The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

Obviously, the Pads are doing great this season. Not just the usual good pitching either, they have the 3rd best park adjusted OPS in the NL.

My question is; how much of this can be credited to former GM Kevin Towers? I know that when Paul DePodesta was fired from LA, he wasn't given enough time and when Ned Coletti was named GM, the team took off. Of course, Coletti is a moron and the Dodgers are good because of the guy DePodesta drafted? Coletti was the one giving out stupid deals to Furcal and Pierre.

So, is this the same thing with San Diego? Are they succeeding with Towers' draft picks and players? Or did the new guy do something great?

I think San Diego is thriving now because of the combination of manager Bud Black and pitching coach Darren Balsley. I still think we are low on the talent side compared to our record, but feel we are getting the absolute most out of the players we have. Good fundamental defense being played, smart baserunning, that sort of thing. Balsley has been amazing when it comes to tweaking pitchers' deliveries, or teaching them new pitches, etc... to get them to the next level.

Who gets the credit for the September choke and 10 game losing streak?  ;D

Pathetic division, pathetic NL...

It isn't good when your undisputed ace is on an innings limit and may have to be shut down. Of course, if they make the playoffs, how can you justify that?

Losing streak over...two straight wins = starting to right the ship.

I'd been holding my breath all season waiting for that losing streak. When you come out of nowhere and play so far above expectations for such a prolonged period of time, you start looking at the wheels, thinking "are you coming off soon?"

Hopefully the Padres can keep playing the type of baseball that got us to this point...quality pitching, excellent defense and timely NL-style run manufacturing. The NL West is gonna be a shoot-out down the stretch though...no doubt about it.

One other Padres thought... If Mat Latos isn't a top-3 vote-getter for the NL Cy Young, then the voters are idiots. He's been nothing short of brilliant, consistently, all season. Aside from the fact that he leads all ML starters in ERA and opponent batting average, there's this little nugget:

From the Elias Sports Bureau: Latos is the first pitcher in modern baseball history (since 1900) with 15 consecutive starts of five-plus IP and two or fewer runs allowed, breaking the mark of 14, previously set by Mike Scott (1986) and shared with Greg Maddux (1993-94).

Sorry Ubaldo...sorry Timmy Hudson... Latos is the National League Cy Young winner this season.

His WHIP is .96 which is so low it just inspires you to punch a wall for some reason. You can make a case for Wainwright because he pitched a lot more innings, but Latos is a fine choice.

I agree, but I think Jimenez will win it anyways