Padres executive chairman Ron Fowler not only admitted Monday what any fan could see — the team was not good in 2019 — but he did it in unusually frank terms.
Speaking at a fan social media event at Petco Park, Fowler apologized repeatedly for the team's performance this season, saying “heads will roll, beginning with mine” if the team doesn't have success next season.
One head already rolled, metaphorically speaking, when the Padres fired manager Andy Green on Sept. 21 after four losing seasons.
And in a later interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune, Fowler reiterated his earlier apologies ("It was a terrible year") and said the fans deserved his candor.
“Why wouldn’t I be candid? We sucked,” Fowler said. “It was a cathartic process to just sit down and say it was the worst 2 1/2 months of ownership for me. It was embarrassing for me. We sucked. There were some days, quite honestly, I didn’t want to get out of bed.”
There were high hopes when the Padres began the season. The team had just signed slugger Manny Machado to a 10-year, $300 million contract. Highly touted shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. led an influx of young talent either ready or almost ready from MLB's top-ranked farm system.
But after going 45-45 before the All-Star break, the Padres collapsed in the second half.
“We might have been the worst team in baseball after the break. … It’s embarrassing," Fowler said.
Sure, there were injuries, with Tatis and second baseman Ian Kinsler missing extended time. But there were underachievers, too. Fowler cited outfielder Wil Myers, who had a .739 OPS, as a disappointment. The Padres are expected to shop him in the offseason.
Bottom line: The Padres better win big in 2020, or more jobs are at stake.
“I said if we don’t win in 2020, heads will roll,” Fowler told the Union-Tribune. “Mine will be the first one.”