Given the expectations on this team this year, it’s fair to argue that this past month has been the most disappointing month in the history of the San Diego Padres. Yes, they went 14 years without making the postseason and in those 14 years were some absolutely horrendous moments, but with the roster AJ Preller assembled for the 2021 season, the expectations for the Padres have been World Series or bust. Following Sunday’s loss to the Phillies, the Padres fell out of a playoff spot for the first time since June 17th and us fans have started to become impatient and are calling for, as Ron Fowler once said, heads to roll.
Well that happened today as manager Jayce Tingler announced that pitching coach Larry Rothchild has been dismissed of his duties.
The #Padres have dismissed pitching coach Larry Rothschild: pic.twitter.com/hnjTqCiPpq
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 23, 2021
In an offseason where the Padres acquired Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, and Joe Musgrove to join an already solid rotation, the expectations were that this was a rotation that would be one of the top in baseball. However, that isn’t what’s happened as the injuries have piled up and those who have stayed healthy have been underwhelming.
This stat here actually took my breath away because while I obviously know that the Padres starters have underperformed, I had no idea it was this bad.
Amazing Statistic?
Quality Starts 2021 in NL West
Dodgers ~ 61
Rockies ~ 57
Giants ~ 50
Diamondbacks ~ 33
Padres ~ 33Who could've guessed Padres would have 33 QS after the acquisitions they'd made to rotation over past 18 months.
— MLBExecutiveBurner (@HotStoveintel) August 23, 2021
As I’ve already mentioned, the Padres made this announcement the day after they fell out of the 2nd wild card spot to the Reds. And while I will attempt to stay optimistic that they team that I watched the first half of the season will put it back together and go on a winning streak, it sure feels like Rothchild will be the first head to roll in what will almost certainly go down as the most disappointing season in franchise history.
Firing the pitching coach with 36 games left in the season #Padres pic.twitter.com/kGRy0dYZQh
— Jim Russell (@JimRussellSD) August 23, 2021
As the above tweet alludes to, it sure feels like way too little way too late.
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