By Ed Piper
As Fernando Tatis, Jr. (the acknowledged spark plug of the "new" Padres), rookie Jake Cronenworth, and the new passel of players garnered in the multi-team trade Aug. 30 continue to play well, let's hear it for the local franchise and their exciting, watchable brand of baseball in this shortened COVID season.
As Mark Grant, TV analyst for Fox Sports San Diego (I had dinner with him and play-by-play announcer Don Orsillo last season with my brother and his college classmate who won a contest for the dinner), mused last week during a game broadcast, "I didn't (comment) on what an impact the injury of Tatis Jr. had (on the team) last year."
That injury sidelined the rookie phenom Aug. 15, 2019. From then on, the Padres deflated and regressed, costing fourth-year manager Andy Green his job and leading to Jayce Tingler being named to the position last fall.
Now that we know Fernando is the driving force of the squad, we can relax, enjoy watching some of the baseball the new boys in brown play, and begin looking forward to the expanded MLB playoffs--of which the Padres will be part--starting at the end of next week.
I've made no bones about who my favorite team is. But with Tatis, Kronenworth, starting RHP Mike Clevinger (taken from the Indians in the multi-team trade last month) and the others continuing to forge forward and plow new ground, we've got a local club that is worth watching.
More than that, everybody's excited with the news that part of the MLB playoffs will be played in San Diego, increasing the possibility that Tingler and company will see more time than just the first round in the expanded playoff format.
Funny story about Andy Green before I move on: In Spring Training in Arizona in February 2020, I decided I'd be like the kids and go get some autographs before and after games. I went down to the passageway where players and coaches traverse at the Rockies' ballpark in eastern greater Phoenix.
Lo and behold, who comes by but Andy Green. He took one look at my baseball, said, "You've already got me," and walked on! It was so funny--the kids all know who's who. I don't. And they would have known Andy Green by sight!
I was just a little embarrassed. To be called out by the Padres' manager. And I didn't even know I already had the guy's autograph. Oh, boy...
Since the trade, Mitch Moreland has bolstered the Padres' lineup, at DH and at first base. (He was traded from the Red Sox.) Clevinger is a key starter (though he's got a herky-jerky windup).
Kronenworth, who hails from St. Clair County, Michigan--everybody in town is buying "Extra Innings" to watch the Padres games--has been phenomenal at the plate and in the field. His stint filling in for Eric Hosmer at first base earlier in the truncated season led to Tingler writing him in at second base when Hosmer (temporarily) came back.
The excellent-fielding "K" is exemplified by one play: His leaping grab of an errant throw at first that would have got into/near the stands. He plays shortstop, he pitches. But what he does best is play anywhere in the infield where the Padres need him. His glove is stellar.
Besides that, from the beginning of the July 24 opener, Capt. K has hit, hit regularly, and hit wherever he is placed by Tingler in the lineup.
Who else has been a key? The pickup of the Mariners' Austin Nola in the Aug. 30 trade has finally given the Padres a catcher who can hit. Austin Hedges never could; San Diego got Jason Castro, from the Angels, as well in the multi-team trade.
Hosmer looked good in his cameo before getting hurt this season. His launch angle was good. He could pound the ball like we haven't seen in our two seasons watching him. Hopefully, he'll be back on the field for more heroics for the playoffs.
You noticed I haven't mentioned Manny Machado. He is definitely not a leader (last year's collapse after Tatis Jr. got hurt took place with Machado in the lineup). But he is a heck of a ballplayer. Having him slugging the way he is, and playing third base so capably, are both big pluses that the Padres got him for. He just has some habits that grate on people.
Chris Paddack, the tall RHP, is definitely part of the new Padres. He has pitched with spirit, though his results this season have been uneven. He is a winner, and will eventually get his ship righted.
I'm forgetting Zach Davies, RHP; Garrett Richards, RHP; Dinelson Lamet, RHP--the latter is phenomenal. Davies has pitched particularly well, crafting no speed into an art form as he paints the corners. (The Padres got him from the Brewers over the winter.)
Trent Grisham and Wil Myers have played well, both being outfielders. I didn't think Myers could play as well as he has this season--ever since the Padres made him their poster boy the year before Eric Hosmer showed up. Grisham came over from the Brewers over the winter. He got my goat a little when he did his bat flip thing and admired his home run against the Dodgers earlier this week.
Not to be totally forgotten is the consistent Jurickson Profar, a fixture mostly in left field (also second base before Cronenworth came on). He hasn't been spectacular, but he has been, like I said, consistent. Tingler writes him in his lineup everyday. Jurickson came from the A's, before that the Rangers.
Tommy Pham, obtained from the Rays over the winter, was expected to provide some pop from the right side of the plate. But he broke his hamate (I didn't know we had a hamate bone) in his left hand Aug.17 and hasn't been heard of since.
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