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SAN DIEGO -- It was a rough year for the San Diego Padres, and things will probably get worse before they improve.The Padres are missing the playoffs for the 10th straight season and finished last in the NL West at 68-94.It was the Padres sixth straight losing season. One of their owners, Ron Fowler, doesnt think theyll even be .500 for two more years.Their general manager, A.J. Preller, who is deep into a rebuilding mode, was suspended for 30 days without pay by MLB for failing to disclose required medical information when they traded All-Star Drew Pomeranz to the Boston Red Sox.Despite the embarrassing and unprecedented punishment, the Padres are sticking by Preller, who gambled and lost with a win-now approach in 2015 before making massive changes during this season.Were well aware that our building process is going to take a while, but its exciting at the same time, first-year manager Andy Green said.Here are some things to take away from the Padres season:REBIULDING MODE: The Padres are retrenching with youth after failing to win with several veterans obtained in a wild spree of trades and signings after the 2014 season. They loaded up then with Matt Kemp, Justin and Melvin Upton, James Shields, Wil Myers, Derek Norris and Craig Kimbrel, and still didnt have a winning season. Only Myers, a first-time All-Star, and Norris remain. Justin Upton left as a free agent after last season and Kimbrel was traded to Boston. Kemp, Melvin Upton and Shields were traded this season in a salary dump.With just more than a week left in the season, they brought up catcher Austin Hedges, infielder Carlos Asuaje and outfielders Manuel Margot and Hunter Renfroe, the core players who led Triple-A El Paso to the Pacific Coast League title. Preller also spent tens of millions of dollars on international signings.WIL MYERS: Converted from the outfield to first base, Myers got the healthy, full season he desired. He got to play in the All-Star Game in his own ballpark and finished the year with 28 homers, 94 RBI and 28 stolen bases. Slowed by injuries the previous two seasons, he played in 157 games.He went through stretches where he was outstanding, Green said. Wil has many more steps out in front of him where he can be as good as he possibly can be. He is from a base stealing perspective substantially better than hes ever been in his career. Never been a real big part of his game at the major league level. Theres been a lot of work put in at first base. He does some things that are very unique over there because of his athleticism. Hes a Gold Glove first baseman and offensively I think if he stays married to his approach he can be as dominant as anybody in the game.HUNTER RENFROE: The teams first-round draft pick in 2013, the outfielder showed his raw power by hitting four home runs and driving in 14 runs in his first 11 games. He hit his first career homer off Madison Bumgarner; drove in seven runs in one game with his first career grand slam and a three-run homer; and became the first batter to hit a home run onto the roof of the Western Metal Supply Co. brick warehouse in the left-field corner at Petco Park.I think its very exciting for the Padres and also just for the city of San Diego to see something like that, Myers said. Ive been nothing but impressed.RYAN SCHIMPF: The 28-year-old rookie infielder showed a crazy propensity for extra-base hits, with 20 home runs, 17 doubles and five triples among his 60 hits.I waited a long time to get here and I tried to prepare in the offseason and during the season like I was in the big leagues and expecting to get here at some point, he said. Once I got here, I just tried to be me and tried to relax as much as possible.CHRISTIAN BETHANCOURT: The Padres are flirting with having him pitch and play outfield as well as play catcher. No team has really tried to deploy a guy in that capacity probably ever when you consider those three dynamics, Green said. The arm works at 96 (mph). ... Well run as far down that road as his arm will allow us to. I dont know if were firmly committed or married to that but its worth exploring at this point.Thomas Ives Jersey . 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After slipping from the summit during the week, the Gunners overcame struggling Crystal Palace 2-0 on Sunday thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains second-half brace.New Zealand Rugby are open to the idea of giving All Blacks skipper Kieran Read a Richie McCaw-esque sabbatical before the 2019 World Cup.Read, 31, is contracted until the end of 2017, with negotiations ongoing for a two-year extension.The tournament in Japan is likely to be the Crusaders No.8s last in the black jumper, as he will celebrate his 34th birthday during the Cup.NZ Rugby chief Steve Tew said the union was open to giving the 97-cap Read a sabbatical in 2018 to refresh before a final tilt at the Webb Ellis.If granted, the sabbatical would imitate former captain McCaws six-month break from the game at the beginning of 2013.McCaw, in a bid to preserve his body for the ultimately successful 2015 World Cup defence, missed most of Super Rugby in 2013 and the June series against France.Weve proven over a long period of time now that well sit down with each player and, within reason, be incredibly flexible, Tew said on Monday.If thats what any player wanted and we believed it merited in terms of their tenure and loyalty, and their workload, wed consider that.Irrespective of any sabbatical, Read will be forced to take a prolonged break from rugby after having his wrist operated on two weeks ago.Crusaders boss Scott Robertson confirmed oon Monday that Read would sit out Super Rugby action until April, just two months before the Lions tour.ddddddddddddAs a result Robertson has elected to install Test lock Sam Whitelock as his sides 2017 skipper, giving Read the chance to recuperate and rejuvenate.The 83-cap Whitelock had previously captained the Crusaders during Reads absence at the start of 2016.Kieran has been an excellent captain, hes a courageous leader who the players admire and love, Robertson said.This will allow Kieran to focus on just playing and enjoying himself in the Crusaders environment.Meanwhile, Tew confirmed contract offers had been extended to All Blacks stalwarts Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg and Ben Smith.All three will be off-contract next year and have reportedly fielded lucrative deals from clubs in Ireland and France.Head coach Steve Hansen has publicly called on the trio to stay until 2019 and write another chapter in their Test stories.They all know we love them to death and wed love them to stay, but theyve got to make their decision, Tew said.We continue to work really hard to create great environments for our players. 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