Although it is definitely good news to know that Maybin might be on the road to recovery, I still have one very important question to ask:

 

How much playing time will he receive in the Padres’ “crowded outfield” once he eventually comes off of the disabled list?

 

Maybin is on the disabled list. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

If he does recover from his right wrist issue relatively soon, Maybin will definitely have his work cut out for him.  In fact, the center fielder will probably have to leap-frog a multitude of players on San Diego’s depth chart if he wants to get back into the mix for some playing time when he returns.

For instance, the always consistent Chris Denorfia has been his “quietly productive-self” through the first month of the regular season.  Over his first 28 games, Denorfia has been quite the stable “table-setter” for the Friars.

So far, Denorfia has hit .302 (29 for 96), has posted a .374 on-base percentage, and is tied for the team lead in runs scored (16).  “Deno” has also clubbed eight doubles and two home runs in addition to the 10 he has knocked in to boot.  San Diego’s versatile outfielder has definitely proved once again that he is worthy of a starting gig in the outfield, and his ability to play all three positions should make him a lynch-pin in the Friars’ every-day lineup.

While Denorfia’s success comes as little surprise to many, Kyle Blanks’ recent productivity has been downright solid and shocking.  After Blanks missed 230+ regular season games from 2010-2012, the power-hitting outfielder has taken advantage of his extended chances to shine over the first month of the 2013 regular season.  Used as a platoon-player against left-handed pitching, Kyle has enjoyed a successful start in his most recent return.

Overall, Blanks has hit .293 (12 for 41), smacked two doubles, hit one home run, knocked in five runs, and has even managed to score another five on his own.  When healthy, Kyle is a viable power-threat in San Diego’s lineup and he can play either of the corner outfield positions as well.  As long as Blanks can stay off of the disabled list, he will definitely be an important part of the Friars’ success this year.

Although veterans Carlos Quentin (.183 batting average, two home runs, nine rbi’s) and Will Venable (.216 batting average, three home runs, 10 rbi’s) have struggled somewhat to begin their 2013 campaigns, they will also be in the hunt for playing time with Denorfia and Blanks through the summer.  The left-handed Venable definitely hits right-handed pitching much better than Maybin, and Quentin is a far bigger power threat than the center fielder is as well.

Venable definitely had an impressive series against the Diamondbacks over the weekend, and he is always an option at a corner outfield spot whenever the Friars face a right-handed starter.  While Quentin’s knee has been gimpy, his plate-discipline and power still should earn him at-bats if he is able to play in left field.

Final Thoughts

In addition to Denorfia, Blanks, Quentin, and Venable, I certainly will not discount Alexi Amarista and Jesus Guzman as potential competition for Maybin when he returns either.  The versatile Amarista can help out at all three outfield spots in addition to second base, while Guzman can chip in and help in left field and right field.

I certainly hope that Maybin is able to not only realize his potential upon his return, but that he can also live up to the big extension (five-years $25 million) he signed last spring.

Unfortunately for Cameron, his time on the bench coupled with his competition’s recent success will not make things easy for him once he eventually returns from the disabled list.  San Diego’s outfield could be a bit too crowded come the summertime, and Maybin might be forced to “grab some pine” behind Denorfia, Blanks, Quentin, and Venable.

Stats Courtesy of: Baseball Reference and ESPN

In that reply I basically explained that I was willing to give up on Everth. I was ready to let him walk away from the Padres. You see, I’ve never trusted Everth; he’s had a lot of trouble staying healthy and staying in the big leagues. He has had a lot of issues putting the ball in play and getting on base. However, last season Everth did shine in one category – steals. His speed and aggressiveness on the base paths progressed in a way that I don’t think anyone saw coming; and only because people had been waiting for it for so long we all just forgot it could happen. He lead the National League in steals last season, and with the shortstop position pretty much secured in 2013, most talking heads didn’t see a downslide coming. I, however, especially with distraction of steroid implications, thought a downslide was on it’s way. Given his track record, Everth seemed like a fantastic Triple-A player who might never be able to repeat that success in the Majors. I always wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, but he never gave that many reasons to fully extend that benefit. Last season when he put on a running clinic I saw some of that potential peek through, but was it enough for me to say the Padres should stick with him fulltime in 2013? I wasn’t sure.

SO I APOLOGIZE.

Standing Tall (Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports)

So far Everth has been a lighting rod on this squad. Not only did he match his homerun total from last year, he’s stealing bases and he’s hitting a little better than normal. Although, I never think he’ll be someone who hits over .260 for an entire season, I will trade that for his improved ability to get on base and timely knocks: and that’s what we’re getting so far this season. I know it’s early and I know we have a small sample size to base all of these things on. But, his progression from last season has seemed to continue upwards and expand into other parts of his game, which is what fans and the team have been hoping for over the past four seasons. If this continues and can hold steady we’re going to have one of the better shortstops in the National League. Of course I may be jinxing the whole damn thing by writing this, but I feel it’s my duty. Sportswriter, bloggers, and TV analysts are not infallible, nor should we ever act like it. Especially bloggers. We’re just fans who love the sport or team so much so that our only course of action was to try and spend our time lending a voice to the sometimes voiceless. Yes, it’s self-aggrandizing and yes it feels good to think that way. We’re wrong all the time, and whether that stems from just being negligent, lazy, or fighting to get readers by ridiculous means, it still happens. Do I like admitting when I’m wrong? Not at all. Just ask my wife. However, just as it’s our job to try and give you something interesting to read and think about, it’s our job to call attention to our mistakes as well. And, perhaps bloggers are the only ones who really do that at all. Can’t imagine a scenario where Jason Whitlock would ever admit his mistakes.

I sincerely hope Everth can keep this progression up, and continue to prove me wrong. I’m learning to celebrate when our team does well, just as much as I bitch when they do poorly.

For more Padres stuff and other things you might not care about follow me on Twitter @dallas_mc

Apr 9, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres center fielder Cameron Maybin (right) reacts after umpire Andy Fletcher (49) called him out on strikes during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Now.

Oh you were looking for more than that?

Cameron Maybin has been awful to start the season. Again.  He has a total of two hits in 24 at bats, four strikeouts, two walks, with one of those being an intentional pass, and zero stolen bases. If you’re keeping track at home, that’s good for a whopping .083 batting average and .154 on-base percentage.

Maybin is known for being a slow starter, as he only compiled 15 total hits last April, but this is getting ridiculous. Maybin signed a 5-year deal with the Padres a couple years ago, and has done very little so far to deserve that contract.  He was obviously highly-touted coming out of high school and was drafted in the first round by the Tigers back in 2005, but he struggled to earn consistent playing time at the MLB level. He eventually made his way to San Diego via trade from the Marlins in 2010 and the Padres thought a change of scenery would revive what was once thought to be a plethora of potential.

Unfortunately, while he has been an above-average center-fielder, he is a huge liability at the plate right now. He looks extremely uncomfortable, especially against right-handers.

While it’s still very early in the season, this is a crucial time for the Padres. Their best hitter is still out in Chase Headley, starting catching Yasmani Grandal is serving his 50-game PED suspension (although Nick Hundley has been an adequate fill-in so far) and bopper Carlos Quentin could be headed to the DL (shocker) after getting hit on the wrist Tuesday night.  With plenty of division games left in the month, they cannot afford such a terrible April that they are too far in the hole to make up ground later in the season, you know, exactly like 2012.  Why keep Maybin in the lineup right now if he is a guaranteed out every single at-bat?  Black could go with a Denorfia, Venable, Guzman outfield and call it a day.

I am as big of a Maybin fan as anyone. But there’s obviously a trend in his game, where it takes him a couple months to heat up.  So give him some starts versus lefties and some spot starts versus righties so he can continue to see pitches and get into the flow of the season. But if Black sticks with him in the lineup every day, he very well could contribute to a 8-18 type of April, where the Friars are looking up at the other four teams in the NL West. Way up.

At 2-6 currently, what does Black have to lose?