By: Steve Atkinson
The San Diego Padres had their fan fest yesterday at Petco Park. Spring training is right around the corner with Pitchers and catchers reporting on Feb 16th. The Padres are built to win now and for many years to come. Machado, Bogaerts, Soto, and Tatis, plus their pitching there is no excuse why they shouldn’t win the National League this year.
As 140,000 thousand people attended the fan fest at Petco Park on Saturday. The event was even free of charge. Autograph, Photo, and a town hall type of prep rally to get ready for the season. There were no boo’s from the crowd or heckling and why would there be? The Padres are going to be a fun team to watch in 2023, unlike a certain losing franchise.
Comparing Red Sox Fan Fest To The Padres Fan Fest
Let’s compare the Red Sox fan fest to the Padres one. The Red Sox charged $50 daily and $95 for the entire weekend. The team that is built like a minor league product and fans who should boycott will have to pay hundreds of dollars to see that garbage at Fenway. John Henry, Tom Werner, Chaim Bloom, and Sam Kennedy all got booed and heckled off the stage. People were yelling “bring back Dombrowski” and Bloom was making excuses for getting rid of Mookie Betts three years ago. The billionaire owner John Henry said it’s expensive to pay baseball players. Not true when you have the money to do it like the Pades. The Fenway Sports Group just has other interests like buying a football team and a basketball team in Vegas.
Red Sox fans should jump ship and watch the Padres with Don Orsillo calling the games. At least they’ll be more entertaining than the bore fest NESN will bring you.
Padres Fernando Tatis Hopeful To Make A Comeback
Fernando Tatis will be a full-go for spring training. He still is suspended until April 20th of this season for PED. Tatis was suspended for the majority of the year last season. He spoke at fan fest about how he’s excited to get back.
I more just want to prove myself in the field, just get back to the field with my boys. I definitely miss that fire, just being in the jungle with them.”
Right-handed pitcher Joe Musgrove spoke about how Tatis is looking to move on from the suspension.
Padres Manny Machado Should opt into his contract
As for Manny Machado, he enters the fifth year of his 10-year $300 million deal. He can opt out after this year and head into free agency or opt-in for the rest of his contract. GM A.J. Preller said they hope to get something worked out.
He’s coming off another MVP-type season, and we want him here with the Padres; we want him here a long time,” Preller said on Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney. “But he’s under contract, so it’s more Manny’s decision, honestly, with how this plays out with the opt-out at the end of the season.
“What we’ve tried to do is make it known that we value and appreciate him, and we’re going to listen to what he wants to say, and then we’re going to figure out what’s best for everyone moving forward.”