Top 5 Padres Moments Of 2014

Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports

Top 5 Best Moments 2014 San Diego Padres

 It’s been a long and rough season for the San Diego Padres, but not all was awful for Padres’ fans. Okay, it was pretty bad (Take the awful month of June for example) and yet another year of mediocre to bad baseball, finishing 3^rd in the N.L. West again at a record of 77-85. There have been worse records in Padres’ history before, but those teams dating back to the ending Qualcom days and early San Diego Stadium days had far worse rosters and talent. 

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The Padres were supposed to breakout this season and finally get over the disappointment tag. It didn’t happen, but there were some shining moments this year and should give some ray of hope for the 2015 season. Some of the most optimistic times in Padres history are times when the team isn’t expected to contend but here at Friars On Base, we think this franchise is heading in the right direction, with some new off-season additions and overdue subtractions, front office moves and a new general manager. We’ll look back at some of the best moments of 2014 and some spotlights on the future of this Padres franchise. It hopefully can’t get any worse than this past season.

Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

#5 “Little Ninja” Saves The Day

A few years ago, an under the radar trade happened between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the San Diego Padres. Padres gave up bullpen-ace Ernesto Frieri, who was key in the Padres 2010 bullpen until their late-season collapse cost them a playoff apperance. So whom did they receive in return?

A little-known utility player by the name of Alexi Amirista, and when I say little, he is little, but has a heart of gold. He wasn’t much of a name at the time, but he’s provided some nice depth for a few years as the Padres have had injuries all over the infield, mainly with disappointing shortstop Everth Cabrera. He’s even served in the outfield with his lightning quick speed. The only thing he hasn’t done yet is pitch or catch, which would be pretty interesting to see I think.

Anyway, back on August 6^th versus the Minnesota Twins, Amarista playing center field that day saved the game with a late diving, “Willie Mays” type of catch in the bottom of the 9^th to keep the game tied at 4 heading into the 10^th inning, in which the Padres went on to win that game 5-4 when Seth Smith a.k.a. “The Missing Piece” hit a towering home run to take the lead. Amarista will continue to be a fan favorite and will serve the Padres well into the future, but he still belongs on the bench utility role.

Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

#4 Cashner’s One-Hit Wonder vs. Detroit

Another Padre that was part of a trade to help boost the future, Cashner was acquired from the Chicago Cubs for All-Star and then prospect Anthony Rizzo. Cashner has gone from being projected into serving in the bullpen to near star-ace until injuries kept Cashner out for a good chunk of 2014 missing 71 games with two disabled-list stints.

I know, I got off-track with the negative. Cashner still had a great year. Cashner had a couple of shutouts and his most memorable one came on April 11^th vs. the Detroit Tigers. Cashner tossed a gem, hurling a shutout, striking out eleven and one-hitting a very dangerous lineup, striking out American League MVP Miguel Cabrera to end the game in the 9^th.

If it weren’t for a single in the first inning by Rajai Davis, Cashner would’ve had the Padres first no-hitter in the history of the 46-year franchise. That night, the Padres were working for Cash, giving him six runs to work with on thirteen hits, double-digit hits were a rarity in 2014 so Cashner took advantage for sure. Cashner could still be dealt in the coming offseason, but had he’d been healthy this entire season, Cashner would’ve been part of an already strong emerging staff and bullpen in the elites of baseball.

Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

#3 “The Missing Piece” Strikes On Opening Night

You’ll notice the trend continue as the Padres made another trade but in the recent off-season. This one had Padres’ fans scratching their heads in the winter of 2013. The Padres had traded long-time ace reliever Luke Gregerson to the Oakland Athletics for notoriously known utility outfielder Seth Smith. Seth Smith? That’s the answer? Well according to then G.M. Josh Brynes, he was quoted as saying that Smith was the “Missing Piece” that would take the Padres over the top. Good one, Josh.

It didn’t happen. But he wasn’t that bad after all. When the current lineup was too busy getting injured or striking out, Smith made the most of his role and was the most consistent hitter in the lineup and it started immediately with opening night on ESPN as the Los Angeles Dodgers came down the I-5 to Petco Park.

We take you to the bottom of the 8^th inning, Padres down 1-0 to the Dodgers, Seth Smith at the plate with a 2-0 count facing over-paid reliever Brian Wilson, who happened to have elbow issues at the time. With one swing, opening night changed as Smith hit a sky-high home run into the night in right field as the Padres tied the game at one. That was Smith’s first at-bat with the Padres in a pinch-hit spot. In the same inning, Chris Denofria hit a liner into center as the Padres took the lead and went on to win 3-1.

#1 Pitching Shines In 2014

Not everything Josh Brynes did was damaging, striking gold on building a very good starting pitching rotation and bullpen. Offseason moves and trades have been the theme so far and it served the Padres well keeping the Padres in games where some nights the offense couldn’t hit a wiffle ball if it sat on a tee.

Jesse Hahn was acquired for practically nothing to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for utility player Logan Forsythe and reliever Brad Boxberger, who was part of the Mat Latos trade long ago. Also striking gold was getting Tyson Ross in 2012 from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for switch-hitter Andy Perrino and prospect Andrew Werner. Eric Stults had his games where he was decent but will most likely not return in 2015. Odrisamer Despaigne had a good year but needs to work on his control, often having some wild games. Both he and Cashner came close to no-hitters for the Padres in 2014.

Andrew Cashner was amazing until he got hurt for 71 games and can’t forget about Ian Kennedy (Also traded for from the Arizona Diamondbacks) who struck out 207 batters, came second in ERA on the team at 3.63 and second in WHIP at 1.29 and tied Ross with 13 wins each. The bullpen was nails as usual in 2014. Huston Street was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim midway through the season but Kevin Quakenbush strongly took over the role along with set-up reliever Joaquin Benoit (Signed from the Detriot Tigers) usually reliable Dale Thayer and future contributor R.J. Alvarez who was acquired in part of the Huston Street trade.

Can’t help but to think that the sky is the limit for the Padres in 2015 if they get rid of overrated and often-injured starters and for once get some stability and consistent positive seasons that will get fans excited for the Padres again. If the future is anything like the season the Kansas City Royals are having, we could be in stored for some fun times finally at Petco Park.

To see more of the highlights from 2014, click below: