Sez Me …
The Padres’ problem is not that Bob Melvin has forgotten how to manage baseball. It’s that so many of his players have forgotten how to play it.
Properly.
Baseball is easy to play poorly. Hard to play well.
It’s baseball. Baseball is the problem, because it’s problematic. But it shouldn’t be overwhelming for rich, veteran, good players who, thus far, have picked Peter Seidler’s pockets for millions.
Baseball teams lose. The game is founded on not who succeeds the most, but who fails the least. But, in the history of the game, has a team with such great expectations, with so much horsepower in the top half of their lineup, with supposedly enough pitching, been more painfully pathetic?
Owner Seidler, unlike Fredo Spanos, has the loyalty of all but one Disciple, but he didn’t go on an unprecedented spending spree for this crap. Unlike former owners here, such as Fredo and Donald T. Sterling, he has to be capable of embarrassment.
If this continues — and please find me a reason why it shouldn’t — at least one head will have to roll.
Should it be Melvin’s noggin?
As we speak, it would appease the voice of the people, but no. Melvin was brought on board at great expense because he could captain a ship port-to-port.
Granted, the skipper hasn’t been without error, but he hasn’t been sleeping on the bridge. He’s been reaching — probably overreaching — grasping at straws blowing in a squall trying to make hay.
Is he the reason why the team may become the first in history to bat below .200 with runners in scoring position? Boston, in here now, is close to .300. Second and third bases are where Padres go to vacation.
Considering the expectations, I make the recent series here with the Royals, who positively stink, as bad as any the Pads have played since their inception.
San Diego won one of three games. K.C. came in with 12 wins and issued 23 walks and the home side went 4-for-23 with RISP and 28 left on base.
This was Melvin’s fault?
I don’t want to hear about excuses, such as lack of chemistry. I saw chemistry when they were swinging at piñatas and donning sombreros. Baseball is a sport of individuals. These guys aren’t going to bat and making childish baserunning mistakes thinking of Melvin.
Is it over? Absolutely not. It’s baseball. As Peter Gammons points out, the Astros were 15-30 at this time in 2005 and made the World Series.
They’re not winning the NL West, but they didn’t last year, when Melvin didn’t forget how to do his job and they almost reached the World Series without Fernando Tatis Jr.
A manager’s crew is picked for him. This is GM A.J. Preller’s team. These are his players. He went after Melvin, and Seidler has approved his wishes, which were far more ambitious than anything we’ve seen here, turning a town upside down. Prematurely.
I’m tired of hearing it’s Petco. I’m tired of hearing it’s hitting coaches. Do Manny Machado (now on IR), Juan Soto, Xander Bogaerts and Tatis really need constant instruction?
The blame is on the players and the guy who recruited them.
Losing or not, they’ve been boring, and a lack of entertainment is fatal. If it’s not Fernando doing his thing, and he doesn’t bat 10 times a game, it’s a precious few.
A lot of bucks. And no bang. …
To those who believe they will live on this earth forever, Jim Brown has died. So it’s not possible. …
I have no need to expound on the remarkable exploits of Brown. I couldn’t, anyway. Not nearly enough room here. We have known no greater natural athlete. He was immortal as a mortal. RIP, to the best ever to do it. …
I once had the opportunity to interview Jim the athlete/actor/activist one-on-one. So damn smart. Paid attention. When it was over, he told me: “You ask good questions.” From a man who never suffered a fool in his life, I can’t say I have received a greater compliment. …
But, there also can be no denying he had off-the-field issues, mostly involving women, and arrested several times. For this, he can’t be excused. …
Things I Wish I’d Written Dept.: The Washington Post’s Shirley Povich wrote this lede after a Cleveland-Washington game: “Jim Brown, born ineligible to play for the Redskins, integrated their end zone three times yesterday.” …
Ted Williams wasn’t prone to slumps. In 1954, the day he returned from a collarbone fracture, he went 8-for-9 in a BoSox-Tigers doubleheader, with two HRs and seven RBIs. He was 36, and didn’t blame his manager for his out. …
Wacha say? Close, no? But no no-no. …
Saw this question: Who was the closer on your favorite baseball team when you were growing up? Answer: The starter. …
The Cowboys may conduct a world-wide search to find a kicker who can make extra points. Perhaps a relative of Toni Fritsch? …
Do not underestimate the perils of playing sports in Denver. Older legs get older. There are no gas stations for visitors. …
The NBA’s draft lottery was held last week, an event perfect for our times. Stupid. …
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the NBA’s Adam Schefter, said the Spurs are getting “perhaps the greatest draft prospect in history” in France’s 7-2 center Victor Wembanyama, who is 19. Oh, and “maybe the best of all sports.” Please, Woj, not while I’m eating. …
There’s a lot of talk now about spacing out the Triple Crown races. Only 13 horses among millions have won the three. Because it’s hard. Citation won a race in-between the Preakness and Belmont. Why must everything be easier? …
Next thing you know, marathoners will run a half one day and the other half a week later. …
I hear: “Wouldn’t it be nice if your dog could talk?” Why? I know what it’s always thinking. “Eat, sleep and relieve.” Plus, I’m sure it would rat me out. …
Ja Morant is a gunner. I remember when that word had a different meaning on basketball courts. Guns now define us. They’ve become the muscle cars of the 2000s. …
“Sockers” is taken. What should be the name of our new MLS team? Got it. Mission Bay-ern. …
Who will score more in Snapdragon? Mission Bay-ern or the Aztecs’ offense? …
Mission Bay-ern already has scored an impressive goal with its large commitment to a youth soccer academy. I assume there will be thespian classes. …
Machado, desperately seeking a sport that scores more than the Padres, has become a part owner. ..
New Bay-ern owner Mohamed Mansour says the team will be in San Diego for “a long, long time.” Hope so. But Fredo Spanos told me that, in 2016. …
Oh, and Donald T. Sterling, in 1983. …
Oh, and C. Arnholt Smith, in 1973. …
Oh, and Bob Breitbard, in 1970. …
A 12-year-old is accused of murdering a Texas Sonic employee with an AR-15. Twelve. When I was 12, I had trouble pulling up my pants. …
There are millions of solutions to homelessness. How about one? …
Again, I don’t want to know what you’re eating. There are times I don’t want to know what I’m eating. …
At 81, Martha Stewart makes the cover of Sports Illustrated. Incredible. She can swim, too.
