Injuries Have Been Huge Factor in Padres’ Slow Start
Credit: AP Photo
The San Diego Padres have been off to a slow start in 2018 and injuries have been a major factor.
Expectations were reasonable with the fan base, but most did expect the youth of the team to remain healthy and in position to be productive throughout the whole season.
That has not been the case, as several players have already missed time with injuries, and we are barely in the last week of April. There is a long season ahead and the team needs to have healthy players to build a sense of consistency with this young squad.
Here is a brief look at what the team has had to deal with so far in the 2018 season in regards to injuries:
Lamet developed a sore elbow. Tommy John surgery was his ultimate result and it came together rather quickly. A couple of days before the start of the season, Lamet looked locked into the rotation as a key member. He felt discomfort in his elbow and is now lost for approximately one year. His loss was huge for the team as he was expected to eat a lot of innings for the team with his plus fastball and devastating slider. This was an early blow for the Padres.
A sore hamstring limited him late in the spring which resulted in Cordero starting the season in Triple-A. He tore up the PCL and is surely ready for major league service time. Cordero is presently sharing time in the outfield with Jose Pirela and Manuel Margot. He should get plenty of playing time moving forward as nobody on the Padres hits the ball as hard as Franchy. His injury was not a huge factor for the team as he looks to be fully healthy now.
Myers battled a sore elbow that limited him with the bat and with the glove. He had to go on the 10-day DL, and that was huge disappointment for him. Myers told reporters that the elbow is no longer a concern, so the team should have no problem sending him out there each and every day. His 10 days away from the field were not beneficial for this young team. They need Myers and Hosmer in the lineup to create a sense of respectability.
He was nailed by a 95 mph fastball in his ribs and had to spend 10 days on the DL. Margot has yet to find his swing and the time off was surely not helpful for the young, Dominican outfielder. His slow start, and the fact he hasn’t been in the lineup on a daily basis, might be the most disappointing thing about the 2018 so far. He should get the bulk of the playing time from here on out as Margot has skills all across the board and needs to play daily.
A sore hammy and multiple hit-by-pitches have held Villanueva out of the lineup clearly more that the Padres have wanted. He has an impressive bat and should get the majority of the at bats at third base moving forward. The right-handed hitter is struggling a bit with the glove, but his offensive prowess dictates that he will play each and every day. Villanueva is still reasonably young and could be a huge star in the making.
An ankle injury sidelined the reliever for 10 days. He has since come back and looked healthy. Yates is a key member of the bullpen as he is an excellent mentor for the young players that will be coming up in the next few years. The right-handed hurler has been able to remain successful thus far in the 2018 season as his ERA is presently below 2.00.
A back injury and some time on the family/medical leave have limited Eric Hosmer so far in 2018. He has struggled with his first taste of National League pitching. It is very early in the season, and Hosmer has started slowly in the past. His back issues are troubling, but he should be okay moving forward. He usually does not miss many games in a season.
A tight lower back early in the year forced A.J. Ellis into action more that the Padres wanted. Hedges has since not complained of the issue, but he has yet to get his bat on track in the 2018 season. His bat is off right now and you have to wonder if his health is a factor to some degree. The young backstop brings so much with the bat that it is difficult take him out of the lineup. Hedges will play on most days as long as his health permits it.
Injuries are a factor for every major league team, so don’t think that the Padres have suffered worse than others. You need to have a “next man up” mentality when constructing a roster. The Padres have depth in the minors, so if the injuries continue, they should be able to keep their heads above water. The team has started slowly, and injuries have been a huge factor. However, when you think about, things could’ve been a lot worse. The team is a winning streak away from getting back towards respectability. A healthy 25-man roster will go a long way towards that goal. Let’s hope for a healthier month of May in this 2018 season.
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.
Relatively speaking, the Padres Are About the worst team in baseball. Maybe they rank 25th or 26th. So what? In the last 49 Years, they rank as being the worst of 30 teams. Yikes! How do you rationalize that Fact. Starting rotation is mostly a sad joke and the only hope for this team is the rookies plus a few veterans who are underperforming themselves. This team has an insidious culture of being also ran losers and wishful thinking, dredging up the past accomplishments of former padres , fan promotions and apologist voices of the Padres keep us in the cellar. I want to know where the heart and soul of the Padres is- not the ghosts of days gone by!
How do you even reply to this?
More sad excuses. Every team has injuries. Give me a break!!! What’s the excuse for being about the worst team in the entire major leagues?
Need to dig deeper. There are 5 teams with worse records. Padres are pretty much where they are supposed to be. While injuries happen to any team, the people who have been injured in 2018 are the one supposed to be carrying this team. They are far from the Marlins and Royals and Reds.