San Diego Padres: Top Five Reasons Why the Friars are in First

The San Diego Padres have seemed to carry momentum over from ending last season on a high note with tied for the best record in the NL at 21-12, the best home record at 11-5 and have the fewest runs scored against them in the majors (101).

Each division in the majors has at least one team to stand out above the rest except the NL West. The injury riddled Rockies have three starting pitchers with an ERA above six and still waiting for closer Houston Street and No.2 pitcher Jorge De La Rosa to get back healthy. Los Angeles began the season a bit sluggish but has come on strong of late winning their last seven out of 10. The Diamondbacks have given up a MLB worst 215 runs and the Giants have struggled against their division with a 3-8 record. As for the Padres, they swept Arizona and San Francisco in back-to-back series and have their second best start in franchise history.

There are many instrumental factors that have gotten the Padres to this point and some stand out above the rest. With that being said, the next five reasons if continued by the Padres will keep them in contention and propel them into the playoffs.

Leading the League in Stolen Bases

The Padres are 10th or lower in almost every offensive category except stolen bases where they lead the league with 44. This is why stealing bases is that much more important because the Padres don’t supply a lot of power at the plate and don’t hit particularly well for average. So, how do stolen bases fit into this seemingly doomed equation?

When a team steals bases, they are putting pressure on the defense by putting their infield in motion thus opening up holes. When a team has solidified themselves as a base stealing team, as the Padres have, opposing pitchers tend to waste pitches on pitch outs and are unable to fully concentrate on the batter (with runner in mind) resulting in better pitches to hit. With the runner in mind, pitchers are more prone to leave breaking balls over the plate due to rushing their delivery, and will throw more fastballs to get the ball quicker to the plate.

What many don’t realize about stealing bases is it’s about the only offensive category where the odds are on your side. A player can make a career getting a base hit 3 out of every 10 at bats. The average for most catchers of throwing out would be base-stealers falls between 10 to 30 percent resulting in a 70 to 90 percent chance of stealing a base and putting the runner in scoring position. With the Padres lacking home run power, they need to utilize ways to get runners in scoring position. Bringing in ex-Pad, Dave Roberts, to teach the youngsters how to steal has been vital to their success.

Pitching Staff

The Padres pitching staff has given up a MLB best 99 runs before tonight’s (5/12) game. They are on the road in San Francisco and won the first two games of the series with starting pitchers Wade LeBlanc and Clayton Richards, two young pitchers allowing only two runs in each start while the bullpen pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings. In nine out of their last dozen games, the padres pitching staff have allowed no more than two runs. They’re also second in the NL in team ERA (2.71) and opponent batting average (.224).

I can go on about their stats but the bottom line is the Padres starting staff is getting the job done and the bullpen is finishing. The Padres pitching has been their strength for a while now and if they could get run production it will result in the staff pitching with more confidence.

Dominance in the NL West

The Padres are playing well against NL West foes this season with a record of 11-6 sweeping the Diamondbacks and Giants in back-to-back series. Last year, the Padres were 33-39 against NL West opponents with only a winning record against the Giants (10-8) and in 2008 the Padres were 29-43 with losing records to all four opponents. With playing 72 games of the 162 against NL West opponents, the Pads could make or break their season down the stretch as they play 22 of their last 33 games against West rivals.

The last season San Diego had a non-losing record (36-36) against divisional opponents was 2006 when they won the West and had a 13-5 record against Los Angeles. They have yet to play against the Dodgers this season and will open their first series against them at Petco Park.

Manager Bud Black and GM Jed Hoyer

Bud Black has yet to reach the playoffs as the head coach of the San Diego Padres after taking over in 2006. But he has a young AAA team, as the Padres are considered by many, playing quality major league baseball. It has a lot to do with mentality when dealing with a young team and Bud Black has them on the right mental track. I know it’s always fun when your winning and teams get along best when they do it, but this Padre team has a certain chemistry.

Bud Black was dealt a tough hand at the beginning of the season and has played his cards well putting guys in the right spots at the right time.

General Manager Jed Hoyer has made the most out of his time in San Diego. With not even a full year under his belt, he brought in players Yorvit Torrealba, John Garland and the Hairston brothers who have all had major contributions for the Pads this season.

Solid Veteran Play from Torrealba, Garland and Eckstein

Hoyer was the segment into this next slide with good purpose. Catcher Yorvit Torrealba has turned one of the youngest rotations in the majors into one of the best in the majors by controlling the game and his pitchers. The Pads success in the West this year doesn’t come as a huge surprise thus far because out of the 10 seasons Torrealba has played five years with the Giants and four with the Rockies. He knows many of the batters tendencies and weaknesses in the NL West thus making it easier on his pitching staff by calling the right pitches. All this added on to his .294 batting average has catcher Nic Hundley seeing more time on the bench.

It takes more than an intelligent catcher for a pitcher to be successful and with four wins, the best ERA (1.71) and most innings pitched (42) on the team veteran Jon Garland has lead this young starting staff and has filled the void of missing Chris Young who has only pitched in one game this season.
David Eckstein brings the post-season experience and mentality of a strong baseball player as he has helped the Padres at the plate with timely hitting in walk off fashion in a few games already this year added on to his two RBI’s to extend their first place lead to a game and a half.

The productive play from the veteran players has the younger guys following in their footsteps and playing focused-mentally-sound baseball.