2 Mike Shildt decisions that completely derailed Padres in NLDS

The San Diego Padres were eliminated from the MLB Postseason last week after failing to score a single run during Games 4 and 5 of the National League Division Series. As a result, the Los Angeles Dodgers moved on to the National League Championship Series and the Padres are sitting at home, licking their wounds.

Given the way the NLDS unfolded, it's kind of difficult find to fault manager Mike Shildt. While Game 4 was a blowout, the Padres' pitching staff held the Dodgers to just two runs during Game 5, and yet, one of the most potent offenses in Major League Baseball this season went dormant when they needed a strong performance from the bats.

And while Shildt wasn't necessarily the problem, the Padres manager does share some of the blame for San Diego's collapse. There were at least two decisions Shildt made during the final two games of the NLDS that could have flipped the series in the Padres' favor.

Mike Shildt's decision to start Dylan Cease for Game 4 of the NLDS was disastrous

If there's one decision that can be questioned, it's the fact that Shildt sent his ace to the hill for Game 4 on short rest. Dylan Cease, on only three days of rest, was called upon to start Game 4 of the NLDS against the Dodgers. Never before had the right-hander toed the rubber on short rest, and it showed during Game 4. This, also, came after Cease's dud in Game 1 on extended rest.

Cease was on the mound for less than an inning before it became apparent that the decision was sure to backfire. Shildt pulled Cease after just 1 2/3 innings of work, and the Padres' right-hander allowed three runs on four hits before Shildt handed the ball to Bryan Hoeing. The Dodgers owned a 3-0 lead after two innings, and 5-0 lead after three. San Diego was shut out 8-0 and the series was headed back to LA for a deciding Game 5. All momentum was lost.

Mike Shildt never altered the Padres' starting lineup despite San Diego's futile performance

Sometimes, it becomes necessary to flip the script. Shildt didn't to that, and it may well have cost his team an opportunity to advance in the postseason. After watching the Dodgers' pitching staff dominate the Padres' lineup from the third inning of Game 3 and on into Games 4 and 5, Shildt never altered the batting order or attempted to shake up his starting nine.

Obviously hindsight is 20/20, but managers have to be able to see these kind of faults and flaws in real time. Ultimately, your biggest stars have to show up when the lights are brightest, and both Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. failed to do that in Games 4 and 5. But maybe getting Jake Cronenworth out of the lineup, adding Donovan Solano, or subbing in Elias Diaz would've given San Diego a spark.

Shildt and his coaching staff will have the entire offseason to ask themselves "what if", but it sure would have been nice if there were some proactive moves made prior to the Friars' premature exit from the MLB Postseason, specifically for Game 5 after the damage had been done in Game 4.

This one's going to sting for quite a while.

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