Padres trying to get better/cheaper?

Evidently, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ double play duo of Bill Russell and Davey Lopes from the 1980s isn’t available.

Maybe that’s why the Padres have signed David Eckstein to play second base … and perhaps shortstop Omar Vizquel could be the next to come.

The Padres got away with signing veteran players on the cheap for a couple years, but it didn’t work in 2008. (Remember Tadahito Iguchi and Jim Edmonds?)

So now, with a projected $40 million payroll, the Padres apparently have no choice but to go with rookies or veterans on the cheap.

More than 60% of that payroll is already committed to pitchers Jake Peavy and Chris Young, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and outfielder Brian Giles. (A Peavy trade could still open up some room for cash – but not miracles.)

So don’t expect the Padres to jump in on the Manny Ramirez bidding on the last minute.

We all know you get what you pay for: which likely means another last-place finish in 2009 for the Padres.

Chargers are obviously disappointed

There are two ways to look at the Chargers’ recently completed season.

Either:
A: They made an extraordinary run to make the playoffs and won a postseason game for the second straight year

Or:
B. They had a disappointing 9-9 season and fell far short of their ultimate goal of reaching the Super Bowl.

Obviously, the answer is “B.”

Did you see where the Chargers have fired two secondary coaches, their tight ends coach and offensive line coach?

Those firings usually only happen when a team underachieves (or a head coach goes 14-2 but can’t get along with the general manager.)

Already, the Chargers are admitting their performances left much to be desired against the pass, in their blocking and in the tight ends’ play.

These changes may only be the beginning of many at Chargers Park.

After all, a .500 record won’t make the playoffs forever as Denver, Oakland and Kansas City continue to rebuild in the AFC West.

Like Fouts, Chargers' LT may never make Super Bowl

LaDainian Tomlinson may well be on his way to becoming the next Dan Fouts of the Chargers.

That is, he’ll have a great career, earn entrance into the Pro Football Hall of Fame … but never play in the Super Bowl.

(It’s questionable if he could’ve played this year, but at least there was a chance for the Chargers to get there before Sunday’s loss at Pittsburgh.)

Looking back, there are certainly positives for the Chargers’ 2008 season:

No game was bigger than the overtime win vs. Indianapolis in the wild card playoffs.
Coming back from a 4-8 record to make the playoffs was amazing.
The record could have been 12-4 without four losses in the final 24 seconds of the game.

On the other hand:

The Chargers finished just 1-6 against playoff teams.
It took an amazing collapse by Denver for the Chargers’ late-season run to mean anything.
Without two lucky wins vs. Kansas City, the Chargers could have finished 6-10.

The bottom line is that the Chargers were an average team this year, finishing with a 9-9 overall record.

AFC West foes Kansas City, Oakland and Denver have three of the top 12 picks in the coming draft … meaning none of them were among the Top 20 teams in the NFL this year.

Those three teams can only get better, and the Chargers’ window of opportunity for playing in the Super Bowl won’t last forever.

Neither will LT, who may never participate in a Super Bowl for the Chargers.

Pittsburgh may be pitts for Chargers

Remember this:
Ben Roethlisberger has one touchdown pass and eight interceptions in home playoff games.

Remember this:
The San Diego Chargers advanced to their only Super Bowl by winning the AFC Championship Game at Pittsburgh 14 years ago.

Remember this:
The Steelers, who host the Chargers on Sunday, have failed to beat San Diego in two previous playoff games.

But remember this:
The Steelers are 11-1 at home in the divisional playoffs; and this is a division playoff game.

Prediction:
Steelers 17, Chargers 13

West Coast college football better than perceived

West Coast college football wasn’t so bad after all this year, was it?

The knock on elite teams such as USC and Utah was that they played inferior talent out west.

So let’s take a look for a minute:

The Pac-10 finished 5-0 in bowl games, proving USC played a very tough schedule.
Utah is the only undefeated team left; thanks to its Sugar Bowl win over an Alabama team that was one victory from the BCS championship tilt.

USC was denied a BCS title shot based on its Pac-10 schedule. But since those Pac-10 teams are 5-0 in bowl games, doesn’t that have some meaning in the aftermath?

Oklahoma is in the title game based on its “tough” Big 12 schedule.

But when you look at it, the Sooners’ best wins this year were against Texas Tech (loser to Mississippi in the Cotton Bowl) and Oklahoma State (loser to Oregon of the Pac-10 in the Holiday Bowl.)

The best team Oklahoma beat which went on to win a bowl game turned out to be Missouri, which had to go overtime to defeat Northwestern in a no-name bowl.

So much for the argument about Oklahoma’s superior schedule/competition in the Big 12.

The obvious answer is a BCS playoff, where teams like USC can prove (or disprove) their strength.

One can only hope Oklahoma doesn’t lose the BCS championship to Florida, or it will be another knock on the supposed invincibility of the Big 12.

Prediction:
Florida 38, Oklahoma 34

Chargers seek to create more history

Let’s go back to a couple history lessons.

We all know that the Chargers:

Were the first team ever to start a season 0-4 and make the playoffs (1992)
Are the only team ever to start 4-8 and make the playoffs (2008)
Are the only team ever to win a division after being three games back with three to play (2008)

Now, can the Chargers write even more history?

If the Chargers and Baltimore Ravens both win in the coming weekend, the Chargers will be the first fourth-seeded team ever to host an AFC (or NFC) Championship.

The Ravens play Saturday afternoon at Tennessee; the Chargers on Sunday afternoon at Pittsburgh.

If they both win, they become the first No. 4 vs. No. 6 seeded teams to meet for a conference championship ... not the mention the Chargers would be the first 8-8 regular season team ever to host a title game.

The chances of it happening are about as big as Darren Sproles, but no offensive player had a better weekend.

With a lot of luck, it could be Ravens at Chargers on Jan. 18 to decided the AFC representative in the Super Bowl.

And by the way, if you have tickets for the Jan. 17 Monster Jam at Qualcomm Stadium, you might think about alternate plans that night.

The event could be postponed due to an AFC Championship Game the next day!

History says Chargers are in trouble

Before the Chargers and Indianapolis Colts meet in the wild card playoffs Saturday night, let’s take a little history lesson.

The Chargers started out the 1995 season with a 4-7 record, only to win their last five games and make the playoffs.

(Sound similar to making this year’s playoffs after starting 4-8 and winning four straight?)

Back on New Year’s Eve 1995, the Chargers and Colts met in the wild card round of the playoffs in San Diego.

Led by a quarterback named Jim Harbaugh, the Colts easily disposed of the Chargers, 35-20.

Now that the task is to beat Colts QB and three-time MVP Peyton Manning, the Chargers probably won’t have it any easier than in 1995.

But this time, at least they should make it closer.

Prediction:
Colts 27, Chargers 23