Bud Black alludes to opening day line up.

[HollywoodLeo]

SignOnSanDiego.com > San Diego Padres -- Team gets healthier as opener approaches

The Padres fielded a starting lineup last night that Black admitted could be close to the Opening Day alignment. Marcus Giles hit in the leadoff slot followed by brother Brian. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez hit third followed by switch-hitting catcher Josh Bard and center fielder Mike Cameron. The bottom of the order, in order, was shortstop Khalil Greene, third baseman Russell Branyan, designated hitter Paul McAnulty and left fielder Terrmel Sledge. Substitute Kevin Kouzmanoff for Branyan and move Sledge up to eighth by eliminating the DH and it could be close to the Opening Day lineup. Black said there will be some juggling with the three through five slots.

[padrefanforever]

Starting Branyan over Kouz at 3rd........lol.......that's a joke

[HollywoodLeo]

He's not

Substitute Kevin Kouzmanoff for Branyan and move Sledge up to eighth by eliminating the DH and it could be close to the Opening Day lineup.

[padrefanforever]

Sorry....I thought those were your thoughts that you added

[love_that_reefer]

Bard as your cleanup hitter? That's a joke!!

[HollywoodLeo]

Who would you put there? Kouzmanoff? (He might win it eventually)

[love_that_reefer]

You need someone with pop to hit there. Cameron hits for more power than Bard. If anything, I would put Bard in the three hole and have Gonzalez hit cleanup.

[HollywoodLeo]

Well he did say there will be "some juggling with the three through five slots".

[padrefanforever]

AGon will likely start as our cleanup hitter......but IMO Kouz will be staking his claim to that spot by May......this would allow us to slide AGon into the 3 hole which is what he's built for IMO.....unless B. Giles ressurects his career, then we can have AGon batting 5th.......