Fansided

San Diego Padres 2015 MLB team preview and predictions

By Will Osgood

Mar 10, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; A San Diego Padres hat and glove are seen in the dugout against the San Francisco Giants at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; A San Diego Padres hat and glove are seen in the dugout against the San Francisco Giants at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 10, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; A San Diego Padres hat and glove are seen in the dugout against the San Francisco Giants at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; A San Diego Padres hat and glove are seen in the dugout against the San Francisco Giants at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

Looking back at the San Diego Padres’ 2014 season and ahead to 2015. 

Introduction/2014 Capsule

Bud Black survived another subpar season in 2014, in part because he’s long been in the good graces of the Padres’ ownership group led by Ron Fowler. Of course he was kept on as manager, while general manager Josh Byrnes was axed midway through the 2014 season.

In his place stepped A.J. Preller who made waves this offseason with some aggressive dealing. He likely felt he had to make such moves given the sorry state of the Padres’ 2014 offense. It’s never been scary to opposing teams since the Padres moved to Petco Park in 2004.

Yet 2014 was the Padres at their worst with the bats. Of course ridding themselves of Chase Headley (to the Yankees) and Nick Hundley (to the Orioles) in the middle of the year didn’t help the team’s offense.

But it should be noted that Tyson Ross led an underrated pitching staff as a revelatory talent. Credit Black and his outstanding pitching coach Darren Balsly. But some credit should also go to whoever it is who coaches the catchers, as all three of them (Hundley, Yasmani Grandal and Rene Rivera) ranked in the top-15 of the entire league in pitch framing.

2014 Record: 77-85 (.475); 3rd in NL West

2014 Run Differential: -42

Other Key Stats:

-Last in MLB in runs scored w/ just 535; batting average (.226); on-base percentage (.292) & slugging percentage (.342)

-Gave up 2nd fewest runs in NL & 3rd fewest in MLB; 4th in team ERA; 8th in WHIP (1.22); 7th in batting average against (.241)

Lasting Memory from 2014 season:

Strangely, the most memorable from the Padres’ 2014 season, aside from firing their general manager on June 22, is the same most memorable moment as the Dodgers’ from 2014.

Interestingly, the two NL West rivals share the same most memorable moment, in part because the run Kershaw was on last season was borderline legendary. That then-Padre Chase Headley was able to snap it made his and the Padres’ season.

Next: Padres played musical chairs this offseason

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