After a COVID shortened 2020 season with crazy rules, no fans and a limited number of games, a degree of normalcy has returned to Major League Baseball. Spring training is now underway in the Cactus and Grapefruit leagues. Thanks to business friendly governors in Arizona and Florida, a few tickets will be available for sale and you can actually buy a hot dog, a beer or soda. Sure we have to wear a mask, but at least we are free from house arrest
During last season’s mini-schedule, a few teams emerged suggesting that MLB is starting to develop some parity. One club that comes to mind is the Miami Marlins, a scrappy, talented group of Latino players who missed a bunch of initial games due to a virus quarantine. But Don Mattingly’s kids came surging back to make the playoffs. It didn’t matter that there were nobody in the seats because the Fish never play in front of a crowd anyway.
This is 2021 however, and a full slate of 162 games are scheduled, providing the virus cooperates. So the Vegas handicappers are playing it safe, picking the two top high dollar teams, the world champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees, as favorites to meet in the World Series. What’s unusual is the gamblers third choice, the San Diego Padres, to possibly appear at the final dance. The Padres are the only team to have a Spanish language nickname and oddly enough, I’ve never seen a Mexican priest complain or be offended by the team’s Swinging Friar logo. But that’s a discussion for another day.
So why are the dark horse Padres getting so much attention? It’s a lengthy story. The longtime AAA organization finally broke ground as an expansion MLB franchise in 1969, and struggled as all new teams predictably do. The Padres have made it to the World Series only twice, and were smoked by the Detroit Tigers and the Derek Jeter led Bronx Bombers. Since being swept by the Yankees, the team seemed to lose it’s direction, couldn’t hold on to its star players except the late Tony Gwynn, and hadn’t even made it to the post season since 2006.
Strangely though, while the entire country suffered through a miserable 2020, the San Diego Padres had a coming out party led by a rookie manager who never made it to The Show as a player. It didn’t matter. Cuban-American first baseman Eric Hosmer became the unofficial club captain, Wil Myers slugged his way to a career season, and Curacao’s Jurickson Profar was the pepper pot who stirred a perfect blend of team chemistry. Despite a pitching staff cursed with injuries, the Padres did surprisingly well in a return to bonus baseball. The mound crew has been reinforced with new blood led by former Tampa Bay ace Blake Snell. But the two studs who have put the Padres on the map are youthful veteran Manny Machado and the club’s dynamic shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. When you have two super stars like this Latino duo defending the left side of the infield, everything changes.
Prior ownership plagued the Padres in recent years and cheated its loyal fans. But local businessman Ron Fowler opened up his wallet and approved the additions of Myers and Hosmer. Then in February of 2019, gave the go ahead to ink free agent Machado. That was the season Tatis Jr. took over at shortstop and would have won Rookie of the Year honors if not for an injury that put him on the shelf. But in 2020, Fernando was on fire and the 22 year old phenom finished third in the NL MVP voting.
Fowler, not filthy rich like many MLB owners and in his 70’s, got the ball rolling and deserves a slap on the back. Now however, Peter Seidler has taken over as majority owner, and is cool with maverick General Manager A.J. Preller flinging the money that is not his to spend. What’s interesting is that Seidler is related to the O’Malley family who once owned the Dodgers. His motto, like former Oakland Raiders boss Al Davis, is “just win, baby.”
So the first thing Preller did before official workouts began this season was lock up Tatis Jr. to the third largest contract in MLB history. The Padres infield is now probably the best in baseball, with the possible exception of second base. But there are options there as well, including Profar and newly signed Korean star Ha-Seong Kim. Just to give you an example of how the Padres have elevated their budget, the $340 million extension of Tatis Jr. and Machado’s $300 million deal represents more money than the entire Padre payroll in 2010. This is clearly a radical change from the pitiful Padres of the past. The team’s modest cable television contract is dwarfed by the big market Dodgers. That said, Seidler is nobody’s fool. While the Padres “nut” has increased to $169 million and a projected season ending $199 million, that is still under the luxury tax limit. The Dodgers are in the penalty box with a payroll of $245 million, the highest in baseball.
The San Diego Padres of course, are blocked on the freeways by the world champions. The rivalry will be lively and competitive. But both teams play in the weak NL West, and will likely advance to the post season anyway. My guess is that Machado and Tatis Jr. will be ready and waiting for the challenge.
