Moorad’s Money the Key to Deadline Deals?

Ive been supporting this team, seems like forever..so what Im about to say doesnt mean that I dont love the guys anymore. But the more I think about this whole issue of Adrian/Heath..and the rumors swirling around what Moorad has done or hasnt done or will do, I get the feeling that for the time being, Moorads' Group would be perfectly fine with anything short of the WS..I really do....even with all the nasty comments that would rain down on Moorad (and maybe even Hoyer), after the season's over. I dont think he'd really care, one way or the other.

Ive always wanted to believe that businessmen like a Moorad or Moores, REALLY were die hard baseball fans like myself. But after watching some of the stuff that went down with this team for the last two seasons (the way Hoffy, Greenie and Joyner were treated), Ive become extremely jaded and leary of Padre brass.

Im the only person that I can think of that believes that Moorad was encouraged by Selig and his cronies to attmept to buy the Padres, mainly to save Moores fanny. I know...I know. That sounds crazy. But thats what I believe...but I dont think that any immediate plans for success was in the cards, when Moorad ponied up to buy the team, at all.

So, I kinda see this success that we're having as more to do with guys like Black, Teddy Simmons Adrian and Health, knowing more of what I suspect to be true: that being, a FO that may have long term plans for the team...but not short term plans, for the team.

And the 4 of them have capitilized on a general lack of belief in the team, that starts with the Padre brass and moves into the national media.

Look, Ive heard Moorad say in an interview on Darren's show that he didnt believe this was a playoff team, just by virtue of it having so many young guys on the roster. Now, if you need more proof than that, that he doesnt see the possibility of a deep playoff run, I dont know what to tell you.

I do agree that he's gonna have to spend some more money...I also believe that he wont get away with "a Joe Randa type trade", especially if it involves us having to trade a kid like Castro or Poreda....I agree that he shouldnt be given much credit for the success of the team, because business-wise it wasnt in his best interest to keep it together when he walked thru the door...and I believe that regardless of what happens in Sept/Oct, Adrian Gonzalez is outta here in the offseason.

Im not buyin this notion that he'll be here in 2011. I dont believe that Hoyer has dropped his connection to Boston, where it involves a posible trade of Adrian for some better than average talent from Boston, be it big league ready or otherwise. You can bet your sweet cookies that Boston is DYING to get their hands on Adrian...and they damm sure wont wait another season to get him. He is the perfect fit for that team...and they know that we're still short on talented, controllable minor league talent. They will take advantage of a trade for Adrian if they have to whack somebody to do it, homie.

Moorad may be forced to allow Hoyer to acquire something of a difference maker.for the stretch.but NO ONE is gonna force him to pay Adrian 20-25 million bones. Thats not gonna happen now or in another life time. You can take that to the bank. I would suggest that they figure out how to fix whatever is broken in Blanks' swing mechanics...because he's as close to a present day Adrian, as we'll get, once Gonzo is gone.

Guys like Adrian who can go pole to pole and hit for average and power cost a whole lotta money..and Blanks could possibly be that guy. But he's more appealing than anything on the upcoming FA market, BECAUSE HE'S CHEAP!!!!!!...and Moorad knows that.

I love my Padres, dude...

I actually give Moorad a fair amount of credit....at least more than you assign or more than what is perceived. He deserves credit because he hired Hoyer based on Hoyer's belief that you tailor a team to it's surroundings and try to exploit any advantage you have. This philosophy is a divergent one from that which was employed by the Moores/Alderson regime. We would have never been steeling bases like this a couple years ago. Crazy stat the other night on TV.....Padres are like 37-12 (or there abouts) when steeling a base. Moorad deserves credit for allowing this philosophy to take shape.

I don't want to see Castro go anywhere.....unless it's for Roy Oswalt. If we had Oswalt we would have a legitimate chance to make a post season run. Oswalt/Latos/Richard/Garland in a long series could be a win on the field and at the gate. A serious playoff run could help to offset Oswalt's salary next year. Oswalt is the only player who will make a real difference.

If Moorad can't add salary up to $60 million then he has no business being an owner.

maybe a pipe dream...but I think the best thing that this team could do to put butts in the seat for the stretch run and for next season, if they man up to pay him, would be if they traded for Jason Werth...

HEAR ME OUT!!...

Personally, I think Adrian is gone in the off season. I think for the time being, the FO is encouraging us to believe that its possible that he'll be here in 2011. I aint buyin it.

So what makes better sense?...keep Adrian..extend him and pay him all the money in the world, while you hamstring the rest of the budget to be used on whatever else you might need?...or you trade him in the off season...you get a major league ready ballplayer or two along with some minor league talent..and what you dont pay Adrian, you pay Werth, because you know he'll be far and away cheaper than Adrian would be, if you extended him here??

Here are my problems with Werth...strikeout rate...will his power translate to Petco Park?...price. He's gone via free agency at the end of the year...that's OK you can get two 1st round draft picks by offering him arbitration. But he's a feast or famine hitter who has been in a HORRIBLE slump and frankly, I think a AAAA guy like Denorfia may out-produce him down the stretch.

Perhaps. Though, you sound like you're using your brain instead of your heart ; )

it'd be a different thing if Adrian was affordable. Then maybe my heart would win out over my head. But this isnt a matter of the heart. When his trade is this inevitable, 'heart' loses out. Im just playing chess, thats all.

The initial theme of this podcast is probably one of your most pointless to-date. Jeff Moorad's perception and what he should be given credit for is something that can be looked at once the season is done. Moorad doesn't care, nor do fans (where the supposed perception is coming from) at this point...all we care about is what's going to happen between now and the deadline.

Craig you touched on it in the last 90 seconds of the podcast, the difficult situation the Padres are in. Moorad has not come out and said what he is willing to bump the payroll up too (although I'm sure he and Jed have talked about it), but most people would agree that it will be a little over 40 million. You explained it perfectly w/ the Casey Blake example. The problem for the Padres will be their lack of high value prospects, so they wont be able to ask another team to pay the majority of the incoming players salary. Nor do the Padres have immediate cash flexibility to pay the majority if not all of the incoming players salary because they lack quality prospects. "So where does that leave them?", would have been a better discussion, than your original broad stroke sports radio question, and explain things from the "fans perspective". Don't tell me what I think or feel, I can give my two cents with a phone call, or in this case in the comment section.