wishes that they had bigger crowds at the end of year, but he has to build a team that is exciting and that fans want to embrace.

"I sort of put it on our shoulders, it's our responsibility to build a team that makes San Diego want to fill the ballpark."

He wants to create an electric environment like the last weekend in San Francisco.

Jon Garland had a great year. They'll talk about exercising his option over the next two weeks. He felt that he performed exactly as they hoped.

Jeff Moorad's ownership group hasn't taken a penny of the profits. They are investing the money back into the team. Hopefully in the future the Padres will have more cable money coming in. The payroll will be higher next year than this year. Budget meetings will start in a few weeks. The payroll will start with a 4.

Anthony Gwynn and Will Venable worked with HoF'er Tony Gwynn over the winter. He's a great resource to have.

Gwynn had a good season defensively. The team missed him in the outfield when he was injured. He struggled offensively. He's a reason for the success of the pitching staff.

Hoyer is opposed to changing the dimensions of Petco Park. It's hard to build a team without a big payroll in a hitters park. Hoyer guesses that people love offense, but he thinks that by building a more athletic team it will lead to more scoring and excitement.

The team will absolutely be active in the off season. You can make a mistake by bringing back the exact same people and expecting to recreate the magic. Large parts of this team will be back, but the team has deficiencies that caused them not to make the playoffs.

"There's a reason we didn't make the playoffs. We obviously weren't quite good enough. Offensively we need to find a way to score more runs... clearly. We need to add a couple starting pitchers. We're going to be active. If you're not active then you are falling behind."

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The payroll will be hire next year than last year.

I need new pants.

by jodes0405 on Oct 6, 2010 8:23 PM PDT reply actions

…Makes your day.

www.FriarsOnCardboard.blogspot.com
"jbox does not drink coffee, as it makes him clean house big time." ~Kev

by TheThinGwynn on Oct 6, 2010 9:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Use your instincts Jed

Search your feelings, you want to fire Bud Black, you know it to be true.

Fire Bud Black

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Oct 6, 2010 9:16 PM PDT reply actions 3 recs

The hate is strong with this one.

"Savvy Chicks Dig the Bullpen"

by eastbaysd on Oct 7, 2010 1:36 AM PDT up reply actions

Who do you want instead of Bud Black?

by Dex on Oct 9, 2010 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions

I'll take this one.

JOEY CORA.

www.FriarsOnCardboard.blogspot.com
"jbox does not drink coffee, as it makes him clean house big time." ~Kev

by TheThinGwynn on Oct 9, 2010 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Scan

I need new pants.

by jodes0405 on Oct 9, 2010 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions

I approve of Jed

Mat Latos is the real deal...Go Lakers, Pads, and Bolts

by mrbarneydangles on Oct 6, 2010 9:22 PM PDT reply actions

You know what worries me?

Ludwick’s defense. Every time a ball was hit to him in San Francisco I cringed. He didn’t look confident in Right Field. I think moving him to left will be nice. I guess that leaves Blanks in AAA or on the bench.

by jbox on Oct 6, 2010 9:26 PM PDT reply actions

I believe that Blanks will be playing 1st base in AAA,

until the unthinkable happens.

by field39 on Oct 6, 2010 9:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Blanks is also recovering from Tommy John

He may not be ready at the beginning of the season.

by Nater Tater on Oct 6, 2010 9:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Blanks had TJ surgery around Aug 1

It takes a year to come back.

I BELIEVE

by Hormel on Oct 7, 2010 1:02 AM PDT up reply actions

Blanks definitely needs time in AAA

Perhaps all 2011.

My name is Guybrush Threepwood, and I'm a mighty pirate.
"How appropriate! You fight like a cow!"
Faceless slider-tossing goofs FTW.

by Zach (maestro876) on Oct 6, 2010 11:47 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

I trust Jed, but I have an uneasy feeling about the off-season.

We need to get better, but we can easily get worse. Lets hope Jedi proves himself as a great GM.

I BELIEVE.

by LetBurroughsPitch on Oct 6, 2010 11:04 PM PDT reply actions

This right here

Hoyer guesses that people love offense, but he thinks that by building a more athletic team will lead to more scoring and excitement.

Some of my favorite moments of the season came from amazing athletic plays (like Gwynn’s and Venable’s defense in the OF, speed on the bases, savvy base-running by Headley, etc.). This was one of the most athletic Padres teams in years, and it was really fun to watch.

Ehhhh, I don't deserve a signature...

by sdchicken on Oct 6, 2010 11:28 PM PDT reply actions

jbox unloading some serious bullets

"I'll tell you about it because I am here and you are distant."

by The Kipper on Oct 7, 2010 12:07 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

"Hopefully in the future the Padres will have more cable money coming in."

Hopefully the Padres won’t get locked into another lousy long term contract with Cox
and pull in another 30+ mil a year – starting in 012.

I BELIEVE

by Hormel on Oct 7, 2010 1:05 AM PDT reply actions

Interesting...

…thinks very highly of David Eckstein, he had a really good year but he won’t say if he’ll be coming back next year.

I’m torn between the “lack of scrap” and having someone faster/same sort of hitter (or maybe a power guy?). Who knows what we could do at that position.

I like how with Jed I’m not cringing to see what sort of scrub we’re going to get.

by TheFan09 on Oct 7, 2010 9:58 AM PDT reply actions

You missed that Hoyer said, once again, when referring to the payroll

“The number will begin with a 4.”

It was really quick, but he said it.

No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong about that.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Oct 7, 2010 10:16 AM PDT reply actions

But that means it might have an extra digit.

$400 million

Oh internet, what a wicked web you weave.

by Mad_Villain on Oct 7, 2010 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions

I paraphrased and said

The payroll will be over $40 million.

by jbox on Oct 7, 2010 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, its just that before he said that I had hopes of it starting with a 5

Low 5s, but still. The way you worded it leaves that possibility open. The way he worded it does not.

No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong about that.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Oct 7, 2010 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions

You're right

I’ll make the change.

by jbox on Oct 7, 2010 10:05 PM PDT up reply actions

By saying "We need to add a couple starting pitchers."

That means to me that Latos, Richard and Stauffer are in the rotation (duh) and that LeBlanc and Luebke should be ready to go back to Portland. No matter how much you like either of those two, that’s the right way to go. Having two quality major league tested arms in AAA is a huge advantage. Unless you cancel it out with dumb free agent signings, but I trust Jed not to do that.

No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong about that.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Oct 7, 2010 10:19 AM PDT reply actions