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:

Another Retired Number?

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.

Logjam in Center 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.

Marshmallows Downtown?

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.

Hare and Tortoise

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.

One That Got Away

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.

The Three Gees

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.

Nothing in Common

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.

Not-So-Hot Corner

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.)

Random Infielders

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.

Weak-Hitting Shortstops

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.

Incredibly Weak-Hitting Shortstops

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…