The Padres embody the "Next man up" philosophy

After getting Bob Melvin back, the Padres completed a sweep of the Diamondbacks in dominant fashion. And they did it without their superstars, showing that they're not slowing down any time soon.

Good morning! After sweeping the Cubs, and getting swept by the Rockies, the Padres finished off a sweep of the Diamondbacks yesterday at Petco Park. They are now 12-8 in blowout games, 13-8 in one-run games, and a shocking 8-3 in extra-inning games after a very fun series against the snakes.

Most notably, the Padres got Ryan Christenson and Bob Melvin back during the course of this series, and they really did seem to miss both. Hopefully, they won’t have to spend any more time without their manager and bench coach this season.

Since June 1st, the Padres ranked 5th in all of baseball in OPS. They’re also 5th in wOBA and 6th in wRC+ during that timespan. If you wanted to tell yourself a story, you could say that it has taken a few months for Michael Brdar to install hitting instruction and have it be absorbed by the players. That would then lead you to conclude that they can continue hitting like this the rest of the season, especially since they’ve done it all without Fernando Tatis Jr.

Every team says that they want a “Next man up” mentality, but rarely is it actually true. However, the 2022 San Diego Padres do seem like the type of team in which that’s true.

• Jurickson Profar definitely wasn’t the team’s first choice for leadoff hitter, but he’s slashing .340/.396/.520 in 24 games since being moved there.

• Nomar Mazara was not the team’s first choice for starting right fielder, but he’s slashing .296/.333/.404 since being given the chance after Matt Beaty, Brent Rooker and Trayce Thompson didn’t work out.

• Jose Azocar wasn’t even supposed to make this team out of spring training, but a dearth of backup CFs opened a spot for him. He’s slashing .267/.316/.378 as a rookie.

• Probably before the end of June, Ha-Seong Kim is going to pass the number of plate appearances and at-bats he got all of last season. Instead of being a backup infielder, Kim has been in the lineup almost every single day for the 2022 Padres, and he’s improved upon last year’s stats along the way. He’s slashing .229/.315/.358 for the season, but .302/.404/.442 over the last two weeks says that those numbers might be heading north.

Next man up in the batter’s box, next man up in the manager’s chair, it never really seems to affect the Padres all that much. That’s why it’s so easy for me to believe in, and really love watching, this year’s team.