"During that time with COVID and stuff I was really ready to just stop playing."
Powerful words from Matt Bradley. He said getting taken in by Brian Dutcher, and being welcomed into a brotherhood at San Diego State changed the direction of his life.
Fernando Tatis Jr. was asked his reaction to being called a cheater by minor league pitcher Kade McClure:
"That's gonna come. Everybody has freedom of expression in this country. Nothing I can do about it. I'm just going to keep playing this game and enjoy every part of it."
Covering Mike Leach was funny because he’d refuse to offer anything worthwhile about his team one minute, then give a thorough account of life with a pet raccoon the next.
There is no mind like his, and I’m praying we get to enjoy his musings again soon.
The Padres are inviting fans at Thursday's Opening Day sellout to stay in Petco Park after the game for a San Diego State watch party.
A genius idea with the Padres playing the Giants at 1:10 and SDSU vs. UConn tipping at 4:39.
Gonna be an incredible day for SD sports fans.
Blake Snell said Peter Seidler was the first owner he ever had an hour long face to face conversation with on the field.
Says that knowing Seidler would have called to congratulate him today means a lot.
Snell used the words gentle, genuine, pure and loving to describe Seidler.
“I know they’re probably all of them saying a lot of curse words but they still gotta see my name so I love it.”
Fernando Tatis Jr. has a plaque at Dodger Stadium commemorating the mammoth 467-foot HR he hit out of the ballpark in 2021, and he seems to really enjoy that.
😆😆😆
Fernando Tatis Jr. on Shohei Ohtani:
“The GOAT. This guy is incredible. What he’s doing for baseball is gonna be talked about for the next 100, 200 years.”
Juan Soto on the Padres:
"Those guys they are pretty nice. They have really good talent. Really big fan of Tatis - how he plays the game - and Machado, and all those guys."
Ya know, FWIW...
Padres stars on Angel Perdomo hitting Machado after Soto's homer.
Machado: "You give up a bomb like that I would be mad too... I guess people don't respect people anymore."
Soto: "We got pitchers that throw hard too... If you don't want to give up homers strike out people."
The reactions to Lamont Butler's game winner were incredible.
Here are some of the best videos from the moments that followed the Final Four buzzer beater.
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
The San Diego Padres are one win away from the NLCS.
Tomorrow they’ll try to get there for the first time since 1998 - with San Diego’s own Joe Musgrove on the mound.
How good is that?
Blake Snell: "The ultimate goal is the playoffs and winning a World Series with these guys. It definitely sucks and it's something that looking back when we're all old it's gonna be one that stings because I don't know that I'll ever play on a team this talented and this good."
There's so much love for Ha-Seong Kim in the Padres clubhouse.
Blake Snell: "Ha-Seong is one of my favorite players. He's an amazing human, amazing talent. Being able to play alongside of him is something I've really enjoyed."
Fernando Tatis Jr: "Who doesn't love Ha-Seong Kim?"
Joe Musgrove: "I'm in his corner."
Manny Machado: "I'm gonna be here for him, and I'm gonna back him up."
Both guys said repeatedly that if Fernando Tatis Jr. ever needs anything he's got guys in the clubhouse that will help him out.
☑️ Home Run
☑️ Two Doubles
☑️ Two Runs
☑️ Two Stolen Bases
☑️ Great Catch in RF
☑️ Outfield Assist
We have gotten the FULL Fernando Tatis Jr. experience tonight. 🔥
Bob Melvin on Tatis Jr.:
"Tatis has been amazing. Everything I've asked him to do, wherever I hit him in the lineup he's all for it. He's enthusiastic about it... He's pretty remarkable in the fact that he just likes to play baseball, have fun and help his team however he can."
Eric Weddle got some advice from Kobe Bryant near the end of his time with the Chargers.
"Make them pay in the worst way possible."
'Them' was referring to the Chargers' front office.
H/T to
@SDUTKrasovic
for this exchange.
Blake Snell on keys to his Cy Young season:
"Me and Ruben (
@RubenFog57
) throughout the year were just like the walks don't matter. If you walk a guy who cares, just get the next guy. You've got nasty stuff, believe in it, attack the zone and you'll be fine."
Fernando Tatis Jr. is heating up. 📈
In his last seven games:
◼️ .555 Batting Avg. (10-18)
◼️ 6 RBI
◼️ HR and Double
◼️ 7 Runs
◼️ 1 Strikeout last 11 AB
Started 0-16, now has a .294 Avg., .375 OPB and .787 OPS.
According to John from
@madfriars
Blake Snell picked up the tab for Chipotle pregame and Ruth’s Chris postgame for the entire team in Fort Wayne on Thursday.
Cool gesture from
@snellzilla4
. 👏🏼
AJ Preller said they hope Juan Soto is in San Diego "for many years to come".
Said they will have that conversation this offseason about a potential long term deal.
Tatis on whether MLB should ban the shift.
“No that’s part of the game if you can’t hit it to the other side that’s your problem. We take advantage of that it’s part of the game. It’s a game of chess.”
Some personal news, a 🧵…
Tuesday and Wednesday I was supposed to cover Padres-Dodgers in the NLDS at Dodger Stadium.
Instead I watched with my wife Laura from hospital rooms at Scripps La Jolla, and I’ve never been happier to miss one of the biggest assignments of the year.
Juan Soto’s Padres career:
▪️214 Games/936 PA
▪️.265/.405/.488
▪️151 OPS+
▪️41 HR
▪️125 RBI
▪️40 2B
▪️128 Runs
▪️176 BB
▪️All-Star, 2x Silver Slugger
▪️ One playoff appearance, highlighted by a single and a run scored in one of the most legendary innings in franchise history.
FAU was 29-0 this season when outrebounding their opponent.
The Aztecs had a 35-34 advantage on the boards.
The last rebound of the game was pulled in by Nathan Mensah. It gave SDSU the edge on the glass and set up Lamont Butler’s game winning shot.
Jurickson Profar: "We have a complete ballclub. We can do a lot of things and that's what makes it fun. We have everything, we have a little power, we have speed, we have really good pitching, we have really good defense. It's a fun ballclub."
I will not mention the pitcher’s name
I will not mention the pitcher’s name
I will not mention the pitcher’s name
I will not mention the pitcher’s name
I will not mention the pitcher’s name
I will not mention the pitcher’s name
Xander Bogaerts went 0-4 today, striking out three times.
According to Fangraphs he's had 30 High Leverage plate appearances this season.
In those PA he's managed:
.148 Avg.
4 Hits
5 GDP (Whoops)
0 XBH (Bummer)
2 RBI
.381 OPS
16 wRC+ (16!!!)
82.6 GB% (My goodness)
😬😬😬
Xander Bogaerts on getting the No. 2 jersey from Trent Grisham:
“He didn’t have to do that…it was very kind of him, I’m sure I’ll have to take care of him.”
In the two years since his last win Chiesa suffered a serious back injury and was on the wrong end of a controversial finish. He got in great shape and was really confident going into this fight. Would be a real shame if a dumb incident like this keeps him out of this event.
Matt Bradley said Joe Musgrove reached out to him after Monday's loss, told him to keep his head high and that the Aztecs had an amazing run.
Added that seeing the support from the Padres and at their games meant a lot.
Juan Soto on facing Shohei Ohtani:
"We all know he's an impressive player, but whenever he steps on the mound I won't be scared to shuffle his ass."
😂😂😂
His at bats Tuesday against Ohtani will be must see!
Manny Machado gave a great quote about Padres fans, then let us know he's pro-boo.
"They also gave us a little boos here and there when we weren't winning. That means the word to us seeing that there's expectations for us to go out and perform every single day."
Booing is good.
Manny Machado on Wil Myers:
"He's definitely one of the best teammates I've ever played with. He's very loved in this clubhouse and respected as well. He's been an impact for this organization for a long time. We're glad that he's on our team."