Patchwork Friars are holding line just fine
Let’s be clear. What’s happening with the Padres right now — the wounded, winning Padres — would not have transpired in 2019 … or ’18 … or ’17 … or ’16 …
Or, well you get the idea.
The organization found itself too starved for talent, lacking the sturdiness and swagger to withstand even a mild or seemingly manageable case of adversity. They crumbled too often when the wind shifted and routinely melted when pressure ambled to the on-deck circle.
So, how did a team held together with chewing gum and bailing twine because of COVIDrelated absences polish off a sweep of the talented Cardinals with a 5-3 victory televised on “Sunday Night Baseball” at Petco Park?
“I don’t how you explain it, except just a group of men coming together and just all doing their part,” manager Jayce Tingler said.
The “not sure” underlying message is understandable. Padres past painfully illustrated that sidelining even one player could cause the wheels to spin off the sputtering, leaky Oldsmobile. Forget losing five regulars for a week or more, as the team did because of virus dominoes last week in Denver.
This is more than a few guys stepping in and holding the line, as players like Tucupita Marcano, Patrick Kivlehan, Ivan Castillo, Brian O’Grady and John Andreoli find themselves with big roles in the big leagues.
This is bedrock chemistry and culture change, years in the making, You can’t track it down on the transaction wire. You can’t decipher it from today’s glut of analytics.
These Padres, miles more resilient and built to sustain body blows, are the direct result of a much larger picture. The organization has fortified castle walls, inside the clubhouse and between the ears.
Outfield newcomer Andreoli
explained what his fresh eyes have seen.
“I kind of relate it a lot to when I came up with the Cubs (in the minors),” said Andreoli, in just his second big-league season, mere weeks from turning 31. “(Former GM) Theo Epstein came over and kind of rebuilt everything and brought in some really good players to build around. Eventually, they ended up in a World Series. I see a lot of similarities here with kind of the core group of guys they have.
“… They kind of parlayed it with just how the organization goes about its business. There’s no wasted time. Everything’s about showing up and working really hard and getting your work in and getting better each and every day. There’s no smoke and mirrors.
“Everyone wants to win here and the mentality of
that is, I think, showing here on a nightly basis.”
Smoke and mirrors used to be printed on the Padres’ business card. Not now.
On your bingo card, mark defense.
The Cardinals, who arrived in San Diego with the third-best record in baseball, staked themselves to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Nolan Arenado’s third home run of the series. After two more reached base and the game threatened to unravel in the opening minutes, center fielder Trent Grisham flashed his golden glove to pick a Harrison Bader liner off the grass and prevent the deficit from doubling.
Mark baserunning.
In the bottom of the fourth with two on, Austin Nola blooped a single just in front of hard-charging Bader in center. Jake Cronenworth and Tommy Pham drifted into no man’s land, waiting to see if the ball was caught. They played it just right,
moving up to load the bases. Mark plate patience. Then, Marcano and Ha-seong Kim drew back-toback RBI walks. Kivlehan, who began the day with three at-bats this season, lofted a sacrifice fly to center. Castillo singled to score another run with his first major league hit.
When the inning closed, the Padres batted around and plated four on just two hits.
“We’ve had a bunch of guys step up. Big at-bats. Big fill-ins on defense,” said Grisham, as matter-of-factly as a toll booth operator. “I mean, I guess that’s really it, a bunch of guys stepping up, doing their jobs.”
A subtle moment of context that the Padres flushed the old days: When Manny Machado made an off throw to the Padres’ Kim on a sacrifice bunt attempt, the shortstop stretching to log the out at second, the third baseman slapped his glove with his hand in frustration.
In years past, an out would have been good enough. Now, good enough is simply the baseline and hardly the goal. It was as if Machado could hear fielding guru Bobby Dickerson chirping in his ear.
The Padres finally have built strength at all levels, from regional scouts to big-league coaches and bench depth. The holistic approach goes beyond names and jersey numbers and paychecks. This accounts for and cares about every part, from the cylinder head to camshaft, to ensure the engine purrs.
“I think it’s our environment in the clubhouse, just how welcoming we are with our guys,” said Tingler, when asked why so many fresh faces continue to contribute. “I think our leadership team, our veteran players do a tremendous job of bringing people in, whether it’s your first game in the big leagues or you’ve been maybe a journeyman and bounced around.
“You’re a Padre and you’re part of the family. It’s a great environment in that clubhouse.”
The Padres have lost just one of the last seven series they’ve played, including the last two after shedding enough regulars to form a basketball team.
Along the way, on-the-job training has expanded to more and more in the organization. They’re piling up big-league moments and confidence. Meanwhile, the missing stars representing a Brink’s truck worth of talent will be able to return with fresh legs.
Notice all the names not mentioned as the sweep found its untidy bow? Fernando Tatis Jr. Eric Hosmer. Wil Myers. Jurickson Profar. Jorge Mateo.
Different days for these Padres. Different days, indeed.