For the majority of his 20 years with the Padres Tony Gwynn was the team leader. I doubt he ever made stirring speeches or gathered team meetings but at very least he led by example. He mentored all the players and showed them a thing or two.
In his farewell speech at the Q years ago he passed the torch to Phil Nevin and Ryan Klesko. The worst mistake Tony ever made. But they led. I'm sure they did call team meetings to talk about how good they were, they'd probably yell at other players and create a little fire under them. Thankfully Loretta came around and finally wrestled the reins away from them last year and nobody seems to have filled his shoes this year.
This team still needs a leader and I can't think of who it is. Pitchers usually don't make the best leaders because they play infrequently but it can happen. Hoffman as the elder statesman seems like the perfect candidate besides the fact that he's a relief pitcher, but he's quiet now.
On 1090 they were talking a bit about this subject. They suggested Mike Piazza but Flannery disagreed. Piazza has always done his own thing and just gone about his business, he's not the type. Flannery said that Bochy planned on taking Giles into his office to talk to him. Boch was going to tell him that it was time to start earning his money on and off the field. Starting today Brian Giles is your new leader. I've got a bad feeling about this...
Let's vote for who we think the team leader should be.
Poll
Vote for Team Leader:
This poll is closed
-
17%
Trevor Hoffman
(4 votes) -
30%
Brian Giles
(7 votes) -
0%
Mike Cameron
(0 votes) -
0%
Todd Walker
(0 votes) -
4%
Adrian Gonzalez
(1 vote) -
4%
Geoff Blum
(1 vote) -
4%
Mike Piazza
(1 vote) -
4%
Jake Peavy
(1 vote) -
0%
Woody Williams
(0 votes) -
34%
Dave Roberts
(8 votes)