Padres' Mike Shildt defends catchers amid terrible offensive season

While nan San Diego Padres person a spread successful near field, nan rumor down nan sheet cannot beryllium ignored. Elias Diaz and Martin Maladonado person struggled offensively and defensively this season. Meanwhile, Luis Campusano hasn't moreover been a facet this season.

All successful all, nan Padres should look to adhd a catcher astatine nan waste and acquisition deadline. But, moreover pinch specified a clear need, Padres head Mike Shildt wasn't acrophobic to take sides his catchers for their thief successful making nan bullpen arsenic bully arsenic it is.

Tom Krasovic of The San Diego Union-Tribune shared Shildt's comments and praise of Maldanado and Diaz arsenic nan squad heads into nan All-Star break.

"I tin confidently show you that Maldy and Diaz person done a really bully job," Shildt said. "It's a difficult occupation also."

A immense portion of nan praise for Maldonado and Diaz stems from really they've helped nan pitching unit beryllium 1 of nan champion successful nan game. Their activity pinch young pitchers has helped nan Padres get to wherever they are successful nan season, and was acknowledged by Shildt.

"There are nuances to it," Shildt said. "The mentation to it, nan strategy going into a game, nan consciousness to make adjustments during nan game, nan expertise to springiness guys confidence, nan expertise to make a travel and opportunity nan correct things. They're a large logic why we beryllium location and person 1 of nan champion staffs pinch a batch of caller guys that person made their debuts this twelvemonth aliases are young to this league."

Krasovic pointed retired 3 pitchers that nan comments from Shildt mention to: Randy Vasquez, Ryan Bergert, and Stephen Kolek. Vazquez has 19 starts this season, which is his 3rd successful nan large leagues. His 3.80 ERA isn't amazing, but it's a coagulated number for a 5th starter.

Bergert, nan rookie, has an awesome 2.84 ERA successful 10 appearances this season. While he's backmost successful nan minors aft a 4.2 inning outing against nan Philadelphia Phillies, wherever he allowed 2 earned runs, he's been a bully portion of nan Padres' roster this season. 

Kolek is different starter nan Padres person utilized this play pinch a decent, but not great, year. In 12 starts, he has a 4.24 ERA, and moreover had a singular complete crippled shutout against nan Colorado Rockies successful a 21-0 blowout.

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The performances of these young pitchers and nan power of nan bullpen, which has nan second-lowest ERA successful nan league, are, successful Shildt's mind, acknowledgment successful ample portion to Diaz and Maldonado down nan plate.

Maldonado (.516 OPS) and Diaz (.555 OPS) person been bad offensively this season. Defensively, Maldonado (-7 Fielding Run Value) and Diaz (-2 Fielding Run Value) haven't been awesome either.

But, contempt their struggles, Shildt views some positively acknowledgment to their efforts successful making nan team's bullpen and starting rotation arsenic bully arsenic it's been this season. Even pinch nan Padres continuing to look for a caller catcher, Shildt still views nan contributions from some Diaz and Maldonado arsenic positive. 

A.J. Preller and nan beforehand agency will still effort to adhd a caller catcher astatine nan waste and acquisition deadline. But, for now, Shildt is good pinch their existent catcher room. He believes successful Diaz and Maldonado, moreover contempt their mediocre discourtesy and defense this season.

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