The season is ending on an upbeat note, in that the dreadful first half of the season, when they were 14-games under .500, and a half game out of first place, has been replaced by a (34-27) record since the All Star break.

Maybe you give out Gold Stars to students for  finishing the term strong, but this is the major leagues, and if you are not playing in October, this doesn’t mean much.

If you force-fed all your young players, and they put up good numbers, maybe there would be momentum into next season, but that is not the case either.  This is a roster full of utilitymen, who anywhere else, would be on someone’s bench, not in a starting lineup.

Granted, a team that was on track to establish a possible all time worst team batting average, has hit better.  But a team .226 average isn’t anything to pin your hopes on, but it is better than the .211 mark this franchise had just prior to the All Star break.

The Padres head to San Francisco after tonight’s game, with more questions than answers about the future. Carlos Quentin is owed another 9.5M on a bad contract with a player with  bad knees. Yonder Alonso is coming off hand surgery, and has yet to exhibit he will ever be the .280 gap hitter they hoped for when he came in the Cincinnati-Mat Latos traded.

Mention Cam Maybin and the first thing that comes to mind are suspensions, the injuries, then under performances.  Ditto too for shortstop Ev Cabrera, with two discipline moves on his resume.

Do you have a 3rd baseman?  Is Alexi Amirista a true shortstop?.  Is there any power in this lineup to compete with the big boys in the division, Dodgers and Giants?  Are there any hitters comng from the farm system?

The foundation of the everyday lineup is Jed Gyorko, who fought thru the sophomore slump syndrome, Yasmani Grandal, Rene Rivera, and Seth Smith.  The rest are just guys, not stars.

It is sad.  The franchise wasted phenominal pitching, from the starters to the bullpen.  If they had any sliver of hitting, San Diego would be playing tonight for a wildcard spot, not playing out the string.  You have only so many bullets in those arms, and the staff you finish with this weekend, may not be the same quality staff next year.

Of the 157-games played so far, this team has been shutout  19-times, and 68-times has scored two runs or less in a game.  Here’s the ball Tyson Ross, Andrew Cashner, Ian Kennedy, go pitch a shutout and hope you can win.

They have arms, and hopefully some healthy ones returning from surgery, but they need a real infusion of everyday talent this off season.  Next Monday cannot come quick enough, then the free agent shopping season, and the winter meetings. .

The team will draw just a shade over 2.1M.  If this was a good team, it would draw 3M per year, and profit margin lines that lead to a much  bigger payroll, more internaitonal players, plus better drafts.

If they finish .500 it is an accomplishment for Bud Black, considering what a mess this was in July.  But in the big picture, another lost season, the 11th losing year in the last 15 in San Diego.

Good guys in the clubhouse to cover and work with, just not enough good players.  Don’t tell me about promotion nights, next year’s schedule, just tell me when you are getting me, and this city, better players.  Take a look at this lineup tonite.  I don’t think you’ll see a bunch of these guys back here next year.