San Diego Padres: Postseason failure setting up future success
The San Diego Padres may have come up short in the 2020 MLB playoffs, but they are set up for success down the road.
It was nice to see the San Diego Padres back playing October baseball once again. However, their stay was far too short, especially after what the Friar Faithful have endured for over a decade. Still, it may be hard to fathom, but this recent postseason failure has set up the Padres for success in 2021.
In the past, the Friars seem to find new ways to frustrate their fan base by fielding non-competitive, bad teams. Sure, there was a sprinkle of hope with a flurry of trades or free agent signings that brought aging superstars to San Diego. Often, reality set in quickly that their playing skills had all but eroded away. It was quite evident there was no semblance of a winning lineup assembled.
However, it’s safe to be an optimistic Padres fan once again. 2020 has seen the Friars end their 14-year playoff drought and capture their first series victory since the 1998 National League championship series. The current look of the roster promises for better days ahead.
So, what are the biggest challenges ahead?
Preller Done Outstanding Job Rebuilding Padres Roster, Work Still to be Done
No question, Padres general manager AJ Preller should be applauded for adding quality players to the mix. He did an excellent job of making the right deals at the trade deadline. Preller took a gamble by radically changing his roster without giving up any major pieces off his 40-man roster.
However, getting swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers has shown that there is still work to be done. Yes, improvement has been gained, but Preller and his staff have a shopping list that needs to be filled out this offseason. Most of his player decisions are internal and none are very easy.
The first area of concern is with the Padres pitching staff. The hope is that both Mike Clevinger and Dinelson Lamet are injury-free and atop of the starting rotation in 2021. Preller may look to add a veteran starting pitcher to the mix as an insurance policy in case of injury.
However, the closer position in the bullpen is a major red flag heading into this offseason. Trevor Rosenthal was the perfect trade deadline (4 saves in 9 appearances) addition, especially after Kirby Yates was lost due to injury. His outstanding play will gain attraction on the free agent market this winter. Signing Rosenthal should be priority No 1 for the Padres as replacing him may be near impossible.
The Padres may be in the market to add another bat as Jurickson Profar is a free agent as well. After a slow start to the 2020 season, Profar was one of the Padres most clutch (.351) hitters down the stretch. Odds are high that he will have a number of suitors looking to sign him to a big-money deal. Preller must decide if it’s worth to get into a bidding war for Profar or look elsewhere for another reliable stick.
The good thing is the Padres have an ownership group that is committed to putting a winning product on the field. Preller has implemented a solid game plan, now it is time to complete the goal.
Playoff Disappointment Will Pay Big Dividends in 2021
Are the Padres a juggernaut?
Not quite, but they’re a very good team.
What made 2020 such an enjoyable season was that the Padres young (Fernando Tatis Jr., Jake Cronenworth, Trent Grisham and Chris Paddack) guns were winning ballgames while still learning their trade. The disappointment of their playoff experience will pay big dividends for this group in 2021.
Collectively, the Padres must learn to play with more consistency on the field each day. It’s easy for this roster to compete and play hard, but to go to the next level, this young, talented team must learn from their mistakes. There are no excuses for poor base-running, consistently swinging at pitches out of the zone or failing to throw strikes. Usually, these results turn a tight game into a laugher pretty quickly.
Teams that limit their mistakes in October, continue to play baseball. It sounds simpler than it actually is.
Padres Future Looks Bright
Padres top prospects Luis Campusano and MacKenzie Gore spent most of the 2020 season at the team’s alternate training site. Each player is projected to have a major role with the big league club. The question that remains is if 2021 is their start date.
Campusano is going to be an excellent major league hitter. At the plate, he has a good understanding of the strike zone. Campusano see the ball early and recognizes which pitches he can drive deep into the outfield gaps for extra base hits. His defensive skills behind the dish are regarded as elite. It will be interesting to see if Campusano can unseat Austin Nola in the starting lineup next season. He has a chance to be something special.
It was pretty obvious that the Padres were reluctant to use Gore as a replacement on the roster for Clevinger. But, he must be in the conversation for a spot in the 2021 starting rotation. The only question that remains is if Gore is physically ready for the challenge in Peoria next spring.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Gore didn’t have the opportunity to build up his arm strength because of the cancellation of minor league baseball this season. He has the pitching arsenal, but does Gore may lack the experience to gain an audition in spring training.
The Padres have quality talent at every level of their organization. Now is the time for the Padres to tilt the field in their direction. This is accomplished by having the best players on either side of the diamond.
You can’t understand the mindset of Padres fans until you have lived a minute in their shoes. It’s easy to write that the future is bright in San Diego, but few will believe this statement because of past false promises from the Friar’s dark ages. A Padres fan’s biggest fear is 2020 was a 60-game mirage.
The next great rivalry. dark. Next
However, the odds are in their favor that the Friars will be playing more playoff games in the immediate future.
This current crop of San Diego Padres have earned your trust.