Despite Additions, Padres Lag in Crucial Metrics
Credit: USA Today Sports
The San Diego Padres are playing better baseball in 2019, but there are still some issues with the team that need to be addressed.
The addition of Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. has upgraded the Padres performance in a variety of ways. The infield defense, which has been substandard for years, has improved dramatically. And both have helped upgrade the team’s batting stats.
The young pitching staff has also shown promise and has been a welcome change from the revolving cast of aging veterans and journeyman.   However the rest of the league has made adjustments, and even Chris Paddack, who looked like an instant star, has fallen back to earth.
So far Machado’s offensive numbers don’t match his average over eight years, but his batting line of .261/.343/.448/.792 is a definite upgrade over recent inhabitants of third base and shortstop. Proving his worth from his first game, 20-year-old Tatis leads the entire lineup at .338/.392/.626/1.018.
Despite the contributions of Tatis Jr. and Machado, as well as Hosmer’s alternate-year positive results at the plate and Hunter Renfroe’s power surge, the Padres as a whole still rank below league average in a variety of offensive measurements.
Closer Kirby Yates has been excellent, but the pitching staff in general needs reinforcements both from within and without the organization. 22-year-old Logan Allen will be the fifth starting pitcher to make his debut for the Padres when he takes the mound Tuesday against the Brewers.
Of course, the four-game video arcade results (92 runs total) in Colorado certainly helped the Padres’ offensive numbers but played havoc on the pitching performance overall and must be taken into account.
As of Sunday, these measurements show areas in which the Padres must improve to at least play .500 or better baseball. For the first time in years, San Diego has achieved a plus .300 on-base percentage. At the same time, however, the strikeouts keep on coming.
CATEGORY    SD Rank          Stat                 MLB Leader   Leader Stat
| OBP | 25th | .303 | Dodgers | .345 |
| AVE | 23rd | .240 | Twins | .275 |
| OPS | 21st | .726 | Twins | .857 |
| HR | 12th | 104 | Twins | 135 |
| Runs | 21st | 301 | Twins | 411 |
| 2B | 28th | 101 | Rockies | 154 |
| RBI | 21st | 291 | Twins | 396 |
| SO | 2nd | 695 | Angels | 466 (fewest) |
| BB | 25th | 196 | Red Sox | 285 |
| SF | 23rd | 13 | Astros | 37 |
| GDP* | 6th | 57 | Mariners | 33 |
| XBH** | 20th | 212 | Twins | 294 |
*Grounded into double plays
**Extra base hits
In the good news department, San Diego does lead all of baseball in saves. Otherwise, the pitching numbers have not lived up to the hype or results at the beginning of the season.
CATEGORY         SD Rank               Stat                       MLB Leader        Leader Stat
| ERA | 19th | 4.62 | Rays | 3.02 |
| SV | 1st | 27 | ||
| SHO | 21st | 3 | Dodgers | 9 |
| BB | 2nd | 181 | Dodgers | 160 |
| SO | 11th | 637 | Red Sox | 730 |
| BAA | 19th | .253 | Astros | .211 |
That pesky run differential again lies in negative territory at -36. The surprising Minnesota Twins lead all of baseball with a DIFF of +116, and the Dodgers are not far behind at +111. At home, the Padres are 18-20, on the road 17-17.
Petco Park cannot be blamed for the average or below average offensive numbers. The park plays much differently from the pitchers’ park loathed by hitters like Phil Nevin and Ryan Ludwick.  Batting coaches can hardly take responsibility as they come and go like visitors to Sea World.
After a promising start, the Padres have again slid down the standings to fourth place and a sub .500-win percentage (36-37) in the National League West, 12 games behind the Dodgers.
However, the Padres have three-plus months remaining to recapture their winning ways. This team has the talent to improve and the chemistry to rebound and at least finish the season with a winning percentage in the positive column.
Baseball has been a part of Diane’s life since her father played professionally (mostly at the minor league level). She has written for a number of publications and concentrated on companion animal welfare. She welcomes the opportunity to write about the sport she loves. Diane shares her home with her husband and a house full of rescued animals.
They are still only 2 games out of a wild card spot. After 75 games this is a tremendous improvement over any recent season. It seems that this level of play has surprised the manager and the GM, as they haven’t exactly seized the day.
There are some moves that must be made:
1) Have a plan to rest the starters enough that they can still pitch in September, or dare we hope, October. Sending Paddack to A ball for a week was long overdue, and should be used as a way to rest others as we move towards summer. But adding a long reliever and a starter is indicated.
2) Start benching players who do not hit. Recalling Mejia is a start. Surprisingly Kinsler has actually been quite good since May 1.
3) Clear the OF logjam. With Renfroe out of his mind, and Reyes getting hot, they should play everyday. There really aren’t enough at bats for Myers, Margot and Naylor. One should be traded, one demoted. And when Cordero and Jankowski come back, the other one should be traded.
4) Start wheeling and dealing. Myers should be dealt if at all possible. Every prospect whose best position is 1B, 3B or SS should be on the move. Ty France and Josh Naylor both could be decent MLers, but there is just no room for them on this team. They don’t have to be traded right away, but if Machado doesn’t opt out, and Hosmer exercises his player option, there will be no place for them.
But there are some moves that must be made that the team is