Beyond everything that has gone wrong with the San Diego Padres in the first three weeks of the 2021 season. From failing to knock in runners in scoring position to the Tommy John surgery epidemic that has compromised the pitching staff, the early season misfortunes were the equivalent of slipping on a banana peel and landing flat on your back.
The loveable losers from past Padres seasons would have lacked the confidence needed to get out of a slump of this nature. Dodger Stadium would have been an ideal location for another brown-and-yellow meltdown. But not this year’s model.
San Diego Padres Showed Championship Instincts
In taking three out of four games from the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Friars acted like their forebearers of the mid-90s and created their opportunities to win. The Padres utilized the standard formula of success in baseball: timely hitting, outstanding starting pitching, good defense, and shutdown innings by the bullpen. It helped to bring the Dodgers back to earth this weekend.
It is easy to preach patience at the plate against the likes of Clayton Kershaw, Trevor Bauer, and Dustin May. But the Padres lineup showed grit to grind out each at-bat and it was enough to outplay the reigning champs. It’s the type of series win a team can build on for motivation moving forward.
Like a True Superstar, Tatis Jr. Ruined The Dodgers’ Weekend
I would be remiss not to applaud Fernando Tatis Jr.’s (8-18, .444 avg, 9 runs, 5 HRs, 6 RBIs, and 3 SBs) performance in the four-game series. He has become the latest superstar who relishes wearing the black hat in an opponent’s home park. The PA announcer could not get “Fer” out before the boo birds roared in disapproval. Tatis Jr. ruined all Los Angelenos’ weekend plans by hitting the ball hard for three straight days. For Dodgers fans, his at-bats became like death by a thousand paper cuts.
It was fitting that he broke out of his slump with a two-home run game on Friday night. It came on the 22nd anniversary of his father’s, Fernando Tatis Sr., extra-ordinary hitting feat. He hit two grand slam home runs off of Chan Ho Park in the same inning at Dodger Stadium in 1999. It was not “like father, like son” but after what Tatis Jr. endured in April, it was the perfect outcome.
Despite all of the frustration, Tatis Jr. did not crumble under the weight of criticism towards his slow start. He accepted the challenge that comes with trying to lead a team to a division title. Tatis Jr. did not pass the responsibilities of being the sport’s most dynamic player onto someone else. Instead, he helped the team win the series with his bat and glove. Hopefully, it has changed the narrative about Tatis Jr. and his deserving of such a rich contract.
Tingler Supported His Players Almost to a Fault
No person should be more encouraged by this weekend’s outcome than Padres manager Jayce Tingler. There is no bigger supporter of his players than the person who occupies the Friars’ managerial office. Tingler remained confident that the bats would awaken from their slumber despite the growing frustration on the lack of production. And it looks like the lineup is heading in the right direction, but file that statement under “it’s easier said than done.”
No one should act surprised by this weekend’s results. But the Padres’ recent play was quite embarrassing at times. Unfortunately, this is baseball. At times, the sport can be quite frustrating to play. For a slumping team, scoring runs can be as excruciatingly painful as pulling teeth out of your mouth. But the Padres did their part by doing the little things to defeat the Dodgers.
The series win removed all thoughts of their sluggish start to the season, but it did not lift the San Diego Padres into first place in the National League West.
Still from the Friar’s perspective, a lot of good happened in Los Angeles this weekend.