In his time as owner of the San Diego Padres, the late Peter Seidler spoke frequently with his general manager, A.J. Preller, about the repeated cycle of frustration the city's sports fans had experienced. "All the time," Preller said recently. Often, the Padres developed or collected stars, and with the notable exception of eight-time batting champion Tony Gwynn, they would trade players when they became more expensive or stand down as they departed as free agents.