One-Third of the Season Down

Apr 8, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera (2) hits a lead-off double during the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

I love statistics. I love numbers. That is why baseball is my favorite sport. There really is something called a “baseball nerd” and I am one of them. The Padres are just over a third done with the 2014 season. I like to look at paces. Who is on pace for what? With a third of the season gone, you can multiply the current stats of the players by 3 and get a number they are on pace for. Obviously this is just for fun. Players get hot and cold. Mostly, the numbers are not eye-popping (at least not in a good way) but there are some who are on pace for a good season.

Jedd Gyorko is not one of them. He is on pace for only 99 hits, but also 15 HRs and 72 RBI. The power numbers are actually quite serviceable for a major league second baseman. It’s the average (.167) that is just plain bad.

Yasmani Grandal is in the same category. For a catcher, his power has not been bad. He is on pace for 15 HRs and 45 RBI. The RBI could improve, but more-so his average (.190). He is hitting his way out of the starting lineup, yielding to Rene Rivera.

Everth Cabrera’s numbers are not bad. They aren’t his All-Star numbers of last year, but he has hit well for most of the year. He is on pace for 9 HRs, which would be more than double his previous career high. He also is on pace to swipe 36 bases, one less than last year’s total. Also, the 174 hits he is on pace for is not bad by any stretch. He has played all but 2 games this year. What could definitely improve for Cabrera is his strikeout-to-walk ratio: 54 Ks and only 10 walks. He is striking out at a historical pace. If he evens out that ratio, his numbers could still be up to par with last year’s All-Star performance.

Seth Smith has cooled off of late, but his pace is quite impressive. He is on pace to finish with 18 HRs, 63 RBI and just under 150 hits. The HRs and hits would actually be career highs for Smith. It is safe to say if this pace continues, the Padres got even more out of Smith than originally expected.

Tyson Ross is on pace for an impressive 220 innings pitched and just over 200 strikeouts.

Ian Kennedy is on pace for even more strikeouts, around 220.

Huston Street is on pace for a career year. He is on pace for 51 saves, which would be 2 less than Trevor Hoffman’s single-season franchise record set in 1998.

This was just for fun. I have been around the game long enough to know that paces don’t mean much. Everyone gets hot and everyone gets cold. This is a game of streaks and inches. Things could change on a dime. But this is just a marker to see where the Padres are at. After looking at these numbers, I saw what everyone has seen all year: the pitching is stellar and the offense needs some help. This was just food for thought, one-third through the season. The Padres are also on pace for a 73-89 season, which needs to change. And soon.