22-year old righty swinging 1B Kyle Blanks is the #1 prospect in the Padres’ system according to Baseball America. But, the 6′6″, 280 pounder is blocked at his natural position by Adrian Gonzalez so he will get to play the outfield. Blanks has played in 12 games for the Padres so far this season and he is 6 for 31 (.194 avg, .596 OPS) with 3 runs scored and 3 RBIs. Blanks has whiffed 11 times already but he will likely make better contact if he gets regular playing time. He played in 66 AAA games before his recall by the Padres and he was 66 for 233 (.283 avg, .878 OPS) with 35 runs scored, 12 homers and 38 RBIs. If the Padres wind up trading Adrian Gonzalez (that would be dumb) then Blanks would return to his natural position.

Veteran RF Brian Giles is currently on the D.L. and that’s a good thing for the Padres right now based on his play this season. Giles has played in 61 games for the Padres this season and he is 43 for 225 (.191 avg, .548 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 2 homers and 23 RBIs. Hindsight is always 20/20 but maybe the Padres should have bought out Giles’ option year over the winter.

Jim Edmonds started the 2008 season late due to injury and he’s looking mighty rusty for the Padres so far this year. Edmonds has played in 17 games for the Padres this season and he is 11 for 62 (.177 avg, .519 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer, 5 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Edmonds has also whiffed 20 times already this season as he is starting to look his age with a bat in his hands.

Terrmel Sledge blew his big chance this season especially in the 2nd half.  Since the All-Star Break, Sledge has played in 28 games and he is 7 for 46 (.152 avg, .528 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer and 7 RBis.  For the season, Sledge has played in 87 games and he is hitting .206 (.668 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 7 homers and 23 RBIs.  He has also whiffed 56 times in 189 at bats which is unacceptable for the kind of hitter he is.  Sledge will he very hard pressed to make the Padres in 2008.

Marcus Giles and Kevin Kouzmanoff have to be the two biggest disappointments to the Padres so far this season.  Giles was expected to bring a big bat to the top of the Padres lineup but he’s been pretty bad so far this season.  Giles is only hitting .242 with 46 runs, 4 homers, 31 RBIs and 7 stolen bases.  Look for Giles to make some kind of rebound as he’s too good of a hitter to be putting up numbers like he has in the 1st half.  The Padres expected Kouzmanoff to be a big run producer but that hasn’t worked out either.  He is only hitting .228 with 23 runs scored, 7 homers and 37 RBIs so far this season.  If he doesn’t get better soon the Padres might need to look into the trade market for a 3B.