San Diego Padres
They were a unit that was going to deliver 60 homers, yet the starters managed just 40. Fingers were directed squarely at the dimensions of their new ballpark, but it was a down year across the board.
Ryan Klesko didn't find his stroke until midseason, Jay Payton searched all season for his, and Brian Giles just never quite found a consistent groove.
The Padres outfield for 2005 will still sport some familiar faces, but one that has also been given a lift. Klesko and Giles return in left and right field, respectively, but Dave Roberts will replace Payton in center.
Xavier Nady will take over for Terrence Long as the fourth outfielder, with super sub Mark Sweeney playing a reserve role in the outfield. Utility infielder Eric Young also may get the occasional nod.
General manager Kevin Towers said at the beginning of the 2004 campaign that if everyone just had their "normal" years, the club would win the division. That was why projections of scoring 800 runs popped up and the idea they could have as many as six players with 20 or more homers.
As it turned out, only two players eclipsed the 20-plus home run mark last season with Giles' 23 outpaced by Phil Nevin's 26. Klesko hit nine. Payton hit eight homers, but none at home.
It wasn't just the long ball, though. Klesko hit .291 on the year with a .399 on-base percentage, but needed a strong second half to raise those numbers. Giles, who began the year in a 5-for-45 funk, had a few offensive spurts, but put together only one month in which he hit over .300. Giles had his best month in May, hitting .330 with five homers, 20 RBIs while getting on base at a .418 clip