Some things went right in 1999. Starter Matt Clement showed he had what it took to succeed in the major leagues, and should develop into a staff ace if he stays healthy. Catcher Ben Davis stepped in when incumbent Carlos Hernandez got hurt, playing terrific defense while holding his own with the bat.

On the other hand, heralded outfielder Ruben Rivera hit .195 with 143 strikeouts. Outfield prospects Mike Darr and Gary Matthews Jr. failed to hit at Triple-A Las Vegas, throwing their status in doubt.

The Padres are a bit short of talent at the upper levels, but the lower reaches of the farm system look good. Third baseman Sean Burroughs is one of the best prospects in baseball, while the 1999 draft looks very successful.

Overall, the Padres have a decent farm system; not as stocked as the best clubs, but not dry, either.

Vince Faison, an outfielder from high school in Georgia, was the first player they selected. He is extremely fast, has power potential, and hit surprisingly well in rookie ball, though he is still rather raw. The second pick was Gerik Baxter, a polished high school pitcher from Washington state. He is expected to move quickly. The third first-rounder was Omar Ortiz, a hard-thrower from the University of Texas-Pan American. He has less experience than most college pitchers, but owns an outstanding arm.

Supplemental picks were expended on Casey Burns, a right-handed pitcher from the University of Richmond, and Mike Bynum, a southpaw from the University of North Carolina. The latter owns a slider compared to Steve Carlton's. A third supplemental pick was used on Nick Trzesniak, a high school catcher from Illinois, who is a long way from the majors.

The Padres did a good job with these picks, taking a wide variety of talent.

Other players who could move fast are fourth-rounder Jason Moore, a shortstop from the University of Texas, and Clemson southpaw Chris Heck, taken in the fifth round.