Top 5 Padres Moments Of 2014

#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: