Sunday Brunch: How Padres Can Use Royals Run As Template

Break out the mimosas and have a seat and read this before you watch the Chargers play the Jets this Sunday. It’s time for Sunday Brunch.

The Kansas City Royals have made one heck of a run so far this post-season. Getting great pitching so far in the two games against the Angels and some timely rallies against the Oakland A’s have gotten them within a win today of heading to the ALCS. Now what does this have to do with the Padres for next year?

Well, minus Ned Yost‘s managerial style, the kind of team the Royals have put together is something the Padres can follow for 2015.

The first part to it is the pitching. The Padres certainly have that in the rotation with Ian Kennedy, Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross and on down the line.

What about the bullpen? Well, the Padres certainly have that. In 2014, they had a better team bullpen ERA (2.73-3.30 for KC) more K’s (481-446), and  fewer blown saves (12-8) than the much talked about bullpen of the Royals. A full season of R.J. Alvarez, Kevin Quackenbush and Joaquin Benoit, plus Alex Torres from the left side and there’s no reason to think the Padres bullpen won’t be highly regarded again.

The Padres will have to improve the offense to get to at least a respectable level, but the Padres can use their team speed like the Royals do. A full season of Cory Spagenberg at an infield spot, and if they retain  Everth Cabrera could wreck havoc at the top of the order, especially in a big ballpark such as Petco.

You don’t have to hit the ball out of the park all the time.  The Padres actually hit more homers than KC did in 2014 (109-95), however KC trumped them in every other category except triples.

The Padres may be a team on the rise next season, and some of the ways in which KC is succeeding in the playoffs can help San Diego succeed in 2015.