Father Time is on the Padres’ Side.
No Padres team in the history of the San Diego franchise has had as high level of expectations placed upon them as the 2021 edition.
Not in 1984. Not in 1999. Never.
In late February when the team signed perhaps the most exciting young player in Major League Baseball, shortstop Fernando Tatis, Jr. to a long-term contract extension of 14 years at $340 million, it was the cherry on top of a sweet offseason sundae.
The Padres also resigned pitcher Mike Clevinger and acquired two starting pitchers with World Series pedigrees in Yu Darvish and Blake Snell, who was a boneheaded manager’s move away from capturing the Most Valuable Player award in the 2020 World Series for the Tampa Bay Rays.
To sure up the infield, the Padres signed former shortstop now second baseman Ha-Seong Kim, to work with superstar shortstop Tatis, Jr. and all-star third baseman Manny Machado.
With a completely new terrific trio at the top of the starting rotation, with all three being acquired since the start of last season, many baseball experts and casual fans are expecting the Padres to storm into the playoffs and exact revenge on the Dodgers for a place in the 2021 World Series.
Watch the San Diego Padres all season long on YurView Las Vegas (Cox Channel 14). The schedule of games can be found HERE. *Please note that several games throughout the season may be pre-empted due to ESPN exclusivity.
It is a position that San Diego sports fans are not familiar with, but that they can get used to quickly.
“It is weird to hear all this national conversation about the Padres going to the World Series,” said Lillian Murdock, a native of San Diego. “This season is going to provide a major boost of morale to the city when we all need it most. The city just has a whole new level of excitement and energy when the Pads are winning.”
In the outfield, Trent Grisham is only two years older than Tatis, Jr., and his start is rising nearly as fast, as he had 10 home runs and 26 runs batted in (RBIs) in an abbreviated 55 games last season.
The quick turnaround of the Padres’ fortunes must feel like a dream to veteran right fielder and sometimes infielder Wil Myers, who is already in his fourth season with the team and hit 15 home runs with 40 RBI in only 55 games while batting nearly .300.
Padres Schedule
Outside of the Padres and Dodgers, the rest of the National League West has not made much improvement, so the Padres could easily rack up over 50 wins alone from their division opponents from Denver, Phoenix and San Francisco this season.
The National League Central is sizing up to be a little more of a stronger division than the NL West, but not much, so the Padres may hit the very important mark of 80 wins just from those two divisions alone.
The National League East is obviously the NL’s best division as these games will prove as a true test on where the team really stands.
A long east coast road trip in mid-July immediately after the all-star break will definitely establish the narrative if the Padres are truly an elite top-five team in Major League Baseball, or if they are just a good team that knows how to beat up on bad teams really well.
So how good will the Padres be?
Only “Father time” will tell about these Padres…and that time may last all the way until October with a possible champagne bath on a chilly fall night to end the season.
Watch the San Diego Padres all season long on YurView Las Vegas (Cox Channel 14). The schedule of games can be found HERE. *Please note that several games throughout the season may be pre-empted due to ESPN exclusivity.
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Rodric Bradford covers sports in the San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Phoenix markets. He is a longtime reporter on the San Diego State athletic program, including covering the Aztecs’ 2018 run to the NCAA tournament. Rodric can be found on Twitter @j_rodric.
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