Agree with your observation of Baek. He just seems to fall apart after 60 pitches or so. His pitches have movement but he sure is slow to deliver the ball from pitch to pitch.

Not sure about Hensley since he’s very hittable at times but like Geoff said, I should give him some time to really come back from the injury. Maybe, he’ll be good enough to slide into the #4 spot as the next season progress.

I’m thinking the time for Cameron/Hampson is done here. Unless they are the mop-up guys, I don’t see them pitching in high leverage situation. Would Hampson be getting back to his role from last season where he can spot start for CY and throw a couple of innings in blow-out? Then it’s fine with me. Otherwise, no. The problem with that plan is then the bullpen is once again 12 men which I hate.

Mike Adams has been very good at times and really rejuvenated the bullpen this season. He’s probably not going to be as good next year and there should be an insurance plan for that drop-off. Maybe, Hayhurst can be that.

My main concern is still going to be starting pitching as the bullpen seems to be unpredictable from year to year. Hey, even Scott Linebrink got better (I’m happy to say) after declining steadily.

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So I would plan to see Hoffman in the back of the pen for 2009. Both are interested in a return.

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I don’t think Hoffy will be back mostly because I think the Pads will want to trim payroll and paying a reliever (even if it is Hoffy) $5+ mil just wont work so I think that will make bell the closer by default.

Meredith had a few bumps along the road this year but I think he is still in the plans for 09 because he is cheap and still effective.

Hensley has been pretty solid since he returned to the team (other than that one rocky start) but as a reliever this year he has worked 20 innings and has an ERA of 3.22.

Mike Adams seems to be this years Kevin Cameron, he has really only worked in low pressure situations but has had good results.

Kevin Cameron has been hurt all year but what pitching ok in the few outings that he had this season.

Justin Hampson has continued to be somewhat of a solid LOOGY

One other familiar name that I think we will see in the 2009 Bullpen will be Cha Seung Baek, Baek has been a little sub par as a starter this season but its mostly because he really hits a wall in the third inning. His opponents OPS jumps from .640 and .555 in the fist two innings to .960 in the third which kind of tells me that after his first time through the line-up guys pretty much have him figured out.

I think it may be possible to construct a cheap and effective bullpen with the parts we currently have:

CL: Bell
8th: Cla
7th: Hensley
SU: Cameron
SU: Beak
LH: Hampson
LR: Adams

Since most of the players would still be making league minimum it would only take about 4-5 mil of the Padres budget and the Pads would not have to give up any talent to construct it.

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