Fernando Tatis suspension hurts more than Padres clubhouse
By Kevin Henry
The shadow cast by San Diego Padres legend and Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn is long. The man known as Mr. Padre was not only loved because of what he did on the diamond, but also what he stood for off of it as well.
There will be very few San Diego Padres who pass through Petco Park who won’t be held to the measuring stick that Gwynn established during his 20-year MLB career that eventually led to his enshrinement in Cooperstown. That measurement is especially harsh for those star players who are expected to help San Diego recapture its postseason glory, such as Fernando Tatis Jr.
The suspension of Fernando Tatis Jr. has ripple impacts beyond the San Diego Padres clubhouse
For lifelong Padres fans who remember the Gwynn days, the PED suspension for Tatis is a gut-punch along what was supposed to be a path back to not only the postseason, but national recognition as an elite MLB franchise, as well as the aggressive “win now” mentality that Padres fans wanted to see the franchise exhibit this season.
It’s also made some Padres fans wonder how they explain wrongdoing in sports and the consequences of it to the next generation of San Diego supporters.
The toughest part for me is explaining to my boys why we will be taking down the Tatis poster in their room for a while. And not knowing if that will ever go back up. I grew up watching the legendary Tony Gwynn play, and I was thrilled at the thought of my boys watching Tatis
— dj iverson (@djiverson) August 13, 2022
In a year where the Padres made bold moves at the trade deadline, acquiring Josh Hader and Juan Soto seem like ancient memories now. Decisions by Tatis caused his teammates to answer questions in spring training about his motorcycle accident and broken wrist and now again in the heat of a chase for a Wild Card spot over PED usage. Those same decisions have impacted the reputation of the franchise, the confidence of the fans, and every conversation centered around Tatis for the foreseeable future.
Those decisions sent shockwaves through more than just the 26 men on the San Diego roster. They have impacted the entire MLB community in one way or another.
Next. The wild way Josh Hader learned about his trade. dark
When Tatis finally returns to the field next year, what lessons will he have learned? What remorse will he have shown? What ways will he work to mend relationships within the clubhouse and the community as well? Those are questions that Gwynn never had to answer, and that’s why his shadow is a tough one to escape for those like Tatis.