The Padres enter spring training looking for improvement over the 71 wins of 2011 and hoping that lightning will strike like it almost did in 2010 when 90 wins left them a game short of the playoffs.
"I'm not conceding anything going into camp," said general manager Josh Byrnes, who made seven trades including several major deals since succeeding Cubs-bound Jed Hoyer as the Padres general manager in October.
"You never know. This club surprised everyone in 2010. Arizona surprised everyone last season. Why not us again?"
However, this spring offers a bit of a different twist for the Padres.
The biggest question is not the offense, although there is still concern for a lineup that finished near the bottom of almost every offensive statistical category in 2011. The lineup is pretty well set with Byrnes expecting improvement from "at least seven of the eight positions."
The key additions are left fielder Carlos Quentin and first baseman Yonder Alonso, both of whom came to the Padres in trades.
But the 2012 Padres go to spring training with questions in what has been their forte pitching. Both the rotation and bullpen have openings.
To get Alonso, right-handed starter Edinson Volquez and two other top prospects (catcher Yasmani Grandal and right-handed reliever Brad Boxberger) from Cincinnati, the Padres had to surrender potential ace Mat Latos to the Reds. And starter Aaron Harang and closer Heath Bell departed as free agents.
"Volquez is going to be a key," said Byrnes. "And while it is hard to duplicate (Mike) Adams and Bell in the bullpen, we believe we are going to be sound."
"There is no doubt that I am happy with the strides we've made," said Padres CEO Jeff Moorad, who allowed Byrnes to spend "$6 to $7 million" more than originally budgeted for the 2012 edition of the Padres. Most that late influx of cash allowed Byrnes to trade for Quentin, whose right-handed pull power could work in pitcher-friendly Petco Park.
"I think we have positioned this club for future success," Moorad said recently. "And we've given ourselves a chance to win this year. We know it's not going to happen overnight, but I think this organization has made strides across the board."
In terms of position players, the Padres are almost set.
The big questions will be where do you play Jesus Guzman if he again hits the .312 he hit over the second half of 2011? Guzman's best positions are first (Alonso) and left (Quentin), although no position is really his best position. Guzman can also play there, where Chase Headley had a solid 2011 but for his four homers.
The only spot really up for grabs this spring would seem to be the utility middle infield job with Everth Cabrera having the inside track because Logan Forsythe has very limited experience at short (expect to see him playing more shortstop at Class AAA Tucson).
The openings will be at the back of the rotation and in the bullpen. The No. 5 spot in the rotation figures to be a battle between incumbent Dustin Moseley, free agent signee Micah Owings and late-season sensation Anthony Bass with the first runnerup being the long man in the bullpen and the second runnerup (quite possibly the younger Bass) heading the young staff in Tucson as the sixth-starter-in-waiting.
