Padres Daily: I can’t get it done anymore; Jake stays put; Arretan crossfire

Good morning,

The decision to start a new guy wasn’t the one that sank Padres last night.

It was more of the same old thing that did it.

In my game story (here) of Padres ’6-3 loss to Houston Astros, Jayce Tingler has been borrowed by calling his team an inability to get keystrokes to his Achilles tendon.

The paddles simply don’t tighten enough hits and don’t even get a victim flight when needed. They were 2-9 and the runners made the scoring position last night, including 1-5 when they had less than two outs. In both the seventh and eighth innings, they had a runner in the third base, one out, and could not get him home.

This is one of many games Padres looks back on and complains if they don’t make it to the aftermath. It might not have been as bad as the fact that last week it would not have been possible to get the runner the last 90 feet three times in extra innings against Dodgers. But it was close.

They could have essentially stolen the game Jake Arrieta started. The 35-year-old, who seemed to have nothing left when Padres signed him in mid-August, gave them everything he could.

But it turned out to be a gift they lost.

If you’re a Padres fan, you want to believe Arrietas ’words of wisdom. He has a Cy Young Award and a World Series ring, and has placed three offspring.

He has been watching Padres for 2 weeks.

If we can play close to our abilities, there aren’t many teams that can play with us, Arrieta said after last night’s game. And this is something this group of guys needs to understand, be proud of. I don’t like thermal urgency. I think the guys just have to understand that we haven’t played the way we could.

That is the real problem. It’s been a while.

Tingler was asked yesterday afternoon if he would look at the scoreboard to see how red and other wild card hopes could.

Naturally, you are aware, it is only real, he said. But honestly, we focus on ourselves and try to play the best possible version of baseball, and we feel like we haven’t done it yet and it’s in front of us.

It struck a hopeful tone when Tingler said that in April and May and June and even early July.

It was like, yeah, of course. They are better than what they do! There are now only 27 games left. Whenever. Who ever?

This team is been good. Not just long enough enough.

And honestly, it might not be good anymore.

On July 17, Padres had 15 games above .500 during the season, and the previous 25 matches had gone 17-8 (leveled to the best league record this season). In those 25 matches, they led the big companies with 0.885 OPS and were second with an average of 0.319 strokes and runners in scoring.

After 40 games, they have .685 OPS (fifth lowest in big companies) and they beat .239 with runners in scoring (third lowest).

And from that day on, they have a record of 16-24. They are the only competing team that is under .500 in this period.

Do you think it is arbitrary? Then select the date.

From July 1: 22-31.

From July 25: 13-21.

Starting August 11: 5-15.

It is called a trend in the wrong direction. And not for a short time.

Next to Hos

It was obvious that Eric Hosmer had instructions to attack on the wings instead of in the middle.

Hosmer returned to the edge of the dirt and moved to the right towards the ball past it. Then he looked back and saw Kim doing a play and headed for the first base. But he slowed down and the back brother rather than charged at full speed. Although Kim held on to the ball, trying to let Hosmer get in first, his throw was in time to catch Brantley. However, Hosmer was steps away from the bag when he grabbed the ball.

Tingler was asked about the play and did not allow Hosmer to be mistaken.

I think Hos originally broke it and then Kim got into it and Hos couldn’t get back to the base in time, Tingler said. I saw him react to the ball and then tried to go back to the bag, but I just didn’t get there on time.

Three strokes later, after two walks, Carlos Correa hit three runs.

In the ninth, Hosmer took part in the game where Astros ’final run scored.

Jake Meyers ’short-jump Hosmer check-swing ground with awkward rotation. It bounces off the glove and off the right field, making the runner-up score.

I think it had a little sideways, Tingler said. And it became a kind of center with a low trajectory. I think it had some English, and I think Hos tried to stop it by holding it in front and it broke.

Crone Zone is not moving

Earlier this season, Jake Cronenworth was moved down in order after he had fallen.

Apparently that is not happening now. At least not yet.

I think a lot of things, Tingler said when asked about the possibility of dropping Cronenworth near the top of the order after he was 0-4 and three postponements dropped to 3-36 in the last nine games. But I think Jake has arguably been one of the two smoothest players we’ve had all year. And we’ve now put a lot on the Jakes record, apparently moved to a short stop. And so, I certainly think of many scenarios. But I think Jakes, too, is one of the best ball players on the team, and he’s been in the middle of a lot of good things. And so, even though he hasn’t waved it to his abilities or (been) as hot as he has been, I have as much confidence in Jake as he does in any other team. So I think the answer would be no. Of course we want him to get out of this little funk, but I know Jake. He goes into battle and gives everything he has. And he’s a hell of a good ball player.

Big One-Two

I wrote on Thursday (here) that Padres now needs his two best players the most.

Only the second time this season, Tingler beat Fernando Tatis Jr. first and Manny Machado second to maximize the number of bats.

And they had opportunities.

Tatis led from the bottom of the first section on a walk before Machado made the first of three straight innings in the inning.

Machado drove Kim from the second base with two sets of singles in the third set after Tati popped up.

With Tommy Pham in second base and one in fifth, Tatis lay first and Machado flew to the right field.

Tatis flew to the left in the seventh with the runner first. Machado followed the walk.

Tatis drew a parallel walk in the ninth and Machado grounded the game to end the double game.

Back there?

Maybe Pham will make his first start in a week tonight because Astros has a left-handed mound and Pham drove twice last night.

Pham hit the jump in all three Arizona matches this week and took part in Friday’s match with two hits in the previous 24 matches.

I have to play better to form a lineup, he said before the game.

Wil Myers (three times) and Jurickson Profar (once) have ousted him on the left field for the last four games.

He has dealt with some issues, Tingler said of Phami. I thought he came back today and he found some things in his swing. It jumped away. His inclusion in the game was very encouraging.

The fifth guy

According to a preliminary plan, Arrieta will resume on September 14 in San Francisco.

You need to feel a little better about it now than before last night.

Arrieta has found her way back to her crossfire delivery, where she steps out with a leading leg and not directly toward the record. This was his delivery before through 2019. But the meniscus surgery done in February forced him to change because the cross-connection gives a lot of torque to the knee.

He returned to the crossfire shortly before coming to Padres, and the last two weeks on the list of injured with a hamstring strain allowed him to feel comfortable.

He was clearly more in command last night and made the fields he wanted. He relied more on his sinker than on any game this season. And it was much more effective.

While Correa landed the sinker Arrieta left right in the heart of the area, the Astros were the other 1-12 for-at-bats who ended up in the sinker.

Arrieta also scored 39 of his 64 fields in the strike zone. His stake in 20 starts with the Cubs before he was released on August 12, was 49.7 percent.

Little things

• Myers drew nine and eight field walks in consecutive record shows in the sixth and seventh innings.

• I wrote yesterday about how pleased Padres is this season (here). And last night, an audience of 37,033 people kept them on their way to the top of the annual attendance peak in all but three of the last 10 years when fans got on the ball.

• Austin Nola was 2-4 against and drove in the run. He has seven hits and seven RBIs in the last 30 matches.

• Watch out for the Cardinals, who have won seven games at Padres since August 10th.

Pat on the back

I have told you about the great work that Paul Sisson is doing for Union-Tribune in one of my many numerous demands to subscribe. This is because his work is one of the best examples of the extensive local journalism we offer.

Yesterday, Paul was awarded the San Diego Chapter of the Year Journalist of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Anyway, try UT. Its price is a month of digital use.

All right, that’s me.

We’ll talk tomorrow.