San Diego, CA

Pitching crisis looms as Padres face crucial point of 2025 season

Published

10 months ago

June 13, 2025

Pitching crisis looms as Padres face crucial point of 2025 season

PHOENIX — The Dodgers seemed to marvel a little bit at how Mike Shildt managed Wednesday’s game.

“Bringing in a guy to get a big out with Shohei,” Dodgers left fielder Michael Conforto said. “Yeah, it can feel a little bit more like playoffs.”

He referred to Shildt replacing starting pitcher Randy Vásquez with left-hander Adrián Morejón to face Dodgers lead-off hitter Shohei Ohtani in the fifth inning.

“The way you saw Mike manage, with some urgency and the moves,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, “I wouldn’t say playoff game, but it was intense.”

Yes, Vásquez had thrown just 70 pitches and allowed one run. And it is not even the middle of June.

Yet Shildt had a relatively rested back end of his bullpen and an off day coming up. Ohtani, one of the two best hitters on earth, was coming up a third time in a tie game. Vásquez has allowed a .217 average and .677 OPS the first two times through the batting order and a .361 average and .961 OPS the third time through.

So Shildt decided to do what he has done fairly often and usually so adeptly this season. He chased a victory by attempting to make the pieces of a pitching puzzle fit.

It didn’t work out. And it was the latest sign that something needs to change for the Padres.

Relievers are not computer programs. They are human.

Morejón made every pitch he needed to but muffed a grounder. Jeremiah Estrada allowed his first home run in a month.

So Wednesday’s failure probably does not entirely correlate to both Morejón and Estrada pitching for the fourth time in six days, twice in a tie game and twice protecting a one-run lead. It can’t be entirely blamed on Estrada having pitched in the second-most games in the majors this season or that Morejón is one of the Padres’ MLB-leading six relief pitchers to have made at least 29 appearances this season.

But Monday was the 12th time in the past 24 games the Padres’ bullpen has lost a lead or let an opponent untie a game. That is after the team’s relievers began the season protecting the first 22 leads with which they were entrusted.

When considering what has happened — and worrying about what might happen — a remarkable convergence of events cannot be dismissed.

While playing 22 of the 23 days leading up to Thursday’s off-day, the bullpen posted a 2.69 ERA (eighth best in MLB) while working 83⅔ innings (seventh).

That workload alone is not the story.

Padres relievers made 82 appearances in that span. An astonishing 71 times, a reliever entered a game with the game tied or the Padres leading or trailing by no more than two runs.

Friday is the start of a run of 13 games in a row and 29 games in the next 31 days.

The Padres have played 37 games that have been decided by no more than two runs, fourth most in MLB. Of those, 16 have come in the past 20 games. Before beating the Dodgers 11-1 on Tuesday and losing 5-2 on Wednesday, the Padres had played nine games in a row at the start of June decided by one or two runs.

The bullpen cannot continue being pushed like this.

It was just in 2021 that something similar unfolded, and a bullpen that had to pick up for a starting rotation decimated by injuries eventually sputtered. The Padres imploded in multiple areas that season, falling from 17 games over .500 in early August to a 79-83 finish. But the chief reason was the attrition in the rotation and ensuing workload that led to the bullpen with MLB’s best ERA (2.84) on July 6 to have its seventh-worst ERA (4.50) the rest of the way.

Several people in the organization have privately acknowledged the emerging crisis with the pitching staff, though no one will say it for publication.

However, Shildt did say something this week that was significant, in that he almost never says anything like it.

The manager rarely comes close to calling out his players. He frequently denies commenting even on obvious events if doing so could be construed as a disparaging comment. But after Nick Pivetta threw 93 pitches in four innings Monday, Shildt said it like it was.

“A lot of guys are carrying the mail,” he said of the bullpen. “We’re pushing, piecing it together and competing at the same time. But, you know, we’re going to need some depth out of some starters.”

This was not a swipe at Pivetta. In fact, Pivetta has been the Padres’ most effective and most durable starter.

The rotation as a whole, however, has gone through stretches in which it is burdening the bullpen far too much.

In the season’s first 13 games, the Padres got six or more innings from a starting pitcher just three times and fewer than five innings five times.

And in the past 15 games, starters have gone six innings just three times and fewer than five innings six times.

That is not the only thing threatening to crush the bullpen. The Padres’ offense — with or without the additional bat it desperately needs — can help out a little more.

The Padres have scored more than three runs in just nine of their past 25 games.

The reality is the Padres need the offense to more consistently do its share of the work. They probably also need to add a starter and/or a higher-leverage reliever.

Or Shildt is going to have to start letting Vásquez pitch on in situations like Wednesday. He will have to push young starters Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek. He will have to test the limits of what some of his relievers can do.

And those sorts of compromises usually do not end well.

The Padres have done some remarkable maneuvering to win as many games as they have.

One of their three top starting pitchers — Yu Darvish — has yet to make his season debut while he works back from an elbow injury. Another, Michael King, has been out the past three weeks with a shoulder malady. The other, Dylan Cease, has made every start, but the majority of them have not been altogether good.

Their best starter this season, Pivetta, is better than he has ever been — which is either great or concerning. The three young pitchers they are now running out every five days have been better than could have been expected, which is either great or concerning.

The Padres are nine games over .500 and in playoff position.

But with 95 games remaining, their season hinges on a disconcerting number of maybes.

Maybe Cease has found that rhythm he needs and is going to maintain it most of his remaining 18 or 19 starts.

Maybe Pivetta can keep turning in quality starts more often than not.

Maybe Kolek and Bergert will continue to keep even the low-scoring Padres in games as they navigate their first seasons as major league starting pitchers.

Maybe Vásquez can keep stranding the legion of runners that reach base against him in many of his starts.

Maybe the Padres bullpen can withstand the stress of working multiple higher-leverage innings and Shildt and pitching coach Ruben Niebla can continue to pull almost every correct lever almost every game for the next 3½ months.

Maybe Darvish will return before the All-Star break and King shortly after, and maybe both will remain healthy and pitch brilliantly.

Maybe Matt Waldron comes up and trusts his knuckleball. Maybe reliever Bryan Hoeing comes off his rehab assignment and picks up where he left off before his shoulder injury.

Maybe 34-year-old catcher Elias Diaz and 38-year-old catcher Martin Maldonado will remain healthy and able to catch upwards of three games a week and continue to serve as the pitching staff’s sherpas all through the summer and into the fall.

Maybe all or most of those things will happen.

Because if not, the Padres are almost certainly in trouble.

That the team’s left fielders are batting .201 with a .541 OPS, third worst among any of the 30 teams’ left field groups, is a problem. The Padres have been shopping for help there for more than a month.

That the Padres’ lead-off batter is hitting .188 since May 3 and the No. 2 batter is hitting .216 since May 23 and the No.4 batter is hitting .210 since May 13 is a collective albatross for the offense.

But the gray clouds darkening the skies ahead have accumulated not because of what the Padres are doing or not doing on offense.

It is on this mountain of maybes that the Padres could wash out.

“We’ve done the best we can to put the guys in the right spots,” Shildt said. “And for the most part, we’ve been rewarded for that. … We’re getting contributions from everybody who is giving us what they have. That’s all you can ask.”

Actually, they’re going to have to get more.

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San Diego, CA

New Venues in San Diego for Spring 2026 Meetings and Events

Published

10 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

New Venues in San Diego for Spring 2026 Meetings and Events

Here’s a closer look at San Diego’s newest eateries, drinking spots, hotels, conference areas, private rooms, and other spaces available for events this spring. The new and renovated San Diego venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fundraisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, team-building activities, conferences, meetings, and more.

Roppongi Restaurant & Lounge

Photo: James Tran

Roppongi Restaurant & Lounge has debuted a redesigned dining and lounge space in the heart of La Jolla, blending modern elegance with globally inspired design. Led by restaurateur Sami Ladeki, the venue features standout elements like a gold-brushed statement wall, sculptural ceiling installations by Milan-based artist Mirei Monticello, a dramatic fireplace framed by Buddha statues, and a leathered quartzite bar that anchors the space. The 5,700-square-foot restaurant accommodates up to 230 guests seated or 300 reception-style, with full buyouts available, plus a covered patio with heaters that extends the footprint for year-round events. Additional options include a 12-seat private dining room and two semiprivate spaces for 18 and 34 guests. Executive chef Alfie Szeprethy leads a globally inspired, shareable menu—from sushi and dumplings to wok-fired dishes and signature plates like Polynesian Crab Stack and Japanese hot rock steak—paired with a beverage program featuring premium sake, wine, and craft cocktails.

Bonne Vie Brasserie & Bar

Photo: Courtesy of Bonne Vie Brasserie & Bar

Bonne Vie Brasserie & Bar debuted in November 2025 at The Westgate Hotel in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, offering a design-forward dining destination that blends French culinary tradition with a relaxed California sensibility. Designed by Jacoi Mann, the space features deep blue and gold tones, velvet seating, and softly lit chandeliers, creating a setting that feels both polished and inviting for group dining and social gatherings. The all-day concept is led by executive chef Fabrice Hardel, whose menu reimagines classic French dishes with locally sourced ingredients, from Burgundy escargot and French onion soup to seafood specialties and modern American-inspired plates. Overall, the 222-room Westgate Hotel has 12 meeting and event spaces and four culinary concepts.

Diamond Room

Photo: Eric Scire/Finest Collective

Diamond Room opened in January inside the historic Simon Levi Building at Gallagher Square in San Diego’s Petco Park, bringing an intimate, retro-chic cocktail experience to the Ballpark District. Developed by Patina Group and Finest Collective—the newly rebranded events and hospitality division of the San Diego Padres—the 50-seat lounge channels a late-1970s aesthetic with velvet, leather, mirrors, and a disco ball, creating a moody, design-forward setting for small gatherings and VIP events. The cocktail program focuses on elevated classics with a local twist—like a clarified margarita and a nitro-infused Garibaldi—while a menu of shareable bites complements the experience. The venue also offers interactive “Shaken & Stirred” mixology classes for small groups. Located steps from the Gaslamp Quarter, the space is available for buyouts and group bookings.

Dora Ristorante

Photo: Kimberly Motos

Dora Ristorante opened near the La Jolla Playhouse at UC San Diego, bringing a coastal Italian dining concept from the team behind Cori Trattoria to the city’s theater district. Led by chef Accursio Lota, the restaurant draws inspiration from southern Italy with a California twist, featuring handmade pastas, Mediterranean seafood, and a house gelato program designed for sharing. Located steps from the theater, Dora offers a pre-theater dining experience with a rotating three-course menu inspired by current productions, as well as options for full-service dinners and wine pairings. The venue includes multiple event spaces, from a 14- to 16-seat private dining room to a main dining room, bar lounge, and patio, with full buyouts accommodating up to 130 seated or 180 guests for receptions.

Paradise Point Resort & Spa

Photo: Courtesy of Paradise Point Resort & Spa

Paradise Point Resort & Spa has completed a full renovation of its conference center, reimagining more than 60,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space with a coastal-inspired design and enhanced technology. Located on a 44-acre island in Mission Bay, the refreshed venues—including the Paradise Ballroom, Sunset Ballroom, and Mission Bay Ballroom—feature abundant natural light, flexible layouts, and seamless indoor-outdoor flow, with many spaces opening onto waterfront terraces or lawns. Upgrades include integrated lighting, advanced AV capabilities, and high-speed connectivity to support both in-person and hybrid events, alongside sustainability-focused enhancements like LED lighting and eco-conscious materials. Beyond the meeting rooms, groups can take advantage of on-site amenities such as waterfront dining, a full-service spa, five pools, and beachside activities.

Fox Point Farms

Photo: Courtesy of Fox Point Farms

Fox Point Farms in Encinitas is a newly developed regenerative farm and event destination designed for immersive, multi-moment gatherings. The multi-acre working property blends indoor and outdoor venues with on-site food and beverage programs, live music capabilities, and a strong emphasis on sustainability and seasonality, allowing events to flow between gardens, fields, and dining spaces. The venue has already hosted corporate buyouts, private celebrations, and large-scale gatherings, with programming that integrates food, drink, and environment in a way that feels cohesive and place-driven. A standout feature for planners is the on-site wellness studio, which offers private group classes ranging from yoga and Pilates to sound healing and mindfulness.

Wedgewood Weddings at The Headquarters

Photo: Courtesy of Wedgewood Weddings

Wedgewood Weddings at The Headquarters has debuted in San Diego’s Seaport Village, transforming the city’s historic 1939 police headquarters into a 15,000-square-foot event venue that blends art deco heritage with modern design. The waterfront property features a range of flexible spaces for meetings and social events, including the Velvet Lounge, a speakeasy-inspired cocktail space with a circular bar and jewel-toned finishes, and the Gilded Hall, which accommodates up to 280 guests seated beneath exposed beams and statement chandeliers. Additional highlights include two VIP suites—The Rose Room and The Vault—designed for pre-event gatherings and photo moments. Located minutes from the San Diego Convention Center and airport, the venue offers a turnkey option for corporate events, galas, and celebrations within a landmark setting.

Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown Little Italy

Photo: Courtesy of Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown Little Italy

Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown Little Italy opened in November 2025, bringing a 334-room hotel with design-forward suites and more than 10,000 square feet of event space to one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Located in the heart of Little Italy, the property offers a range of flexible venues—including the Amici Ballroom and Cardini Boardroom—suited for everything from intimate receptions to conferences. Guest accommodations include spacious, townhouse-style suites with features like lofted layouts, Juliet balconies, and dedicated living areas. On-site amenities include Orexi, a Mediterranean-California restaurant serving shareable plates and cocktails, along with a rooftop Skydeck pool, sunset terrace with a fireplace, and a fitness center with Peloton bikes.

Ox Coffee Roasters

Photo: Courtesy of Ox Coffee Roasters

Ox Coffee Roasters in Mission Valley is now offering its storefront for private events, providing a casual, community-driven setting for small gatherings and interactive experiences. Located near several convention hotels, the venue accommodates up to 40 guests and can host everything from morning mixers to hands-on latte art classes and coffee tastings led by resident expert Chris Dennis, a competitor in national roasting competitions like the U.S. Brewers Cup Championship. In addition to its coffee program, Ox serves tea, including matcha, and a small menu of pastries and light bites, making it a flexible option for low-key networking events, workshops, and group experiences.

Bacari North Park

Photo: Jakob Layman

Bacari North Park opened in February, marking the San Diego debut of the LA-born, family-owned Mediterranean wine bar in one of North Park’s most recognizable two-story buildings. Known for its shareable, seasonally rotating menu, Bacari offers Mediterranean-inspired small plates, wood-fired pizzas, handmade pastas, and an extensive wine list in a setting designed to feel like an elevated dinner party. The new location spans two levels plus an outdoor patio, making it a flexible option for group dining, receptions, and full buyouts.

NÓMADA

Photo: Kimberly Motos

NÓMADA opened in Carlsbad from Grand Restaurant Group, bringing a regionally driven Mexican dining concept inspired by chef Alex Carballo’s Sinaloan roots and travels throughout Mexico’s coastal and agricultural regions. The menu highlights traditional techniques with a focus on coastal seafood, featuring dishes like Birria Chimichanga Bites, Duck Mole Taco Trio, and Cochinita Pibil. Designed for gatherings, the restaurant offers a mix of indoor dining rooms, an open-air patio, and a lively bar with a live music stage, creating a flexible setting for group dining, celebrations, and private events.

Life Time Otay Ranch

Photo: Robert Reyes

Life Time Otay Ranch opened in December 2025 in Chula Vista as the brand’s first San Diego-area destination built from the ground up, bringing a 150,000-square-foot athletic country club and wellness-focused gathering space to South County. Designed as a two-level, all-in-one lifestyle hub, the property features a 26,000-square-foot workout floor, dedicated group training studios, indoor and outdoor pickleball courts, and a more than 50,000-square-foot outdoor beach club with pools, dining, and lounge areas. In addition to fitness and recreation, the venue includes a Kids Academy, LifeSpa, and LifeCafe, making it a versatile option for wellness-driven corporate events, team-building experiences, and community-focused gatherings.

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San Diego, CA

Sir Mohamed Mansour brought a global movement to San Diego, and nearly won MLS Cup in Year 1

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Sir Mohamed Mansour brought a global movement to San Diego, and nearly won MLS Cup in Year 1

As Sir Mohamed Mansour was finalizing a deal with the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation to invest in San Diego FC in 2022, he reflected on their combined history. The Sycuan said they’d lived in the San Diego region for 12,000 years. Mansour looked to his own Egyptian culture’s 7,000-year existence.

“If we have 19,000 years of history we can’t lose,” said the 78-year-old.

When San Diego FC finally lost in the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs, it was in the Western Conference finals, capping the best debut season in the league’s history. Mansour spoke about the experience Thursday morning during the Business of Soccer conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

“The first game, to me, meant everything. That night was a sleepless night because I’m very passionate about soccer,” he said.

Mansour would have settled for a respectable loss; they were playing defending MLS Cup champs L.A. Galaxy. But San Diego FC scored twice unanswered, winning the opener. And another sleepless night ensued.

Mansour discussed early life health issues, including being hit by a car when he was 10 years old, which left him bed-ridden for three years. He read American comic books and studied. His family’s wealth was confiscated by the Egyptian government during a 1965 revolution, and he later beat cancer as a 20-year-old while studying in the U.S.

Now the billionaire chairman of Mansour Group, an Egyptian conglomerate owned by his family, Mansour is also chairman of the Right To Dream Academy, which has made San Diego its fifth outpost. San Diego FC’s $150M Sharp HealthCare Performance Center includes residences and a school for Right To Dream participants in the club’s academy system. Mansour mentioned his plans to construct 100 pitches for underprivileged kids in San Diego.

“We are more than a football academy. We’re a global movement, built upon the belief that everyone has the right to dream,” said Mansour. “We’ve been rewriting the rules of talent development for over 20 years, guided by our core belief that excellence can be found anywhere.”

While creating hundreds of opportunities for children in underdeveloped countries, Right to Dream has generated tens of millions of euros in transfer fees for clubs within the network.

Mansour, who graduated from N.C. State in 1968 with an engineering degree and then earned a Masters’ from Auburn, differs from many MLS owners because he is a native soccer fan, he had extensive soccer business experience, and even an idea of how he’d like his team to play (possession-based).

Asked which he’d prefer — for Egypt to win the World Cup or San Diego FC to win MLS Cup — Mansour answered the United States (to win the World Cup) and San Diego FC to win MLS Cup.

“I tell you why. I’m a businessman too,” he said, grinning. “And if the US does well in this World Cup, soccer is going to grow.”

Rapid fire with Sir Mohamed Mansour

Comic book hero: Superman

Kryptonite: Worrying

Favorite athlete: Michael Jordan

Favorite soccer player: Mohamed Salah

Childhood hero: His father

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San Diego, CA

3 San Diego State players who won’t be on the roster in the 2026–27 season

Published

2 days ago

March 25, 2026

Press Room

3 San Diego State players who won’t be on the roster in the 2026–27 season

The San Diego State Aztecs are bracing for some possible serious turnover this offseason and it’s not all going to be via the transfer portal.

Leading scorer Reese Dixon-Waters is out of eligibility, as are Jeremiah Oden and Sean Newman Jr. Newman can petition for another season based on his junior college years, but it’s anyone’s guess if he’d get it.

Obviously, San Diego State’s roster movement is far from complete and the transfer portal doesn’t even open until April 7, the day after the national championship game.

The Aztecs’ once-promising season ended when they were left out of the NCAA Tournament following their loss to Utah State in the Mountain West Tournament championship game.

There are some players we know will not be on the squad next season, which will be the Aztecs’ first in the new-look Pac-12:

Guard Reese Dixon-Waters

San Diego State Aztecs guard Reese Dixon-Waters (39). | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

After missing all of the 2024-25 season with a broken foot, Dixon-Waters returned for his final season of eligibility and led the Aztecs in scoring at 13.1 points per game. He was a second-team All-Mountain West pick. He scored his 1,000th career point at UNLV on Jan. 24 and finished his career with 1,220 points.

Dixon-Waters played his first three seasons at USC before transferring to SDSU, where he started 23 of 37 games in 2023-24. He was a preseason All-Mountain West pick the next season before breaking a foot. He was so highly regarded that, despite missing all of last season, he was named to the preseason All-MW team in October.

One of his notable accomplishments was attempting more free throws (43) without a miss to start the 2023-24 season than any player in the country.

Forward Jeremiah Oden

San Diego State Aztecs forward Jeremiah Oden (25). | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Oden started 15 games and played in 30 of 33 games in his final season of eligibility after transferring from Charlotte, where he redshirted in 2024-25. He averaged 4.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 13.8 minutes.

Oden scored his 1,000th career point on Feb. 3 against Wyoming, where he played his first three college seasons. He finished his career with 1,024 points and 495 rebounds.

Oden didn’t play at all in a blowout home win against Utah State on Feb. 25, when Dutcher shortened his rotation from 11 to nine players. He had started the previous nine games.

Oden also played one season at DePaul.

Guard Sean Newman Jr.

San Diego State Aztecs guard Sean Newman Jr. (4). | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The transfer from Louisiana Tech played in all 33 games and made four starts, including Senior Night in the regular-season finale against UNLV and all three games in the MW tournament, when freshman Elzie Harrington was out with an injury.

Newman averaged 3.3 points, 2.4 assists and 15.4 minutes.

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