Padres News: Xander Bogaerts Doubles Down on Importance of Days Off for Friars

Everyone needs a refresher!

Even professional athletes need a break every now and then. It gives them a chance to relax and take a refresher from the sport that they love the most. Especially for baseball players, a break is needed. When there is a game scheduled almost every day for the duration of the summer, every player needs a day off here and there. 

For the San Diego Padres, they have a veteran manager in, Bob Melvin, who understands this. And his players are very appreciative of it. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts spoke about this and what it does to a player.

“Sometimes as a player, you just want to go go go,” Bogaerts had said yesterday morning. “Sometimes a day off helps you reset. It helps you look at the game, enjoy the game. Just have a different view. … I don’t even think I want to hit today. I hit in the cage, and it’s MVP-type of stuff. I get in the game, and it’s just back to zero.”

Per The San Diego Union-Tribune

Prior to him taking the day off on Thursday, Bogaerts had gone 3-22 over his previous six games. He was in the kind of streak that no player likes to be in so Melvin decided to give the veteran player a day off to refocus. Since starting the season off extremely well, Bogaerts has slowed down a bit. He is batting just .219/.303/.295 over his past 39 games, but he isn't concerned. 

“You fix it in the cage, and when you go into the game it’s just the same thing, back to the same (bad habits),” he said Thursday. “You start changing, you start fighting with yourself, you start standing different. … I just want to get the feel back.”

Per The San Diego Union-Tribune

Bogaerts signed with the Padre on a massive deal this past offseason, so the team is relying on him heavily. They need his production to jump back to where it was if they want a chance to make a postseason run. He is a seasoned hitter, so he likely will pick things up sooner rather than later. 

San Diego has been playing catch-up all year long, and they need to start racking up wins now. If not, this could go down as a lost season.