The Padres are "still recovering from organizational inconsistencies that have played a role in the franchise posting losing seasons in five of the past six seasons as a number of teams in similar small- to mid-size markets ... have found ways to contend year in and year out," according to Jeff Sanders of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. Padres President & CEO Mike Dee, who returned to the franchise after 12 years with the Red Sox and Dolphins said, "We’ve been through a lot of turmoil and a lot of changes -- whether you’re talking about the owners or CEOs or (other front office personnel)." He added, "It starts with ownership and their long-term commitment, but it’s impossible if you don’t have a stable, entrenched front office to have consistency year in and year out." Sanders wrote, "In other words, catch-up hasn’t been exactly easy, but the in-roads appear to be in motion as Josh Byrnes begins his third offseason as the Padres’ general manager and fourth overall with the organization." Sanders noted the Padres have had "three GMs in the last five years, many of them caked with uncertainty." All the "changing in San Diego sent rippling effects throughout the Padres’ foundation at times as the cash-strapped organization struggled with identity crises that had the team focusing on college-aged players in some years and high-school players in others." Their $68M payroll on Opening Day "ranked 25th out of baseball’s 30 organizations, they have been on average the eighth-cheapest roster over the last 14 seasons and they haven’t supplemented their free agency deficiencies with enough top-tier talent from the amateur ranks." Dee said that the "first tangible step under the new ownership group is a promise to increase payroll -- by as much as 20 percent" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 10/6).
