5/20 Who Are the San Diego Padres?

[Wallball Tingle]

Is there a more colorless, identity-free baseball team than the Padres? For me, the only other candidates for making a smaller pop culture footprint in the current era are the Marlins, Diamondbacks, and Rockies. They are all much younger franchises than the Padres; the first two have championships to their name (this century, even!), and the Rockies at least went to a Series in 2007 (wasn't that a time?). The Padres' biggest postseason claim to fame is getting bushwhacked by the '98 Yankees in the Series and maybe you could count the '07 game 163 (regular season stats with postseason stakes) where Hoffman got roasted by those Rockies.

The Red Sox will once again relegate the Padres to cultural irrelevance as Sale grinds their bones to make his bread and Musgrove gets knocked around the cavern in San Diego. Probably maybe.

It's a 90-win pace we're on as of today, folks, let's keep it rolling!

 

[Daniel_Son]

Is there a more colorless, identity-free baseball team than the Padres? For me, the only other candidates for making a smaller pop culture footprint in the current era are the Marlins, Diamondbacks, and Rockies. They are all much younger franchises than the Padres; the first two have championships to their name (this century, even!), and the Rockies at least went to a Series in 2007 (wasn't that a time?). The Padres' biggest postseason claim to fame is getting bushwhacked by the '98 Yankees in the Series and maybe you could count the '07 game 163 (regular season stats with postseason stakes) where Hoffman got roasted by those Rockies.

The Red Sox will once again relegate the Padres to cultural irrelevance as Sale grinds their bones to make his bread and Musgrove gets knocked around the cavern in San Diego. Probably maybe.

It's a 90-win pace we're on as of today, folks, let's keep it rolling!

Hey... they get points for Tony Gwynn at least. Plus the uniforms are cool.

 

[Wallball Tingle]

Hey... they get points for Tony Gwynn at least. Plus the uniforms are cool.

I might be exaggerating my disdain and/or hamming it up for the thread, lol. I hope their no doubt existing fans are granted happiness one day. But not today.

 

[absintheofmalaise]

 

[Coachster]

I thought you mean the ORIGINAL San Diego Padres, Fathers Junipero Serra and Gaspar De Portola, who arrived in San Diego to open the first Franciscan mission on July 1, 1769.

That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

 

[InsideTheParker]

I might be exaggerating my disdain and/or hamming it up for the thread, lol. I hope their no doubt existing fans are granted happiness one day. But not today.

The Padres were in the NLCS last year. LAST YEAR. After that, the team added a number of free agents that were going to win them the WS. Their failure so far this year is puzzling, as they started off hot. There must be an answer, but I hope they don't find it until after the Sox leave S.D.

It is so annoying to me that this Saturday game begins at 10:10 our time. They could give the fans of a visiting team a break and schedule the game for 4 pm. Even though children don't have to go to school next day, they are going to either fall asleep during the game or be really cranky next day. I have chosen both, though I did make it thru the 7th inning.

 

[LogansDad]

The Padres were in the NLCS last year. LAST YEAR. After that, the team added a number of free agents that were going to win them the WS. Their failure so far this year is puzzling, as they started off hot. There must be an answer, but I hope they don't find it until after the Sox leave S.D.

It is so annoying to me that this Saturday game begins at 10:10 our time. They could give the fans of a visiting team a break and schedule the game for 4 pm. Even though children don't have to go to school next day, they are going to either fall asleep during the game or be really cranky next day. I have chosen both, though I did make it thru the 7th inning.

There's a lot of weird going on in MLB this year, especially when it comes to teams underperforming. St Louis being terrible for a month and a half made no sense, for instance. The Phillies are scrambling to try to get back to .500. I would throw the Cleveland struggles in there as well.

The Sox got Pittsburgh (who I actually think is a decent team but who have fallen sharply back to earth) at their hottest, they got St Louis at their hottest, and muscled through a Seattle team that looked to be on the verge of turning things around (they had been 6-4 in the 10 games leading up to the Sox series, and trounced them in game 1).

It'd be nice if San Diego could stay cold for 2 more games so the Sox could finally get to play a good team that wasn't playing well.

 

[ColdSoxPack]

San Diego is close to being a perfect town: the beach, Balboa Park, Coronado Island, great restaurants, some history, nice people, ideal weather. And crippling traffic. They. deserve to have better teams.

 

[Doc Zero]

I ask you: Could a boring, identity-free fandom produce something as incisive and electrifying as this?

View: https://youtu.be/hE5nYDxwXbA

 

[LogansDad]

San Diego is close to being a perfect town: the beach, Balboa Park, Coronado Island, great restaurants, some history, nice people, ideal weather. And crippling traffic. They. deserve to have better teams.

I only got to spend a couple days there, but it is among my favorite places I have ever been. I don't know how people live in places with traffic like that, though. And this was over a decade ago, so I can't imagine it has gotten better.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Justin Turner felt something wonky in his knee last night, which is why Casas pinch-hit for him, according to Cora. Will be out of the lineup tonight. / masslive

 

[Doc Zero]

Great beer selection at Petco, though. At least as of like, 13 years ago. I should go back at some point.

 

[Ale Xander]

San Diego is close to being a perfect town: the beach, Balboa Park, Coronado Island, great restaurants, some history, nice people, ideal weather. And crippling traffic. They. deserve to have better teams.

Today is certainly one of those days I’d rather be in Greater San Diego than Greater Boston.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Never been to San Diego, always wanted to go. But reading about the traffic makes me wonder: How long does it take to get form Point A to Point B around the city?

 

[Robert Plant]

I'm from Boston originally, but have lived in California for 20 years now. The Padres are the most likable team out here. After the Red Sox, I root for the Padres. I've been to about 10 MLB parks. After Fenway, PETCO is by far my favorite. I'm going to the game tonight. I'll be rooting for the Red Sox and crying a single tear for the Pads.

 

[Robert Plant]

Why does everyone think the traffic is so bad in San Diego? In my experience, it's a breeze.

 

[JohnnyTheBone]

Pitcher Bob Shirley spent the first four years of his major league career in San Diego. After the 1980 season, he was part of a multi-player trade with the St. Louis Cardinals. Following the trade, Shirley offered a pointed observation about the Padres organization, “Tradition in St. Louis is Stan Musial coming into the clubhouse and making the rounds. Tradition in San Diego is Nate Colbert coming into the clubhouse and trying to sell you a used car.”

https://sandiegohistory.org/journal/2020/october/padres-brown-a-fifty-year-search-for-identity/

That Shirley quote slays me.

 

[ColdSoxPack]

Never been to San Diego, always wanted to go. But reading about the traffic makes me wonder: How long does it take to get form Point A to Point B around the city?

Most traffic comes into town from the north on the 5 or the 15. It starts backing up around Camp Pendleton on the 5. You could scoot over to the 15 at that point but it will still be crowded. I always seem to be arriving at rush. Not sure about off-peak. I wouldn't let the traffic deter you.

 

[ColdSoxPack]

Pitcher Bob Shirley spent the first four years of his major league career in San Diego. After the 1980 season, he was part of a multi-player trade with the St. Louis Cardinals. Following the trade, Shirley offered a pointed observation about the Padres organization, “Tradition in St. Louis is Stan Musial coming into the clubhouse and making the rounds. Tradition in San Diego is Nate Colbert coming into the clubhouse and trying to sell you a used car.”

https://sandiegohistory.org/journal/2020/october/padres-brown-a-fifty-year-search-for-identity/

That Shirley quote slays me.

Great article. The Goose Gossage quote about Joan Kroc poisoning the world with her hamburghers is one of my all-time favorites

 

[OurF'ingCity]

San Diego is close to being a perfect town: the beach, Balboa Park, Coronado Island, great restaurants, some history, nice people, ideal weather. And crippling traffic. They. deserve to have better teams.

It’s weird that they only have a single team out of the four major sports now that the Chargers left, and yet don’t even seem to be in the NBA expansion discussions despite having a larger metro area than Vegas.

 

[DontTauntOrtizMe]

I will be there tonight. Win it for me!

 

[Wallball Tingle]

The Padres were in the NLCS last year. LAST YEAR.

Totes. And from 1999-2021, they went to the playoffs three times (none from 2007-2019). They won one playoff series. In the covid year.

But they can totally turn it around this year. Just not yet!

 

[Al Zarilla]

Why does everyone think the traffic is so bad in San Diego? In my experience, it's a breeze.

Oh the horror of the traffic in San Diego. It's really only during rush times, and nowhere near as bad as LA. What negative things San Diego is most famous for are the May Gray and the June Gloom. How dare a city that is proclaimed to have the best weather in the country have gray skies those times of year? Not that many days though.

I wish the best to the San Diego Padres except when the Sox play them.

 

[Robert Plant]

Oh the horror of the traffic in San Diego. It's really only during rush times, and nowhere near as bad as LA. What negative things San Diego is most famous for are the May Gray and the June Gloom. How dare a city that is proclaimed to have the best weather in the country have gray skies those times of year? Not that many days though.

I wish the best to San Diego except

Also not nearly as bad as Boston pre big dig completion.

 

[Blizzard of 1978]

Never been to San Diego, always wanted to go. But reading about the traffic makes me wonder: How long does it take to get form Point A to Point B around the city?

Been to San Diego Comic Con three times. Met the late gents Stan Lee, Adam West and Leonard Nimoy at the San Diego Comic Cons. Nice city. The traffic was better than Boston if that helps. Still let's go Red Sox to win tonight.

 

[Wallball Tingle]

I ask you: Could a boring, identity-free fandom produce something as incisive and electrifying as this?

View: https://youtu.be/hE5nYDxwXbA

Omg, thank you for this! It's as lit as the initial still made me think it would be.

 

[absintheofmalaise]

Been to San Diego Comic Con three times. Met the late gents Stan Lee, Adam West and Leonard Nimoy at the San Diego Comic Cons. Nice city. The traffic was better than Boston if that helps. Still let's go Red Sox to win tonight.

Still?

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

I do love fish tacos, and The Green Flash used to be a great place to get them. Still let's go Red Sox to win tonight.

 

[absintheofmalaise]

I do love fish tacos, and The Green Flash used to be a great place to get them. Still let's go Red Sox to win tonight.

Still!!!?

 

[Wallball Tingle]

Padres' pythag record last year was 86-76 (89-73 actual) and they snuck by a far superior team in the division series. Theoretically they could be 6-10 games better talent-wise than last year, but even that wouldn't make them an unstoppable superteam juggernaut or anything. And now they face the balanced schedule.

 

[LynnRice75]

Game 46
For most of today I’ve suffered the blues.
I’m always this way when the Celtics lose.
Throughout the playoffs, we’ve all had our shares
of restless nights filled with flashback nightmares.
Lucky for me, I’m a bigger Sox fan.
They cheer me up more than anything can.
They played well last night and got the job done
providing a stress-free win, 6 to 1,
behind some great pitching from James and Josh.
Tonight, let’s hope Sale shows the same panache.
So, though basketball has left me verklempt,
I’m ready to watch the Red Sox attempt
to keep their hot streak and win their 4th straight,
making me happy that I’ve stayed up late.
It will be fun without all the weeping
from the Celts’ loss, and I will be sleeping
better tonight ‘cause of all Boston’s teams,
the Sox are the one that won’t haunt my dreams.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

Red Sox are out of last place if they win tonight.

 

[mikeford]

10:10pm EST first pitch on a Saturday should have schedule makers condemned to Hell

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

New England transplants will be at the game and San Diego sports fan will be watching the Lakers instead.

 

[patinorange]

Never been to San Diego, always wanted to go. But reading about the traffic makes me wonder: How long does it take to get form Point A to Point B around the city?

If you want to see the Sox or just want to see a game at Petco. the recommended play is stay at one of the many hotels within walking distance. The Gaslamp district is awesome for food and drink. Parking is Fenway like. A pain in the ass and just as costly. We stay about 8 miles away near the airport and usually rely on Lyft or Uber, but they are not too reliable on game days (at least they weren't last night) The cab was about 30 bucks each way. Metro San Diego traffic is probably a tick better than Boston, but as Al mentioned, rush hour blows. Driving the 5 interstate between LA and San Diego on the weekend is dicey. I really do love the city. Petco is great, just a notch below Oracle in SF. Padre fans are good people in my experience. Very tolerant of the Red Sox invasion every four years.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Red Sox are out of last place if they win tonight.

As Baltimore gets to 30-16 by beating Toronto. Who'da thunk it??

 

[InsideTheParker]

Game 46
For most of today I’ve suffered the blues.
I’m always this way when the Celtics lose.
Throughout the playoffs, we’ve all had our shares
of restless nights filled with flashback nightmares.
Lucky for me, I’m a bigger Sox fan.
They cheer me up more than anything can.
They played well last night and got the job done
providing a stress-free win, 6 to 1,
behind some great pitching from James and Josh.
Tonight, let’s hope Sale shows the same panache.
So, though basketball has left me verklempt,
I’m ready to watch the Red Sox attempt
to keep their hot streak and win their 4th straight,
making me happy that I’ve stayed up late.
It will be fun without all the weeping
from the Celts’ loss, and I will be sleeping
better tonight ‘cause of all Boston’s teams,
the Sox are the one that won’t haunt my dreams.

Thank you. I have been thinking today that you might have the blues from the Celtics' loss. I kept checking this thread for your poem, and now that I've got it I may head upstairs. No way I am able to stay awake for the whole game, but I'll give it an inning or five's worth of my attention.
Geaux, Sox!

 

[E5 Yaz]

1. Alex Verdugo (L) RF
2. Masataka Yoshida (L) DH
3. Triston Casas (L) 1B
4. Rafael Devers (L) 3B
5. Jarren Duran (L) CF
6. Raimel Tapia (L) LF
7. Enrique Hernandez (R) SS
8. Enmanuel Valdez (L) 2B
9. Connor Wong (R) C

1. Fernando Tatis Jr. (R) RF
2. Ha-Seong Kim (R) 3B
3. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
4. Juan Soto (L) LF
5. Nelson Cruz (R) DH
6. Jake Cronenworth (L) 2B
7. Brandon Dixon (R) 1B
8. Jose Azocar (R) CF
9. Austin Nola (R) C

Sale vs Musgrove (RHP)

 

[AMS25]

10:10pm EST first pitch on a Saturday should have schedule makers condemned to Hell

Yeah, I'm way too old to stay up and watch tonight's game. Thanks, schedule makers.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Nothing wrong with a 7 p.m. start on a Saturday night

 

[LogansDad]

1. Alex Verdugo (L) RF
2. Masataka Yoshida (L) DH
3. Triston Casas (L) 1B
4. Rafael Devers (L) 3B
5. Jarren Duran (L) CF
6. Raimel Tapia (L) LF
7. Enrique Hernandez (R) SS
8. Enmanuel Valdez (L) 2B
9. Connor Wong (R) C

1. Fernando Tatis Jr. (R) RF
2. Ha-Seong Kim (R) 3B
3. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
4. Juan Soto (L) LF
5. Nelson Cruz (R) DH
6. Jake Cronenworth (L) 2B
7. Brandon Dixon (R) 1B
8. Jose Azocar (R) CF
9. Austin Nola (R) C

Sale vs Musgrove (RHP)

That's a lot of LHB's. Turner being dinged up really shows the need for probably another RHB at some point (get well soon, Trevor), but I love that lineup against Musgrove.

 

[E5 Yaz]

PeteAbe:

* Turner is day-to-day. Sunday or Monday.
* Whitlock to be active in Arizona and likely start a game there. He's improved his changeup.
* Duvall hitting off a tee and doing soft-toss. Might be 3 weeks out.
* Arroyo starting a rehab assignment Tuesday.

edit: More from MassLive:

~ Cora said Yu Chang (left hamate fracture) has been taking swings. “He’s feeling good,” Cora said. “With him, it’s just a matter of how much he can tolerate.”
~ The Red Sox still have not discussed when Adalberto Mondesí will begin a rehab assignment.

 

[teddywingman]

That's one of the most lefty heavy lineups I ever seen.

And as a MTN time zone dweller, I love west coast late games.

 

[E5 Yaz]

And as a MTN time zone dweller, I love west coast late games.

Exactly, I don't get the woe-is-me stuff. When West Coast teams play in Boston, night games start at 4 p.m. out here ... when fans are still at work. Should those games at Fenway start at 10 p.m., to give Padres fans, for instance, a normal 7 p.m. start?

 

[teddywingman]

Exactly, I don't get the woe-is-me stuff. When West Coast teams play in Boston, night games start at 4 p.m. out here ... when fans are still at work. Should those games at Fenway start at 10 p.m., to give Padres fans, for instance, a normal 7 p.m. start?

These days I feel like there's close to as many fans watching here out west as there is back east. And having been back in Mass for over a month, I couldn't help but notice how little interest there seems to be.

 

[JOBU]

Why does everyone think the traffic is so bad in San Diego? In my experience, it's a breeze.

People from Boston whining about traffic in San Diego. Lol. LOL!!!

I lived there for 3 months and never had an issue really with any traffic. Ever.

 

[JOBU]

Damn, Petco opened in 2004? I would have guessed like 10 years ago. I went to a few Sox padres games in Qualcomm in 2002. Good times

 

[Moviegoer]

Those stats... Musgrove is not having a good season, is he?

 

[Al Zarilla]

A lot of the West Coast teams have been starting a little early on Saturday night, like 6:40. I don't see the West Coast games tonight doing that. Oh well, this game time suits me fine.

 

[LogansDad]

Oh wow, that 1-0 pitch to Yoshida was a beauty. Musgrove got boned.

Thanks blue, I guess.