Hoyer on the road

Jed Hoyer heads to Florida to go watch the hottest team in MLB play the Marlins.

By Corey Brock / MLB.com

04/25/10 2:35 PM ET

CINCINNATI -- On Monday morning, Jed Hoyer will fly to Florida to watch the hottest team in the Major Leagues -- the San Diego Padres.

The first-year general manager of the Padres will meet up with a team that has certainly been one of the biggest surprises of the season, especially since the team was pegged by many to finish last in the National League West.

What has Hoyer liked about the eight-game winning streak the Padres carried into their series finale in Cincinnati on Sunday?

In a word: Pitching.

"First and foremost, our pitching and run prevention has been good ... we're keeping the ball in the ballpark," Hoyer said by phone on Sunday. "Going down the line, everyone has been throwing the ball well and with confidence."

The Padres entered Sunday's game against the Reds having the lowest ERA (2.73) in the Major Leagues. San Diego ranks second in the Major League teams in opponent batting average (.220).

"The key to our early success is holding our opponent down," Hoyer said.

Hoyer has also seen things he's liked about the offense, one that's already produced two games of 10 or more runs. It's not so much the volume of runs that has impressed Hoyer, but how the Padres have gone about scoring them.

"One of the things that sticks out is how we're being aggressive and opportunistic on the bases," Hoyer said. "Our aggressiveness has led to some runs."

Link

Play Ball !!!