Twenty games ago the Padres were in dire straits. They were off to their worst start in franchise history at 5-15, tied with the 1987 and 1971 teams. It took the 1987 team 40 games to get their 10th win. The 1971 team had 12 at this point. This 2013 Padres team has 18, which is quite the improvement.
The Padres have gone 13-7 over their last 20 games. If they would have started that way, they'd have been tied for their 4th best start ever with the 1996 club. Oh, what could have been.
Of the teams that started with 18 wins, they finished with between 84 and 70 wins on the season. So there's that.
First 40 Games by Winning %
Year |
Wins in first 40 games |
Winning % in first 40 |
Season Wins |
Season Games |
Season Winning % |
1987 |
10 |
25 |
65 |
162 |
40.12 |
1994 |
10 |
25 |
47 |
117 |
40.17 |
1971 |
12 |
30 |
61 |
161 |
37.89 |
2003 |
13 |
32.5 |
64 |
162 |
39.51 |
2012 |
14 |
35 |
76 |
162 |
46.91 |
1988 |
14 |
35 |
83 |
161 |
51.55 |
1974 |
15 |
37.5 |
60 |
162 |
37.04 |
1973 |
15 |
37.5 |
60 |
162 |
37.04 |
2008 |
15 |
37.5 |
63 |
162 |
38.89 |
1997 |
15 |
37.5 |
76 |
162 |
46.91 |
1969 |
16 |
40 |
52 |
162 |
32.1 |
1981 |
16 |
40 |
41 |
110 |
37.27 |
1972 |
16 |
40 |
58 |
153 |
37.91 |
1979 |
16 |
40 |
68 |
161 |
42.24 |
1977 |
16 |
40 |
69 |
162 |
42.59 |
2000 |
16 |
40 |
76 |
162 |
46.91 |
1993 |
17 |
42.5 |
61 |
162 |
37.65 |
1970 |
17 |
42.5 |
63 |
162 |
38.89 |
2011 |
17 |
42.5 |
71 |
162 |
43.83 |
1999 |
17 |
42.5 |
74 |
162 |
45.68 |
1983 |
17 |
42.5 |
81 |
163 |
49.69 |
2009 |
18 |
45 |
75 |
162 |
46.3 |
1995 |
18 |
45 |
70 |
144 |
48.61 |
1978 |
18 |
45 |
84 |
162 |
51.85 |
1990 |
19 |
47.5 |
75 |
162 |
46.3 |
1989 |
19 |
47.5 |
89 |
162 |
54.94 |
1975 |
20 |
50 |
71 |
162 |
43.83 |
1976 |
20 |
50 |
73 |
162 |
45.06 |
2001 |
20 |
50 |
79 |
162 |
48.77 |
1991 |
20 |
50 |
84 |
162 |
51.85 |
2002 |
21 |
52.5 |
66 |
162 |
40.74 |
1980 |
21 |
52.5 |
73 |
163 |
44.79 |
2007 |
21 |
52.5 |
89 |
163 |
54.6 |
1984 |
21 |
52.5 |
92 |
162 |
56.79 |
1986 |
22 |
55 |
74 |
162 |
45.68 |
1982 |
22 |
55 |
81 |
162 |
50 |
1992 |
22 |
55 |
82 |
162 |
50.62 |
2006 |
22 |
55 |
88 |
162 |
54.32 |
2004 |
23 |
57.5 |
87 |
162 |
53.7 |
2005 |
24 |
60 |
82 |
162 |
50.62 |
2010 |
24 |
60 |
90 |
162 |
55.56 |
1985 |
25 |
62.5 |
83 |
162 |
51.23 |
1996 |
25 |
62.5 |
91 |
162 |
56.17 |
1998 |
26 |
65 |
98 |
162 |
60.49 |