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Padres Still Believe Despite 10-Game Skid
Filed under: Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Giants, Padres, NL West
SAN DIEGO — How fitting that as America celebrates a patriotic holiday, the San Diego Padres will try to end a 10-game losing streak.
The Padres are champions of democracy.
Regarding a skid that is the franchise’s longest since 1994, all precincts within San Diego’s ballclub have had their say: be it a fading offense, a bullpen no longer invincible, a defense weakened by injury and perhaps fatigue, or baserunners either dulled or overly caffeinated. The starting pitching has tapered off too, with the exception of Mat Latos, the 22-year-old ace who was set to face the Los Angeles Dodgers on Labor Day night in San Diego until he was felled by stomach flu.
The Padres still lead the National League West, but their free fall has made the neighborhood a more egalitarian place.
Only 12 days ago the Padres were a threat to salt away a playoff berth well before season’s end. Their 76-49 record was not only the best record in the National League but, among all Padres clubs, the highest above .500 save the franchise-best, 98-victory season of 1998.
The San Francisco Giants were 6 1/2 games behind the Padres, and eight games back in the loss column.
The Colorado Rockies were 10 1/2 games out of first place.
When Labor Day arrived, however, the margins were down to one game and 4 1/2 games.
Beyond the hard numbers, the Padres looked like they were playing underwater as the streak stretched onward.
“We just need to take a step back and regroup,” said Padres utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr. on Sunday, after the Rockies completed a three-game sweep in San Diego.
