San Diego Padres top performers of the week (August 10-16)
Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
The San Diego Padres went through a grueling week of tough losses and ended with a 2-5 record in the two separate series.
It was a rough week if you are a fan of the San Diego Padres. You saw the team win the first two games of the series against arguably the best team in the National League in the Dodgers only to drop the last two for a series split and then get swept in Arizona by a team that the Padres had previously dominated.
However, that does not mean the week was free from good performances by Padres players. Here are three…
It’s a relief to see Hosmer playing well after starting out hot only to go on the injured list with gastritis after the first weekend. Many feared this would throw off his groove, but the opposite has been true. The veteran first baseman launched three home runs, including Sunday’s, which sparked, for the moment, a comeback by the Friars, tying the game at two in the sixth inning. Two of his three home runs came in the weekend series against Arizona.
SEE YOU LATER ⚾️@TheRealHos305 ends the no-no, shutout and 2-run deficit with 1 swing of the bat!@Padres | #FriarFaithful pic.twitter.com/zX0v0wioKw
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) August 16, 2020
Hosmer didn’t just hit home runs during his impressive week. He collected six hits and produced a .869 OPS, working a walk and stealing his first base since 2018. He also singled home the eventual winning run in Monday’s win over the Dodgers. Overall, Hosmer has a .974 OPS and 165 OPS+ through 11 games this season. Clearly, he has made some adjustments and is playing like the All-Star the Padres paid for ahead of the 2018 season.
Unfortunately, this comes on the heels of his injury as he deals with back and neck tightness but no word yet if this means he is headed to the injured list. Before he got nicked up, the most veteran of Padres players was hitting quite well. He ended the week on a five-game hitting streak, which included doubles in the first two games of the series against Arizona. He has shown an improved approach at the plate and looks rejuvenated in 2020.
The resurgence of the Padres’ Wil Myers @jason_frings https://t.co/8TK6Nyfnez pic.twitter.com/YAxqhfnBiz
— East Village Times (@EVT_News) August 11, 2020
Overall, Myers hit .316 with a .830 OPS and 137 wRC+ in six games this week, reaching base at a .409 clip thanks to three walks as well. On the season, Myers boasts a .969 OPS, which would be easily a new career-high if he can maintain it.
Richards was the only Padres pitcher this week to make two starts, and both of them put San Diego in positions to win. In Tuesday’s 6-2 win over the Dodgers, the former Angel did his part, tossing six innings while allowing just one run and striking out three while stranding four Dodgers baserunners. On Sunday, Richards, once again, pitched good enough for the team to win. Thanks to a conservative pitch count, he was able to throw seven innings, allowing two runs and striking out two. Unfortunately, the Padres’ bats and bullpen let him down, and the team lost a heart-breaker in the late innings.
Garrett Richards, Disgusting 88mph Slider. 🤮 pic.twitter.com/tLkMooUnyM
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 12, 2020
Over the week, he tossed 13 innings while posting a stifling 2.08 ERA. Though his strikeout numbers were not eye-popping at 3.5 strikeouts-per-nine-innings in those two starts, this allowed him to pitch deeper into ballgames. He is the current team leader in innings pitched at 28 2/3 innings with an overall 3.45 ERA and 129 ERA+.
Native of Escondido, CA. Lived in San Diego area for 20 years. Padres fan since childhood (mid-90s). I have been writing since 2014. I currently live near Seattle, WA and am married to a Seattle sports girl. I wore #19 on my high school baseball team for Tony Gwynn. I am a stats and sports history nerd. I attended BYU on the Idaho campus. I also love Star Wars.
Hosmer and Myers are both playing well… finally. Let’s hope it’s not a blip on the year but a new found focus and comfort level to continue this year and beyond.
The Padres are a young team with young stars and young players with the possibility of great careers. Enough good players in the field and on the mound means we have the possibilities of a long tenured place with the league elites. Hosmer, Myers, Machado, Tatis jr, Padock, Richards, and more are currently good players on our roster. Many more might join them through consistency. Add out minor leaguers including Gore, Patino, to go with the catchers, outfielders and other pitchers knocking on the door.
I’m a lifelong Padre fan since their arrival in ‘69. We’ve had great players here and there have been great years. This is actually (imho) that we’ve got a team that can compete for many years going forward because of our talented youth.