Its fast becoming baseball’s best rivalry as the San Diego Padres have become the main rival of the Los Angeles Dodgers whether they like it or not.
What makes a great sports rivalry?
For me, it’s the combination of passion and hatred that brings out the best in each competitor on the field of play. Some of the great sports rivalries include Boston Celtics/Los Angeles Lakers, New York Yankees/Boston Red Sox, and USC/Notre Dame, but none is hotter than San Diego Padres/Los Angeles Dodgers.
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Right now, the baseball world is on the brink of these two division rivals facing off in their first-ever playoff duel. No other series will be played with as much intensity as this one, but the one question that remains is…
Have the Padres become the Dodgers main rival?
Dodgers Fans Deny the Facts
Arrogant Dodgers fans have been denying this fact for years. They treat San Diego as their personal weekend getaway and invade Petco Park like uninvited guests. The “Beat LA” chants from the Friar Faithful is often drowned out by the roar of Dodgers fans as our favorite little downtown ballpark transforms into Dodger Stadium South. They view the Padres as a spunky group of underdogs, but never their true rival.
However, recent and past history would dispute that statement.