Six Signs the Padres’ Plan is Working Or Not
Do you believe in the plan? You know…the Master Plan. THE…PLAN.
The answer for most Padres fans falls between one of two extremes: cynicism or romanticism. Whichever way one leans, it is foolhardy to embrace franchise goals as inevitable without checkpoints. These are, after all, goals the Padres set for themselves and commitments they made to their fans.
Padres fans have been mistreated by ownership for years, and on the heels of the Chargers’ departure, San Diego needs owners with integrity and competency. Padres fans may have found them in Ron Fowler and Peter Seidler (I believe they have).
Nevertheless, Padres fans are allowed to question the substance and progress of the Padres’ proclaimed Master Plan for the franchise to contend within the next three to five years. How exactly is the goal of “meaningful games in October” within three years supposed to actually occur? Ron Fowler is on record as saying he hopes for a .500 team next season. As the team seems destined for 100+ losses at present, wouldn’t that be wonderful?
We are more than one-fourth of the way through the 2017 season, and it isn’t pretty. Wins are scarce, attendance is down, key prospects are sidelined with injuries, and others are not progressing. On the other hand, some prospects are playing lights out (hello Luis Urias, Joey Lucchesi, Eric Lauer, Logan Allen, and others), and the big three prospects (Margot, Hedges, and Renfroe) are showing flashes of why they may belong on the squad for years to come.
So, how do Padres fans know which way this thing is really heading?
Allow me to suggest six ways we, as fans, can tell whether the Padres are both committed to the plan, and the plan is working.
PAGE 2 LINK BELOW
Tim is a former pitcher and avid, life-long baseball fan. He is also a husband, father, pastor, writer, and professor…who drinks a lot of coffee.
