When the Padres take the field for the 2019 season, they'll most certainly be all right. Which may not be all-right at all. To put it another way, the simple fact that the Padres are all right may lead to the fact that, come playoff time, they will be left out.
There's nobody questioning that General Manager A.J. Preller has put together an improved, intriguing lineup of young prospects and solid All-Star-type veterans, thrown into the mix (thanks ownership) with one of the game's most electrifying superstars, and put his team in position to realistically contend for its first playoff berth in more than 10 seasons.
But one thing has been left out: the lefties. I mean, this group leans so far to the right, it's a lineup that perhaps only President Trump could appreciate. Right?
Starting catcher Austin Hedges bats from the right side. So does starting second baseman Ian Kinsler, shortstop Luis Urias, and brilliant third baseman Manny Machado. There's nothing wrong with the outfield, but it's all right as well. Hunter Renfroe, Wil Myers, and Franmil Reyes all hit from the right side.
Off the bench, catcher Chris Stewart is right, and so is infielder Jose Pirela. Outfielder Manuel Margot is right, too. When Fernando Tatis Jr. comes to the big club, he'll add another righty to the mix.
On Opening Day, when San Francisco star lefty Madison Bumgarner pitches, he'll have his work cut out for him. But after that, well, remember that most starting pitchers in baseball throw from the right side. And they won't have many Padre lefties to deal with.
Eric Hosmer is the only left-handed bat the Padres have that will start. Franchy Cordero could make it two when he plays in center field (but when he does, somebody like Reyes, Renfroe or Margot must go to the bench). Speaking of the bench, the only lefty swinger is the switch-hitting utility man Greg Garcia.
Francisco Mejia and Josh Naylor both hit left-handed, but it's unlikely that either will open the season on the major league roster. So is it all-right? Or all-wrong? Will the Friars be right in the mix? Or left out in the cold?
To be honest, you can see some days where righty studs like Washington's Max Scherzer, Philadelphia's Aaron Nola, and New York's Jacob deGrom are going to be licking their chops. Even right-handers that are not superstars are going to have an advantage.
And opposing managers will be able to out-maneuver Andy Green late in games by bringing in right-handed relievers. The Padres will be left with little from the left to counter.
All of this has left me worried. At least a little bit. I mean, the fact is that good hitters are good hitters. Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt and many other mashers in baseball all bat from the right side. And they all can hit right-handed pitching.
But the fact remains that the young Padres will have to prove they can hit right-handed pitching as well. Just so, in the end, everything turns out -- well, all right.
