Stay Classy San Diego: These Aren't Your Padre’s Padres and They Could Steal The NL West

Stay Classy San Diego: These Aren't Your Padre’s Padres and They Could Steal The NL West

Champ Kind has had a lot to be happy about lately when it comes to the hometown Padres. They are 8-2 in their last 10 games and are the hottest team in baseball this side of the Canadian border. Doing all of this while recently being hit with the injury bug is astonishing. The funny thing is though, despite the injuries, they could very well walk out of the West and into the playoffs.

The Diamondbacks sit in first place, and the Dodgers, who are in last, are only 8.5 games back. If the Padres have dealt with injuries the Dodgers have dealt with the plague. They have been unable to field their complete team in who knows how long, yet only sit 8.5 games back, which is not insurmountable at this given time despite what some may tell you. The mediocrity in the division figures to last all season as I don’t see any team being able to pull away from the pack, even at their healthiest. Every team is flawed in some way and that will lead to an exciting finish.

So how exactly have the Padres been able to do this? The answer is simple. They succeed in three key areas. They win at home, they play solid defense, and they have a very good bullpen. Their starting pitching should be much better, though in fairness, has played to potential lately. Edinson Volquez needs to step his game up, Clayton Richard should be one of the better lefties in the game, and Andrew Cashner needs to develop his secondary pitches to go along with an electric fastball. The one guy in the rotation who has exceeded expectations and is leading the staff with his play is Staten Island’s favorite son, (as seen here:My Favorite Player is Jason Marquis) Jason Marquis. Under the tutelage of Bud Black Marquis has had somewhat of a career renaissance. Most believe he will fall back toward the median as the season progresses but if the rest of the staff can keep up the change in play it will not affect the team much.

Another big key for the Padres and a playoff push will be getting Everth Cabrera back and playing as well as he was before his injury. Not too many people know who he is other than his connection to the steroid scandal, but he has built upon his great 2012 campaign and played even better in 2013. Chase Headley is another player who doesn’t get much publicity on the East Coast but having him and his stellar defense back will help strengthen an already impressive bunch of gloves. Jedd Gyorko at second was justifying the hype that the team and insiders attached to him, but the injury bug and a DL stint have hit him as well. If he can come back and not miss a beat it will put the Padres in a good position and brighten not only the present but the future as well.

As previously stated the rest of the division is flawed. The Diamondbacks, who no doubt have the most talent, are far too inconsistent. San Francisco cannot be a run scoring juggernaut, and its pitching is showing the effects of the innings load deep into the last few postseasons. Colorado has to deal with a devastating injury to Troy Tulowitzki, and the Dodgers as mentioned, have dealt with the plague when it comes to injuries. As the season winds down the race will only get more exciting but the Padres will be looking to put a whammy on the rest of the division.