Padres News: Padres Shut Out By Hendricks

By Nick Wilson | May 21, 2015

The San Diego Padres fell short of the victory on Wednesday and looked to rebound Thursday for the series win. Unfortunately, you’re never going to win a game if you don’t score any runs. The Padres offense made starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks looks like Nolan Ryan, as he pitched a complete game shutout.

More from Padres News

After a lead off walk, University of San Diego product, Kris Bryant, got the Cubs off to a fast start Thursday by blasting a two run homer to deep center.

With struggling Odrisamer Despaigne on the mound, the Padres really looked like they were in trouble. Despaigne was able to rebound however and keep the Cubs to only the two runs for the remainder of his time in the game.

Dale Thayer came in to relieve Despaigne, only to have Addison Russell immediately take him yard. This made the game 3-0 in the 7th inning.

It seems the Padres have failed to put together a complete game in quite sometime. The team is completely reliant on Justin Upton hitting homeruns. I cringe when I think about what we will look like if he leaves at the end of this season.

The spark that this offense had in the beginning of the season is gone. I know we are missing some firepower with Wil Myers and Yonder Alonso on the DL, but there is no excuse for the Padres when they fall victim to a complete game shutout. One player who hasn’t been receiving any criticism is Matt Kemp. Where is the power we were expecting? His .259 average isn’t horrible, but it means nothing if he’s not hitting any homeruns and still looking sluggish in RF.

The pitching has obviously struggled this season, but the offense needs to provide some runs when the pitching is not lights out. The two phases of the game have not matched up at all this season.

With the 2014 pitching staff still completely intact, even enhanced, there is really only one reason for this mediocre 20-22 performance, Bud Black.

Black has been the manager for so long now, and I like the guy, but even the great ones need to move on sometimes. I think it is finally time for the Padres to go in a different direction with the management of this club.

What do you think? Is it time for Black to go? Or are the Padres just slumping?

More from Friars on Base

Home/Padres News