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San Diego Padres clinch first postseason berth since 2006

By James Kelly

AUGUST 28: Fernando Tatis Jr. #42 and Jake Cronenworth #42 of the San Diego Padres celebrate after a 10-4 win over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on August 28, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. All players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. The day honoring Jackie Robinson, traditionally held on April 15, was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
AUGUST 28: Fernando Tatis Jr. #42 and Jake Cronenworth #42 of the San Diego Padres celebrate after a 10-4 win over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on August 28, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. All players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. The day honoring Jackie Robinson, traditionally held on April 15, was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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For the first time since 2006, the San Diego Padres are heading to the postseason. And they don’t plan on ending their season anytime soon.

The San Diego Padres are heading to the postseason. Who could have seen that coming in 2020?

Well, more people than you might think. The Padres have been an afterthought in the “legitimate contenders” conversation for years. In 2019, fans just started to see the potential that this team could have a few years down the road.

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And then the season was shortened due to Covid-19. People started to turn their attention towards the Padres as a team that could make some noise in a small sample size. They had some talented youngsters and one of the best bullpens in baseball.

Surely they could find a way to at least compete for a spot in the expanded playoffs.

They got off to a decent start, got unexpectedly great production from their starting pitching, and saw the resurgence of Manny Machado, Eric Hosmer, and Wil Myers. Trent Grisham, Tommy Pham, and Jake Cronenworth joined the roster and had fantastic seasons. The Padres became buyers at the trade deadline, adding Mike Clevinger, Austin Nola, Trevor Rosenthal, Mitch Moreland, and Jason Castro.

With one of the best rotations in baseball, an explosive offense, and the return to form of the bullpen, they made a mockery out of most of the western division teams.

The Padres went into 2020 with the goal of just making the playoffs and getting a taste of postseason baseball. They’ve now officially accomplished that goal.

But somewhere along the way, their goals got loftier. They should now be considered a World Series favorite. They’re coming for the big cake and as a betting man, they have my money.

AJ Hinch may have his path back to the majors. dark. Next

Clinching their first postseason berth since 2006 is just the start for this team.

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