Padres close to wrapping up spring schedule

The San Diego Padres have all but decided their 25-man roster prior to their opening series against the Houston Astros next week.

There are a few positions that still need to be decided, and those changes may not be what the team first thought, especially with Edmonds feeling almost 100% and says he's ready to go for Opening Day. If that's the case, the previous idea that Jody Gerut, Callix Crabbe and Paul McAnulty would all make the team may have to be looked at again and re-decided.

The other final decisions that need to be made will be on the bullpen. They seem to have the players they want, but it just needs to be finalized. When you have guys like Cla Meredith, Glendon Rusch and Adam Bass pitching as well as they have, on top of Heath Bell and Trevor Hoffman, it's going to be a strong bullpen yet again in 2008.

I think a lot of the national media is taking this Padres team lightly, but this team is going to be stronger than that of the 2007 team, I have no doubts about that. A stronger, more determined Jake Peavy, Michael Barrett should have a better year, they'll have 1 second baseman (Iguchi) instead of a platoon, Kevin Kouzmanoff showed his ability, a healthy Jim Edmonds will go a LONG ways.

There are so many things that make this team the best in the NL West, but they need to put it all together to make that happen, not to mention to go deep into the playoffs.

Ledezma dominates in Padres' 5-0 win

Though Justin Germano is being looked at as the favorite for the #5 spot in the Padres' rotation, Wil Ledezma just made his case to why he could fill that role just as good.

A few days after Justin Germano looked like a lock for the #5 spot in the Padres rotation, Wil Ledezma showed why he may still be a name worth talking about. The left-hander went 4 shutout innings giving up just 2 hits, striking out 3 and walking 2.

Offensively for San Diego, outfielder Paul McAnulty led off the 6th inning with a solo HR, his 4th of the spring. Tony Clark went 2-for-3 with a single and an RBI double, Michael Barrett had a 2-run double today as well in a 1-for-2 day.

For the White Sox, John Danks got the start and was jumped on immediately for 3 runs in the 1st inning, though he would settle down giving up just 1 run in the next 4 1/3 innings though he did strike out 7 Padres in his total 5 1/3 innings of work today.

The Padres will have an off day tomorrow, though several big leaguers are expected to play in a minor league game at the Peoria Sports Complex. Left-hander Randy Wolf will get the start in that game, infielder Edgar Gonzalez will get the start in the infield.

4-run first paces Padres 11-5 win over Giants

The Padres offense wasted no time getting to Giants young right-hander Tim Lincecum.

After a Jeff DaVanon single and Tad Iguchi getting hit by a pitch, Barrett would singled home Jeff DaVanon from 2nd for a 1-0 Padres lead. Tony Clark would single to load the bases but Lincecum got Greene and Ambres out on strikes, which set the stage for Chase Headley. He hammered a bases clearing double to center to extend the lead to 4-0. It was Headley's only hit of the day in 3 AB's but he made it count.

Also having big days for the Padres, offensively, were outfielders Jody Gerut and Paul McAnulty. Gerut hit his 2nd HR of the spring, a solo shot in the 7th inning off Giants' reliever Erick Threets. McAnulty his his 3rd of the spring, a 3-run blast off Brad Hennessey in the 8th inning.

On the pitching side, Chris Young didn't look nearly as sharp as he has his previous two outings, but I'm sure getting little sleep with a newborn in the house is a legitimate excuse. CY gave up 3 runs on 4 hits in 4 innings of work. Enrique Gonzalez, Cla Meredith and Joe Thatcher combined to no hit the Giants over the final 5 innings, striking out 4.

Up next for San Diego, they will travel to Mesa to take on the Chicago Cubs. Jason Marquis is scheduled to start for the Cubs, opposite Greg Maddux for San Diego. The Padres also have Wil Ledezma, Kevin Cameron and Mark Gardner scheduled to pitch tomorrow as well. Game time is 1:05pm.