Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in San Diego Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The San Diego Padres had a rough stretch of games to start September and the Friar Faithful were becoming increasingly concerned that a late-season collapse was in the future. That was the case at least until the Padres took the last two games against the Colorado Rockies
to win their weekend series 2-1. San Diego scored 18 runs on 31 hits over the final two games and it appeared the team was coming out of the fog that saw them start the final month of the season with four consecutive losses, including a three-game sweep at home against the Baltimore Orioles.
The Padres have seen starting pitchers Michael King and Yu Darvish miss significant time this season, and they recently lost All-Star reliever Jason Adam for the season with a ruptured quadriceps tendon. San Diego has also seen centerfielder Jackson Merrill pop in an out of the lineup with various ailments, and shortstop Xander Bogaerts was placed on the IL with a non-displaced fracture in his left foot that occurred after he fouled a ball off his foot.
With the sustained and mounting injuries, the Padres have needed their offense to step up and provide consistent production. That has not occurred. The lack of power from Fernando Tatis Jr. throughout the season has been a consistent topic of discussion. Manny Machado has been slumping throughout the month of August and Luis Arraez has not had the same production at the plate that fans have come to expect.
Considering all the afore mentioned factors, Gaslamp Ball is asking readers to identify what concerns them most about the San Diego roster as the team gets closer to securing a postseason berth. Starting pitching, lack of offense, bullpen depth and overall team health can all have an impact how the Padres finish the season. Which area gives you, the reader, the most doubt as the season winds to a close?
