San Diego Padres Opening Day Countdown: 83 Is Unacceptable

The countdown to San Diego Padres Opening Day 2019 now sits at 83 days.

In 83 days, all will be right in the world. Major League Baseball will be back on tv every single night and ballparks across the country, from MLB stadiums to tiny short-season minor league parks, will illuminate one of the most beautiful sights on Earth, a pristine baseball field. To help pass the time before the San Diego Padres take the field for Opening Day, we continue our countdown by taking a look at the number 83, the number of games Wil Myers appeared in last season.

Injuries are a major part of baseball. Over the course of a 162 game season that crosses through the dog-days of summer, injuries pile up, throw off players’ seasons, and even bring scorching-hot seasons to an immediate close, unfortunately. Wil Myers suffered through various injuries in 2018, which ultimately left him available for just half a season

Last season was supposed to be a big season for Myers. The addition of first baseman Eric Hosmer meant that Myers no longer had to be forced into being the face of the franchise and he would finally have protection in the lineup. Myers could just show up to the ballpark, do his job, and produce a third-straight double-double season. Instead, three separate trips to the disabled list put a halt to those plans (nerve irritation in his right arm, an oblique strain, and a bone bruise on his foot).

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Across his 83 games, Myers hit .253 with a .318 OBP, 11 home runs, and 25 doubles, finishing slightly above league-average with a 107 wRC+ and a 1.6fWAR. In more than 300 fewer at-bats, compared to his 2016 and 2017 seasons, Myers was five doubles away from setting a career-high.

Myers has been involved in numerous trade rumors this offseason and doesn’t have a set position for 2019, at least it hasn’t been made public, yet. His 2018 campaign will be most remembered by his DL trips, poor play at third base, and word choice while playing Fortnite. Not exactly what fans were expecting from the former All-Star and Rookie of the Year.

If San Diego is going to keep Myers on the roster, 83 games is unacceptable in 2019. Keep him at a defensive position he can excel at, find a home for him in the batting order, and let’s watch him rack up the extra-base hits at Petco Park for a full season.

Enjoy the weekend, San Diego Padres fans. Shoutout to the Eastern Washington Eagles in Saturday’s FCS National Championship game!