Padres News: Fan Expectations Do Not Matter to Blake Snell Amidst Struggles

He is his own biggest critic.

Blake Snell has had to hear loud and clear from everybody within the community of the San Diego Padres how he needs to improve. He is coming off a start on Wednesday where the Friars fell to the Mets 5-2 and he gave up four runs, six hits, and posted a 6.92 ERA. 

Snell has actually given up six hits in all three of his games this year and has yet to pitch under 6.00 ERA. He was expected to be the team's most reliable starting pitcher while Yu Darvish gets comfortable again and Joe Musgrove recovers from a foot injury but he has been quite the opposite.

Slow starts to the season are nothing new for the the 30-year-old but this one is not like the others. The Friars have heavy expectations on them to contend for a title this year and Snell is viewed as someone that will play a huge role. He's coming off of an All-Star appearance and also is in the final year of a five-year contract.

However, Snell revealed in an interview with the Athletic's Dennis Lin that outside expectations do no mean much to him in the grand scheme of things.

Blake Snell gets out of the bases loaded jam with some help from the best 3B in MLB! pic.twitter.com/TtGG9xmODv

— Talking Friars (@TalkingFriars) April 12, 2023

"I don’t care about anyone else’s expectations,” Snell said. “My expectation is the one that matters, and I’m not happy with it. But all the work I’ve put in, everything, I’m happy with all of that. The results: Frustrating, yes. Not happy with that. … The battle’s in my head. So, continue to attack, continue to believe in myself.”

(Via The Athletic)

In the current social media era where anybody can share their opinions online to plays just seconds after they happen, it's very hard at times for athletes to tune out the negative noise.

Even though we want to see Snell improve as well, it's promising to see that he holds himself to high standards and json't let hard words from fans get to him.