Not making any major additions to strengthen your squad throughout the winter might make you jealous, especially when you consider how the Los Angeles Dodgers are improving on a championship-winning roster.
The Dodgers are doing well lately, thanks to signing Cy Young award winners, international phenoms, and bringing in talent that is already helping a team that won its ninth World Series title a few months ago. The San Diego Padres, not so much.
At San Diego’s Fan Fest recently, Padres CEO Erik Geupner appeared to take a jab at Dodgers supporters when discussing how devoted their fans are.
“One of the things that I think is so cool about the way you support this team and the environment that you create which has become as [Mike] Shildt said one of the most difficult environment for other teams to come into and play, is that you do it in a classy way, right?” Greupner spoke to the Padres fans in attendance.
“I think we saw some things some other places, I won’t give you more detail on that, but I will just tell you that that’s not who we are, and that’s not who we were, and that’s not who we’re gonna be, you guys do it in a positive, supportive, passionate way, and you guys are the best.”
Frustration is one word that comes to mind when thinking how the Padres executive management may feel this offseason.
An ownership lawsuit hanging over the ball club, losing the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes despite making it to the final three teams, having a past Cy Young award winner depart to Los Angeles, and even the inability to retain core free agents are just a few of the challenges that fans are facing this offseason.
To be fair, Geupner may have been referring to the emotions that emerged after the Padres fell to the Dodgers in the NLDS.
Former Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty struck Fernando Tatis Jr. with a pitch, spectators threw things onto the field, and even Padres infielder Manny Machado allegedly threw a ball at the Dodgers dugout, which manager Dave Roberts said had “intent behind it.”
Of course, the Dodgers emerged victorious in that series, and they appear to be even more dominant in 2025.
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