Things are looking big for the San Diego Padres (64-51) in their chase for their first NL West Divisional title since 2006. The Padres defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 on Wednesday night thanks to a clutch home run at the top of the ninth inning from newly traded right fielder Ryan OâHearn. The Padres are only two games behind the reigning champs, the Los Angeles Dodgers (66-49), for first place in the division.
Padres’ Addition of Ryan O’Hearn Makes Team Deeper
Many fans and analysts are paying attention to the rise of the San Diego Padres, potentially to the top of the division. Among those watching out for their potential is former Padres center fielder Cameron Maybin, who spoke on the Foul Territory Podcast on Thursday. Maybin spoke about OâHearn, agreeing that the Padres have the deepest team he has ever played with and the team is special.
“I just like all of the things going on right now. The synergy, the chemistry, the togetherness, the Padres are playing with…….I just love all of the moves. Huge for Ryan O’Hearn to come up, but I think this is just bigger than one or two pieces, so covered so many holes across the board, depth, arms, chemistry, the right type of character.”
Padres are serious threats to the Dodgers
The San Diego Padres have just under two months until the start of postseason play, but they look like legitimate threats for the NL West, the NL, and a World Series title. They have shown they can defeat their rivals in the regular season, but they have yet to prove themselves in the postseason. San Diego has created one of the deepest bullpens, a reliable set of starting pitchers, and a stable offense with its entire outfield fixed at the trade deadline.
Maybin talked about how the Dodgers are at their most vulnerable and the Padres have the roster to make a historic run.
“At the end of the day, not only do the Padres have the bullpen, they have the depth…..Very rarely, we’ve hadn’t had a back-to-back World Series champion so it just feels like the Padres’ time right now and I don’t think they’re afraid anymore,” Maybin said. “I know the Dodgers have the history behind them and the winning pedigree, but the Padres, when you watch them play, you see something different.”
The win over the Diamondbacks was huge for the Padres as they showed their ability to play in clutch situations and continue their impressive run post All-Star Break. Many players are having stellar seasons including OâHearn. Multiple players for the Padres were ecstatic for their teammate to help them win the series on Wednesday.
Padres have solid chemistry
Maybin pointed out that the chemistry the team has developed throughout the past few seasons in the chase for postseason success. He addressed this after OâHearnâs big home run.
“When O’Hearn hit that homer, Manny Machado, he’s unc now in the locker room, not only is coming around the outside, he is climbing over the railing,” Maybin added. “Dudes are excited, and hype, and playing for each other. It looks like ‘your at-bat is just as much to means to you’ and when you have that going man, when you have guys showing up and rooting for each other, it starts to create something special.”
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