|
|
A THREE-RUN SHOT OF HOPE by Jason Martinez sdpadrefan.com posted 5/21/08 It might be just one win. But it's a come-from-behind win, something Padre fans have only dreamed about this season. Sometimes, one swing of the bat can be all a team needs to turn a season around. I'm not saying they're going to win 12 straight games and get back in the pennant race. But late-inning wins are what bring excitement to a team and to a city. So it wasn't the bottom of the 9th (there still 0-for-the-season when trailing in the 9th) but for the Padres, the 6th inning might as well be the 9th because they sure as hell don't score past the 7th. When Kevin Kouzmanoff blasted a hanging breaking-ball for a three-run homer to center field, I felt like something had gone the way of the Padres for the first time all season. See, for the first 46 games, I've watched line-drives hit right at defenders. I've watched hard hit balls into the alley hang up just long enough for an opposing outfielder to run it down. I've seen umpires blow calls a number of times favor of a Padre opponent. I'm not making excuses for their poor start. This team is probably no better than a .500 team even without all of the bad luck. But 13 games under .500? No, they're not that bad. My new goal for the season: Extend their winning-season streak to five. I don't expect them to catch the Diamondbacks. I really don't even expect them to catch the Dodgers. But to get out of this hole they've dug and end up with an 82-80 record or better would give Padre fans something to be proud of. Hopefully, it wouldn't make the front office believe that changes wouldn't have to be made. There's work to be done this offseason whether they start playing better or not. And there's still plenty of reasons to watch and enjoy Padre baseball in 2008. The storylines are there. Every outfield job for 2009 is up for grabs. The catching job is likely up for grabs. Second base will likely be vacant. At least two spots in the rotation and three or four spots in the bullpen are up for grabs. This might just be one long audition. At the same time, it will be interesting to see if this team can turn things around. For now, one series win at a time will do, which they can accomplish with a win tonight in the series finale against the Cardinals. Go Padres! |