We’re one week into the 2019 Major League Baseball season and the Padres have not yet had a losing record.
That doesn’t seem like such a big deal after seven games but trust me, for this franchise, it is.
The Padres are 4-3 and alone in 2nd place, a game behind the Dodgers in the National League West. In fact if the season ended today San Diego would be the winner of the second Wild Card spot!
OK I know that’s completely ridiculous but we haven’t been able to say this franchise even has a winning record since June of 2015 so a little bit of excessive exuberance is not altogether out of place.
The Friars beat the Diamondbacks 4-1 on Wednesday afternoon to avoid a sweep and, more importantly, have a winning record in their season opening homestand. After the off-season they had, where the hype was ratcheted up to 11, getting out of the gate without stumbling was of the utmost importance.
This franchise is trying to change not only its fortunes on the field but its perception in baseball, especially to its own fan base. When you add a $300 million player and promote a future superstar shortstop when he’s ready instead of trying to control his contract and put a rookie who has only thrown 90 innings in the last two years in your starting rotation because he’s just that good … well then you’re telling people you expect to be better RIGHT NOW and then keep getting better.
In the first seven games that’s exactly what seems to be happening. Manny Machado hit his first Padres homer and Fernando Tatis Jr. hit his first big league homer and Chris Paddack took a no-hitter into the 5th inning while striking out seven.
Yes, I know it was against San Francisco and Arizona, two teams who aren’t supposed to do a whole lot this season. Of course usually it’s the Padres who aren’t supposed to do a whole lot so even that little change is welcome. This year’s Padres are, unlike most of their recent incarnations, exciting to watch with at least a chance to win every night.
Their first road trip heads to St. Louis against a Cardinals team that is expected to be a strong post-season contender. If the Padres can win that 3-game set then maybe … just maybe … they do have the ability to be in the playoff hunt for a while.
