San Diego Padres: Week #8 power rankings update

Where do the San Diego Padres stand according to power rankings as the season is eight weeks in? We take a look at all of the major lists.

It was a mixed week for the San Diego Padres, as they were able to come away with one series victory in their two three game sets. All things considered, this week was a strong one for the club compared to others, as they were faced with the tough task of playing on the road on the east coast against two strong teams.

Despite this, it is still going to take more consistency to convince baseball’s power rankers to begin ascending through the rankings. The team still sits in last place in the National League West at 19-33.

This week’s update proves just how deep of a hole the Padres have dug themselves. Even one solid week won’t make much difference.

ESPN: 30th

Despite three rising stars they reference, ESPN ranks the Padres last due to their inconsistency and inability to string together any sort of winning stretch.

Moral victories might be almost as rare for the Padres as actual wins, but Clayton Richard has quality starts in three of his past four turns, and last week’s back-to-back one-run wins against the Mets were their first wins on consecutive days since April. Ryan Schimpf ‘s Three True Outcomes approach at the plate is spreading — Schimpf, Wil Myers and Hunter Renfroe have combined to homer, walk or whiff in 47 percent of their plate appearances in May.

Call to the Pen: 30th

FanSided’s very own Call to the Pen follows the lead of most of the other lists, ranking the Padres behind even the likes of the Braves, Phillies, and Marlins.

On the negative side, the Padres lost exciting young center fielder Manny Margot to the disabled list, sidelined with a strained soleus muscle. However, the Padres are out of the National League cellar, with the free falling Phillies now having the worst record in baseball.

Related Story: Week #7 power rankings update

Bleacher Report: 29th

Bleacher report does not move the Padres in either direction after their .500 week, as they remain a spot of the bottom of baseball.

Sports Illustrated: 30th

Sports Illustrated can’t bring themselves to put San Diego anywhere other than 30th out of 30, but they do list some of the reasons fans should be optimistic in the midst of this difficult season in their description.

In the meantime, you look for signs of hope. Like Margot making contact on pitches in the strike zone about as often as stars like Corey Seager and Buster Posey. Like Renfroe slugging .714 in his past eight games. Like Hedges starting to spray a few more line drives to go with his all-or-nothing, swing-for-the-fences approach. If you’re a Padres fan, you celebrate every baby step forward, and know that with a farm system slowly being bolstered by high draft picks, international signings, and opportune trades, it’s only going to get better from here.

Next: Padres: Week #8 recap

The Padres will strive to work their way up from the bottom two spots of baseball’s power rankings this week as they host