Thoughts on SD Padres?
 

I didn't pay any attention to the Padres after their fire sale. But they held steady through the ASG, and now they are playing good enough to make the playoffs. Do they have a chance to make a run to the NLCS?

I don't think they really had a fire sale, but more of a reshuffling of talent. They dumped Snell and Soto, but added Cease and Arraez. The blossoming of Merrill was like winning the lottery, and Profar finally lived up to his promise.

They got a good manager .
Mike Shildt should still be in St. Louis - stupid Cardinals

I think they might struggle in a 5 game series. Cease is good but untested and King is decent too but a step down from Cease. After that I think you lose game three and you better be up 2-0 when that happens.

I went to my first Padres game in 1970 when I was in recruit training in the Marines. That's the first time I saw the Padres lose, and have witnessed many more in the last 50 years - the Padres have a way of getting your hopes up and then breaking your heart. Eating sandwiches and visiting with Randy Jones was one of the many highlights of attending the games, even at Jack Murphy stadium.

I've cheered for them for the last 54 years since that first game - I know how the Red Sox fans must have felt all those years! Go Padres!

You're correct, fire sale was too harsh a term. But losing Soto, Snell, and others, to me, was the same as throwing their hands in the air telling everyone they were trying to get out from under a bad investment. But the last two weeks I've been hearing how the Padres are going to make the playoffs, and I was caught off guard. They're not among my favorite teams, but I like rooting for new faces in the playoffs.

Has Tatis' reputation bounced back after his PED ban.

They also lost prospect James Wood in that Soto deal. He looks pretty good since he got called up. Mackenzie Gore was part of that deal too.