Another San Diego Padres season ends with an early postseason exit. This year, the Milwaukee Brewers’ pitching staff proved to be the difference-maker in the National League Division Series defeat.
And of course, cue the offseason speculation after the final out.
Different story, same ending
The Brewers bounced the Padres from the postseason. Despite a strong second-half run, the season still culminated in a crushing defeat.
Much like past Friar postseason teams, they acted like fortunate guests, eager never to overstay their welcome.
The offense collapsed against quality pitching. The lineup went 0-for-21 to close out Game 4. It is frustrating to see the club unravel once they step up in class.
Let’s not be naive; winning a championship requires overcoming immense obstacles. Too many good teams in the chase. Contrary to popular belief, the Los Angeles Dodgers do not have a secret formula for winning consecutive championships. You play to win, capitalize on your opponent’s mistakes, and hopefully, you have a little luck on your side.
Seidler bros. chose not to honor fallen brother’s legacy
After Peter Seidler’s death, his brothers became a major obstacle to becoming a serious contender. They ran the franchise like a profitable investment option with a baseball park attached. While their financial expertise allowed them to gauge the club’s market value, the Seidler brothers failed to grasp what the Padres truly mean to the local fan base.
They provided the financial stability needed to compete, but left President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller with no budget flexibility to make trade deadline deals. The Seidler brothers preferred to maintain a perfect balance sheet rather than offer a quality postseason roster.
The Friar Faithful patiently awaited the team’s sale, knowing major offseason roster moves were unlikely until new ownership arrived.
New Padres owners’ regime begins now
Dreams do come true; the Padres were officially sold to Kwanza Jones and Jose E. Feliciano on Aug. 17. They made their intentions clear during the introductory press conference. The new ownership declared, “They want to bring a championship to San Diego.”
This was music to the Friar Faithful’s ears — finally, they have team owners who match their fierce drive and hunger for a World Series title. Both cannot wait for a downtown championship parade.
The day after the Padres were eliminated from the postseason marked Jones and Feliciano’s first day on the job. Now is their chance to redefine the franchise’s identity. Hopefully, they put a championship team on the field.
The cry will be: 2027 is our year
One would expect a stronger financial commitment to acquire players, but a bigger question looms: will there even be a season? The threat of a lockout and a shortened regular season adds pressure to achieving that goal.
Everyone is waiting for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), with all eyes on whether the deal will include a salary cap. Teams cannot contact players once the lockout is enforced. The last lockout was in 2022, and it cut Spring Training in half.
The vibe you get from Jones and Feliciano is much better than the last few years under the Seidler brothers. It is hard to imagine the roster remaining intact for 2027.
But adding payroll does not mean signing a major free agent. The Friars could take on a player with some money left on their current deal. Small-market teams will be looking to unload big-money contracts before the lockout.
Preller is a pro at getting creative on the trade market. Let’s hope for player moves that improve the roster rather than simply changing faces.
It will be a long, frustrating winter if baseball’s labor strife overshadows offseason player movement.
Sorry, Friar Faithful, it might be a while before we’re back at Petco Park.
