
San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin needs to have a strong September
If you think things are bad for the Mets, the San Diego Padres have been just as big of a disappointment, if not worse.
They have been chasing the National League West since Opening Day and they are buried in the Wild Card standings with just too many teams to climb over to steal a playoff spot. Like the Mets, there are many different ways you can go in pointing the finger in Southern California.
There is no shortage of talent on a team that went to the National League Championship Series last October and added shortstop Xander Bogaerts in free agency from the Boston Red Sox. Also added were Nelson Cruz and Matt Carpenter in hopes of adding some key DH at-bats, but Cruz was DFA’d in July and Carpenter is barely seeing any playing time.
Despite their spot in the standings, GM A.J. Preller was a buyer at the trade deadline and not a seller, keeping pitchers Blake Snell and Josh Hader instead of selling high on the free agents to be. September is going to be a long month for the Padres, one where Melvin needs his team to finish the season strong for him to return next season.