“Padres–Mid Season Report Card”

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Here comes the second half of the Padres baseball season with the team in 2nd place and in the hunt for a Wildcard playoff berth.

They will tell you being 10-games over .500 is an accomplishment.  I will tell you this is a flawed team that is underachieving.

They will tell you of the great numbers posted by a strong pitching staff.  I will tell you they have wasted those starts with an anemic offense that has posted horrific numbers ranked 27th or worst in runs, batting average, RISP, Slugging Percentage, on base percentage, OPS and more.  All you need to know is a (.228) team batting average.

Add on, they still have 12-more games with the Dodgers, 9-with the Giants,  and open up the second half of the season with the Mets.  The Padres are (22-23) against teams with good records.  Thank goodness the Rockies-Diamondbacks-Padres-Cubs were a big part of the first half schedule.  Now they play more real people.

Our dollars sure don’t go as far as they used to, not at the gas pump, the grocery store, or the restaurants.  The 229M-in payroll this team has, sure has not been spent well.

Here’s a midseason report csrd on the Padres from top to bottom:
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PETER SEIDLER…What a job leading this team, putting his money where it should be put and helping create a successful franchise in a small market that will set a record for Petco Park sellouts before the season is done.  Grade (A)

AJ PRELLAR….Has been allowed to do everything he has wanted in building the franchise, only to see injuries derail the team two summers in a row.  In the big picture, around the nation everyone is of the opinion he has done a great job.  Last year was the breakthrough year…failed badly.  This year should be too.  But look over his shoulder, all these teams chasing him down for the final playoff spot.  He has burned thru so much currency, payroll, and minor league talent traded, they still have not accomplished much.  A good first half last year crashed and burned. A good first third this season has turned into a car wreck now.  Think what the Padres would be if he had never traded away Trea Turner-Ty France-Max Fried-Zach Eflin-Cal Quantrill-Eric Lauer..all excelling at so many other places.He has never been held accountable.  Better make the playoffs and do something in October….Somebody should tell the truth..me.  Grade (C)

BOB MELVIN..A strong stable leadership presence in the clubhouse and dugout, whose experience speaks volumes.  Not much can be done if his roster underachieves and there is no one to fix the roster.  He is a victim of all this so far.  Grade (B)

YU DARVISH..Rock solid starter worth every penny most everytime out…(A)
JOE MUSGROVE..Has become a complete pitcher-student of game..(A)
SEAN MANAEA..Bulldog of pitcher-personality..more good than bad..(B)
NICK MARTINEZ..Surprise of staff-durable-fearless..pleasing purchase..(A)
MACKENZIE GORE..Great start then regressed..so much upside..(B)
BLAKE SNELL..All that erratic talent-tired of his act..underachiever..(C)
MIKE CLEVINGER..Fierce competitor-needs to be more than 5inning arm..(B)
NABIL CRISMATT..Willing to take on all roles-worry about fatigue..(B)
TAYLOR ROGERS..Great start..NL has caught up to him..(B)
LUIS GARCIA..Not what he was with Cardinals-is he trustworthy..(C)
CRAIG STAMMEN..Has given all he can over the years-worthy leader..(B)
STEVE WILSON..Jury still out on him and his stuff-needs time..(C)
TIM HILL..Good bounceback season-needs defined role..(B)
ROBERT SUAREZ..Another find from Japan-solid till got hurt..(B)
DINELSON LAMET..One very good year-now more injuries-never the same..(C)
REISS KNEHR..Not enough sample size for a likely 4A pitcher..(C)
ADRIAN MOREJON…Waited alot-so many injuries-still not proven..(C)
PIERCE JOHNSON…Hurt-yet to comeback..(C)
RYAN WEATHERS..Too much expected too soon..has regressed (D)
AUSTIN ADAMS…Season long injury after up-down year ago..(D)

MANNY MACHADO..Complete superstar-now leader..was MVP guy..(A)
ERIC HOSMER..Rock solid player, but overpaid..(C)
WIL MYERS…Never turned out to be a true star with big price tag..(C)
JAKE CRONENWORTH..Real find-grinder-figured it out..(B)
LUKE VOIT..Is what he is-home run or strikeouts-affordable price..(C)
JURICKSON PROFAR..Up and down but works hard-produces..(B)
TRENT GRISHAM..Good glove-holes in bat-not lived up to hopes..(C)
CJ ABRAMS..A bit overmatched but talented..weak arm for SS..(C)
HA SEOYOUNG KIM..Great glove-gotten better at plate..solid…(B)
JORGE ALFARO..Real grinder-leader-solid acquisition..(B)
AUSTIN NOLA..Okay in his roles-not what he was last year..(C)
NOMAR MAZARA..Has rediscovered himself after failing other places..(B)
ESTUARY RUIZ..There is upside..not really ready but competes..(B)
ROBBIE CANO..Father time caught up with bat speed..(F)
MATT BEATY..Never hit like he did inLA..(F)
LUIS CAMPUSANO..Stuck in minors-not hitting..(D)
TRAYCE THOMPSON..Another 4A player-failed here..(D)
JOSE AZOCAR..Actual surprise did so well in different roles-has future.. (B)

FERNANDO TATIS…He is the cornerstone of this franchise…The numbers don’t lie…the (.292) career average…the home runs (81)…the slugging percentage, the gifted plays on defense.  But there is another set of numbers to pay attention too, the injuries to his hand, wrist, shoulder, groin.  He has played (273) games over a 4-year span.  He has missed (235) games with assorted injuries and Covid.  And as we await his return, there is a great unknown.  Not having shoulder surgery, will this be a problem?  What will he be like with the surgically repaired wrist when he comes back?  They need him to be an ‘A’ grade player.  They hope he does not become a knucklehead as witnessed by all the motorcycle incidents that led to this and become a ‘C’.  You hope the money hasn’t changed him…Grade (B)
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Padres Front Office-Dugout…..GPA 3.0

Padres Players…GPA (2.32)
…2-A
..16-B
..13-C
…4-D
…2-F.
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