Here are some possible reasons that Bobby Scales didn't make the Padres, some 5 years ago...

(First posted in a fan shot thread, but perhaps it would launch more discussion here)

After a good 2003 at AA Mobile, .281/361/.405…..Bobby Scales slumped, in 2005 — starting in Mobile and then in AAA Portland. (.242/.336/.335, combined, with the averages dragged down by the lower AAA stats. He didn’t seem to make the transition to a higher level of play very  well.)

At the same time, the parent club improved mightly after moving to Petco Park in 2004.

In 2005, The Padres were high on other youthful talent that was passing Scales by — Sean Burroughs, who became the starter at 3B and Khalil Greene, at SS. Mark Loretta was in the midst of two very good years at 2B. With a veteran bench — Kevin Sweeney, Geoff Blum, (before being dispatched to the White Sox)  along with Damien Jackson,  and Manny Alexander — there was no room for another first-year player who wouldn’t play, but would languish on the bench

The Padres won the division that year, and the next year — 2006. Meanwhile, Loretta departed. You’d think that this was Scales’  next chance, but the Padres went with rookie Josh Barfield at 2B. Geoff Blum (returning) and Mark Bellhorn highlighted the IF bench. (Along with Todd Walker and Russell Branyan, who both came along later in the season....again,  Kevin Towers bypassed Scales for veterans. That’s a hint right there that the parent club isn’t really considering you…)

It appears Scales’ best shot to make the Padres was 2004 – but, he was caught in that “numbers” game. Then, his poor 2004 between AA and AAA screwed him for 2005. He rebounded at AAA Portland  in 2005 — .272/.344./.347, but my guess is that the organization was pretty much moving past him, so by 2006 -- he didn't have a future in San Diego.