Padres News: Friars Receive Sub-Par Grade Through Quarter of Season
The 2023 season has not been kind to the San Diego Padres. The Friars came in with high expectations and have yet to meet them through 38 games as of Friday.
There is still a ton of ball left in the season, but it doesn't look promising right now. They've been mediocre overall, and the record and play show that. Because of this, MLB writer for Bleacher Report Kerry Miler handed grades out to each MLB team and gave the Frairs a sub-par grade.
San Diego Padres
Preseason: 93.5; Current Trajectory: 83.2; Grade: D-Both New York teams and Philadelphia have disappointed compared to their exorbitant payrolls. San Diego also has fallen victim to that trend. Like the Houston Astros, the Padres have played this entire season within three games above or below .500. They have yet to sweep or be swept in a three- or four-game series. But at least the important bats are waking up. Over the past 14 days, Juan Soto, Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. have hit a combined .336 with nine home runs. It feels like this team will be staking its claim to a playoff spot as soon as Blake Snell (1-5 with a 4.89 ERA) and Joe Musgrove (1-0 with a 6.75 ERA) start to at least turn a corner on the mound.
Not only did they receive a letter grade of D-, but their win trajectory dropped from 93.5 to 83.2, which would have them missing the postseason.
The entire team has been the definition of inconsistent, and it's been frustrating to watch. Time is on their side, but they must catch their stride before it's too late. The Friars are third in the NL West as of Friday and have lost four of their last five games; just when you think they got it together, they don't.
Not quite time to worry, but we're getting nothing to be optimistic about.
