Padres News: Joe Musgrove Proves An Unexpected Resource for Friars Sluggers
About a third into the season, the Padres have struggled at the plate. Sitting in the bottom half of the league in RBI, strikeouts and sporting the second worst batting average, San Diego has not lived up to its high ceiling.
And yet, according to starting pitcher Joe Musgrove, there are better days ahead for the Padres' talented group of hitters — and they may have already arrived.
“I think we’re being a little more aggressive in the zone,” he said. “Early on — and I’m not a hitter, so this is just talking out of my ass — but it had the appearance that we were struggling so guys were trying to predict what’s coming and sitting on pitches. We were taking a lot of good pitches. … I feel like everyone’s got a good idea of where the zone is at now. And (when pitchers) come in the zone, we’re being aggressive.”
(Via The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Last month, Musgrove expressed his observations in a team meeting, using his expertise as a pitcher to advise the group of struggling hitters.
"It's stressful (for pitchers) when guys attack in the zone ... So if pitchers are there, we've got to be more aggressive going after them," Musgrove said. "And guys are starting to be. Patience with aggression, if that makes sense."
(Via The San Diego Union-Tribune)
In Thursday's game against the Marlins, the Padres once again started slow against Jesús Luzardo, striking out five times before Ha-Seong Kim hit a double in the fourth inning for the Padres' first hit of the day. Fernando Tatis Jr. brought him home to tie the game, and the Friars never looked back.
With 11 hits, including a 7-run sixth inning that saw Luzardo retire for the day, the Padres offense complimented a six inning shutout from Musgrove en route to a 10-1 win.
"I feel like for the second time around, it just clicked. It led us to what we did the second time (through the order),” Tatis said.
(Via The San Diego Union-Tribune)
While Musgrove helped plenty from the mound Thursday, perhaps a team meeting speech a month earlier was part of the revival of the bats of San Diego.
