Can the San Diego Padres really look this good?
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By Erick Smith
Maybe low expectations can be a great thing.
Just think of those times when you’re set-up on a blind date and all you’ve been told is “Well she has a great personality.” That’s the dating kiss of death. Definitely don’t expect a looker.
As time slowly creeps toward that 6:30 deadline when it’s time to pick her up, the gameplan is to play it by ear. She can’t be that bad, right?
An hour or two into the date, things are going well and this girl isn’t the ugly duckling she may have been billed as. This might not be the sexiest girl at the dance, but she will get some looks here and there.
This brings me to the San Diego Padres.
Roughly a quarter into this summer’s baseball season, the Padres look more like a prince than a frog. Expected to lose close to triple-digit games, the Padres have surprised everybody by sitting atop the National League with one of baseball’s best records (30-20).
During the spring, pundits across the nation dismissed the Padres final two months of the 2009 season, but it looks like their 34-25 finish translated to 2010.
People around San Diego, and I’m sure the nation, are wondering if the Padres are playoff contenders. I’ve held off writing this because I’ve been afraid to say yes because sooner or later the universe will balance itself out, right?
This time I’m not so sure. I don’t think this is some mixed up parallel universe.
Pitching and defense have propelled San Diego to the top. The Major League leading 2.96 ERA is only 0.02 better than that of the St. Louis Cardinals, a team the Padres edged out 2-1 during a three-game series this week.
Accomplishing this is a starting five of Jon Garland (6-2, 2.15 ERA), Wade LeBlanc (2-3, 3.71), Clayton Richard (4-3, 3.00), Mat Latos (5-3, 3.08) and Cal Poly’s own Kevin Correia (4-4, 4.03).
Even the most optimistic of Padres homers would never have expected this group, minus Chris Young, to perform so well. There have been plenty of games this season when all five have looked down right unhittable.
Ah yes, that word, hitting. Where the entire pitching staff has looked so great, offensively this club is a joke. Think Michael Richards booed off the stage atrocious.
Where to start with this group?
Instead of showing individual stats I’ll let the team’s .322 OBP (22nd in baseball), and .242 average (26th) do the talking. No regular starter is hitting better than .300. San Diego ranks 22nd in runs scored (194). Downright disastrous numbers.
Most of the problem comes from the revolving door in the outfield. Starters have included Will Venable, Tony Gwynn Jr., Kyle Blanks, Scott Hairston, Jerry Hairston Jr., Oscar Salazar, Luis Durango, Chris Denorfia and Matt Stairs.
I think that’s the complete group but after a certain point all the mediocrity starts to blend together. The list will certainly grow as the Padres try to find just one person who resembles an everyday starter.
Even at this juncture, knowing Adrian Gonzalez will be a threat and Chase Headley will continue his breakout season, maybe it’s time to admit the Padres are not exactly who we thought they were during the spring.
Sure they’re not hitting as well as hoped but pitching and defense is carrying this team. I’ve been saying the Padres are like the Indians in “Major League.” They were a joke at the start but somehow they found a way to win and that’s all San Diego has done this summer.
This team might not be the bombshell that is the New York Yankees or Tampa Bay Rays, but just like the girl from the blind date there is no shame being seen in public with her.
