[OutsiderFan]

The Padres are PRETENDERS. I didn't believe the Soto trade was going to all of a sudden make them legit contenders. It was really confusing to me why all the commentators were talking about getting Soto as some key to post-season relevance for a few years. Yes, he's a great hitter, but since when has having the best hitter been the key to World Series wins? 

You know what's key to post season relevance? Having Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer as your 1 & 2 starters.  It's one thing to get smoked by the Fodgers in L.A. It's quite another to be silenced into a bagel at home against the Giants. Maybe given how dominant Wood is at Petco Park, the Padres should have traded for him instead of Soto.

Nothing epitomizes the Padres more than the highlight I saw of Machado loafing out of the box after hitting a ball that would bounce off the wall in RF, and being held to a single. The Padres are the Cal Football of MLB, always clamoring for respect they haven't earned on the field, and always failing when the spotlight is on them when they have the opportunity for a breakthrough. They now trail the Phillies in the WC and are just 1 game up on the Brewers for WC #3. LOL if they miss the playoffs.

[OutsiderFan]

The Padres are PRETENDERS. I didn't believe the Soto trade was going to all of a sudden make them legit contenders. It was really confusing to me why all the commentators were talking about getting Soto as some key to post-season relevance for a few years. Yes, he's a great hitter, but since when has having the best hitter been the key to World Series wins? 

You know what's key to post season relevance? Having Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer as your 1 & 2 starters.  It's one thing to get smoked by the Fodgers in L.A. It's quite another to be silenced into a bagel at home against the Giants. Maybe given how dominant Wood is at Petco Park, the Padres should have traded for him instead of Soto.

Nothing epitomizes the Padres more than the highlight I saw of Machado loafing out of the box after hitting a ball that would bounce off the wall in RF, and being held to a single. The Padres are the Cal Football of MLB, always clamoring for respect they haven't earned on the field, and always failing when the spotlight is on them when they have the opportunity for a breakthrough. They now trail the Phillies in the WC and are just 1 game up on the Brewers for WC #3. LOL if they miss the playoffs.