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We at Razzball realize that exporting our views across the country has damaging consequences on the blogosphere. To help make amends, we are reaching out to leading team blogs and featuring their locally blogged answers to pressing 2013 fantasy baseball questions regarding their team. We feel this approach will be fresher, more sustainable, and require less energy consumption (for us anyway). The 2013 Padres Fantasy Baseball Preview comes courtesy of JBox & Dex from Gas Lamp Ball.

1) We thought we saw Cameron Maybin budding into a superstar in 2011 but his 2012 saw a regression in nearly every category.  So which Maybin do we see in 2013 and do you see him as a sleeper discount for the 2013 season?

Cam is really tough to say. Maybin doesn’t strike anyone as the type to get a contract and run, but following his extension, 2012 could’ve been an issue of him trying to do too much. With Nick Hundley producing zero offense and Carlos Quentin hurt for part of last season, the hope for Padres fans is that Maybin was just trying too hard. On the defensive side of the plate, one could speculate that he was working some overtime to try to cover all of the gaps in Petco Park. That may be less of an issue with the new moved in fences. If Chase Headley continues to be hot with the bat in 2013, and assuming Maybin settles into himself, his comfort level could definitely be there in 2013 and would be an excellent sleeper candidate to return to form.

2) Andrew Cashner’s starter role got off to a grand opening when he gave up 2 earned runs over 6.1 innings and struck out 9 Astros in June of last year.  Sadly, his injury history caught up with him as he left his next start and was not the same even when he came back in September.  So is Cashner just doomed or what?  Oh and more to the point, does Cashner regain his starting role and is he someone to watch in Spring Training if he does?

Andrew Cashner is marked by the Padres as a starter, no question. When he first arrived with the club, the criticism was always that we moved a top first base prospect in Anthony Rizzo for a relief pitcher, but we’d always heard from Padres insiders that the club viewed him as starting pitcher material, which was seen as the primary reason for his being sent down mid-2012 (to get proper time in a minor league rotation). Unfortunately for Padres fans, the latest injury to Andrew Cashner wasn’t due to mechanics, but apparently a hunting accident. Cashner will be out for a few weeks and likely won’t make a Spring Training appearance. When he comes back, he’ll be working his way back to starter (perhaps via the bullpen of course), but he’ll have to prove himself as the Padres are apparently not happy with what they’re possibly viewing as more of an attitude problem as opposed to just being unlucky.

3) Chase Headley finally put together a really strong season in 2012, belting 31 HRs, stealing 17 bags while hitting .286.  Many are predicting a pullback from Headley this year.  In your opinion, does Headley pull back a lot, a little or does he meet/exceed his 2012 campaign in 2013?

It’s tough to say. Personally, I was ready to give up on Chase Headley “star” prospects at the start of last season, but was happily proven wrong in the last two months of the year. And that’s probably key as to how much of a pullback you might expect. Basically, two-thirds of all his production occurred over the last one third of the season. If every month in 2012 was like August/September/October in 2012, then we were watching a .318 BA, 60 HR player at Petco Park. Padres fans would happily regress a little bit from that if it means we’re still looking at a .300 hitter with 30 to 40 home run potential. And with the injury to start the year, he’s a painfully obvious buy low candidate after the All Star Break.

4) Even with the unfortunate loss of Rymer Liriano to TJ surgery this year, the Padres minor league roster is packed with up and coming players.  Give us a few guys you’re looking forward to seeing in the big leagues in 2013 and which one you think will have the biggest fantasy impact this year.

With the potential for a full season, catcher Yasmani Grandal would’ve likely had the biggest fantasy impact, but his PED suspension cut that short quickly. The guy who Padres fans are probably looking forward to most, and who could have some fantasy impact, is Jedd Gyorko. With Headley and Forsythe going down, Jedd Gyorko is a guy that will see big league time this season and contribute regularly. His bat is ready but his original position, third base, is the one position on the Padres where he’s blocked. He’s been working out at second and, assuming his defense is translating adequately, he may actually be more valuable at that role. From a fantasy perspective he could qualify at 2B/3B and the Padres definitely want to see him as a big leaguer, so he has that going for him.  Our stud prospects have been a bit snake-bitten, though; Casey Kelly should’ve end up in the rotation and a pitcher at Petco Park is a pitcher to be aware of. Kelly has proper skills beyond that, so he would’ve been good on a roster as well were it not for the TJ surgery.
5) It’s after the All-Star Break and with a mixture of youth and determination, the Padres are in the NL West playoff hunt.  What are the biggest stories leading this surge?
A) Yasmani Grandal is back and raking for the team after completing his 50 game suspension
B) Jason Marquis finally moves back to France to reclaim his royal heritage, leaving room for Boxberger to take a spot in the rotation and shine
C) Quentin stays healthy and hits 30+ HRs for the first time in 5 years
D) San Diego is so happy with how he’s playing, they name one of their roads ‘Huston Street’.  A week later, both Huston and the street are closed for repairs
E) Everth steals 50 bases
Ha, I think we’re gonna have to go with F) for all of the above.  Gonna need a lot right to tumble our way to be challenging for the NL West crown.