For the moment at least, the San Diego Padres are the hottest team in baseball, winning 18 out of its last 21 games. And as we all know, the organization is the only MLB club with a Spanish nickname. San Diego is by far the largest city on our southern border, with a vibrant internationally based economy. That has spilled over in the support of the Padres, with sellout crowds almost certain at every Petco Park home game this season.
That said, the Padres are even a better road team than they are at home. The Friars have an increasingly loyal group that travels with the club, and fans in visiting stadiums are becoming more and more intrigued. Why? That’s an interesting question with a couple of relevant answers. The Padres, it seems, have always been the perennial underdogs, chasing their big brother, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Since graduating from the AAA Pacific Coast League to the major leagues as an expansion team in 1969, the Padres have made it to the Fall Classic dance only twice. Disappointment continued in 2023, when the best team money could buy finished barely over .500. Then last winter, the Friars popular owner Peter Seidler passed away, leaving the organization’s financial health uncertain.
Bottom line, America loves an underdog, and the Padres certainly fit that bill. Plus, this club looks like America, a melting pot of different cultures that perhaps could give a lesson or two to the useless United Nations. Like many MLB teams, the Padres have a dominate Latino roster led by unofficial captain Manny Machado, leadoff specialist Luis Arraez, veteran super subs Donovan Solano and David Peralta, bullpen closer Robert Suarez and setup specialist Jeremiah Estrada. But the international makeup includes Caribbean stars Xander Bogaerts and Jurickson Profar, Korean shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, Japan’s Yuki Matsui, and Rookie of the Year candidate Jackson Merrill, only 21, who grew up in Maryland. The team has hometown heroes like Joe Musgrove on the mound, along with veterans Dylan Cease and Martin Perez. Ex-New York Yankees Michael King and Kyle Higashioka have blended in perfectly. It’s the perfect mix of young and seasoned players who just seem to pull for each other and check their egos at the clubhouse door.
The odd leave of absence by star pitcher Yu Darvish and the nagging injury to Fernando Tatis Jr. would have devastated most teams, but instead every player simply stepped it up a notch. While General Manager AJ Preller is the architect of this bunch with a few tweaks here and there, the difference in the performance of the club can be attributed to dugout skipper Mike Shildt. The former St. Louis Cardinals field boss had two years to study the performance of this team under former manager Bob Melvin, and has employed a steadier hand while giving the players freedom to express themselves in a professional manner.
“We just go out there and compete,” says Machado. “I can’t really explain it.
“It just seems different this year,” continues the all-star third baseman. “It’s different .”
The Dominican-American third baseman is usually not at a loss for words. But the vibe is real. The confidence is real. This is a team that honestly feels like it will ultimately find a way to win every time they step on the field, wherever that might be. And when Tatis Jr. rejoins the Padres later on this month, the addition could provide the spark to lead this team into playoffs and beyond.
Okay, the San Diego Padres may not be America’s team just yet, however the ingredients are certainly in place. So if you’re a fan of this club, be ready for a wild rollercoaster ride in September. Just keep the faith and believe.
