"The guy is painful to watch" "What did Padres do to Hader?" - MLB Twitter shocked as Josh Hader meltdown continues; San Diego Padres slump to 10-13 since blockbuster Juan Soto trade

San Francisco Giants v San Diego Padres
Josh Hader looks on during the ninth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants at PETCO Park.

Josh Hader's demise has been swift, cruel, and painful on the eyes. The four-time All-Star is in the midst of one of the worst runs ever seen from an established closer. In some ways, this is like watching a train wreck. Fans cannot look away. Every time Hader steps out on the mound in a San Diego Padres uniform, things continue to go from bad to worse.

During the 15-6 loss to the Kansas City Royals, Josh Hader had another nightmare outing. Hader gave up six runs on five hits, recording only one out on the night. His ERA has risen to 6.52 on the season. After only seven games with the Padres, he has a whopping 23.14 ERA during his short stint with the organization.

After heavily investing in the trade deadline, the Padres continued to slump. They are now in danger of losing a Wild Card spot to the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies. Fans of opposing teams are calling out the Padres and Hader for what has to be one of the biggest MLB trade failures in years.

The Padres went all in during the trade deadline. After years of underperforming, the management have made a consicous decision to bring in several big name stars. In exchange, the team lost a plethora of highly rated prospects.

Along with Josh Hader, the Padres added Juan Soto, Brandon Drury, and Josh Bell to round up an already talented roster. The trade has not worked out as planned.

The Padres have a 10-13 record since the trade deadline and have lost ground on the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers.

Josh Hader has a 23.14 ERA in seven appearances since his trade to the San Diego Padres

Manager Bob Melvin takes Josh Hader out of a game against the Washington Nationals at PETCO Park
Manager Bob Melvin takes Josh Hader out of a game against the Washington Nationals at PETCO Park

Josh Hader's recent meltdown summarizes the Padres' month. The team has been hyped up by many, but is unable to execute in the clutch.

Over his seven appearances with the Padres, Hader's stat lines are as follows:

August 2 - 1.0 IP, 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 SO, 0 BB

August 8 - 1.0 IP, 0 runs, 1 hit, 2 SO, 0 BB

August 9 - 0.2 IP, 3 runs, 1 hit, 1 SO, 33 BB

August 18 - 0.2 IP, 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 SO, 1 BB

August 19 - 0.0 IP, 3 runs, 2 hits, 0 SO, 1 BB

August 24 - 1.0 IP, 0 runs, 2 hits, 3 SO, 0 BB

August 28 - 0.1 IP, 6 runs, 5 hits, 1 SO, 2 BB

Dodger fans in particular are taking a great deal of pleasure in the downfall of their Southern California rivals. The Dodgers now need only 16 wins to lock up the National League West.

If the Padres do make the playoffs, can they succeed in high pressure situations with Josh Hader as their closer? The All-Star pitcher has not looked himself since his move to the Padres.

The Padres face the San Francisco Giants next in a critical series that will determine second place in the NL West. Over the next 14 days, they will face the mighty Dodgers six times. If the Padres are not careful, they might miss out on the playoffs altogether this season.

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