The rivalry between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers has never been hotter, and that is fabulous for both teams and Major League Baseball, according to Trevor Hoffman.
The Hall of Fame relief pitcher expressed why he feels a Padres-Dodgers rivalry is “good for the game” just a week after their beanball war of a series ended at Dodger Stadium.
Hoffman spent 16 of his 18 big-league seasons with the Padres and racked up 552 of his 601 saves in a San Diego uniform. He also helped the Padres reach the 1998 World Series, posting 53 saves and finishing second in the league in Cy Young Award voting.
Hoffman finished with 68 saves against the Dodgers in his MLB career, by far the most of any opponent.
Why Is A Padres-Dodgers Rivalry ‘Good For The Game?’
The Dodgers are the model franchise in Major League Baseball after winning two World Series championships in the past five seasons and qualifying for the Fall Classic four times in the past eight years — including doing both in 2024.
But aside from the geographical rivalry, the Padres have been knocking on the door. San Diego and LA have played in the postseason three times since 2020, and the Dodgers hold a narrow 2-1 edge in those series.
Those playoff series built animosity between the clubs, which continued to spill over last week when they met. Padres star outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr was hit three time by pitches, and Dodgers star DH/pitcher was hit twice, during the four-game set in LA, and both managers Mike Shildt of San Diego and Dodgers’ Dave Roberts were tossed in games.
“It’s a little bit of an old-school feel,” Hoffman said of playing the Dodgers to FOX News recently. “I know that there’s rules in place to try and curtail some things like this going on, but when you’re playing high-level baseball and trying to win ballgames, these things will happen.
“Honestly, I think it’s good for the game. These guys have a lot of respect for each other and know how important these games are.”
But with the Dodgers loaded with talent, and the Padres having a star-laden roster too, the games have become especially more important for the Padres.
“It’s really a measuring stick for where your team’s at,” Hoffman said. “The Dodgers won it all last year, and until you take down the giant, you’ve got to keep scratching and clawing.”
What Did Trevor Hoffman Think Of The Recent Padres-Dodgers Series
Hoffman noticed the Dodgers seemed to perk up after sleepy starts in all four games against the Padres. San Diego scored first in every game, but LA rallied to win three of the four.
“You never want the guy in your own uniform to feel like you’re getting taken advantage of,” Hoffman said. “If you certainly feel like you’re being attacked, and I’m sure both sides did, you use it as fuel to galvanize your side.”
Of course Hoffman views the rivalry through a San Diego lens, but he can understand why the Dodgers may have been frustrated seeing Ohtani and budding star outfielder Andy Pages get hit multiple times.
“When it’s your star player, at some point you need to protect [him],” Hoffman said. “You can’t let some [pitches] get away from you, especially up above the shoulders.”
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