On Friar, A San Diego Sportswrap Podcast

Things got ugly again with a Padres manager. Mike Shildt delivered two stellar seasons, but left on an ugly note. Was health the reason for his exit, or was it simply a cover for a contentious clubhouse he needed to get out of? What do we make of this type of exit for the 'Grit Squad' and 'Winners Find Solutions' guy? Are we surprised, given the nature of his interactions with reporters? How much blame falls on the shoulders of A.J. Preller? Will they ever keep the peace for more than a couple seasons? And where do the Padres go from here? We have ideas.

A.J. Preller is once again looking for a new manager. The surprising Mike Shildt news broke Monday. The Padres' General Manager discussed the decision and provided an outlook on the search and the offseason ahead. What led to Shildt's decision, and how specific were his struggles to the Padres? New reports suggest conflict with others around the club led to his departure. Do we think he's actually done managing for good? Death threats factored into Shildt's retirement and continue to be a stain on sports fandom. What is Preller looking for in a new manager, and do internal candidates have a leg up? He also shared his thoughts on the team's needs and other big questions facing the club this winter.

We've had a week to digest the Padres' early postseason exit. Derek and Darnay assess the 2025 season, and the factors in their Wild Card loss. John Seidler issued a letter to fans, will he speak to reporters about his vision for the club moving forward? When will we hear from A.J. Preller? What do the Padres need to do to take a step forward in October? And some early thoughts on who might be staying and who might be going.

That was a bummer. Former Padre Greg Garcia joins Darnay to discuss the season ending loss. Game 3 of the Wild Card Series resulted in another low-scoring loss, perhaps a fitting ending to what was at points a frustrating season. The stars at the top of the order didn't deliver, and the Padres couldn't hit with runners in scoring position. There was a regrettable moment for Luis Arraez, and an unbelievable strike three call against Xander Bogaerts. The bullpen was great, but Dansby Swanson played out of his mind.

The Padres aren't done. A shutout of the Cubs forced a Game 3 Thursday at Wrigley. Dylan Cease stepped up. Manny Machado had the swing of his Padres postseason career. And the bullpen. Ohhhh that bullpen. Mike Shildt pushed all the right buttons with their backs against the wall. The guys discuss the win and look ahead to Game 3.

We've seen losses like that before. Nick Pivetta was sharp early, but two homers were too much for the Padres to overcome. After striking first they failed to add on, before going quiet in the back half of Game 1. Jackson Merrill bunted. His fault or a product of the environment? Stars didn't show up. How confident are we that they will on Wednesday? Did wind and shadows at Wrigley impact the Padres? Can they reverse MLB postseason history? Pressure is on Dylan Cease.

The Padres got cozy at Wrigley Monday, and Game 1 is fast approaching. Darnay and Todd look ahead to their Wild Card Series against the Cubs. Nick Pivetta has a chance to set the tone. How are we feeling about Dylan Cease in a crucial start? What did Pivetta, Mike Shildt and Manny Machado have to say? Shildt has been preparing his team for playoff baseball all season. Can the Padres overcome their struggles on the road? And how will the next three days help define the 2025 season?

Mike Shildt made what he viewed as an easy call and it backfired in the finale against the Mets. Once again the Padres dropped a road series against a playoff caliber team. Will they be able to flip the script in October? This year September feels way different from last. We consider the playoff picture. Manny, Merrill and Tatis have shown life. Michael King had the worst outing of his career. Mason Miller is incredible. The guys look ahead to the final nine games.

The Padres are spinning their wheels. After a promising couple games in Colorado they returned home and dropped their series against the Reds. The lineup isn't producing, the rotation and bullpen are spotty, Manny Machado looks worn down and they're losing ground in the playoff race. Fortunately Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill have perked up over the last week. How concerned are we? The guys discuss.

Even Mike Shildt and the Padres can admit - things aren't great right now. Eno Sarris of The Athletic returns to the pod to share his thoughts on the club's struggles. Starters have been unreliable. Was one particular deadline deal a mistake? Tatis and Machado homered, but what's to blame for their dips in production? Mason Miller threw an immaculate inning! What are realistic expectations for this team? And what should give us hope for the home stretch?

It was an entertaining series in Seattle. But it was not a good few days for the Padres. After a pair of losses and a Dodgers sweep, San Diego is now looking up at Los Angeles again. The guys assess their division hopes and the Wild Card outlook. It was not a good few days for Padres starters. Michael King should be back soon. Fernando Tatis Jr. finally homered again. Ramon Laureano moved up in the lineup with Luis Arraez out, will it stay that way? Are changes coming? Winnable games are ahead.

Just like last week the Padres coasted to three straight wins over the Giants. Derek lets us know what the guys had to say after Thursday's series finale. Will that momentum carry into their series against the Dodgers this time? Fans have been wanting more Ryan O'Hearn, and he proved his value to Mike Shildt's lineup. Fernando Tatis Jr.'s power is still missing, did a recent story reveal the cause? Will the starters show up this time against L.A.? What will this final meeting with the Dodgers determine about the division race? Plus an injury update on Jackson Merrill.

The Padres haven't been in first place this late in the season in 15 years! They pummeled Bob Melvin's old club to reach the top spot in the NL West. Now first place will truly be on the line this weekend at Dodger Stadium. Mike Shildt's club has that second half look again. Pitching has been lights out and everyone in the lineup is doing damage. Derek and Darnay size up the division rivals, and how different they look heading into this series compared to what we saw earlier in the year. Is Dave Roberts gonna try to stir something up again? What Padres do we expect to stand out? Can Derek guess the 2010 lineup from the last time San Diego was alone in first at this point? And Thursday brought bad news for one scheduled starter.

A.J. Preller made a bunch of moves last week, and they have paid off right away. Laureano has been raking, O'Hearn got in the lineup and went deep, and Mason Miller showed his incredible stuff Wednesday. Plus, Nestor Cortes made his debut and JP Sears had a bumpy first appearance. Meanwhile, Xander is looking like Xander and the Padres are winning games they may not have a month ago. As a result, they are in striking distance of the Dodgers.

A.J. Preller is a mad man. We'll figure out the future when it comes, for now the focus is on 2025 and the pursuit of a World Series. Hello Mason Miller, goodbye Leo De Vries. Dylan Cease and Robert Suarez are still Padres. Ryan O'Hearn and Ramon Laureano bolster the lineup. Plus Fermin, Wagner and Cortes! Wow, that was wild. Derek and Darnay discuss, and pass along what Preller had to say to reporters about his deadline haul.

We're still waiting for the first move, but rumors are picking up around the Padres. Darnay checks in with Jon & Jim to see how they're feeling a week out from the MLB Trade Deadline. Is a Dylan Cease trade a given? What about Robert Suarez? Jake Cronenworth? Is Sandy Alcantara a real possibility? What about Steven Kwan? How could the deadline and the months that follow impact A.J. Preller's future? And will the rest of the season look more like 2024 or 2021?

The All-Star break is winding down and the second half is nearly here. Derek and Darnay share their thoughts on this week's festivities before diving into some second half predictions. Who will shine? Who will slump? What will A.J. Preller do at the deadline? And will it all add up to a season as exciting as the last, or as discouraging as 2023?

How would you grade the Padres after the first half? And how are we feeling about the outlook for the coming months? Who better to ask than former Friar Greg Garcia? What would he tell Jackson Merrill during his slump? He discusses Manny Machado's pursuit of history and Fernando Tatis Jr.'s missing power. And how important is it to start the second half on a strong note? Derek and Darnay also talk about Dylan Cease's struggles, the catcher conundrum and a couple rumors that have gained traction.  

The Padres continue to spin their wheels, heading into the final homestand of the first half. With four weeks to go until the Trade Deadline, both Derek and Darnay have the same idea for the Friars. Is it time to move on from Dylan Cease? Robert Suarez? A swap of catchers makes a ton of sense, maybe involving a former fan favorite (or two?). Plus, Xander Bogaerts continues to produce. Manny is an All-Star starter. And Fernando Tatis Jr. is still floundering.

The Padres won back-to-back series to finish .500 over a 26 game in 27 day stretch. Perfectly mid feels about right! Mike Shildt loves his team even more after the last our weeks, Derek and Darnay assess the stretch. Shildt toyed with the lineup. Xander Bogaerts is dinged up, while Michael King and Yu Darvish are making progress. Plus, some thoughts on potential trade targets as the deadline approaches.