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So… here’s the thing about baseball. We always fall in love with the brands, the big markets, the payrolls — Yankees, Dodgers, Mets. That’s who we expect in October. But the truth is, every now and then, you get a story that completely flips the sport on its head.
That’s the San Diego Padres right now.
Nobody — and I mean nobody — had them in this spot. This is a franchise that’s been to the NLCS once in over a decade. They don’t have the history, they don’t have the mystique, they don’t have the payroll. And yet here they are… 8-0 in the postseason. That’s not just good, that’s perfect.
And it’s not smoke and mirrors. Look at what they’re doing: Santiago Velasquez, who’s not some household name, goes 4-for-5 with three doubles and three RBIs. Santiago Macario — another guy you don’t talk about on the national level — two hits, two RBIs, two runs scored. This is a team winning because of depth, chemistry, and confidence.
Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Reds? They were supposed to be the more seasoned playoff team. They’ve been here before, right? But they look rattled. Their starter gave up six runs in less than two innings. You can’t do that in October, especially on the road.
Here’s my takeaway: sports is about belief. The Padres believe. They’ve got that momentum, that “why not us” energy. And if you’re honest about it, they’re now one win away from the World Series. The San Diego Padres! One win.
This is why we watch sports. The Yankees and Indians, that’s tradition. Mets winning 119 games, that’s dominance. But the Padres? That’s a story.
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