Padres’ “winning on the margins” approach

In March of 2024, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune wrote about the change in philosophy and approach for the Padres. After a disastrous 2023 season and a change of managers, the team was asked to buy in to what Mike Shildt was selling.

Manny Machado said it best- “We’ve just got to play better,” he said. “You know, focus on the little things — on playing baseball the right way and doing the little fundamentals that count that make you execute in the big moments.”

Jake Cronenworth illustrated further buy in. “It’s a game of margins,” he said. “How do you win in those margins? It’s doing the little things right, executing at a high level in spots you need to. You might win a game on a…