Giles Feeling Good

All reports coming out of Peoria suggest that Padres RF Brian Giles is responding very well to off season micro-fracture knee surgery. This is good news for the Friars as the outfield has been (and continues to be) a huge topic and question mark all winter. Of course the 2008 model of Brian Giles isn't our younger brother's version that saw him pile up huge HR totals with the Pittsburgh Pirates in the small ballparks of the NL Central, but the San Diego native is a quality hard nose ball player. Giles excelled with a bum right knee last season as the club's leadoff man as he continued to get on base via the walk while keeping his batting average at a respectable level. In the last season of the 3 year $30M contract the Padres should be able to count on Giles for his solid on base percentage (FF fells that he will be around a solid .400) and opposing middle infielders will find themselves getting up off the dirt after trying to turn two with a tan Giles (Brian feels he plays better after a fresh tanning bed session) on first. With all things considered he is a major piece of the puzzle if the Friars are going to make noise this year in a difficult NL West.