THE PADRES BULLPEN DRAWING CARDS TO SEE WHO GETS TO BLOW THE GAME TODAY
At this point, I picture the Padres bullpen sitting around before the game drawing cards to see who gets to blow it today.
Time for the bullpen to STEP IT UP.
I know, I know. The Padres bullpen has been lights out for most of the season. They’ve been one of the reasons this team is even in the playoff race.
But it’s September now.
The Padres have lost four of their last five games, and the bullpen has been right in the middle of three brutal late-game losses during this stretch.
That can’t happen when you’re fighting for a Wild Card spot.
Are they tired?
Probably.
Doesn’t matter.
Man up and throw good pitches.
And whatever you do, DON’T WALK BATTERS IN A TIGHT GAME.
Last night was Adrián Morejón’s turn.
Morejón has been great this year. He’s one of the Padres’ best bullpen arms. But yesterday?
He sucked.
Tie game in the eighth. Morejón walks Elly De La Cruz to start the inning. Sal Stewart singles. The Padres intentionally walk Matt McLain to load the bases, and José Trevino knocks in the go-ahead run. Juan Brito adds a sacrifice fly and suddenly it’s 4-2.
Fernando Tatis Jr. hit his second home run of the night in the ninth to make it 4-3, but that was it.
Padres lose again.
And yes, the offense deserves some blame too. They went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position, so this wasn’t all on Morejón.
But we’ve already called out the Padres offense.
And they answered.
Now we’re calling out the bullpen.
You can’t have your great pitchers sucking in September and expect to make the playoffs.
STEP IT UP.
Or sit on the couch for the postseason.
THANK YOU, PHILLY
Fortunately for San Diego, Arizona isn’t exactly taking advantage.
The Phillies absolutely smoked the Diamondbacks 7-1 last night.
Philadelphia has now won six straight and 15 of its last 17. Bryce Harper had four hits and Jesús Luzardo gave up one run over 6 2/3 innings.
That’s what good teams do when the pressure is on.
Respect to Philly.
Arizona is now 73-67, still a half-game behind the 73-66 Padres for the final Wild Card spot.
So somehow, despite everything the Padres have done to themselves lately, they’re still holding the spot.
Someone apparently really wants them to make the playoffs.
GIANTS LOSE 13-12, BUT DID YOU SEE THAT OFFENSE?
The Giants lost one of the craziest games of the season to Pittsburgh, 13-12.
They were down 11-5 and came all the way back to tie the game 12-12 before Pittsburgh walked it off in the ninth.
Rafael Devers hit his 31st homer, and the Giants hung five runs on Paul Skenes in the second inning.
That’s okay.
Seriously.
Do you see this offense?
We’re sticking with it:
THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS WILL WIN THE WORLD SERIES NEXT YEAR.
Write it down.
We’ll either look like geniuses next October or pretend this paragraph never existed.
AND THE DODGERS GOT JACKED UP
Almost forgot the best part.
The Dodgers lost 13-8 to St. Louis.
The Cardinals hit five home runs and handed Los Angeles its fifth loss in seven games.
That’s a shame.
Moving on.
AROUND SPORTS
The U.S. Open is underway, and Gaël Monfils won on his 40th birthday, coming from behind to advance in what is expected to be his final U.S. Open.
At 40 years old, winning a Grand Slam match against guys who probably grew up watching you play is definitely:
UNJACKED.
College football also gets rolling in earnest this week, so September is officially here.
Baseball playoff races.
College football.
NFL coming.
U.S. Open.
This is when sports gets good.
And for the Padres bullpen:
THROW STRIKES.
If it’s sports and it’s Jacked Up, we cover it.
