Who do you think should hit leadoff?

I'm leaning towards ECab. I know it's early, but assuming all goes well in Peoria, he is the guy I want setting the table.

He is the key to scoring over three runs a game in April and May!

I think Cabrera and Gwynn Jr. should be in the top 2 spots in the batting order. I do not have a really strong preference either way. Possibly leaning towards Cabrera because Gwynn Jr. is likely to be platooned with S. Hairston in CF. Therefore, if you have Cabrera leading-off, you will have some consistency in the lead-off spot.

I like Eckstein hitting in the 8th spot this year. He obviously has the maturity to hit 8th. Also, he can have productive at-bats with men on base.

Padres should put as much speed as they can at the top of the order!!!

While I like the idea of 2 speedsters at the top of the lineup, Gwynn is not your prototypical 2 man. I really thin the 2 spot in the lineup has to be a guy who can get down a bunt and move a runner over no matter the situation. For that reason, I like Eck. He puts the ball in play, is a great bunter, and comes through with timely hitting. If Ecab gets on, he steals second, Eck moves him to third with a bunt or grounder the other way,and we have two outs to gaurantee ourselves a run.

Gwynn, in case you did not notice, strikes out a bit from time to time, and is not the best bunter in the world.

I do, however, like the idea of a LaRussa like Lineup with the pitcher hitting 8th, Gwynn 9th, and then Cabrera in the 1 spot. Provides two speedsters, a nice flip to the top of the lineup, and a guy who can move two speedsters over if they are on in Eck.

Gwynn will also not be in the lineup everyday and I think the top of the order with all of these young guys on our squad needs consistency.

Just my POV.

I would be OK with a "LaRussa style" line-up, with Cabrera batting leadoff, Eckstein hitting 2 and T Gwynn Jr. hitting 9 with the pitcher hitting in the 8th slot. However, Bud Black used this line-up only a couple of times in 2009.

The problem with the "LaRussa style" line-up is that I don't think the Padres would use it on a regular basis. Therefore, to get Cabrera and Gwynn Jr. hitting back-to-back, you probably need to bat them 1 and 2.

Now all of this is probably moot, because it is likely that Bud Black will have Cabrera bat leadoff and Eck bat #2 and Gwynn Jr. bat #8 - like he did most often last year.

That said, IMHO, the Padres should figure out some way to have Cabrera and Gwynn Jr. hit back-to-back.

to me it depends on how gwynn does in ST. he is dynamic if he hits...but if not he is just a 4th outfielder

I'm not a big fan of Adrian in the 3 spot and I hate Eckstein in the 2 hole. Adrian should be 4 and Eck should be 8. I like some combo of Cabrera, Gwynn, and Hairston 1-2 and Headley or Blanks 3 depending on the pitcher.