Where do the San Diego Padres stand according to power rankings as the season is twelve weeks in? We take a look at all of the major lists.
The roller coaster ride of the San Diego Padres 2017 season has hit one of its smoother stretches. The last couple weeks, the team has settled down a bit, playing more consistent baseball, giving fans more of what they expected.
This doesn’t exactly mean that the Padres have been playing well. It would be more accurate to say that they have held their own. After a 3-3 week including a series loss to the Cubs and victory over the Tigers, San Diego is 31-45 and still ahead of the lowly Giants. They are, however, far from competing with anyone else in the National League West.
Due to the stability of the past couple weeks, the Padres are beginning to see positive trends in the power rankings. While not shooting up and grabbing everyone’s attention, the club is making their way into a more respectable position slowly but surely.
ESPN: 29th
Somehow, ESPN ranks the Padres 29th, the lowest of any of these rankings, puts them even below the miserable San Francisco Giants, and then tries to tell us about the positives. Let’s move on.
"The long season continues for the Padres, but there are some positives. Yangervis Solarte ranks in the NL’s top 10 in OPS this month and Hunter Renfroe has shown the power that scouts had raved about (although contact remains an issue). The Padres are not going anywhere as currently constructed, but the good news is that GM A.J. Preller probably knows that better than anyone."
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Bleacher Report: 25th
It is the highest ranking the Padres have received on one of these lists in quite some time. At 31-45, the club finds themselves in front of the White Sox, Tigers, Reds, Phillies, and Giants. They are up two from last week after going 3-3, and are looking up on a list which has been relatively generous to them all year all things considered.
USA Today: 28th
USA Today also gives the Padres the benefit of the doubt, placing them ahead of the Giants and Phillies. In their description, they took the opportunity to further touch on the disaster which is San Francisco’s 2017 season.
"A five-game lead over the Giants, despite $142 million payroll gap."
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FanRag Sports: 28th
For whatever reason, baseball fans are really beginning to listen to FanRag Sports when it comes to power rankings. So, we decided to include them this week. They seem pretty consistent to the other credible lists.
"Still have the worst run differential in the majors, but only by seven runs against the Giants. Just winning too many games to be put last. Perhaps it’s the infusion of youth. It’s not Franchy Cordero’s fault they’re awful. Mostly not."
Next: Top five Padres first round picks since 2000
Can the Padres continue their gradual climb? Stay tuned for next week’s update.