JUS MLB BLOG 10/7: GIVE MICHAEL KING SOME PEPTIDES OR SOMETHING. HE NEEDS TO PITCH EVERY INNING.

We have solved the Padres’ pitching situation.

Michael King pitches every inning for the rest of the series.

That’s it.

Problem solved.

Starter?

Michael King.

Middle relief?

Michael King.

Setup man?

Michael King.

Closer?

Also Michael King.

If necessary, have him pitch batting practice before the game just to stay loose.

Give him peptides.

Electrolytes.

Protein shakes.

One of those oxygen chambers.

Whatever weird legal recovery thing professional athletes are doing these days.

Because after what King did last night, the Padres really don’t have another choice.

THE PADRES ARE ALIVE

San Diego survived.

Barely.

Again.

The Padres beat Milwaukee 4-3 at Petco Park and cut the Brewers’ series lead to 2-1.

And for the third straight game, the entire thing was decided by one run.

Apparently nobody involved in this series is capable of playing a normal baseball game.

Fine.

We’ll take it.

Because yesterday there was only one thing that mattered:

Win.

And they did.

No Milwaukee roof playing defense.

No cable knocking down a potential game-winning hit.

No alleged pitch-tipping drama.

The Padres just buckled down and won a baseball game.

What a concept.

WELCOME BACK TO THE CRONE ZONE

Jake Cronenworth.

Hero.

The Padres needed somebody to step up.

Cronenworth stepped up.

Fifth inning.

Game tied 2-2.

Lefty against lefty.

Cronenworth sends one over the wall.

WELCOME TO THE CRONE ZONE.

3-2 Padres.

That’s playoff baseball.

Your stars aren’t always going to carry you.

Sometimes Fernando Tatis Jr. is going to be hitting .143 in the postseason.

Yes, Fernando.

We’re looking at you.

Sometimes somebody else has to step into the gap.

Cronenworth did exactly that.

That’s what championship teams need.

Not one superstar.

Not two superstars.

Everybody.

Because at some point in October, the guy you weren’t expecting has to become the guy.

Last night?

That guy was Jake Cronenworth.

AND THEN BOGAERTS MADE US EAT OUR WORDS AGAIN

Speaking of guys JUS has occasionally said some things about…

Xander Bogaerts.

We have talked a considerable amount of trash about Bogaerts.

Some of it deserved.

Some of it perhaps slightly excessive.

We reserve the right to deny everything.

But last night?

Hero.

Bogaerts reached base in the sixth and then scored from second when Milwaukee threw the ball away on Miguel Andújar’s grounder.

That run made it 4-2.

Milwaukee scored again later.

Final score?

4-3.

Meaning Bogaerts’ run was the difference.

And the base running was excellent.

Aggressive.

Smart.

Exactly what playoff baseball requires.

And then, just to make sure JUS had absolutely no room left to complain about him, Bogaerts helped finish the game with a very impressive double play to end it.

That was a huge defensive play under pressure and exactly the kind of thing you remember in October.

So Xander:

JUS officially takes everything back.

For now.

Please don’t make us regret this tonight.

THEN MASON MILLER HAD SOMETHING SLIGHTLY MORE IMPORTANT TO DO

About an hour before the game, Mason Miller went on the paternity list.

His wife, Jordan, had gone into labor.

There are certain things bigger than baseball.

That’s one of them.

So first and most importantly:

Congratulations to Mason and his wife.

We wish them the absolute best and officially welcome the newest Padres fan into the world.

Hopefully the baby was born wearing brown and gold and immediately booed the Brewers.

But Miller’s absence created a serious problem.

The Padres suddenly didn’t have their closer.

And Adrian Morejon wasn’t available either.

So somebody had to step into the gap.

Again.

Enter Michael King.

MICHAEL KING APPARENTLY DOES NOT REQUIRE REST

This guy started Game 2.

Two days ago.

Five innings.

72 pitches.

Normally that would mean:

“Great job, Michael. We’ll see you in several days.”

Apparently King heard:

“Great job, Michael. Can you close Game 3?”

Sure.

Why not?

King came out of the bullpen for the first time all season and pitched the final two innings.

Forty more pitches.

One hit.

No runs.

And a six-out save with the Padres’ season sitting directly on his shoulders.

He even got Christian Yelich to hit into the game-ending double play.

Michael King has now started a game and recorded a save in the same postseason series.

First Padre ever to do it.

So naturally our plan is obvious.

KING PITCHES EVERY REMAINING INNING

I don’t want to hear about arm fatigue.

I don’t want to hear about pitch counts.

I don’t want to hear about “normal recovery.”

We’re in October.

Give him whatever recovery smoothie is currently legal.

Peptides.

Vitamins.

Electrolytes.

A massage.

Prayer.

A nap.

Put him in a cryogenic chamber between innings.

Whatever works.

Again, legal things, because unlike Milwaukee we apparently still believe in rules.

Mostly.

King threw 72 pitches Sunday.

Then 40 more Tuesday.

And somehow looked like he was ready to pitch another nine innings afterward.

So we’ve reached the obvious conclusion:

Michael King pitches until the Padres either win the World Series or his arm physically detaches from his body.

Okay.

Maybe don’t do that.

But you understand the general strategy.

THIS IS WHAT TEAMMATES DO

This is actually what stood out most last night.

Miller couldn’t be there.

Someone stepped in.

Morejon couldn’t go.

Someone stepped in.

The Padres needed a big hit.

Cronenworth stepped in.

They needed an insurance run.

Bogaerts created one.

They needed a huge defensive play to finish it.

Bogaerts helped turn it.

They needed six outs.

King said:

Give me the ball.

That is what October baseball is about.

You don’t spend your time complaining about who’s missing.

You fill the gap.

Somebody goes down?

Next guy.

Somebody struggles?

Next guy.

Your closer’s wife goes into labor?

Congratulations, Mason.

Michael King, get loose.

That’s a team.

FERNANDO, YOUR TURN

Now we arrive at Fernando Tatis Jr.

Fernando.

We love you.

You’re one of the most exciting baseball players alive.

You’re also hitting:

.143.

It’s October.

We need Fernando Tatis Jr.

Not Fernando Tatis Jr. occasionally hitting RBI groundouts.

We need the guy who can change an entire game in one swing.

The guy who makes Petco Park explode.

The guy opposing pitchers don’t want to face with the game on the line.

And here’s the good news:

This is baseball.

You can be terrible for a week and become the hero tonight.

That’s how this game works.

So we’re calling it.

Fernando breaks out tonight.

You’re welcome in advance.

AND NOW IT’S GAME 4

Milwaukee still leads the series 2-1.

The Padres are still one loss away from going home.

Nothing has really changed except everything.

Because if San Diego wins tonight?

Now we’re going back to Milwaukee for Game 5.

Back to the roof.

Back to the cables.

Back to the world’s only Major League Baseball stadium where the HVAC system might record an assist.

But first things first.

Win tonight.

Cronenworth stepped up.

Bogaerts stepped up.

King stepped up.

Now somebody else needs to do it.

Maybe Tatis.

Maybe Machado.

Maybe Merrill.

Maybe somebody we’re not expecting.

That’s postseason baseball.

Your stars don’t have to be stars every night.

But somebody has to become one.

Last night the Padres found enough of them.

Tonight?

Do it again.

And if things get complicated…

Michael King is probably available.

Right?

Somebody check on that.