2014: A Tough Year For The San Diego Padres

The 2014 season started with modest expectations for Padres fans. The team was coming off a second consecutive 76-win season. Second baseman Jedd Gyoko was coming back from a nice rookie campaign in which he swatted 23 home runs and posted a WAR of 2.2. Veteran outfielder Will Venable looked to build off his best season as pro when he clubbed 22 home runs, hit 22 doubles and also stole 22 bases. The Padres were relatively quiet in the off-season once again, making only one notable move in acquiring OF Seth Smith in exchange for relief pitcher Luke Gregerson. San Diego also took a chance and signed former Ace Josh Johnson to a one-year deal. Expectations for the upcoming season weren’t high, but more cautiously optimistic.

 March 30th, 2014

The Padres season began with a bang as they hosted their long-time rival Los Angeles Dodgers to town for a nationally televised game on ESPN. The pitching match-up of Andrew Cashner and Hyun-Jin Ryu played out just as many expected with both pitching deep into the game. Cashner would leave the game down a run. We pick this game up in the 8th inning with the Padres down 1-0 and Brian Wilson on the mound for the Dodgers. Offseason acquisition Seth Smith would step to the plate for his first at-bat as a Padre. Smith proceeded to blast a deep fly ball to right field that would tie the game. Chris Denorfia would then deal the parting shot, with runners on second and third, he would lace a single up the middle knocking in two runs. Closer Huston Street would pitch a perfect 9th inning to secure the Opening Day win for the Friars.

April 6th, 2014

The Padres were down 1-0 to the Marlins, in Miami. Ian Kennedy and Nathan Eovaldi were locked in a pitchers duel. The Little Ninja, Alexi Amarista strolled to the plate on his 25th birthday with two runners on base. Amarista who is typically the smallest player on the field, packed the punch needed to deliver a pinch hit three-run homerun that would prove to be the difference and fry the fish.

April

The Padres would finish the month 12-16, as they struggled to put the bat on the ball consistently enough to finish the season’s first month with a winning record.

May 23rd, 2014

The Friars were mired in a four game losing streak, following losses to the Rockies, Twins and Cubs. This day was different for the Padres as they jumped all over Cubs pitcher Edwin Jackson, to the tune of seven runs in the first two innings. They would not look back from there as they would tack on four additional runs for the resounding 11-1 win over Chicago. Yonder Alonso and Yasmani Grandal would both homer and pitcher Tim Stauffer would improve to 2-0 on the season.

May

May would be a slightly better month for the Padres as they would post a record of 13-14,  and would sit just 4 games under .500 following the month.

June 16th,2014

This was a sad day for baseball fans everywhere as the late, great Tony Gwynn passed after complications with thyroid cancer. Gwynn was a San Diegan for life as he attended San Diego State University where he starred in both basketball and baseball. He would be drafted by both the San Diego Padres and San Diego Clippers but chose to be a Padre. Gwynn spent all 20 seasons of his career with the Padres. He would make 15 all-star teams, win 8 batting titles, 5 Gold Gloves and 7 Silver Slugger Awards. Gwynn was a career .338 hitter, hit a career high .394 in the lockout shortened 1994 season. He would also steal at least 20 bases, 5 times, in his career with a high of 56 in 1987. Gwynn finished his career with 3141 hits. He was a first-ballot Hall of Fame selection securing 97.6% of the vote. After his playing career he went on to be the head baseball coach at his alma mater San Diego State. In every sense of the word he was a true San Diegan, and the one and only Mr. Padre.

June 19th, 2014

Rookie Jesse Hahn would twirl a gem as he pitched seven strong innings of 5-hit ball, allowing one unearned run, along with 7 strikeouts. Another late inning rally would carry the Padres as they scratched across 4 runs in the 7th inning to grab the win and split the four game series with the Seattle Mariners.

June

June was a month to forget for Padres fans, they slumped to a 10-17 record which would be their lowest monthly win total on the season. It would ultimately be the end of days for General Manager Josh Byrnes as he was fired June 22nd.

July 19th, 2014

2014 All-Star Tyson Ross would pitch a shutout against the visiting New York Mets. Ross pitched 7 great innings as he scattered 4 hits while striking out 6. Yasmani Grandal, Seth Smith and Will Venable would all blast solo home runs in the 6-0 win for the Padres.

July

July was a better month for the Padres as they would finish with a 12-13 record. It was also a month of change. On July 19th, the Padres would trade Closer Huston Street and minor leaguer Trevor Gott in exchange for Taylor Lindsey, R.J. Alvarez, Jose Rondon and Elliot Morris. Next on July 22nd, third baseman Chase Headley was traded along with cash to the New York Yankees the Padres would receive Yangervis Solarte and Rafael De Paula. Then in a trade deadline deal San Diego would send veteran outfielder Chris Denorfia to Seattle for Abraham Almonte and Stephen Kohlscheen.

August 13th, 2014

The Padres were riding a recent string of success as they came into a game with division-rival Colorado. San Diego sat just 5 games out of the second wildcard spot. Ian Kennedy was on the mound and held the Rockies to three runs over six innings while striking out 8. Rookie Rymer Liriano blasted his first career home run. Abraham Almonte also homered as they crept ever closer to that elusive wildcard spot.

August

The Padres played their best ball of the season in the month of August. They went 16-11 to pull within 7 games of .500. On August 6th, former Texas Rangers Scouting Director and Assistant General Manger A.J. Preller was hired as San Diego’s new General Manager.

September 21st, 2014

The Padres had recently been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. They were looking to play spoiler as they were facing the Giants. The Friars had already snatched the first two games of the series from the Giants and were looking for the sweep. The duo of Rene Rivera and Yasmani Grandal drove in 5 of the team’s 8 runs which was more than enough for Ian Kennedy. Kennedy pitched 6 2/3 innings with 5 strikeouts to seal the series sweep.

September

The Padres played the role of spoiler in the month of September. They posted another 13-14 month which would put their final record at 77-85.

Padres Offensive Leaders

Statistics below courtesy of ESPN.com:

Player	Batting Average
1)      Seth Smith	.266
2)      Rene Rivera	.252
3)      Alexi Amarista	.239

 

Player	Home runs
1)      Yasmani Grandal	15
2)      Seth Smith	12
3)      Rene Rivera	11

 

Player	RBI
1)      Jedd Gyorko	51
2)      Yasmani Grandal	49
3)      Seth Smith	48

 

Padres Pitching Leaders

Player	Wins
1)      Tyson Ross	13
2)      Ian Kennedy	13
3)      Eric Stults	8

 

Player	ERA
1)      Andrew Cashner	2.55
2)      Tyson Ross	2.81
3)      Jesse Hahn	3.07

 

Player	Strikeouts
1)      Ian Kennedy	207
2)      Tyson Ross	195
3)      Eric Stults	111

 

Padres 2014 Team Stats

Runs: 535 (30th)

Batting Average: .226 (30th)

Home runs: 109 (28th)

ERA: 3.27 (4th)

WHIP: 1.22 (T-7th)

K/9: 8.03 (T-9th)

2014 Off-season

Following a season where the Padres offense ranked near the bottom in almost every major offensive category, it was clear that changes needed to be made in the off-season. The offense needed some punch, by any means necessary. The pitching staff was the bright spot as Tyson Ross took a big step forward and really looked like an ace. New General Manager AJ Preller wanted to make a splash to improve the anemic offense. Rumors circulated about the Padres being in on the Pablo Sandoval sweepstakes but he ultimately picked the Red Sox. He then shifted his focus to securing Cuban IF/OF Yasmany Tomas he also spurned the Padres to sign with division rival Arizona.

It seemed as if the Padres were headed for another one of their typical quiet off-seasons. Preller would have none of that as he started a chain reaction of moves that would result in the Padres acquiring All Stars OF Matt Kemp, OF Justin Upton, and C Derek Norris. He would also acquire 2013 AL Rookie of the Year Wil Myers and former 3B prospect Will Middlebrooks who was in desperate need of a change of scenery. The Padres would also sign pitchers Brandon Morrow and Josh Johnson coming off a couple of injury plagued seasons. Things seemed to quiet on the trade fronts but he still wasn’t done as he acquired relief pitcher Shawn Kelley from the Yankees. The next and final move of 2014 would be the trade that sent OF Seth Smith to Seattle for fire-baller Brandon Maurer.

The 2014 season was a long one for Padres fans. The moves this off-season have restored the hope of all Padres fans. Here’s to 2015 and hopefully a successful season for our beloved San Diego Padres.

Stay with us at Calisportsnews.com as we will keep you up-to-date on all things San Diego Padres and the rest of the SoCal sports teams! All Cali, All the time!

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