What Happened to the San Diego Padres

Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images

September 17, 2023

The San Diego Padres have collapsed in 2023 Finally after decades of disappointment, the Padres had a team of significance the past two seasons. This team was supposed to be one of the best teams in the league this season and challenge for the World Series. Everyone from predictors, to fans, to the front office to the players and manager Bob Melvin are wondering what happened. Though they’ve won four games in a row, with only 12 left to play, the team most likely will not make the playoffs.

What Happened

The Padres followed up a winning April with back-to-back losing months in May and June. They had a winning record in July, then went 10–18 in August. Also, not winning an extra inning game in 11 tries has contributed. They also had the worst record in the majors in one run games at 6–22.

They also struggled to win at home with only three games above .500 at 39–36. Their batting average of .241 with runners scoring position also has contributed to their lackluster season. They also rank 21 in the majors with leaving an average a 3.53 runners in scoring position per game. Statistics like that are what is called hitting rock bottom.

Payroll

The San Diego Padres’ collapse in 2023 is surprising since they had the No. 3 ranked highest payroll in the majors, $247 million worth of players and investment. They also had the top three hitters, Xander Bogaerts, Manny Machado and Juan Soto , none of whom are having the year that everyone, including themselves, thought they would have. Even Fernando Tatis Jr., who missed time due to a suspension, is not having the season that everyone wanted from this superstar. He was expected to take the next step in becoming the leader of this team.

No Motivation

Fans have said there is no motivation from this team. When you are a team with “heart,” you win close games. You find a way to come back and show fight. That has not happened on a consistent basis with the 2023 Padre players. For whatever reason, they do not appear to be having any fun playing the game.

Bob Melvin

The San Diego Padres have been unsuccessful in 2023 amid their collapse. Should manager Bob Melvin be blamed? The manager is naturally to blame and fans want to blame him right away. Especially if a talented team is failing at every level of play. Remember, Melvin came to the Padres with a long history of success and is widely regarded as one of the best managers in all of Major League Baseball.

He has a reputation for getting the best out of younger players. He is seen as one of the top communicating managers in today’s game. Some have said he is not getting respect from this star-packed locker room. Some suggest he lost the respect of the team and is seen as the scapegoat for their problems. But, the issue goes way beyond Melvin.

Tension in the Clubhouse

Back in early July there were reports of tension in the clubhouse. They mentioned finger-pointing, disagreements about the approach to the games and even and claims of laziness and a lack of preparation from some high-profile players. Conflict and discord among the players will not get you many wins. It’s hard to play as a team when you don’t feel like a team.

The Conclusion

The conclusion is that the game of baseball comes down to execution and fundamentals. The little things really matter in the game. Getting along with your teammates really does matter. Team chemistry among the high-profile players and the lesser-known players is very much an important aspect in the game of baseball today. The Padres simply do not have that right now and only they can change this to avoid another collapse.

Though the team is not technically eliminated from the playoffs at this point, they need a small miracle to get back into the race. Sadly, most everyone involved believes they will miss out on the playoffs in 2023, and will have to look forward to the 2024 season.