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5 Things San Diego Padres Fans Should Be Excited About on 2015 MLB Opening Day

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5 Things Padres Fans Should Be Excited About on 2015 MLB Opening Day

Will Ferrell San Diego Padres
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The San Diego Padres showed this winter that they were sick of being the laughing stock of the NL West. They were other team's destination when they wanted to pluck players at the trade deadline. This team sat back and watched the Dodgers spend more money than ever before and watched the Giants win three of the last five World Series. For once, Padres fans have something to be excited for on Opening Day 2015.

5. This Could Be The Same Team Come August

San Diego Padres
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5. This Could Be The Same Team Come August

San Diego Padres
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Every season, Padres fans are forced to watch as their favorite players are sent to other teams for spare parts. That will not be the case this season. The Padres are looking to shoot for the playoffs, somewhere they haven't been since 2006. They haven't won a playoff series since 1998. They start the journey to end those slumps. That means keeping this team together.

4. Depth Everywhere

San Diego Padres
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4. Depth Everywhere

San Diego Padres
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Players like Cameron Maybin, Carlos Quentin, Will Middlebrooks and Clint Barmes would be starting on the Padres in many years prior to this one. They are now relegated to bench roles thanks to the amount of talent this team possesses. That will help them get through the long baseball season.

3. The Jedd Gyorko Comeback

San Diego Padres Jedd Gyorko
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3. The Jedd Gyorko Comeback

San Diego Padres Jedd Gyorko
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Jedd Gyorko was one of the most exciting young players on the Padres coming into last season. He even got Rookie of the Year votes back in 2013, the same year Jose Fernandez and Yasiel Puig were going for the title. He clearly has talent, but last year he fell off a cliff. His batting average dropped 39 points. His home run numbers went from 23 to 10. He was a negative WAR player. His talent will prevail in 2015.

2. James Shields

San Diego Padres James Shields
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2. James Shields

San Diego Padres James Shields
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Since Jake Peavy was traded, the Padres have not had a true top-of-the-rotation starter. Despite his detractors, James Shields is indeed an ace. He is the top flight player you want to go when you need a win mid-season. Does he need to live up to his Big Game James moniker more often? When it comes to the postseason, yes, but this is the guy who will take you to the playoffs.

1. A Brand New Outfield

San Diego Padres
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1. A Brand New Outfield

San Diego Padres
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Last year on Opening Day, the Padres started Will Venable, Tommy Medica and Chris Denorfia in the outfield. Don't feel bad if you've never heard of any of them, because most of us haven't. This year, however, they will start Justin Upton, Matt Kemp and Wil Myers. You have a current star, a fading star and a future star. That's a big difference from last season, or most Padres seasons, for that matter.

Nick Villano is the New Jersey Devils writer for Rant Sports. He also adds to the site’s NBA, MLB and NFL content. You can follow him on Twitter or add him to your Google circle.

Nick Villano is a writer for RantSports.
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