San Diego Padres Bullpen Looks OK, for the Most Part

Granted, the San Diego Padres are only two games into their season and both games have resulted in losses. Apart from a couple of rough innings, the Friars’ bullpen has been lights-out otherwise.

Brad Hand had a tough outing last night for the San Diego Padres, to say the least. These things will happen, and we can be sure the 28-year-old lefty will come back out today (or whenever he’s called upon again) and work to erase last night from his, and our, collective memories.

That’s the name of the relief-pitching game, folks. Win or lose, good or bad, close the book on yesterday and head into today with a clean slate.

After last night, Hand likely took a big spoonful of that mantra with him to bed, hoping to forget all about the five-run ninth that doomed the Padres.

Other than that one tough inning and another on Thursday, the rest of the Padres bullpen has been outstanding.

They’ve played two games so far, and the Pads’ ‘pen has thrown 7.1 innings, allowing three earned runs and only walking two batters and striking out eight.

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That includes Brad Hand’s ninth-inning from last night and Adam Cimber‘s rough twelfth inning from Thursday too. Remember, three of those runs last night were unearned, due to Hand’s fielding error.

San Diego Padres ‘pen has potential to be great

Kazuhisa Makita, Craig Stammen, and Kirby Yates have all pitched well, as did Kyle McGrath in his third-of-an-inning on Opening Day.

With the depth and talent that’s stockpiled and spread throughout the Padres’ relief corps, there’s good reason to believe that this team will look to their bullpen as a strength and as an anchor.

Add in Jordan Lyles, Robbie Erlin, as well as the litany of talented hurlers this organization has waiting in the wings, both relievers and starters, there is most definitely a new air of confidence around this team.

Next: Spangenberg Shows His Value & Versatility

Regardless if they don’t win today, Monday, or until next week, big things are happening in San Diego. From the top of this roster to the bottom (that goes for the entire organization, in fact), the culture is changing. Dr. Preller-stein is building a monster.