GM Jed Hoyer talks about recent trades, start of the season and Vegas odds

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

• Hoyer feels about the same as he did last year before the season started.  "It's a cliche but it really is a marathon."  He doesn't have a very good record in his career on Opening Day.
• The Padres have a lot of confidence in Tim Stauffer.  Mat Latos was probably going to be the Opening Day starter because of what he did last year, but his bursitis kept him from starting.
  
• Latos played catch the last two days and he's been fine.  He's throwing a bullpen tomorrow.  Hoyer is optimistic. Best case scenario is pitching between April 9-12th.  Latos originally said that his injury felt like he had a shard of glass in his arm and that scared Hoyer and the Padres but it turned out to be just bursitis.  The injury is probably just Spring Training related and doesn't have to do with his work last year.  The Padres tried to be really careful with him but they pushed him 20 innings beyond what they wanted to.
• To Hoyer, Spring Training Stats really don't matter.  He sometimes thinks they should treat the games as exhibitions and let players re-enter the game once they've been substituted.  Stats he will look at are the number of plate appearances and the walk to strike out ratio.
• They went into Spring Training knowing 22-23 players on the roster.  To judge players "You have to use your eyes more in Spring Training in Arizona." instead of looking at stats.
• Clayton Richard had a poor Spring Training.  He struggled throughout and in Anaheim.  "If he takes that performance into the season then it's a reason for concern."
• Hoyer wasn't expecting Samuel Deduno or Cedric Hunter to be on the Opening Day roster but it was necessary due to injuries.  They picked up Deduno off waivers from the Rockies.
• Dustin Moseley is going to get a spot start on Sunday.  They like the match up better versus left handed hitters.  Hoyer thinks Wade LeBlanc or Moseley will be the 5th starter.
• Shortstop wasn't the best position for Kevin Frandsen.  Alberto Gonzalez was their number one choice as utility guy.  "He's the guy that's going to give Buddy a security blanket defensively."
• They wanted Everth Cabrera to go to AAA so that he can play.  He wouldn't get much playing time in the Majors.
• Erik Davis pitched well for the Padres.  He's a control command right handed pitcher.  They liked him but you have to give something to get something.
• Allan Dykstra was a change of scenery deal.  He didn't perform in the Padres organization.
• The Padres have had the worst first round picks in baseball the last 7 or 8 years.  "It's a trend that can't continue."
• Hoyer says he changed the scouting method for prospects and player development. "We have to have a great minor league system."
• The Vegas over/under for the Padres is 75.5.  Hoyer says "Take the over."