I’m addicted to Baseball-Reference’s PI tool. For grins I ran a search on everyone who has accumulated 1500 or more career plate appearances with the Padres (39 in total) and ordered them from top (Fred McGriff) to bottom (Enzo Hernandez) according to OPS+. Then I looked for “matched pairs” — guys who have the same OPS+ (give or take a point). The rankings referenced in each entry are from the upcoming Ducksnorts 2008 Baseball Annual. Let the fun begin:
Player | Years | PA | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS+ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ryan Klesko | 2000-2006 | 3333 | .279 | .381 | .491 | 134 |
Dave Winfield | 1973-1980 | 4512 | .284 | .357 | .464 | 134 |
I’ve got Klesko as the best first baseman in club history and #6 left fielder. Winfield is the #2 right fielder and tied for 10th in left field.
Player | Years | PA | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS+ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mark Kotsay | 2001-2003 | 1647 | .283 | .355 | .426 | 112 |
Steve Finley | 1995-1998 | 2640 | .276 | .334 | .458 | 112 |
Kevin McReynolds | 1983-1986 | 1983 | .263 | .319 | .438 | 111 |
It’s amazing to me how qualitatively similar these guys were. Kotsay is #5 at the position, Finley is #1, and McReynolds is #3.
Player | Years | PA | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS+ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carmelo Martinez | 1984-1989 | 2694 | .248 | .341 | .408 | 109 |
Ollie Brown | 1969-1972 | 1816 | .272 | .327 | .413 | 109 |
Martinez is the #2 left fielder in Padres history, while Brown checks in at #5 among right fielders.
Player | Years | PA | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS+ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bip Roberts | 1986-1995 | 2521 | .298 | .361 | .387 | 106 |
Terry Kennedy | 1981-1986 | 3239 | .274 | .319 | .407 | 105 |
Roberts stole 148 bases, Kennedy swiped 3. Roberts is the #4 second baseman and #5 left fielder — very underrated career, IMHO; Kennedy is the best catcher in Padres history.
Player | Years | PA | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS+ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roberto Alomar | 1988-1990 | 1959 | .283 | .339 | .379 | 103 |
Jerry Turner | 1974-1983 | 1686 | .259 | .321 | .390 | 103 |
Alomar left San Diego at age 22 and still is the #2 second baseman in club history. Turner is the #8 left fielder.
Player | Years | PA | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS+ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Khalil Greene | 2003-2007 | 2219 | .254 | .312 | .444 | 101 |
Steve Garvey | 1983-1987 | 2439 | .275 | .309 | .409 | 100 |
Cito Gaston | 1969-1974 | 2787 | .257 | .298 | .403 | 99 |
Greene is the best shortstop in Padres history, Garvey is the #7 first baseman, and Gaston checks in at #9 among center fielders and #8 among right fielders.
Player | Years | PA | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS+ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quilvio Veras | 1997-1999 | 1788 | .270 | .366 | .353 | 95 |
Benito Santiago | 1986-1992 | 3065 | .264 | .298 | .406 | 95 |
Veras is the #3 second baseman in club history; Santiago is the #2 catcher. He also had a 34-game hitting streak as a rookie, which inspired this sweet baseball card.
Player | Years | PA | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS+ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sean Burroughs | 2002-2005 | 1665 | .282 | .340 | .360 | 91 |
Luis Salazar | 1980-1989 | 2383 | .267 | .298 | .375 | 90 |
Burroughs is the #7 third baseman in Padres history, while Salazar checks in at #5. Bar bet winner: Who is the all-time leader in games played for the Padres at third base? Salazar. (Burroughs is fourth.)
Player | Years | PA | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS+ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tim Flannery | 1979-1989 | 2838 | .255 | .335 | .317 | 85 |
Alan Wiggins | 1981-1985 | 1606 | .260 | .335 | .316 | 85 |
Dave Roberts | 1972-1978 | 1750 | .240 | .287 | .354 | 84 |
Flannery is #5 among second basemen in Padres history, Wiggins is #7 at second base and in left field, and Roberts (not the guy who now plays in San Francisco) is the #8 third baseman.
Player | Years | PA | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS+ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Garry Templeton | 1982-1991 | 4860 | .252 | .293 | .339 | 77 |
Derrel Thomas | 1972-1978 | 1985 | .236 | .301 | .302 | 76 |
Templeton is the #2 shortstop in Padres history. Thomas played several positions and doesn’t crack the top 10 at any of them.
Player | Years | PA | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS+ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ozzie Smith | 1978-1981 | 2536 | .231 | .295 | .278 | 66 |
Enzo Hernandez | 1971-1977 | 2609 | .225 | .283 | .267 | 61 |
Okay, I fudged a little here. Still, who knew that one of these guys would end up in the Hall of Fame? Smith is the #4 shortstop in Padres history; Hernandez checks in at #7.
We’ll look at pitchers next week…