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Three reasons the Padres are unlikely to repeat last September’s collapse

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Three reasons the Padres are unlikely to repeat last September's collapse

Three reasons the Padres are unlikely to repeat last September’s collapse

In September 2021, the San Diego Padres appear to be following their desired arc. The Padres have won 10 games by over .500 at the start of the final month of the regular season and are in a playoff spot in the National League.

This is what it generally looks like. The revived Padres finished the playoffs in a shortened 2020 season with the highest winning percentage in franchise history. In the following offseason, general manager A.J. Presser again took bold steps to strengthen the team. If anything, 10 of the 0.500 games leading up to the final month of the regular season were underperforming.

However, things soon got worse. The Padres are 7-21 from Sept. 1 through the end of the 2021 regular season, with their opponents leading by 53 points. They were out of the playoffs just over a week after the regular season, and soon after, manager Jayce Tingler was fired after two seasons on the job. Preller’s job security also appears to have taken a hit.

A year later, the Padres, now managed by manager Bob Melvin, were in slightly better shape until September — 14 games over .500 this month and in playoff position. Of course, San Diego’s hope is that the stretch drive doesn’t lead to another 2021-style debacle. Not only do the Padres have a more consistent hand in Melvin’s dugout, but they also have a 3-3 record at the waterline as the calendar switches to September. Also, looking ahead, there are three good reasons why a repeat of last year’s debacle and a return to the playoffs are unlikely. Now let’s look at these reasons for San Diego’s optimism.

1. A simpler schedule

This season, the Padres’ remaining opponents have an average winning percentage of 0.548. It’s a tough hand, but nothing compared to last year’s Challenger. As of September 2021, the Padres’ remaining opponents have an average winning percentage of 0.602(!). In the words of this year, it’s kind of like playing a whole month with the Cardinals and Mets.

During that time, they played a total of 16 games against the Giants last September, with 107 wins and the Dodgers with 106 wins, with both giants doing their best due to the tightness of the NL West. win every game. Overall, the Padres played 25 of 28 games against teams that ended in the playoffs last September.

On another level, the Padres have played just 11 of their final 28 games in 2021. However, this year they will play 18 of their last 30 games at home. The road ahead is not smooth, but it is far from what they experienced in the financial crisis of September 2021.

2. The rotation state is better

Now San Diego’s rotation is at full capacity, as we were in mid-September:

  1. Joe Musgrove
  2. Yu Darvish
  3. Mike Clevinger
  4. Blake Snell
  5. Sean Manaea

This is in stark contrast to last season. See how the Padres get started on September 28, 2021:

  • Darvish, six starts
  • Musgrove, six starts
  • Vince Velasquez, four starts
  • Jake Arrieta, three starts
  • Snell, two starts
  • Chris Paddack, two starts
  • Reiss Knehr, two starts
  • Pedro Avila, one start
  • Ryan Weathers, one start
  • Pierce Johnson, one start (bullpen game).

In terms of rotation stability, as of Sept. 1 of last year, the Padres used as many starting pitchers as they have in the entire season so far in 2022 — 10 with a K/BB ratio of 3.86 and 3.69. That includes the offseason acquisition of Manaya, who had a brutal second half, will be eliminated in the next rotation, and will almost certainly be in the playoff bullpen (assuming the Padres do). The Padres are without Clevinger in 2021 as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, and if you remove Darwish, Musgrove and Snell from calculus, you’ll find what’s left The pitchers, who started in September 2021, have a 5.55 ERA this year. Barring a late wave of injuries, for example, they won’t give Jake Arrieta a chance to come out of a recession when the season comes.

3. No Fernando Tatis Jr., but Juan Soto (and Ha-Seong Kim)

Superstar shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. has not played and will not play this season, first because of his offseason wrist injury and then because of his 80-game suspension for violating the PED. Tatis was in San Diego’s lineup last September, but that’s clearly not the case this time around. The good news for the Padres is that Juan Soto, their deadline signing in the headlines, is about to be sold out. Soto’s performances since the Blockbuster trade haven’t exactly been old-fashioned, but he’s been fairly prolific and always finds his level.

Kim Ha Sung, who replaced Tatis as shortstop, is also doing well in 2022. He has a 107 OPS+ record, which is a particularly strong showing for shortstops who have notable wins on the field. Kim ranks in the 86th percentile in above-average outs on Statcast, while Baseball Info Solutions ranks him as the 10th shortstop with 7.0 saves. When you add it up, Kim’s current 4.0 WAR this season trails only Manny Machado and the Padres. That’s not Tatis Peak, but it’s not very far either.

So, last year’s stretch-driving pain is unlikely to be repeated for the three reasons above. Possibly, yes, but for now, there are signs that the Padres will be back in the playoffs in 2022.

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He is the editor of River C Sports. Previously, he was editor-in-chief at other news sites . Rodrigo has spent most of his career as editor-in-chief of various websites and has more than 7 years of experience in the industry.

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Interest from other teams could make Chris Sale wear another shirt in 2023

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Interest from other teams could make Chris Sale wear another shirt in 2023

Interest from other teams could make Chris Sale wear another shirt in 2023

Although no more serious negotiations have begun, the Boston Red Sox have noted the interest of other franchises in pitcher Chris Sale and have not ruled out involving him in a possible trade.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that while the Red Stockings are not thinking of trading any of their starters, they may at least listen and consider offers for the members of the rotation, due to many options in the sector.

However, if the team decides that Ace’s time in Boston is over, Sale can veto his fate and choose where he will go, since the no-trade clause in his contract gives him this possibility.

Should any team decide to take over the pitcher’s contract this offseason, they will secure his services for at least two more years, as Chris Sale becomes a free agent only in 2025.

Known for his excellent left-handedness, the athlete has a considerable history of physical problems. In addition to missing the entire already shortened 2020 season as a result of recovery from Tommy John surgery, Sale also took the field nine times the following year in uneven performances.

This season did not start in good shape for Sale either, who missed the start due to a rib injury during Spring Training. When he was healthy, he played only twice and fractured his little finger during an away game against the New York Yankees in July in his last performance. In addition, he broke his wrist riding a bicycle.

“You can’t make that up, right?” said Chaim Bloom, head of baseball operations for the Sox Kings. “We need to send some people after whoever is with Chris Sale’s voodoo doll and get it back.”

Sale was among the top six nominees for the Cy Young award between 2012 and 2018, receiving seven All-Star Game nominations, one World Series win, recording the record for unblemished innings with three (tied with Sandy Koufax and Max Scherzer) and owns a 5.33 strikeouts-to-walk average, the best mark in league history.

Taking into account his wins, but also the medical issue, Chris Sale will have to prove himself again as an elite pitcher who has made it through the injuries. If so, he is a powerful weapon on the mound, regardless of the uniform he wears.

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Pirates sign veteran pitcher Rich Hill to a one-year deal

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Pirates sign veteran pitcher Rich Hill to a one-year deal

Pirates sign veteran pitcher Rich Hill to a one-year deal

The Pittsburgh Pirates and left-handed pitcher Rich Hill finalized terms on a one-year, $8 million contract on Tuesday (27), reported Jeff Passan of ESPN USA.

Hill, 42, will be entering his 19th season in the MLB. He accumulated a 4.27 ERA with 109 strikeouts in 124.1 innings for the Boston Red Sox in 2022. Including, his last stint in Boston was his fourth with the team.

Since 2015, when the lefty had a “resurgence” period in his career, he has maintained an average of 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings, along with a good 2.91 ERA (140 ERA+) and a 1.06 WHIP in 87 total games.

The veteran pitcher has also played for the Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Guardians, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays, and New York Mets during his long career.

In addition to Hill, the Pirates have already signed Austin Hedges, Vince Velasquez, Jarlin Garcia, Carlos Santana, Connor Joe, and Ji-Man Choi this offseason.

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The Mariners acquire Wong from the Brewers in exchange for Winker and Toro.

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The Mariners acquire Wong from the Brewers in exchange for Winker and Toro.

The Mariners acquire Wong from the Brewers in exchange for Winker and Toro.

The Mariners acquired Kolten Wong from the Brewers on Friday in exchange for outfielder Jesse Winker and infielder Abraham Toro, filling a much-needed left-handed spot in their lineup.

DETAILS OF THE TRADE

  • 2B for the Mariners Kolten Wong
  • Brewers are awarded: LF/DH INF Jesse Winker Toro, Abraham.

The Mariners will also receive $1.75 million to help offset Wong’s $10 million salary in 2023, when he will be a free agent. Winker is due $8.25 million in his final year before free agency, effectively a money and player swap for Seattle, while Toro is in his first year of arbitration as a Super Two player and won’t be a free agent until until 2026.

Wong has been a Mariners goal since the team came short of signing him as a free agency ahead of the 2021 season, when Seattle offered a two-year deal but Milwaukee offered a third-year club option, which was the difference at the time, according to sources. The Mariners had inquired about Wong’s availability at the Trade Deadline the previous two seasons, but the competing Brewers were uninterested in moving him.

However, with numerous arbitration-eligible players set to receive raises this offseason, many in the business anticipated that the team might be willing to move some of its higher-priced players for payroll relief, prospect capital, and/or depth. Toro, a switch-hitting infielder with glimpses of good performance, provides longevity for the Brewers’ squad, while Winker, coming off a terribly disappointing season, returns to a division where he flourished with the Reds while facing the motivation of a contract year with the Brewers.

The Brewers activated Wong’s option last month instead of paying him a $2 million buyout, opening the door for him to be traded, which sparked interest from clubs other than Seattle, according to sources.

Wong, 32, is coming off what was maybe his greatest season at the plate, hitting.251/.339/.430 (.769 OPS) with a career-high 15 homers, 24 doubles, four triples, 47 RBIs, and 116 wRC+ (league average is 100) while collecting 2.5 wins above replacement, according to FanGraphs.

Some of this was by purpose, with a more deliberate attempt to raise the ball higher. His line-drive and fly-ball rates were the best in his career the last two years (49.3% combined), but his ground-ball percentage was the lowest (43.7% for ’21-22). It’s possible that his OPS+ in each of the last two seasons – 110 in ’21 and 118 in ’22 – was the greatest of his career.

Wong is a two-time Gold Glove Award winner who is coming off a defensively bad year in which he was worth minus-9 outs above average (placing in the third percentile, per Statcast) and minus-1 defensive runs saved.

Some of that could be attributed to lower-body injuries he battled throughout the year, such as a right calf strain from a hit-by-pitch in June, which led to a stint on the injured list and persisted despite treatment and footwear experimentation. A full offseason of rest and a Spring Training with infield coaching guru Perry Hill, who has helped J.P. Crawford and Ty France among others, should be beneficial.

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