The Editor’s Desk with Billy Brost: Padres Gaining Momentum

The news broke earlier today that San Diego Padres’ ace Tyson Ross has been shut down for the remainder of the 2014 season to allow his overworked elbow to rest. While some fans may not be excited about that, it’s a smart move going forward. Sure, it would’ve been awesome to see Ross join fellow staffmate Ian Kennedy as the first teammates in Padres’ history to each record 200 or more strikeouts in a season. It’s not about the record book, unless that record is a World Series title. Ross will get an early start on the off-season, which now looks to be a bright spot for the Friars.

The Padres are on a winning streak, which is always welcome news for a fan base that has sat by this spring and summer, and watched injuries and putrid hitting wipe out the hope of contending. It’s alright though. The current winning streak, as it has for team’s in season’s gone by, can easily carry good feelings and a whole new feeling heading into spring training, 2015. It also helps the atmosphere within both the clubhouse and organization, the General Manager A.J. Preller announced that skipper Bud Black will be returning.

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As I’ve previously mentioned, if the Padres can find enough magic to win-out the remainder of their games, the team will finish at the .500 mark. That is quite an impressive feat given the lineup, the injuries, and front office distractions for most of the season. If the Friars were able to pull that off, as much as I don’t want to admit it, Black would have to get some play for possible National League Manager of the Year.

Had the Padres hit at all this season, Tyson Ross is getting mentioned in the same breath as Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw and Cincinnati ace Johnny Cueto as a contender for the National League Cy Young Award. The emergence of not one, but two viable arms in rookies Jesse Hahn and Odrisamer Despaigne, and the further development of Rymer Liriano and Cory Spangenberg, could be the foundation for a team that is chasing the National League Wild Card in 2015. A free agent bat or two, and the momentum of what is happening now, brings a whole new attitude and approach to Petco Park, and with it, a re-energized fan base that believes that 2015 could finally be their year. The Year of the Friar!

Keep the Faith.