Padres News: There are Bright Spots in a Tough Beginning
The San Diego Padres season is officially upon us, and there has been a little bit of everything. We’ve seen consecutive shutouts, walk off wins, and a few blown leads by the bullpen. At 7-12 to begin the year, things aren’t perfect but they aren’t broke. Injuries of Tyson Ross, Yangervis Solarte, Cory Spangenberg and Alexi Amarista has made the Padres reach into their farm system a little earlier than expected. With all this said, there have been a couple bright spots among the Padres tough start.
This is somebody that I hardly had on my radar going into the season, but boy was I wrong. This offseason the Padres signed him to a minor league deal, but due to interest from a foreign team, quickly selected his contract from AAA El Paso.
The bullpen has struggled a little bit this season thus far, but Rodney and Buchter have been the two bright spots. Andy Green already has confidence in Buchter, throwing him out there in tough late inning spots. Also surprising, Green is using Buchter to get right handed hitters out rather than just being a lefty specialist. Buchter has faced 21 right handed hitters vs only 11 left-handed.
Through 19 games, Buchter has appeared in 10 of those. He has posted a 0.93 ERA, and batters are hitting a weak .188 off him. The statistics don’t lie, and it seems like Green is going to be confident rolling Buchter out in tough, late inning situations going forward.
2. Wil Myers
How fun is to watch Myers hit when he is hot? Boy oh boy, Myers has been stroking the ball recently. Myers has been stinging the baseball to all fields, lately driving the ball in the right center gap.
The beginning of the season was a bit of a struggle for Myers, but that was the case for everybody on the Padres. Myers quickly broke out of the slump, and he is now hitting .316 with four HR’s and nine RBI. He is currently riding out a nine-game hitting streak, and is hitting .375 over his last seven games with two home runs.
Andy Green might have something to do with this success, moving him into the two hole. This slots Myers behind Jon Jay, and in front of Matt Kemp, giving Myers a chance to see more fastballs and better pitches to hit. Green has also taken the time with Myers to throw on field batting practice and really work with him on driving the ball to all fields.
This production from Myers is no fluke, the talent is certainly there and all Padres fans alike are hoping that he can just stay healthy for 162.
Tonight, Myers battles with Madison Bumgarner a tough lefty that the Myers has yet to figure out in his career. Myers is 0/11 against Bumgarner in his career, so it will be interesting to see if Myers can get his first knock against Bumgarner and keep his hit streak alive.
Currently attending San Diego State as a Journalism major. I was born and raised in San Diego, and my passion is following and covering the Padres and the Chargers.