Sports Roundup by Various Sports Writers

By Nick Canepa

Not since the Dust Bowl have we seen infertility on farms to equal those plowed by the Padres. Nothing has worked. They've rotated their crops, tried both cheap and expensive fertilizer, changed owners, changed GMs, changed scouts, changed hired hands, changed rainmakers, changed scarecrows.

Too scary.

It may sound harsh to inform those position players the Padres are drafting this week that the odds of them making the big league club, sticking around for a long time and becoming stars are about as good as Sarah Palin passing a Revolutionary War quiz. But that's the harsh reality of it all.

Considering this franchise has been to two World Series and several playoffs since its 1969 birth, its ineptitude in developing and maintaining everyday players ranks as one of the more staggering peculiarities in sports. Because it's this close to being impossible.

Padres GMs never have found the wingman they needed — a priest with an in to a higher authority. Being rotten at something is one thing. Being so unlucky for so long is another. And we're not just talking abysmal first-round picks. All picks.

There's no question the club has been successful evaluating pitching talent. Two of their four Cy Young winners — Randy Jones and Jake Peavy — actually were home grown, Gaylord Perry and Mark Davis being imported. Pitching is important. Pitching, no problem.

Everyone's quick to jump on Kevin Towers' head for the former GM's lack of developing position players during his 15 years at the wheel of the baseball vehicle, and they aren't incorrect. His record drafting and growing pitchers was brilliant; his legacy with the other eight positions, brutal.

Looking at the current Padres roster, if everyone were healthy, two homegrown players — third baseman Chase Headley and catcher Nick Hundley, both Towers second-round draft choices in 2005 — would be starting.

But it's much more than KT. There have been many general managers in franchise history, and even when a few of them found a star — Hall of Famer Dave Winfield, who never played a day in the minors, was the first — only another Hall of Famer, Tony Gwynn, went wire-to-wire in San Diego.

The sad fact of the matter is, this is an organization that has produced but two everyday stars who hung around long enough to be considered Padres. And Winfield, here from 1973-80, really found fame as a Yankee after frugal San Diego refused to pay him what he was worth.

For whatever noble reason, Gwynn chose to remain when he had the opportunity to make big dough elsewhere.

It's not a joke. We're talking two, and there are those who will say it's only one, because Winfield took off for a slice of Big Apple. But at least he had enough time in San Diego to be somebody.

While GM, Jack McKeon was the greatest procurer of position talent, but embracing his reputation as "Trader Jack," his ego got in the way.

Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith was a true Padre, brought up from Single A in 1978 under orders from owner Ray Kroc. McKeon (who didn't draft Smith) traded him to St. Louis in 1981 for Garry Templeton. Tempy was the best athlete I've seen play shortstop. He did things standing up Smith had to dive for. But Garry isn't a Hall of Famer, and Smith played for the Cardinals until 1996.

In 1988, McKeon brought up Roberto Alomar, now a Hall of Fame second baseman, the best of his generation. He was traded to Toronto in 1990. McKeon brought up Roberto's brother, catcher Sandy. He was on the big club for a couple of late-season call-ups, playing in eight games. Sent to Cleveland, he became a six-time All-Star, a Gold Glover, playing in the bigs for 20 years.

McKeon signed second baseman Carlos Baerga in 1985. Before he could debut here, McKeon threw him willy-nilly into the trade that sent Sandy to Cleveland. Three-time All-Star. Two Silver Slugger Awards. Retired in 2005.

In 1980, McKeon signed shortstop Ozzie Guillen, now White Sox manager. Never played here. Traded to the White Sox. Gold Glove. Three-time All-Star. Retired in 2000.

About the only time these people have gotten lucky is when McKeon drafted Gwynn in the third round (and amazingly didn't get rid of him).

Of course, others have been brought up who were around for a few years: Benito Santiago (1986-92); Khalil Greene (2003-08); Kevin McReynolds (1983-86); Johnny Grubb (1972-76); Gene Richards (1977-83); Jerry Turner (1974-81) and Sean Burroughs (2002-05). John Kruk could hit. Gone after four full seasons.

No superstars there. Nobody headed for Cooperstown. No dice.

No luck. Face it. Even if you stink at evaluation, you accidentally fall into great players. As former Padres Director of Scouting Bill Gayton put it, "It is incredible." He sure never found the luck — or the answer.

We shouldn't mention the Padres drafting first baseman Todd Helton and third baseman Troy Glaus out of high school and not signing either. They could have been cornerstones on the infield for more than a decade.

But we will mention them. It's the Padres, after all. The track record begs to be changed but doesn't lie.

So, new Padres. Welcome to Petco National Park. May you one day play in this true Vast Wasteland.

But it probably will be in another uniform.

Nick Canepa writes about sports for The San Diego Union-Tribune.

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